LADYDRAGON.COM - Shaquille O’Neal is set to grace the cover and act as spokesperson for "NBA Inside Drive 2004

Wednesday May 14, 2003

Shaquille O’Neal is set to grace the cover and act as spokesperson for "NBA Inside Drive 2004

Three-time NBA World Champion Shaquille O’Neal is set to grace the cover and act as spokesperson for "NBA Inside Drive 2004," the newest version of the exclusive Xbox basketball title from Microsoft Game Studios. As part of the new XSN Sports brand, "NBA Inside Drive 2004" offers gamers and hoops fans a chance to take the "rock" to the hole for the best on-court and online competition. O’Neal’s deal with Microsoft Game Studios was announced today at the industry’s annual tradeshow, the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles, California.

Developed by High Voltage Software, "NBA Inside Drive 2004" offers hoopsters an improved AI, more responsive "juke" controls for jaw-dropping one-on-one isolation moves, revamped passing schemes, and defenses that deliver a new level of intensity to stealing and blocking. Additionally, O’Neal’s involvement with "NBA Inside Drive 2004" has inspired the new Power Post Play feature. From power-dunks to hook shots to drop-steps, big-men will finally get the respect they deserve with a series of new low-post moves that will enable gamers to dominate the post just like Shaq.

"Shaquille O’Neal is the final ingredient for ‘NBA Inside Drive’s’ championship formula," said Kevin Browne, sports studio manager at Microsoft Game Studios. "Shaq, XSN Sports, Xbox Live, the Power Post Plays and a Revamped AI form a championship caliber team destined to dominate the basketball landscape."

XSN Sports is changing the way sports gamers compete online and offline. "NBA Inside Drive 2004" will utilize XSN Sports' exclusive and revolutionary technology to unite sports fans and gamers into an intense and competitive basketball gaming community. Acting as the ultimate general manager, hoops fans can control and build leagues with friends, draft players, compete online using Xbox Live and even receive trade proposals on a cell phone or PDA from a centralized website 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 each morning on a virtual sports page. Whether it is on the hardwood, on the playground or online, "NBA Inside Drive 2004" will be looking to win the championship this year.

Using Xbox Live, "NBA Inside Drive 2004" will provide downloadable content, multiple leader boards that enable gamers of different skill levels to compete online, and a new ranking system that gives ballers more ways to track their dominance.

Gamers can once again hear Kevin Calabro, Kenny Smith and Marques Johnson call all the exciting "NBA Inside Drive" action this October.

Xbox (http://www.xbox.com/) is Microsoft’s future-generation video game system that delivers the most powerful games experiences ever. Xbox empowers game artists by giving them the technology to fulfill their creative visions as never before, creating games that blur the lines between fantasy and reality. Xbox is now available in the continents of North America, Europe, Asia and Australia.

Illinois-based High Voltage Software is a full-service production and development studio specializing in video games. Consisting of a diverse and highly skilled team, HVS has created a vast array of titles for multiple platforms in its seven-year history, including Microsoft’s "NBA Inside Drive," "LEGO Racers," "All Star Baseball 2001" and more. Additional information about HVS can be found at http://www.high-voltage.com/.