Electronic Arts Announces the Development of Need for Speed
1 February 1999
Electronic Arts Announces the Development of Need for Speed: High Stakes for the PlayStation
REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--Feb. 1, 1999--
Next Title in the Award-Winning Need For Speed Series
to Deliver a Completely Fresh and Unique Gameplay
Experience with Real Consequences Alongside an Array of
Innovative New Gameplay Features
Electronic Arts(TM) , the world's largest interactive entertainment software company, announces the upcoming release of Need For Speed(TM): High Stakes for the PlayStation(R).
This next highly anticipated title in the popular racing series has been designed so racing enthusiasts will encounter a completely fresh and unique gameplay experience.
Key features to include a new "High Stakes" mode that raises the stakes and consequences of competing in high adrenaline race challenges, a revamped, high intensity "Hot Pursuit" mode, a broad range of licensed sports and supercars, a game economy that allows for car purchases, upgrades and modification, visible and punitive car damage, eight new tracks and stunning special effects and graphics. The game is currently under development for a spring '99 release.
"We are very excited about the potential of this game," says Hanno Lemke, senior producer of the Need For Speed series.
"Like its predecessor, we're confident that Need For Speed: High Stakes will set new standards in the racing genre as a result of the "High Stakes" mode, coupled with the other exciting new gameplay features, awesome special effects and heightened level of realism and car detail we've been able to incorporate into the title."
Need For Speed: High Stakes will offer an array of distinguishable new gameplay features that will cater to racing enthusiasts of all types. Key features to include:
-- "High Stakes" mode provides the ultimate challenge in an intense
head-to-head duel, by challenging players to bet one of their
highly prized cars against one another. Adding to the intensity,
the cars waged will be those that the players have earned and
customized in previous races. The winner takes possession of the
other player's car via memory card.
-- "Hot Pursuit" mode is revamped with new and improved features
including the ability to be the police -- or conversely, the
object of the police chases. Players choose from an assortment of
performance cars or pursuit vehicles with ongoing real-time cop
chatter from the police scanner to alert players of the state of
the chase.
-- "Tournament and special events" mode to feature an economic
system in which racers earn money by competing in more than 12
unique tournaments and special events, use their winnings to
purchase new exotics, repair damaged cars, as well as upgrade and
modify supercars into their dream cars.
-- Multiple licensed sports and supercars as well as a range of
pursuit vehicles in Hot Pursuit mode:
- BMW M5(TM)(includes a version in police trim)
- BMW Z3(TM)
- Ferrari 550 Maranello(TM)
- Ferrari F50(TM)
- Lamborghini Diablo SV(TM)(includes a version in police trim)
- Chevrolet(TM) Corvette(TM)C5 (includes a version in police trim)
- Pontiac(TM) Firebird(TM)T/A
- Chevrolet(TM) Camaro(TM)Z28
- Mercedes(TM) CLK(TM)GTR
- Mercedes(TM) SLK(TM)230
- McLaren F1 GTR
- Jaguar(TM) XKR(TM)
- Aston Martin DB7
- Chevrolet(TM) Caprice(TM)in police trim
-- Additional car news to be announced shortly.
-- Detailed graphics and realistic special effects -- visible and
punitive car damage that will affect driving performance, modeled
car interiors with visible drivers in both player and opponent
cars, reverse lights, turn signals, hazard lights, customizable
license plates, varying weather conditions, oncoming traffic and
day/night time driving with headlights, to name a few.
-- Random track events -- Artificial Intelligence will generate
random events on the roadway, which will require the player to
react quickly to avoid obstacles that weren't there on previous
laps.
-- Eight uniquely themed open road tracks.
Need For Speed: High Stakes for the PlayStation will be available in late March. The game will carry an "E" Everyone ESRB rating. More information on Need For Speed can be found on the EA product Web site: http://www.needforspeed.com.
Electronic Arts, headquartered in Redwood City, 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.
Electronic Arts markets its products under seven brand names: Electronic Arts, EA SPORTS(TM), Maxis(TM), Origin Systems(TM), Bullfrog(TM) Productions, Ltd., Westwood Studios(TM) and Jane's(R) Combat Simulations. More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://www.ea.com.
Note to Editors: Electronic Arts, EA SPORTS, ORIGIN Systems, Maxis, Bullfrog 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. used under license. Ferrari, Ferrari F50, Ferrari 550 Maranello, all associated logos, and the Ferrari F50 and Ferrari 550 Maranello distinctive designs are trademarks of Ferrari S.p.A. The word "Jaguar", the leaping cat device and the characters XKR are trademarks of JAGUAR CARS LTD, ENGLAND and are used under license. Chevrolet, Corvette, Caprice, Camaro, Z-28, Pontiac, Firebird, T/A, Emblems and Vehicle Model Body Designs are General Motors Trademarks used under license to Electronic Arts Inc. "Mercedes", "Mercedes Benz", "CLK" and "SLK" are trademarks of Daimler-Benz AG. Automobili Lamborghini, Diablo SV, and all associated logos are trademarks of Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. Aston Martin DB7 used under license from Aston Martin Lagonda Limited. McLaren, McLaren F1 GTR, and all associated logos are trademarks of McLaren Cars N.V. BMW, Z3, and M5 are trademarks of BMW AG. PlayStation is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
