LADYDRAGON.COM - Hockey Great Steve Yzerman Joins Microsoft’s Top Line

Wednesday May 14, 2003

Hockey Great Steve Yzerman Joins Microsoft’s Top Line

- Detroit Red Wings® Captain Signs New Deal to be on the Cover of "NHL Rivals 2004™" -

He’s dominated the international hockey scene, the NHL® and the Olympics. Today at the interactive entertainment industry’s annual tradeshow, the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles, Detroit Red Wing Steve Yzerman will lace up his skates to battle for hockey supremacy in the video game world. The longest serving captain in NHL history will guide Microsoft Game Studios’ first hockey title for the Xbox video game system, "NHL Rivals 2004™." Yzerman will grace the cover and serve as spokesperson for the featured hockey title in the new XSN Sports brand.

The three-time Stanley Cup Champ is one of only six NHL players to net 60 goals in consecutive seasons. Yzerman has totaled more than 1,600 points and 600 goals in 20 NHL seasons and won his first Olympic gold medal with Team Canada at the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City.

"Steve Yzerman is one of the most respected and winningest players in hockey and we are excited that he will be the face of ‘NHL Rivals 2004’," said Kevin Browne, sports studio manager at Microsoft Game Studios. "As a new entry into the hockey category, Yzerman’s input on ‘NHL Rivals 2004’ development, is sure to make it a true competitive force in the hockey category."

XSN Sports is changing the way sports gamers compete online and offline. "NHL Rivals 2004" will utilize XSN Sports’ exclusive and revolutionary technology to unite sports fans and gamers into an intense and competitive hockey gaming community. Acting as the ultimate general manager, hockey fans can control and build hockey leagues and tournaments with friends and compete online using Xbox Live and www.XSNsports.com. This new web based technology, exclusive to XSN Sports titles, will allow gamers to view their league’s up-to-date scores, standings and stats on a virtual sports page. Whether it is on the pond, on the ice or online, "NHL Rivals 2004" will be looking to hoist the Cup this year.

In addition, "NHL Rivals 2004," as part of the XSN Sports brand, will showcase a variety of new in-game features including an advanced face-off system with unique moves and countermoves, an in-depth Tournament Mode allowing gamers to set up round-robin knockout tournaments and a challenging Rivalry Mode that instantly puts gamers into a grudge match between historic rival teams.

"NHL Rivals 2004" is scheduled to hit store shelves in the Fall. It will be Xbox Live enabled and a featured title in the XSN Sports brand.