LADYDRAGON.COM - Sega Brings Sonic The Hedgehog and First Online Network Game to NINTENDO GAMECUBE

Thursday August 23, 2001

Sega Brings Sonic The Hedgehog and First Online Network Game to NINTENDO GAMECUBE

Sega Makes Video Game History With the Debut of Sonic Adventure 2, Phantasy Star Online and Other Top Games for the NINTENDO GAMECUBE(TM)

Sega(R) today announced that its world famous blue hedgehog, Sonic The Hedgehog(R), will dash onto the NINTENDO GAMECUBE(TM) in a special edition of "Sonic Adventure(TM) 2" (working title). Sega also announced that it plans to release the first online network-playable game available for the NINTENDO GAMECUBE system, "Phantasy Star Online(TM)" (working title). The announcements were made at Nintendo's Space World event in Tokyo, where Sega will demonstrate eight titles for the NINTENDO GAMECUBE and Game Boy(R) Advance video game systems, marking another milestone in the company's plan to bring its top-selling content and franchises to all video game platforms.

"Sega is making video game history with the announcement of `Sonic Adventure 2' for Nintendo GameCube," said Peter Moore, president and COO, Sega of America. "By bringing Sonic to Nintendo's platforms, Sega is delivering one of the world's most popular video game properties of all time to an even greater number of gamers worldwide. Continuing Sega's tradition of innovation, Sega also plans to be the first to deliver online gameplay to Nintendo GameCube with `Phantasy Star Online.'"

    Sonic The Hedgehog has been featured in more than 11 titles for different Sega gaming platforms and has sold upwards of 20 million copies in cumulative units over the past ten years. A leading icon in the video game industry, Sonic has starred in three TV animated series, his own comic book and was the first video game character to appear as a float in the Macy(R)'s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Phantasy Star Online, the first online global role playing game (RPG), has attracted more than 300,000 online registrants and been honored with 14 awards worldwide since its launch less than one year ago.
    Sega titles demonstrated at "Nintendo Space World 2001" for the NINTENDO GAMECUBE include "Sonic Adventure 2" for NINTENDO GAMECUBE (working title), "Phantasy Star Online" for NINTENDO GAMECUBE (working title), "Super Monkey Ball(TM)" and "Virtua Striker(TM) 3 Ver. 2002" (working title). For the Game Boy Advance, Sega demonstrated "Sonic Advance" (working title), "Columns Crown(TM)," and "Puyo Puyo(TM)." A title from the "Sakura Wars" series was demonstrated for the Game Boy(R) hand-held gaming system.

    About Sega

    Sega(R) of America is the American arm of Tokyo-based Sega Corp., responsible for the development, marketing and distribution of Sega video game systems and video games in the Americas. Sega Corp. is a nearly $2.5 billion company recognized as the industry leader in interactive digital entertainment media, offering interactive entertainment experiences both inside and outside the home. Sega of America's World Wide Web site is located at www.sega.com.

    About Nintendo

    Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, is the acknowledged worldwide leader in the creation of interactive entertainment. To date, Nintendo has sold more than one billion video games worldwide, has created such industry icons as Mario(R) and Donkey Kong(R) and launched franchises like The Legend of Zelda(R) and Pokemon. Nintendo manufactures and markets hardware and software for its popular home video game systems, including the Nintendo 64 and Game Boy -- the world's best-selling video game system. As a wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo's operations in North America.