Sega Europe ATEI 2005 Product Line Up

Sega Europe ATEI 2005 Product Line Up

Sega Europe has announced its product line-up for ATEI 2005:

Cycraft - ID3
Cycraft, the innovative inverted motion based simulator, now with two successful titles under its belt returns this year with another title - Initial D3. The popular driving game saw its debut into the European market in a twin format in the summer of 2004, following on from the first two installments. The game with new cars and courses promises a serious drive for any player whether casual or core. The superb motion movement brings the game to life. The simulator benefits from the fact that that it runs on a single 13amp socket, is simple to install and operate, and compared to most advanced simulators -is compact in size. This machine is low cost also provides a great financial return. The previous titles of Club Kart and F-Zero have seen their way across Europe into bowls, arcades, shopping centres and entertainment centres. The game is linkable for up to two players.

Virtua Striker 4
Following on from previous editions of this classic title, Virtua Striker 4 promises to hold a great array of extras for the casual and core player base. Incorporating Sega's Player Smart Card technology - the depths and diversity of the game are extended massively. The game has 1044 real players from 36 countries, and the players are realistic and recognisable. There is also extra buttons for the player to adopt, all of which add to the games realism. They allow the player to select team formations, strategies and defensive or offensive play. Also a new 'Dash' button gives players a boost when most needed. If that was not enough new additions to the game, the Smart Card allows the player to effectively become the manager and 'team manager' of all of the players on his card. It allows the massive depth of the game to be explored to the fullest. The two-player game is initially available in dedicated upright cabinet and will also be available in kit form in the future.

Mushiking
This kids video vending concept that comes fresh from Japan reached the UK market just before Christmas, is a diversification for Sega. Not only in that it targets the high street and retail market, but also that it is aimed at kids aged 5 to 12. Based around 'Beetles' and collectable trading cards, the game follows on in the tradition of Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh, but combined with Sega's video expertise to make it a real first. Its appeal is simple - based on the old game of Paper-Scissors-Stone - but its fun is endless; as not only will Sega time release further editions of collectable cards to enhance player interest and thus income, it is also upgradeable to future titles based around the same concept. The low investment concept has the potential to incorporate merchandise opportunities as in Japan, and builds on the effect of a craze that builds around card collecting. Similar effects of pester power whereby children 'pester' parents to take them to a certain branded location or store that has Mushiking, are hoped for here in Europe.

Ghost Squad
This latest Sega gun game which clearly set a new benchmark for all gun games will be shown in both a 50" deluxe and new upright cabinet. Players work as part of the Special Forces on three topical missions to free the world of terrorism. Both will feature the realistic multi tool recoil gun whilst the deluxe version incorporates Sega's Player Smart Card technology, allowing players to explore hidden routes and levels in the game and collect a massive selection of armour and uniforms whilst progressing up the military rank. Mixed with special tactical stages and action sequences that require the player to fight hand to hand, defuse bombs and crack codes.

OutRun2 SP
Kids of the 80's would still remember the original OutRun, whilst the players of the 21st century have not one but two to choose from, with the new release of OutRun2 Special Tours. The deluxe 50" sit-down is a follow on from the 'classic of the future' OutRun2 but with an American twist. 15 new courses featuring popular American landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty and Niagara Falls are mixed with the games original courses. Two new Ferraris have also been added to bring to total to 10 cars. The visual feature of the cabinet that cannot be missed is the 'rear end' that has been modelled on a Ferrari 360. The deluxe can also be linked for up to four players. The game features extra handling options, a choice of background music and a dedicated Internet ranking site.

