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Electronic Arts Unleashes Porsche in Its Latest Need for Speed Game

30 March 2000

Electronic Arts Unleashes Porsche in Its Latest Need for Speed Game; Highly Anticipated Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed Ships for the PC and PlayStation Game Console System

    REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--March 29, 2000--Start your engines... Electronic Arts today announced the release of Need for Speed(TM): Porsche(R) Unleashed which will give racing enthusiasts the green light to get behind the wheel of a huge collection of Porsches from the storied car manufacturer's extensive and celebrated lineup.
    With a history spanning over 50 years, Porsche AG has handed over the keys to Electronic Arts to provide players the opportunity to race its cars from the classic 356(R) Roadster to the uber speedy 2000 911(R) Turbo. In addition to the highly coveted Porsche AG license, the game will feature inspired new tracks and dazzling environments. This latest entry to the award-winning Need for Speed series is now available for the PC and the PlayStation* game console system.
    Porsche AG offers a truly unique perspective into the progression of auto manufacturing and driving expertise. With more than 80 road and race cars available for the PC and 70 for the PlayStation, players can take the wheel of their favorite Porsche and either floor it through the city streets or put the top down and cruise along a deserted country road.
    Courses in Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed are sure to excite even the most experienced driver. The PC version features nine highly detailed European open road tracks, as well as five closed circuit racetracks that allow gamers the freedom to take alternate routes and short cuts with the ability to fly through road intersections and off ramps. From the Highlands in Scotland to Industrial Japan, the PlayStation version offers multiple routes and closed circuit racetracks as well. Intense racing in five different countries produces the greatest variability in environments ever seen in any Need for Speed game.
    In addition to impressive graphics, Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed incorporates dynamic weather effects such as rain and snow that will severely impact a car's handling. The PC version of the game also features interactive 3D cockpits and dashboards that can be illuminated for night driving. Realistic driver animations allow you to see your driver kick it into reverse to get out of a sticky situation. In both versions, reckless drivers will be able to view their cars' physical damage and feel the effects in the way the cars handle.
    Gamers can push their cars to the limit in two completely new gameplay modes. Factory Driver mode allows drivers to become part of the Porsche Factory Driving Team. As part of the team, they must guide their cars through various missions in order to earn new and different cars, improve driving skills and cope with challenging situations such as dodging traffic on the open road.
    Porsche Evolution is a deeper career mode that takes place in a working economy with simulated supply and demand, as well as inflation and depreciation. In the PC version of the game, players can accrue new cars and modify them as their driving skills and finishing times improve. Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed also includes a quick race mode for instant thrills and white-knuckled excitement, as well as an impressive multi-player mode which has become a favorite among fans of the series.
    PlayStation multiplayer will feature split-screen head-to-head racing and boasts four player racing via multi-tap support, the first time ever for a Need For Speed game. The multiplayer version for the PC is supported through modem and LAN connections.
    Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed is developed and published by Electronic Arts in North America. The game offers an ESRB rating of "E" for "Everyone" and an MSRP of US$39.95 (PC) and US$39.95 (PlayStation).
    For more information on Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed and the Need for Speed series, visit the official website at: www.needforspeed.com
    Minimum system requirements are Windows(R) 95 or Windows 98 (Windows NT is not supported), 200 MHz or faster Intel(R) Pentium(R) MMX, Cyrix M2 or AMD(R) processor, 32MB Win 95/98, 4x or faster CD-ROM/DVD drive (600K/second transfer rate) using 32-bit Windows 95/98 driver, 150 MB free hard disk space plus space for saved games, Windows swap-file, and DirectX(tm) 7 installation, hardware accelerated D3D compatible 4MB video card with DirectDraw(TM) compatible driver and a sound card with DirectSound(TM) support.
    Recommended requirements are 300 MHz or faster Pentium processor, 64MB RAM, 8x or faster CD-ROM/DVD drive (1200K/second transfer rate) using 32-bit Windows 95/98 driver, 8MB PCI or AGP 3-D graphics accelerator using 3dfx or Direct3D compatible chipset, force feedback input device. (Note: Windows 2000 is also supported.)
    Required for multiplayer games: 266 MHz or faster Pentium processor, 64MB RAM, 8x or faster CD-ROM/DVD drive (1200K/second transfer rate) using 32-bit Windows 95/98 driver, 8MB PCI or AGP 3-D graphics accelerator using 3dfx or Direct3D compatible chipset.

    About Electronic Arts

    Electronic Arts, headquartered in Redwood City, Calif., is the world's leading interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, Electronic Arts posted revenues of more than $1.2 billion for fiscal 1999. The company develops, publishes and distributes software worldwide for personal computers and video game systems.
    Electronic Arts markets its products under eight brand names: Electronic Arts(TM), EA SPORTS(TM), Maxis(TM), ORIGIN(TM), Bullfrog(TM) Productions, Westwood Studios(TM), Gonzo Games(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

    Note to Editors: Electronic Arts, EA SPORTS, ORIGIN, Bullfrog, Maxis, Gonzo Games, Westwood Studios and Need For Speed are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts in the U.S. and/or other countries. Jane's is a registered trademark of Jane's Information Group, Ltd. Licensed from Dr. Ing h.c.F. Porsche AG under certain Patents. All Rights Reserved. PlayStation is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.