SEGA Unveils Sonic Rivals Dashing Onto The PSP(TM) System
Original Sonic Game Offers Lively Head-to-Head Competition
SAN FRANCISCO & LONDON (May 3, 2006) --
SEGA® of America, Inc. and SEGA® Europe Ltd. today announced
the development of Sonic Rivals exclusively for the
PSP (PlayStation®Portable) system. Sonic Rivals is a
head-to-head competition between Sonic and his top rivals,
where the gloves are off and winner takes all! Built from the
ground-up, the engine allows gamers to rip through tracks in
some high-spirited single player and wireless multiplayer
action against friends as Sonic returns in a whole new
racing-platformer with classic 2D gameplay in true 3D
environments for gamers on the go.
What starts as a friendly competition between Sonic and
Knuckles quickly intensifies as Shadow and other rivals jump
into the action. Sonic Rivals allows gamers to utilize boost
moves and power-ups to trip, shove, and vault over each other
while hurtling towards the finish line at breakneck speeds.
Players will negotiate wildly twisting 3D tracks while
avoiding the insidious Dr. Eggman and his myriad of hazardous
traps and contraptions.
"Sonic Rivals brings back the classic 2D platform gameplay
that started it all, and douses it with vibrant
three-dimensional environments," said Scott A. Steinberg,
Vice President of Marketing, SEGA of America, Inc. "In this
heated rivalry, gamers are tested to prove not only who's the
fastest but who has the best head-to-head gameplay
strategy."
In Sonic Rivals, gamers can play as one of four different
characters from the Sonic Universe, each with separate fast
and winding storylines. In addition, the extensive rewards
system, which is based on collecting trading cards, allows
players to customize their favorite characters. Connect via
wireless to race against a friend, and put trading cards on
the line for even more multiplayer challenges.
Debuting on the SEGA Genesis in 1991, Sonic The Hedgehog is
one of the world's best-selling and most recognizable video
game franchises and character. More than 44 million units
later, the beloved blue hedgehog celebrates his 15th
anniversary this year.
Sonic Rivals is slated for release in Fall 2006 and developed
by the Vancouver-based studio of Backbone Entertainment, a
division of Foundation 9 Entertainment. For more information
on SEGA's Road to E3, please visit www.sega.com/e3. For screenshots and artwork,
please visit the SEGA FTP site at: http://segapr.segaamerica.com.
About SEGA® of America, Inc.
SEGA® of America, Inc. is the American Publishing arm of
Tokyo, Japan-based SEGA® Corporation, a worldwide leader in
interactive entertainment both inside and outside the home.
The company develops, publishes and distributes interactive
entertainment software products for a variety of hardware
platforms including PC, wireless devices, and those
manufactured by Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony Computer
Entertainment Inc. The SEGA® of America, Inc. Web site is
located at www.SEGA.com.
About SEGA® Europe Ltd.
SEGA® Europe Ltd. is the European Publishing arm of Tokyo,
Japan-based SEGA® Corporation, and a worldwide leader in
interactive entertainment both inside and outside the home.
The company develops, publishes and distributes interactive
entertainment software products for a variety of hardware
platforms including PC, wireless devices, and those
manufactured by Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony Computer
Entertainment Europe. The SEGA® Europe Ltd. Web site is
located at www.sega-europe.com.
Backbone Entertainment
Part of Foundation 9 Entertainment (www.F9E.com), the largest independent game
developer in North America, Backbone specializes in
developing original and licensed IP for all platforms and
creating merchandising opportunities in diversified
entertainment genres. Backbone is based in Emeryville, CA,
Vancouver, BC, and Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island and
can be found on the web at: www.backboneentertainment.com.
Backbone, along with The Collective, Pipeworks, ImaginEngine,
and Digital Eclipse make up Foundation 9 Entertainment. The
company's studios have developed more than 300 titles,
including more than 40 in 2005 alone. Foundation 9
Entertainment employs more than 350 employees, and has
offices in Newport Beach, Emeryville, Vancouver, Boston,
Eugene, Charlottetown and Honolulu. For more information on
Foundation 9 Entertainment, please visit: www.F9E.com.
Contacts:
Dana Whitney
One PR Studio
(510) 893-3271
dana@oneprstudio.com
Lynn Daniel
SEGA Europe Ltd.
+44 (0) 20 8995 3399
DanielL@soe.sega.co.uk