Press release: 2005-11-17: SEGA Ships New Version of Award-Winning Worldwide Soccer Manager; Soccer Sports Management Simulation Lets Gamers Manage Their Favorite Professional Soccer Teams From 50 Countries

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: Business Wire

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 17, 2005--SEGA(R) of America today announced the North American release of Sports Interactive's Worldwide Soccer Manager 2006, a sports management simulation game that lets gamers control all team-related activities for their favorite professional soccer teams in the U.S. as well as 49 other countries around the world. The game features advanced artificial intelligence (AI) that simulates day-to-day events and decision-making, including actual gameplay, that occurs when running a team. A "try-and-buy" trial version of the game is available at www.sega.com/wwsm2006.

Created by UK developer Sports Interactive, Worldwide Soccer Manager 2006 features an award-winning game engine where gamers are responsible for overall team performance through the management of important franchise elements such as coaching, scouting, trading, training, human resources and finance. Simulated matches are played out using a top-down match engine developed with ex-Liverpool and Republic of Ireland legend, Ray Houghton. With single-player or multi-player modes, soccer enthusiasts, fantasy sports, tycoon fans, and other sports fans can put their knowledge to the test by managing every facet of a soccer club.

Officially licensed by the Major League Soccer (MLS) in the U.S., Worldwide Soccer Manager 2006 features leagues from 50 different countries, so gamers can manage clubs from countries such as the U.S., Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, England, Italy and Spain. The game includes a player database of more than 270,000 players and staff from more than 5,000 clubs worldwide in more than 170 divisions.

"Sports Interactive's games have sold over 8.5 million units worldwide," said Scott A. Steinberg, VP of Marketing, Sega of America, Inc. "This phenomenal new game is a 'must have' product for any soccer fan in this country."

Currently released as Football Manager in Europe, Sports Interactive's soccer games have retailed for over 10 years with previous versions of the game ranked as the No. 1 and No. 2 fastest-selling PC games in the UK, with five titles in the Top 10 list, and the latest version selling more than 100,000 units in its opening weekend.

"Soccer fans and sports fans question the performance of their favorite team or the decisions made by the head coach, and Worldwide Soccer Manager 2006 gives those fans an opportunity to see how they measure up!" said Miles Jacobson, CEO of Sports Interactive. "Because the game puts the entire soccer universe at one's fingertips, gamers can turn any team in the world into a global superforce." Jacobson continued, "The game has become a literal phenomenon overseas because it offers a deep-drilling, constantly interactive experience that extends far beyond the current limitations of fantasy sports."

Worldwide Soccer Manager 2006 is currently available via download at www.sega.com/wwsm2006 and in all major retailers in the U.S. with an MSRP of $29.99.

About SEGA

SEGA(R) of America, Inc. is the American arm of Tokyo, Japan-based SEGA Corporation, a worldwide leader in interactive entertainment both inside and outside the home. The company develops, publishes and distributes interactive entertainment software products for a variety of hardware platforms including PC, wireless devices, and those manufactured by Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. SEGA of America's Web site is located at www.SEGA.com.

About Sports Interactive

Sports Interactive (SI), the creator of the Championship Manager(R) series, is the world's leading developer of sports management simulations. Founded in 1994 and based in Islington, North London, SI has a full-time staff of 34 and employs the services of more than 2,500 part-time researchers across the globe. Five of SI's creations are among the UK's Top 20 best-selling PC games of all time. The company's future games will be published by the global computer and video games giant, SEGA. Further information on the company is available from its website, www.sigames.com.

SEGA is a trademark of SEGA Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries. All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners.

(C) Sports Interactive Limited 2004. SEGA and SEGA logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of SEGA Corporation. Football Manager, Sports Interactive and the Sports Interactive Logos are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Sports Interactive. Championship Manager is a trademark of Eidos Interactive Limited. All other company names, brand names and logos are the property of their respective owners.
Contacts
SEGA of America
Bret Blount, 415-701-4124
[email protected]
or
Euro RSCG Magnet (for SEGA)
Ricky Lyddon, 951-272-1888 ext. 17
[email protected]