| 2/6/01 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NHL FACEOFF 2001 FOR THE PLAYSTATION 2 COMPUTER
ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM SKATES INTO STORES Popular Hockey Franchise Makes Its Debut for
Revolutionary PlayStation 2 FOSTER CITY, Calif., February 6, 2001 – Sony
Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) Inc. announced today that the newest
member of its highly-touted hockey videogame series, NHL FaceOff 2001, is now
available for the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system. Modeled after
true-to-life hockey physics, NHL FaceOff 2001 utilizes the power of the
PlayStation 2 to provide consumers with blazing gameplay and responsive player
controls. Gamers can also play as or against a team of hockey legends
comprised of 13 NHL greats including "Mr. Hockey " Gordie Howe ,
Bobby Hull, Phil Esposito and Marcel Dionne, a feature exclusive to NHL
FaceOff 2001 for PlayStation 2. "We are thrilled to bring the fastest and
most responsive NHL hockey action to the PlayStation 2 sports
enthusiast," said Ami Blaire, director, product marketing, Sony Computer
Entertainment America Inc. "Incorporating the finest elements of the
FaceOff franchise, NHL FaceOff 2001 for the PlayStation 2 will please fans of
the series and new gamers alike with exclusive features such as the 989 Sports
NHL Legends team." With more than 1,000 intricately-detailed
animations, NHL FaceOff 2001 boasts five times the animations as its
counterpart for the PlayStation game console, offering more than 500 skater
and 180 goalie animations that offer gamers a true sense of what it is like to
skate with the best. NHL FaceOff 2001 includes the most updated rosters of all
30 NHL teams, including the expansion Minnesota Wild and Columbus Blue
Jackets. Gamers can also track individual and team stats and compete for any
of 15 NHL awards, including the Hart Memorial, Art Ross, Vezina, Conn Smythe,
Presidents and the highly-coveted Stanley Cup. In addition, a series of new features affords
gamers the opportunity to build and manage their team before the puck is even
dropped. The FaceOff 2001 Draft Mode lets gamers build their own teams from
scratch and battle for the Stanley Cup. Players can utilize the line manager
to organize their teams into four forward lines, three defensive pairs, two
five-man power play lines, two four-man power play lines, two four-man penalty
killing units, a shootout lineup and two extra attackers. Finally, a new
Practice Mode allows players to sharpen their skating, passing, checking and
scoring skills before taking to the ice against an official opponent. When ready, gamers can choose from several
additional play modes including Exhibition, Season, Tournament and Shootout.
NHL FaceOff 2001 is built for one or two players and can accommodate up to
eight players with the aid of the multitap(for PlayStation 2). New Jersey Devils play-by-play announcer Mike
Emrick and hockey analyst Darren Pang return to call the exciting game action.
Combined with an astonishingly lifelike game environment complete with crowd
chants and hit songs from real-life artists, NHL FaceOff 2001 gives gamers a
front-row seat to the best hockey action available for PlayStation 2. NHL FaceOff 2001 features Toronto Maple Leafs
goaltender Curtis Joseph on the package. NHL FaceOff 2001 for the PlayStation 2 Computer
Entertainment System Key Features: – -Every player and team for the 2000-2001 season
is included – even the Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild, plus eight
international teams -Play as or against thirteen NHL legends including Gordie
Howe, Bobby Hull, Phil Esposito, Marcel Dionne, Dennis Potvin, Guy LeFleur,
Stan Makita, Doug Harvey, Mike Bossy, Red Kelly, Jacques Plante, Pierre Pilote
and Bryan Trottier -Four all-new play modes: -Tournament Mode – a competition
pitting the world’s best international teams -Shootout Mode – puts gamers
in a one-on-one battle versus a goalie who is determined to stop your best
shot -Practice Mode – lets gamers perfect passing, shooting, skating and
checking skills -Draft Mode – assume the responsibilities of a general
manager by drafting and trading players to build a championship-caliber team -Player models running at 2,500 polygons, close to ten times as many as the
PlayStation version, are based on actual player size, weight and facial
appearance -More than 1,000 motion captured animations including 500 plus
skater and more than 180 goalie animations providing the most realistic hockey
action available. -Motion-captured players include Chicago Blackhawks winger
Tony Amonte and St. Louis Blues winger Scott Young -New Line Manager Feature
allows players to choose from more than 12 different offensive and defensive
strategies while utilizing the roster to create strategic lines -New Shot Aim
Option allows you to control the direction of your shot during your back swing
as you prepare to launch a rocket past the goalie -TV-style presentation
features two-man commentary, including New Jersey Devils’ acclaimed
announcer Mike Emrick and analyst Darren Pang -Seven different gameplay camera
angle options and countless cut-aways, zoom-ins, pop-up stats and in-game
panels provide impressive TV-style telecast -Realistic skating physics lets
players and the puck glide naturally across the ice. -Players utilize
cross-over steps when turning and skating backwards – just as in the NHL Gamers can track more than 30 individual and team statistics and compete for
any of 15 NHL awards, including the Hart Memorial, Art Ross, Vezina, Conn
Smythe, Presidents’ trophies and the highly coveted Stanley Cup -"Puck
Halo" makes the puck easier to see and play when in the corners and in
front of the net -NHL arenas are presented in lifelike detail – each arena’s
characteristics are included, even the championship banners -Refined Icon
Switching on defense and Icon Passing on offense translate into the most
realistic hockey control available -On-the-fly strategy control allows the
gamer change his attack with the touch of a button -Full season and game
statistics are available in every offensive and defensive category -Create and
manage teams with complete rosters — draft, trade, release and sign free
agents -Supports the DUALSHOCK™ 2 analog controller for ultra-realistic
experience -Up to eight players can hit the ice with the multitap (for
PlayStation 2) The independent Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB)
rates NHL FaceOff 2001 "E" for "Everyone." For more
information about the ESRB visit www.esrb.org. 989 Sports is the sports software brand of Sony
Computer Entertainment America Inc. Known for its top-selling sports franchise
titles such as NFL GameDay , MLB , NBA ShootOut, NHL FaceOff , NCAA® Final Four®, and NCAA®
GameBreaker , 989 Sports is committed to developing authentic and innovative
sports games to appeal to both the professional athlete and hard-core sports
videogame fan. Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.
continues to redefine the entertainment lifestyle with its PlayStation and
PS one™ game console and the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system.
The PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system is set to revolutionize the
home entertainment market, offering the most compelling interactive content
and the capability to be used as a network terminal in the coming broadband
era. Recognized as the undisputed industry leader,
Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. markets the PS one game console and
PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system and develops, publishes, markets
and distributes software for the PS one game console and the PlayStation 2
computer entertainment system for the North American market. Based in Foster
City, Calif., Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. serves as headquarters
for all North American operations and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony
Computer Entertainment Inc. Visit us on the Web at
www.989sports.com |