We store cookies, you can get more info from our privacy policy.
GC

Sega Sports teams with ESPN

by Billy Berghammer - May 9, 2002, 9:28 am EDT

Sega lands multi-year deal with ESPN, to add exclusive ESPN type features to Sega Sports titles.

Discuss it in Talkback!

SEGA DRAFTS ESPN TO BRING ITS CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED SEGA SPORTS GAMES TO NEW

LEVELS OF AUTHENTICITY

Incorporating ESPN Features into SEGA Sports Games Brings Gamers Closer to

the Sport

SAN FRANCISCO - (May 9, 2002) - SEGA Sports(tm), the brand that continues to

set new standards in sports video gaming, today announced a multi-year deal

between SEGA(r) of America, Inc. and ESPN, Inc., the worldwide leader in

sports, to make SEGA Sports' critically acclaimed video game franchises more

authentic and realistic than ever before. With this teaming of two of the

biggest brands in sports, compelling ESPN presentation features will be

added to the SEGA Sports lineup, further blurring the lines between a SEGA

Sports game and a sports television telecast.

More than 74 percent of sports gamers rank realism and authenticity as the

top features they look for when purchasing a game. (Research International

Study for SEGA, 2001) SEGA Sports development teams responded to this

request and are adding popular ESPN branded elements, including Intros,

Replays, Camera Angles, and Stat and Score presentations into its 2K3 series

of games. As a result, gamers will be able to play their games the way they

like to watch them on television.

"Building upon the strongest foundation possible - our world renowned SEGA

Sports franchises - this relationship helps solidify our commitment to

authenticity by continuing to bring the SEGA Sports gaming experience closer

to the true experience of the sport," said Peter Moore, president and COO,

SEGA of America, Inc. "With the unique features and the additional sports

expertise that ESPN will infuse into our games, we expect to continue to set

the standard for authenticity when it comes to sports simulation video

gaming."

"ESPN and Disney Interactive are pleased to be working with SEGA Sports to

push sports video gaming to the next level," said George Bodenheimer,

president, ESPN. "ESPN's mission is to serve sports fans in every way

possible, and working closely with SEGA Sports' outstanding product gives us

a significant advantage in the video game arena."

SEGA Sports will build exclusive ESPN features into the "SEGA Sports 2K3"

series of sports games including "SEGA Sports(tm) NFL 2K3," "SEGA Sports(tm)

NBA 2K3," "SEGA Sports(tm) NHL 2K3" and "SEGA Sports(tm) World Series(r)

Baseball 2K3." The first title to unveil these features will be "SEGA

Sports(tm) NCAA(r) College Football 2K3," available in the fall for the

PlayStation(r)2 computer entertainment system, the Xbox(tm) video game

system from Microsoft(r) and Nintendo GameCube(tm). All "SEGA Sports 2K3"

titles containing the new ESPN features will carry the ESPN logo on the

package front. Under the terms of this deal, SEGA Sports will also work

closely together with ESPN to market these titles in numerous ESPN

properties via advertisements, promotions and other marketing vehicles.

"ESPN is absolutely the best when it comes to sports telecast

presentations," said Greg Thomas, president of Visual Concepts

Entertainment-the development house behind the 'SEGA Sports 2K' series.

"Incorporating ESPN elements into SEGA Sports games will make them even more

authentic, bridging the gap between a sports TV presentation and an

immersive sports video game experience. Our development team has added key

features that people recognize and identify with - so that the end result is

a sports video game that is unmatched in the industry."

About SEGA

SEGA(r) of America is the American arm of Tokyo, Japan-based SEGA

Corporation, a $3.5 billion corporation by market capitalization, recognized

as 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.

Got a news tip? Send it in!
Advertisement
Advertisement