Electronic Arts Ships Need for Speed III
23 September 1998
Electronic Arts Ships Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit for the PC
SAN MATEO, Calif.--Sept. 23, 1998--Highly Anticipated PC version of Top-Selling PlayStation Racing Title Offers Pumped Up High Speed Cop Chases, New Exotic Supercars Including Free Downloadable Cars, Stunning 3-D Graphics and Multiplayer Support
Electronic Arts(TM) , the world's largest interactive entertainment software company, announces the release of its highly anticipated Need For Speed(TM) III: Hot Pursuit for the PC, the latest entry in the popular, adrenaline-pumping racing franchise.
Need For Speed III, a top-selling title launched on the PlayStation(R) earlier this year, returns redesigned for the PC with many key new components. Such features include an expanded "chase or be chased" Hot Pursuit mode where players can now play as the police, multiple exotic supercars with unlimited color customization options, free downloadable cars, breathtaking 3-D graphics and multiplayer support.
Players can attempt to outrun the Need For Speed police cars or drive one of two specialized patrol vehicles to chase high speed racers -- either human and/or Artificial Intelligence (AI) opponents in the game's new Hot Pursuit mode. Each of the AI competitors, including the cop cars, display distinct personalities and will react differently under varying circumstances.
For example, police will set up road blocks and tire spikes depending on how persistent the racer is in escaping the law, while competitors -- if aggravated and/or challenged -- will increase speed, aggression, cornering, blocking and honking.
Whereas the PlayStation version offered eight supercars, racers can now zoom down the open road in a choice of thirteen different licensed exotics that are created from exact manufacturer specifications.
The cars, some with top speeds over 200 m.p.h. and prices as high as $1 million include: Ferrari 355F1 Spider(TM), Ferrari 550 Maranello(TM), Aston Martin DB7, Mercedes(TM) SL 600(TM), Jaguar(TM) XK8(TM), ITALDESIGN(TM) Scighera(TM), Lamborghini Diablo SV(TM), Lamborghini Countach 25th(TM), Jaguar XJR-15(TM), Mercedes CLK (TM) GTR, Chevrolet(TM) Corvette(R), as well as a pursuit versions of the Chevrolet Corvette(R) and Lamborghini Diablo SV.
Each of the cars is supported by a slide show containing photos of their real life counterparts, a 360-degree panning virtual reality interior camera, and respective specifications such as: weight, torque, horsepower, top speed, acceleration and braking performance, engine type, handling characteristics and manufacturer development history (issue with mph).
Capitalizing on the PC's added capabilities, the game allows players to launch directly to the NFS web site to periodically download additional supercars. There is also detailed information on the site including car specifications, photos, cheats, screenshots and more.
Additionally, real-time lighting and reflective mapping on the cars coupled with full stunning 3-D graphics support significantly adds another level of detail and richness to the overall racing environment. For instance, players will encounter blowing leaves, rain splattering on the windshield, and be able to see reflections of the environments shimmering off of the cars.
Other features include eight real-world tracks, which are now rendered in higher resolution and detail; and a total of four different gameplay modes with multiple options.
The tracks, all of which can be raced backwards or in mirror mode (left turns become right and vice versa), take on a new thrill through the variety of in-game special effects, such as police lights that cast a red and blue glow onto the roadway during a chase; night time driving complete with high and low beams; rain that sprays off the tires; and selectable weather conditions that affect driving conditions enhanced with thunder and lightening effects.
Racers can engage in three other modes: "single race" where the player competes in one race to the finish against one or a group of opponents; "tournament" in which the player must win each race in order to advance, with an ultimate goal of accessing additional cars; and "knock out" where a player must avoid placing last in order to stay in the race, and eventually win the bonus track.
In "single race," players can select an in-game tutor with navigator speech with on-screen arrows for negotiating turns, as well as the option where the player can choose to have pylons placed on the road to identify the best route and measure their success at navigating the course.
