Delivering More Than 20 Games Across All New Next-Generation Consoles, SEGA Shows its Strength as a Content Publisher

SAN FRANCISCO - (May 1, 2002) - Illustrating its power as a platform-agnostic content publisher, SEGA of America, Inc. today announced its lineup of more than 20 entertainment and sports games to be unveiled at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). Featuring titles for the Nintendo GameCube, PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system and the Xbox video game system from Microsoft, this year's E3 lineup reinforces SEGA's commitment to delivering industry-leading content across all platforms.

"SEGA is proud to announce this exciting lineup of quality content across all platforms after just over one year as a platform-agnostic content publisher," said Peter Moore, president and COO, SEGA of America, Inc. "With a string of recent hits including Sonic Adventure 2 Battle, SEGA Sports NBA 2K2 and Virtua Fighter 4, and a first-class lineup of entertainment and SEGA Sports titles slated for release this year, it is clear that SEGA is quickly establishing itself as a leading global content provider."

This year at E3, SEGA will feature entertainment titles including:

* Shinobi (PlayStation 2): Shinobi returns, hunted by demons, haunted by the dead and hindered by the very rage that spurs him on in this latest installment of one of SEGA's most revered action franchises. Players take the role of Hotsuma as he battles through the demon-filled streets of a post-apocalyptic Tokyo, running on walls, summoning Ninja magic and mastering an arsenal of ancient weaponry on a quest to avenge his clan. Available this fall.

* Super Monkey Ball 2 (Nintendo GameCube): SEGA is on a roll! Hot on the heels of the runaway success of the original Super Monkey Ball, the ultimate party game is back. Jam-packed with more than 150 stages, a new story mode and 12 addictive party-games, Super Monkey Ball 2 delivers the ultimate in addictive multiplayer action. Available this fall.

* ToeJam & Earl III: All Funked Up (Xbox): After 10 years of chillin', the original alien duo from Funkotron has returned. ToeJam, Big Earl and their new partner-in-funk Latisha are on a mission to retrieve the 12 sacred Albums of Funk that have been stolen by the ever-so-unfunky Earthlings. In the Xbox exclusive ToeJam & Earl III: All Funked Up, gamers explore randomly generated worlds, collect present power-ups of almost endless variety, play mini-games, use Funk-Fu and generally get down with their bad selves in a rhythm-filled, off-the-wall adventure. Available this fall.

* Panzer Dragoon Orta (Xbox): Years ago, a legacy was born that ruled the skies. This fall, the Dragon will rise again. Gamers take to the skies aboard their own dragon for intense aerial combat through 10 branching stages as they battle to save humanity from the brink of extinction. Dragons morph in real time, allowing players to constantly change their fighting styles as they master devastating techniques that influence both the action and the storyline in this thrilling Xbox exclusive. Available this fall.

* Crazy Taxi 3: High Roller (Xbox): The king of crazy driving games is back and taking to the streets of Glitter Oasis with new cars, new drivers and new thrills. Whether it's making crazy money, conquering the new batch of mini-game challenges or trying out new tricks in the completely overhauled West Coast and Small Apple levels, Crazy Taxi 3: High Roller guarantees the best odds to beat the house. Available this summer.

* SEGA GT 2002 (Xbox): Prepare for the definitive car racing simulation. SEGA GT 2002 features more than 125 classic and contemporary high performance vehicles, which were created using the exact handling and performance specifications from their real-life counterparts. Players can fill their garage with tricked-out cars and trophies as they race their way through the SEGA GT circuit. Classic car buffs can also drool over Chronicle Mode where they can take to the streets in the hottest muscle cars from the '60s, '70s and '80s. Available this fall.

* The House of the Dead III (Xbox): Prepare for the ultimate in horror. In The House of the Dead III, players will battle the undead as they explore a post-apocalyptic wasteland. Gamers can shoot up the undead as they travel different routes and advance the storyline, uncovering new secrets and hidden areas along the way. Available this fall.

* Beach Spikers (Nintendo GameCube): Bump! Set! SPIKE! SEGA's Beach Spikers delivers intense beach volleyball action for up to four players and showcases beautiful female athletes as they battle it out under the fierce summer sun. Gamers will have to cooperate and compete as they take control of bikini-clad beauties and go two-on-two at the net. Available this summer.

