News Headlines

(For the Week of 7/3/2000)

Midtown Madness 2 Beta Sign-Up

This Friday, July 7, Microsoft will be conducting a contest where you could win the chance to beta test Midtown Madness 2.

Visit the sites below and look for the Midtown Madness 2 Beta Sign Up -- the first 10 people to sign up on each of these sites will be able to participate in the Midtown Madness 2 Beta. In addition, we'll be choosing 50 winners RANDOMLY from the Microsoft sign up page. You'll have many roads to madness!

Crazy enough to spend the day watching for new sign up pages to be available??!! Well then, it just might pay off!

What you'll get:

  • A copy of the Midtown Madness 2 beta and manual
  • Access to the Zone.com beta lobby for multiplayer racing mayhem
  • Access to a private beta-testing newsgroup to provide feedback on the game
  • A copy of Midtown Madness 2 when it ships

Websites to visit:

Good luck!

Logitech Releases New WingMan Force 3D Joystick

FREMONT, Calif. - Logitech, international market leader in human interface devices that define the way people link to information in business, at home and online, announced that it is now shipping a new force feedback joystick, the Logitech WingMan Force 3D.

Force 3D, the most affordable force feedback stick on the market, is available in limited quantities at various retail outlets at a suggested retail price of $59.95. It will soon be available at http://www.logitech.com.

"We have raised the competitive bar to a new level of expert gaming with the WingMan Force 3D joystick," said Ted M. Hoff, vice president and general manager of Logitech's Interactive Gaming Division. "Force 3D redefines price points for high-quality force feedback controllers, and gives gamers an affordable option in a force feedback joystick that doesn't compromise important features and functionality."

With its force feedback technology, Force 3D adds a new level of realism in most games, while its space-saving design helps reduce desktop clutter. It features a lockable twist handle function for accurate rudder control, seven fully programmable buttons, an 8-way hat switch, and a smooth, high-precision throttle.

When using the stick with the included Logitech WingMan software, players can double the number of programmable functions by using the shift button option, create and save customized button functions for their favorite games, print out profiles for a quick reference and even download new game profiles from http://www.logitech.com.

The WingMan Force 3D joystick is easy to set up and use. Its USB interface provides plug-and-play performance with the Windows 98 and Windows 2000 operating systems. With TouchSense technology licensed from Immersion Corporation, force feedback is available in all PC games written to support standard force feedback for joysticks. It comes bundled with Castrol Honda SuperBike World Champions by Midas Interactive Entertainment.

EA Announces F1 Championship Season 2000 for Playstation 2

Electronic Arts the world 's largest interactive entertainment software company announces the forthcoming release of F1 CHAMPIONSHIP Season 2000, for the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system. Featuring all the drama, action, and emotion of the current 2000 season, F1 CHAMPIONSHIP Season 2000 takes the player to the heart of the thrilling world of Formula One racing.

"F1 CHAMPIONSHIP Season 2000 signals the first in a series of next generation Formula One titles from EA SPORTS," said Head of EA's European Studio, Tom Stone. "We have assembled development talent of the highest caliber to produce a supreme racing experience on this exciting new platform."

Taking advantage of the new technological capabilities of PlayStation 2, F1 CHAMPIONSHIP Season 2000 will marry up the critically acclaimed talents of the EA SPORTS F1 2000 PlayStation production team with breathtaking new graphical detail and gameplay options offered by the cutting edge hardware. With in-depth behind the scenes technical support from the Orange Arrows Formula One team never before has the game player been able to enter the world of Formula One racing in such detail and authenticity.

F1 CHAMPIONSHIP Season 2000 features the ground-breaking innovation of a complete pit stop with a full 22 man pit crew. Each crew member was motion captured using a real car and mechanics exclusively from the world record holding Benetton Formula One pit stop team.

"EA SPORTS have captured the intense pressure and organisation involved in completing a pit stop at the pinnacle of motor sport," said Flavio Briatore, Benetton Formula One Team Manager.

Formula One fans will be able to fully immerse themselves in their races with full broadcast presentation. The cameras positioning on the tracks have been directed by Formula One race director Keith McKenzie, the winner of the 1999 FIA award for best Formula One broadcast coverage. Using the PlayStation 2 engine, players will receive genuine broadcast camera replication including on-board camera images as well as pre-race introductions by real life TV presenters such as ITV's Jim Rosenthal (UK), Jean-Louis Moncet (France), Kai Ebel (Germany) and Ivan Cappelli (Italy).

F1 CHAMPIONSHIP Season 2000 boasts stunning graphical environments including uniquely modelled cars from the 2000 season (recreated by an ex-Formula One car designer), and details down to the seats in the grandstands, distinct drivers helmets, visor tear offs, and real-time pit boards. Advanced dynamics intensify the excitement as cars now flip, spin, and crash with the damage and failures truly modelled, so that even the paintwork is stripped from the car!

Accompanying the PlayStation 2 release, F1 CHAMPIONSHIP Season 2000 will be available on three other key platforms in PlayStation, PC and Game Boy Color. This demonstrates EA SPORTS' commitment to the Formula One franchise and maximises the strong communication programmes supporting the product release. More in-depth product information on these formats will be available in the near future.

Archived News
Week of June 26