Players can pre-select four camera views -- including a dashboard view featuring working gauges -- from a total of six different view points, as well as customizing their cars with multiple tuning options such as adjusting gear ratios, suspension stiffness, engine power, aerodynamics, brake settings, tire type and selecting between racing skill levels.
Multiplayer capabilities include up to eight players via LAN, as well as head-to-head modes with serial link, modem-to-modem and split screen. The game also features force feedback support.
Need For Speed III: Hot Pursuit for the PC is available for a MSRP of US $49.95 and has an "E" ESRB rating.
Electronic Arts (EA), headquartered in San Mateo, Calif., is the world's leading interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, Electronic Arts posted revenues of $909 million for fiscal 1998. The company develops, publishes and distributes software worldwide for personal computers and advanced entertainment systems such as the PlayStation and Nintendo(R) 64.
Electronic Arts markets its products under seven brand names: Electronic Arts, EA SPORTS(TM), Maxis(TM) , Origin Systems(TM) Inc., Bullfrog(TM) Productions Ltd., Westwood Studios(TM) and Jane's(R) Combat Simulations. EA has international subsidiaries and distribution in more than 75 countries worldwide.
The company has eleven major development operations located throughout the world based in San Mateo, Irvine and Walnut Creek, Calif.; Baltimore, Md.; Austin, Texas; Maitland, Fla; Seattle, Wash.; Las Vegas, Nev.; Vancouver, British Columbia; the United Kingdom and Japan. More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://www.ea.com.
Minimum Requirements: Windows 95/98, 166 MHz Pentium or compatible (Intel, Cyrix, AMD) or 133 MHz Pentium with graphics acceleration card, 90MB free space for game plus space for saved games (additional space required for DirectX installation), 16MB RAM, 4x CD-ROM drive (600KB/second transfer rate) with Windows 95/98 CD-ROM driver, DirectX 5.0 or higher, high color (65,536 color) capable 1MB PCI video card with DirectDraw compatible driver, keyboard.
Supported Input Devices: Any DirectInput compatible gaming devices supported by Windows 95/98, including force feedback. Required for multiplayer: network (2-8 players): 200 MHz CPU or faster, IPX compliant network, 1 CD per computer unless using Remote install option -- modem (2 player): Windows 95/98 supported 28.8 Kps or faster modem. High speed serial port (16550 UART) -- serial play (2 player): null modem cable; high speed serial port (16550 UART), 32MB RAM.
Recommended: Pentium 200 MHz Pentium or compatible (Intel, Cyrix, AMD), 110MB free space for game plus space for saved games, 32MB RAM, 3Dfx graphics accelerator card, 16-bit sound card with DirectX compatible sound driver, mouse, any DirectInput compatible gaming devices supported by Windows 95/98, including force feedback., 32-bit Window 95/98 CD-ROM driver, AGP or at least 8MB on-card memory (12MB for Voodoo2) required for dash boards in 3-D accelerated mode.
Note to Editors: Electronic Arts, EA SPORTS, ORIGIN Systems, Maxis, Bullfrog, Westwood Studios and Need For Speed are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts or its wholly-owned subsidiaries in the U.S. and/or other countries. Jane's is a registered trademark of Jane's Information Group, Ltd. Ferrari, Ferrari 355 F1 Spider, Ferrari 550 Maranello, are trademarks of Ferrari S.p.A. The word "Jaguar" and the characters XK8 are trademarks of JAGUAR CARS LTD, ENGLAND and are used under license. Chevrolet, Corvette are General Motors Trademarks used under license to Electronic Arts Inc. "Mercedes" and "CLK" are trademarks of Daimler-Benz AG. Automobili Lamborghini, Diablo SV and Countach 25th are trademarks of Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. Aston Martin DB7 used under license from Aston Martin Lagonda Limited. Scighera, ITALDESIGN, and all associated logos are trademarks of ITALDESIGN S.p.A. PlayStation is a trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Nintendo 64 is a trademark of Nintendo of America In. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