* "Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II (Nintendo GameCube): The award-winning Phantasy Star Online sparked a gaming phenomenon, and is now coming to Nintendo GameCube with all-new gameplay modes and exclusive new features. New character classes, weapons, enemies, items and quests are only a portion of the new content waiting to be discovered. Episode I delivers all the action from PSO Ver.2, while Episode II offers an exclusive new full-length adventure. The evolution of the original revolutionary gaming experience continues. Available this fall.

* Gungrave (PlayStation 2): Gungrave casts gamers as Grave, a dark hero who fights alone to annihilate a mysterious criminal organization that controls the city. With over-the-top action sequences ripped straight from intense Japanese animated films, Gungrave delivers some of the fastest, most stylish action to ever grace a console. Employing twin handguns and a huge coffin as weapons, players fight their way through six intense varied stages, destroying everything in their way. Available this fall.

* SEGA Bass Fishing Duel (PlayStation 2): SEGA Bass Fishing Duel focuses on fun, carefully balancing the addictive arcade gameplay from the original hit game with an added level of realism, including real-life lakes and their complete ecologies. Players can go head-to-head against other armchair anglers in new Tournament competitions or play against AI opponents that are more than happy to motor out on to the lake and challenge gamers to go bass for bass in a fishing tournament. Available this fall.

* Ferrari F355 Challenge (PlayStation 2): Racing fanatics, Ferrari lovers and speed-junkies unite! Ferrari F355 Challenge provides everything players need to push the limits of the awesome Ferrari F355 on the world's fastest racetracks. Even amateur drivers can get up to speed using the unique Assist function to hone their skills step-by-step. Available this fall. (Game not yet concept approved.)

SEGA Sports will also feature titles including:

* SEGA Sports NFL 2K3 (PlayStation 2, Xbox, Nintendo GameCube): The series that redefined the conventions of football gaming returns for a brand new season, with a totally revamped franchise mode, drastically improved AI, and brilliant new graphics featuring redesigned 3D stadiums, updated player and facial models, and hundreds of new animations. SEGA Sports NFL 2K3 is the cure for gridiron fans everywhere, whether your squad happens to be the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots, or the expansion Houston Texans. Available this fall.

* SEGA Sports NBA 2K3 (PlayStation 2, Xbox, Nintendo GameCube): SEGA Sports will once again establish new levels of realism and entertainment in the basketball genre. Building on its critically acclaimed roots, the ultimate hoops simulation, which brought relentlessly authentic gameplay to basketball fans, steps onto the court for another year with hundreds of new animations including highlight-reel dunks and fancy dribble moves, redesigned player models and arenas, and a revamped street mode. Available this fall.

* SEGA Sports NHL 2K3 (PlayStation 2, Xbox, Nintendo GameCube): Building upon the acclaimed NHL 2K series, SEGA Sports is proud to bring to the passionate hockey fan the next level of authenticity in hockey video games - NHL 2K3. Highly adaptive AI and a variety of new gameplay options, including advanced line controls and a redesigned franchise mode, defines this fast-paced game, which brings the player closer to the ice than any hockey title ever before. Available this fall.

* SEGA Sports NCAA College Football 2K3 (PlayStation 2, Xbox, Nintendo GameCube): College football is about tradition, pageantry and the purity of the game. SEGA Sports NCAA College Football 2K3 embodies all of those things, as this year's game features dramatic improvements including new player models, completely redesigned stadiums, all 25 official BCS bowls and a revamped Legacy mode where gamers can recruit key high-school stars and compare lifetime records against other collegiate programs in the historical rankings system. Available this fall.

* SEGA Sports World Series Baseball (Xbox): SEGA Sports World Series Baseball delivers authentic baseball action in dazzling graphical detail, while a deep and innovative franchise mode lets you control complete player movement and management transactions, providing enough stats data for the most hardcore fan of America's National Pastime. Featuring the new Cooperstown Collection License, which lets you play as or against 25 legendary ballplayers, and classic uniforms for all 30 Major League teams, SEGA Sports World Series Baseball provides the ultimate in baseball simulation. Available this summer.