Top-Selling MLB SlugFest 20-03 Videogame Hits Xbox
Posted by Ben on Monday, August 26 2002

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 26, 2002--

First Midway Sports Adrenaline-Style Baseball Game Arrives

for Xbox with a Powerful Combination of Over-the-Top Gameplay

and Authentic Baseball Action

Midway Sports(TM), the sports brand of leading software industry publisher and developer Midway Games Inc. (NYSE:MWY), announced today that MLB(TM) SlugFest(R) 20-03, the first-ever adrenaline-style console baseball videogame, has shipped for the Xbox(TM) video game system from Microsoft. MLB(TM) SlugFest(R) 20-03 is also available for the PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system and is scheduled to ship for the Nintendo GameCube(TM) later this summer, with the Game Boy(R) Advance version to follow in fall.

Since the launch of MLB Slugfest 20-03 for the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, it has outsold all competitive baseball games for the PlayStation 2 by two-to-one. In the month of July, MLB Slugfest 20-03 hit a home run with consumers everywhere, outselling all competing PlayStation 2 games' combined sales by a two-to-one margin, and any single PlayStation 2 competitor by five-to-one. (NPDFunworld, July 2002)

Officially licensed by Major League Baseball Properties and MLBPA, MLB SlugFest 20-03 will change the way people think about America's national pastime. Developed by the creators of NFL(R) Blitz(R), MLB SlugFest 20-03 features real Major League Baseball players, teams and stadiums in the first and only over-the-top, adrenaline-style baseball videogame. Unlike any other baseball game, MLB SlugFest 20-03 features incredibly larger-than-life, muscle-bound athletes who take to the field to perform outrageous plays both offensively and defensively, including turbo-powered throws and pitches, blistering hits, and acrobatic diving catches.

"MLB Slugfest 20-03 combines real baseball action with signature Midway Sports over-the-top gameplay," said Helene Sheeler, vice president of marketing, Midway. "The result delivers adrenaline-style gameplay unlike any other baseball game on the market, for both longtime fans of the sport as well as action gamers."

MLB SlugFest 20-03 uses advanced motion capture technology to clearly detail each player's facial expressions and reactions. The animations are so precise, gamers can view players on the field chewing gum, talking to one another and cheering for their teammates. While at the plate, gamers can dig in and unleash a mammoth blast clear out of the park.

Six-time MLB All-Star Alex Rodriguez appears on the package cover and other advertising materials for the game. Entering his seventh full Major League Baseball season, the Texas Rangers(R) shortstop adds to the authentic baseball delivered in MLB SlugFest 20-03.

Also stepping up to the plate is Roadrunner Records recording act Dry Kill Logic, which recorded a hard-rockin', new millenium version of `Take Me Out to the Ball Game' to accompany the game's aggressive attitude and extreme-style play. Dry Kill Logic performs in a music video, which is featured in the game's DVD section and was created especially for MLB SlugFest 20-03. In addition, Midway licensed music from the electronica band Curve to complement the fast-paced action of the game.

"This is an exciting opportunity for Major League Baseball to not only enhance our product mix, but also to expose us to a whole new audience," said Carolann Dunn, senior director of licensing, Major League Baseball.

Additionally, John Olshan, Category Director for Interactive Games at the Major League Baseball Players Association, said, "We selected Midway to make an over-the-top, action-style baseball game because we wanted Mark Turmell and Sal DiVita, the twisted minds that invented the NBA Jam and NFL(R) Blitz-style sports videogames, to sprinkle their magic on baseball." Olshan also added, "We are thrilled with the direction they are taking America's national pastime and look forward to SlugFest expanding the market for baseball games beyond sports fans to include action gamers as well."

MLB SlugFest 20-03 also features hilarious and shocking commentary by Tim Kitzrow, the long-time, key entertaining voice talent in blockbuster Midway titles such as NFL Blitz, NHL(R) Hitz(TM) 20-02, NBA Showtime: NBA on NBC and NBA Jam, as well as commentator Jim Shorts, the highly acclaimed sports comedy DJ on WCKG radio in Chicago.

MLB SlugFest 20-03 Xbox Key Features

-- Adrenaline-Style Gameplay -- Over-the-Top, nonstop action from

blazing fastballs to screaming line drives to wall-crashing

catches.

-- Fast-Action Batter/Pitcher Interface -- The fastest brand of

baseball ever seen.

-- Real Player Faces -- Unbelievably detailed faces, right down

to the gum-chewing.

-- Outrageous Animations -- More than 1,500 animations, featuring

your favorite MLB players performing as they only dream they

could.

-- MLB and MLBPA licensed product -- All your favorite MLB teams,

players and stadiums.

-- Hilarious commentary by Midway Sports announcer Tim Kitzrow

and commentator Jim Shorts, the highly acclaimed sports comedy

DJ on WCKG radio in Chicago.

-- Licensed music -- Explosive music from Dry Kill Logic,

including the all-new rendition of `Take Me Out to the Ball

Game,' as well as music from the electronica band, Curve.

-- Best of both worlds -- Real teams, players, stadiums, stats

and player attributes combined with fantasy players and
stadiums, plus the most outrageous catches, pitches, hits and
over-the-top action ever played out in a MLB videogame.

-- Unique DVD Content -- Dry Kill Logic performs in a music
video, created especially for MLB SlugFest 20-03 and featured
in the game's DVD section.


Midway Games Inc. is a leading developer, publisher and marketer of interactive entertainment software. Midway videogames are available for play on all major videogame platforms including the PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system, the Xbox(TM) video game system from Microsoft, Nintendo GameCube(TM) and Game Boy(R) Advance.

For more information about Midway Games visit www.midway.com.

About Xbox

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 North America, Japan, Europe and Australia.

MIDWAY, BLITZ and SLUGFEST are trademarks of Midway Amusement Games, LLC. Major League Baseball trademarks and copyrights are used with permission of Major League Baseball Properties, Inc. You can reach Major League Baseball on the web at MLB.com. (c) MLBPA-Official Licensee, Major League Baseball Players Association. Visit the Players Choice on the Web at www.bigleaguers.com. The MLBPA logo is a trademark of the Major League Baseball Players Association. NFL is a trademark of the National Football League. Distributed under license by Midway Home Entertainment Inc.

"PlayStation" and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Xbox and Microsoft are trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. Nintendo GameCube, the Nintendo GameCube logo and Game Boy Advance are trademarks of Nintendo. (c) 2001 Nintendo. All other trademarks are the property of their respective companies.

This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning future business conditions and the outlook for Midway Games Inc. (the "Company") based on currently available information that involve risks and uncertainties. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, the financial strength of the interactive entertainment industry, dependence on new product introductions and the ability to maintain the scheduling of such introductions, technological changes, dependence on major platform manufacturers and other risks more fully described under "Item 1. Business -- Risk Factors" in the Company's current Transition Report on Form 10-K and the other filings made by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.