Infogrames, Inc. today announced that its 2001 holiday line-up of games for the Sony PlayStation® 2 (PS2) computer entertainment system marks its largest PS2 slate to date, and includes two of the first titles to be introduced under its reinvented Atari® brand. Over the next several weeks, Infogrames will release the Atari titles Splashdown™ and MXRider™, which join the recently released NASCAR® Heat™ 2002, Test Drive Off Road -- Wide Open™, and Le Mans 24 Hours® to comprise the Company’s PS2 holiday line-up.
In addition, Infogrames continues to support the well-established and still lucrative PSOne® system with the release of four new titles this holiday season including: Backyard Soccer™; Men In Black™: The Series Crashdown; Nicktoons™ Racing; and Looney Tunes™ Sheep Raider.
“This is our most exciting and diverse slate of PS2 and PSOne titles yet,” said Bruno Bonnell, Chairman and CEO of Infogrames, Inc. “Our development teams have harnessed the power and capabilities of PS2 to deliver games that will capture the imagination and excitement of the gaming audience. We are especially thrilled to introduce our reinvented Atari brand on PlayStation 2 and are confident that PS2 fans will be riveted by the graphics and challenges of these new games.”
Mr. Bonnell continued, “We also recognize tremendous value in continuing to develop games for legacy platforms, such as the original PlayStation, which is why we have a dynamic line-up of games for these fans, as well as fans of next-generation consoles. The demand for PS2 and PSOne games is as strong as ever, demonstrating customer loyalty to both platforms. We believe that our PS2 and PSOne holiday line-up will more than satisfy this demand…and reinforce Sony’s reputation for delivering top-quality, innovative games.”
The highly anticipated Atari title Splashdown will redefine personal watercraft recreation for the gaming environment. This watersport racing game has been designed to provide high-speed fun and entertainment in realistic and exciting water-based environments. With interactive physics objects, outstanding graphics, and the freedom to roam its 3D worlds, Splashdown will have players feeling as if they are really out on the open water. In addition to licensed SEA-DOO® watercraft, Splashdown will offer amazing real-time water effects, and players will be able to perform more than 20 over-the-top acrobatic stunts. Splashdown will be available in mid-November at most major retail stores.
Motorcross racing comes to PS2 with the Atari title, MXrider, which immerses players in the most extreme sport around. With a large selection of game modes, easy pick-up-and-play controls and the craziest tricks and combos on two wheels, MXrider enables Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme (International Motocross League) Supercross racers to face off in five unique contests. Players can experience the excitement of off-roading on two wheels with all three motorbike sports (Motorcross, Supercross and Freestyle) and on 29 tracks, including official Motorcross tracks set in real world locations, specially designed Supercross tracks, and fantasy Freestyle arenas. MXrider will be available in mid-November at most major retail stores.
Officially licensed by NASCAR, NASCAR Heat 2002 allows players to choose between Beat the Heat™, Race the Pro™, Head-to-Head, Championship and Single Race modes in one of the most intense racing games that has ever been brought to a gaming console. Single Race and Championship modes put gamers in the seat of powerful stock cars as they try to best the stars of NASCAR on just one track or the tracks of the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Season. More than 36 Beat the Heat racing scenarios, introduced by drivers like Jeff Gordon, give players the feeling of a one-on-one experience with the heroes of NASCAR as they are dropped into the most intense moments in NASCAR competition; asking them to make split-second decisions and develop the same skills required by real NASCAR drivers. Geared to the console gamer and adjustable to individual skill levels, NASCAR Heat 2002 makes every race fun, competitive action for the whole family. NASCAR Heat 2002 is currently available at most major r!
etail stores for a suggested retail price of $49.99.
Test Drive Off-Road -- Wide Open is the newest installment in the Test Drive Off-Road series. The game features advanced technology enabling “go anywhere” environments, 15 licensed off-road vehicles and 30 wide-open tracks in three untamed landscape locations. Moab, Utah, Yosemite, Calif. and the Big Island of Hawaii set the stage for players to freely explore these real-world locations by choosing the path that is best suited to their truck while attempting to complete the course in the fastest time possible. Test Drive Off-Road Wide Open is currently available at most major retail stores for a suggested retail price of $49.99.
Le Mans 24 Hours delivers the ultimate 24-hour endurance racing with new teams, tracks and gameplay mechanics. Highlights include real-world racing teams from the 2000 Le Mans race, fully animated pit crews and drivers, a new track from the U.S. Le Mans racing series, and advanced artificial intelligence. Le Mans 24 Hours boasts five challenging game styles, 12 real-world tracks and more than 70 licensed vehicles. Le Mans 24 Hours is the only officially licensed game of the 24 Heures du Mans®. Le Mans 24 Hours is currently available at most major retail stores for a suggested retail price of $49.95.
Infogrames’ four new PSOne titles include: Backyard Soccer, the first title of the Backyard Sports franchise to appear on a console system, shipped to most major retail stores this week with a suggested retail price of $19.99; Men In Black: The Series - Crashdown, an action-adventure game based on the enormously popular animated television series, which will be available in mid-November; Nicktoons Racing, wild, high-speed racing action with all of the favorite Nicktoons characters, currently available at most major retail stores for a suggested retail price of $29.99; and Looney Tunes Sheep Raider, the classic sheep-stealing cartoon comes to life with Ralph Wolf™, Sam Sheepdog™ and many other favorite Looney Tunes characters which recently shipped to most major retail stores at a suggested retail price of $19.99.