Press release: 1997-06-19: SEGA SPORTS GIVES GAMERS A SEASON PASS TO EXCITEMENT WITH FOUR NEW SPORTS TITLES FOR SEGA SATURN

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: Sega.com (archived)

SEGA SPORTS GIVES GAMERS A SEASON PASS TO EXCITEMENT WITH FOUR NEW SPORTS TITLES FOR SEGA SATURN

ATLANTA -- (June 19, 1997) E3 Booth #1546 --
Who says winning isn't everything? At SEGA SPORTSTM, it's everything. The popular sports game brand from Sega® of America will deliver four new versions of its biggest sports titles of all-time including "World Series BaseballTM '98," "NBA ActionTM 98," "NHL® All-Star Hockey 98" and "Worldwide SoccerTM 98." With this line-up, even the most zealous sports fans won't have to hit the showers when the actual sports seasons end.

With SEGA SPORTS titles, amateur athletes won't risk broken bones, missing teeth or bloody noses. Gamers get all of the action, excitement and competition of professional sports without ever having to leave their couches.

Dedicated to bringing authentic and realistic sports videogames into the home, SEGA SPORTS games include real-time commentary, official major league licenses, and skill-based artificial intelligence in this year's sports game roster.

WORLD SERIES BASEBALL 98
With a new polygon-based engine, "World Series Baseball '98" follows up on the success of "World Series II." Current 98 MLB teams and rosters and updated stats allow gamers to re-create their own fantasy baseball game or play the actual schedule, including Interleague Play. Players can choose from the Playoff mode, Exhibition mode, Home-Run Derby and the 162-game Pennant Race that can be played in all of the 30 ball parks. Five ballpark perspectives give players control from every angle while enhanced instant replay lets gamers re-live their greatest moments.
Ship date: July 1997
SRP: $49.99

NBA ACTION 98
Gamers won't call a foul with "NBA Action 98," the definitive full court, five-on-five basketball experience with realistic gameplay, motion capture technology, monster stereo sounds, and ultra-smooth texture mapping. Gamers can select their team from the full 98-98 team rosters, with more than 340 NBA players and all 29 teams to choose from on all 29 teams. NBA players are rated across 20 different categories by real NBA scouts, and gamers can choose to "create-a-player" from countless gaming options. With all-time LA Laker great Chick Hearn commentary, players can consult authentic, in-depth playbooks filled with offensive and defensive plays that feature team-specific plays. Players can perform signature moves with their favorite players and complete player trades for the most authentic NBA gameplay experience.
Ship date: October 1997
SRP: $49.99

NHL ALL-STAR HOCKEY 98
Hockey enthusiasts will experience the lightening-fast, brutally rugged, on-the-ice action of the toughest game in sports in "NHL All-Star Hockey 98." The game features updated stats from the 98-98 season, with 650 hard-nosed players from all 26 NHL teams. The motion captured features of professional hockey players let gamers perform remarkable life-like moves with every position on the ice. Goalies can now break away from the net to challenge shooters, play the puck behind the net and even do the splits when necessary for sensational glove saves. The player AI has been vastly enhanced which allows forwards to execute 2-on-1 and 3-on-2's more successfully, and defensemen will deftly clear out forwards that park themselves at the net with hard-hitting bodychecks. In addition, players and goalies are now either left or right handed, which creates even more shooting and strategy combinations. With five new playable camera views, game players can move in on the heated competition right down to center ice.
Ship date: October 1997
SRP: $49.99

WORLDWIDE SOCCER 98
Careful of those red cards -- "Worldwide Soccer 98," featuring Cobi Jones, gives sports fans smooth 3D animation, 360 degree instant replay and on-the-fly commentary all in one super, soccer experience. With 48 of the toughest international teams in the world featuring highly detailed motion-captured animation, faster gameplay and five different playing modes, ranging from the exhibition game to the infamous World Cup, players won't be able to resist "World Wide Soccer 98." Gamers can play in both the French and Spanish Premier Leagues and also can re-live their greatest triumphs by saving their top 5 goal replays to create their own highlights film. The game also boasts zoom-in-zoom-out options, increased difficulty levels, and enough headers, bicycle kicks, back-heel passes and banana kicks to satisfy any soccer champion.
Ship date: November 1997
SRP: $49.99

"SEGA SPORTS is committed to creating the most realistic sporting experience available for digital home entertainment," said Bernard Stolar, chief operating officer, Sega of America. "Our sports titles reproduce the experiences of professional sports sparing no detail.
Sega of America 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 $3.6 billion company recognized as the industry leader in interactive digital entertainment media, and is the only company that offers interactive entertainment experiences both inside and outside the home. Sega of America's World Wide Web site is located at (http://www.sega.com).