Press release: 2000-03-30: Boston Red Sox Pitcher Pedro Martinez Signs With Sega Sports as Spokesperson for World Series Baseball 2K1

This is an unaltered copy of a press release, for use as a primary source on Sega Retro. Please do not edit the contents below. Language: English Original source: The Free Library

Boston Red Sox Pitcher Pedro Martinez Signs With Sega Sports as Spokesperson for World Series Baseball 2K1; Major League Baseball's Strikeout Leader to Appear on Cover and in the Game.

SAN FRANCISCO--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--March 30, 2000

Sega(R) of America, Inc. has scored a major coup by securing baseball's all-time strikeout leader, Boston Red Sox pitcher Pedro Martinez, as spokesperson for "Sega Sports(TM) World Series(R) Baseball 2K1." Due to ship later this spring, "Sega Sports World Series Baseball 2K1" will be Sega Sports' first baseball title to hit the 128-bit, Internet-ready Sega Dreamcast(TM) videogame console. Martinez will lend his knowledge and counsel throughout the development of this title, as well as play a key role in the marketing campaign and building the Sega Sports brand.

"Sega Sports World Series Baseball 2K1" promises to deliver the same level of ultra-realistic gameplay and precisely detailed graphics found in "Sega Sports(TM) NBA 2K" and "Sega Sports(TM) NFL 2K." Martinez has already begun working with producers to make sure everything from the players' expressions to the curve of the ball are exactly as they appear on the field.

"To say we are thrilled to have secured the number one pitcher in baseball to represent `Sega Sports World Series Baseball 2K1' is an understatement," said Martha Hill, director of sports marketing, Sega of America. "A player with Pedro's extraordinary talent and respect among fans is the kind of person you want representing your brand."

"It always feels good to be recognized for your efforts. Being asked by Sega Sports to appear on the cover of `World Series Baseball 2K1' is a great complement," said Martinez. "It's fun to know that baseball fans around the country will be able to play the game as me and the rest of the guys in the league."

Martinez, an eight-year veteran of Major League Baseball, is the second pitcher in MLB history to strike out 300 batters in both leagues. In 1999, he led the American League in wins, ERA and strikeouts, and was awarded the Cy Young. On September 10 of that same year, he threw a career-high 17 strikeouts in a 3-1 win (one hitter) against the Yankees, and finished the season as the all-time leader in strikeouts per 9 innings pitched.

About Sega Dreamcast

Sega Dreamcast is available in the US with a built in 56K modem, allowing for full Internet functionality through the Sega Dreamcast Network, including chat, e-mail, web browsing and online gaming. Content for the Sega Dreamcast Network is provided by Sega, Excite@Home and IGN. The system's preferred Internet service provider is AT&T WorldNet Services, the quickest and easiest way to take the system online. Sega Dreamcast currently has more than 50 titles available. Third-party titles currently in the works will bring the total Sega Dreamcast game library count to more than 200 in the year 2000.

Sega Dreamcast's advanced 128-bit architecture makes it the first console with evolutionary capabilities, allowing it to grow and change to match advances in technology and the needs and desires of the consumer. Sega Dreamcast is also the most powerful video game console ever created. It is 15 times more powerful than a Sony PlayStation(TM), ten times more powerful than a Nintendo(R) 64 and has four times the graphics processing power of the fastest Pentium II processor.

In the first 24 hours of availability, Sega Dreamcast netted over $97 million at retail, more than tripling the past entertainment industry record set by Star Wars: The Phantom Menace at $28 million on its first day. In its initial four days, Sega sold a total of 372,000 Sega Dreamcast systems, easily surpassing the previous industry record holder, Nintendo 64, which took six days to hit 350,000 when it launched in 1996. In the first 13 days at retail, Sega Dreamcast sold more than 514,000 units. Since it launched, Sega Dreamcast has sold more than 1.5 million units, beating sales milestones set by other high-profile consumer and electronics products such as Tickle Me Elmo(TM) and Apple's iMac. Sega estimates that the company will sell 2 million units by the end of March 2000.

About Sega

Sega of America Dreamcast, Inc. is the arm of Tokyo, Japan-based Sega Enterprises, Ltd. responsible for the development, marketing and distribution of Sega videogame systems and videogames in the Americas. Sega Enterprises, Ltd. is a nearly $2.5 billion company recognized as the industry leader in interactive digital entertainment media, offering interactive entertainment experiences both inside and outside the home. Sega of America's World Wide Web site is located at www.sega.com. ----------

For more information about Major League Baseball, visit www.majorleaguebaseball.com

The Major League Baseball Players Association is the collective bargaining representative for all professional baseball players of the National League and the American League and serves as the exclusive group licensing agent for commercial and licensing activities involving active Major League Baseball Players. On behalf of its members, it operates the Players Choice licensing program and Players Choice Awards and Big League Challenge events, which benefit children through the Major League Baseball Players Trust for Children, a charitable foundation established and run entirely by Major League Baseball Players.

Editors' Note: Screen shots of Sega Sports World Series Baseball 2K1 are available at ftp://ftp.accesspr.com/public/sega
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