Press release: 2000-06-30: Sega Dreamcast Rocks Summer 2000 as Presenting Sponsor of the Fifth Annual 'Ozzfest'

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

Sega Dreamcast Rocks Summer 2000 as Presenting Sponsor of the Fifth Annual 'Ozzfest'; Sega Gives Fans a Chance to 'Rumble with a Rock Star!'

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

Catch Sega Dreamcast(tm) live in concert with the biggest heavy metal and hard core rock bands of the year, as Sega(R) Presents Ozzfest 2000. The highest grossing concert in 1999, Ozzfest 2000, will hit major venues in approximately 28 U.S. cities from July 2 through September 3, and is expected to attract more than half a million attendees. This years lineup is headlined by rock legend Ozzy Osbourne, who will be joined by more than 20 bands on two stages including Pantera, Godsmack, Static-X, Tommy Lee's Methods of Mayhem, Incubus, and Queens of The Stone Age. In the only interactive sponsorship of its kind, Sega Dreamcast and Ozzfest have partnered to bring fans, rockstars and gaming into one wild forum.

Rumble With A Rockstar: Sega Dreamcast has partnered with radio stations in every Ozzfest market to give gaming and music fans the ultimate 'one two punch.' Every night, one lucky winner from the crowd will get a chance to "Rumble with a Rock Star" -- competing against one of the musicians on Sega Dreamcast. Playing "Ultimate Fighting Championship(tm)" by Crave Entertainment Inc., their game will be projected on the giant main stage screen in front of 20,000 screaming fans. Win or lose, each Rumble contestant will take home a brand new Dreamcast, autographed by Ozzy himself.

Sega's Mobile Assault Tour: Ozzfest and Sega Dreamcast will assault fans' senses with Sega's Mobile Assault Tour (MAT) trucks, which will be on-site at every Ozzfest concert. The MAT gives gamers the chance to play the best games on the 128-bit, Internet ready, Sega Dreamcast, and allows gamers to experience the newest Sega Dreamcast games including "Sega Sports World(R) Series Baseball 2K1(tm)," "Space Channel 5(tm)," and "Metropolis Street Racer(tm)."

"'Ozzfest 2000' is the ideal venue to reach our core demographic," said Heather Kashner, director of consumer promotions, Sega. "The Mobile Assault Tour is a key component to ensure that Sega Dreamcast games will be everywhere our target customer is."

At Ozzfest 2000, participants will also be able to compete in the "Sega Dreamcast Championships," and play the blockbuster Sega Dreamcast and arcade hit "Crazy Taxi(tm)" against others for the highest score. The top scorers will have a chance to compete in the Final Championships in Los Angeles for a grand prize of $15,000.

Dreamcast Mobile Assault Tour

The 22-week "Dreamcast Mobile Assault Tour" started May 1 and will continue to hit popular consumer events in 96 major U.S. cities, in places such as sporting events, concerts, malls and skate parks. The tour vehicles "assault" all the senses, from their massive size, military design and high-performance sound systems, to the 16 Dreamcast demonstration units available for the public to play. More than 60 million consumers will see, hear or play Sega Dreamcast on the 10-month long nationwide tour.

The "Sega Dreamcast Mobile Assault Tour" vehicles were custom-designed to be able to invade almost any mass consumer location. Local market attacks begin with the arrival of the six-ton, 46-foot "assault" truck. When the truck's back hatch is opened, two all-terrain vehicles drive out, each hosting four Sega Dreamcast game systems. Four game systems remain inside the assault truck for the gaming competition, while four additional free-standing units will be set up outside the carrier.

The "Dreamcast Mobile Assault Tour" is just one component of a $135 million Dreamcast marketing campaign targeting the hard-core gaming audience and the mass-market gaming enthusiast simultaneously.

About Sega Dreamcast

Sega Dreamcast is available in the US with a built-in 56K modem, allowing for full Internet functionality via SegaNet, the only high-speed online console gaming network and ISP service for Sega Dreamcast and PC users. Sega Dreamcast currently has more than 80 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.

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. Since it launched, Sega Dreamcast has sold more than 2 million units, beating sales milestones set by other high-profile consumer and electronics products such as Tickle Me Elmo and Apple's iMac.

About Sega.com

Sega.com, Inc. is a new online Internet entertainment company whose goal is to become the online destination for gamers. Sega.com also comprises SegaNet, the only high-speed online console gaming network. SegaNet offers gamers the best in 3D multiplayer games, chat, community, cheat codes, tournaments and content. SegaNet is also an ISP for Sega Dreamcast and PC users, offering gamers everything they need to know about gaming and other areas of interest that tie in with gaming including music, TV, community, movies, sports and e-commerce.

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 sega.com

Note to Editors: Photos of the "Dreamcast Mobile Assault Tour" vehicles are available online at ftp://ftp.accesspr.com -- open "public" folder, then open "Sega" folder -- or call the contacts listed at the top of the release.
COPYRIGHT 2000 Business Wire
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
Copyright 2000, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.