Multi Player Games
Sega this year will be launching two new mutli-player format games in the increasing desire to expand the boundaries of the traditional video game. The familiar Derby Owners Club takes on a new guise with a compact cabinet and the successor to the Horse Racing concept is a fully licensed football manager style game World Championship Club Football or 'WCCF'.
Derby Owners Club - Horse Shoe Edition
The spectacular feature piece that Sega has promoted over the past two years in eight and four player formats has evolved into a new compact size. The four player set up with 60" LCD screen in a 'Horse Shoe' shape is designed for the operator who does not have the space or budget for the larger versions. Whilst the game play remains the same, the smaller footprint will open up a whole new market for the game. The number of existing Derby Owners Clubs now across Europe has allowed a significant community to build up and large scale tournaments to be run. This game has seen perhaps the most prolific use of the Sega Data Memory Cards, a precursor to the new smart cards being used by the manufacturer, to store players horse data with many players building up stables of hundreds of horses. The new format, much in the style of now popular four player plasma AWP style cabinets, shows the importance of the multi player product to Sega, as it has developed the size of the game over the years, and that the title is still in demand.
WCCF
This much awaited game will be shown for the first time in the UK at this ATEI. Already massively popular in Italy where it had its European launch, the game will be available for the rest of Europe around May. The concept is a mix of Panini collectable trading cards of top players from around the world, Sega video expertise and a unique team management system - bringing a brand new football experience to the arcade! The machine set up is similar to that of Derby Owners Club with either four or eight 'satellite' player terminals facing two 50" PTV main monitors. Needless to say the impression is spectacular. Customers start with a pack of eleven player cards and one 'Team Card' and there after collect a player card with every credit adding to the team possibilities the 'Manager' can have. There are 288 cards including 21 rare cards for each season and these will include the likes of Ronaldo, Beckham and Zidane. Additional cards are released as time progresses. The customer as 'Manager' gets the opportunity to train, coach and communicate with individual players pre and post match to build up the ideal team. By selecting the best players for the host of different types of matches such as Regular, Friendly or Title - the Manager has a tough job. Training can be focused on a range of skills such as defence, passing, tackling and so on. Customers can personalise their teams by choosing their own team name, a hometown from cities around the world, a kit and an emblem. During the game, the Manager can choose formations, strategies, tactics and perform substitutions at half time. The more success the team has, the greater the rewards - such as stadium enhancements. At the end of a manager's contract the team can continue by adopting a new manager and thus effectively become a second-generation team with extra strength. The real 'wow' factor of WCCF is during the game play, when the chosen team player cards are laid on the pitch and with the use of a 'camera' players can be seen to move in real time on the screen as the customer moves the player cards. This game really does take the video playing generation to a whole new level. The amount of interaction and involvement can be phenomenal for the core player, whilst still being accessible and enjoyable to the casual player.

IC / Smart Cards
An increasing number of games now feature player card technology in the marketplace. The proliferation of this in Japan is huge across many manufacturers and within Europe Sega is definitely taking the stance that this is where the future lies. The card system allows the customer to access extra elements to the game in the new system using Smart Cards that cannot be enjoyed by the casual player. It is almost like a membership card to a private club - it has privileges. The more basic system of memory cards, as seen on Derby Owners Club - whereby a magnetic card simply stores a players score and horse details, has moved on. Whilst this card was a necessity to the game, Smart Cards are not and allow the casual passer by the normal game he would expect. But once a player has invested his £2 or so on a Smart Card - he can experience ten fold the content of the standard game. Justin Burke of Sega said, "It is an education process for all concerned. It is a new aspect to the video game product that will grow and grow so we might as well get accustomed to it - but it takes time for distributors, sales teams, operators and the playing public to familiarise with the concept, but it will be worth the effort". The latest Sega games that Europe will see that demonstrate the benefits of the Smart Card system are Ghost Squad, Virtua Striker 4 and WCCF. The additions it offers are different for each title. Ghost Squad, Sega's latest gun game, under normal circumstances gives the player a normal gun game style experience with three missions each with a few routes to choose from on each, a choice of two uniforms and some weapons. With the Smart Card in use the player then opens up a wealth of choices. Suddenly he is a Private with the target of being promoted 27 times to General, a choice of 14 uniforms, 25 weapons and each of the three stages then has 16 levels. Not all of these come immediately but with progressions and success. The Smart Card 'knows' the player's profile from previous games. "The beauty of this is that the player will not be allowed the take the same familiar route each time he plays - the game knows where he went on previous games and makes each game different. This both prevents players learning the game, like traditional games, and thus prolongs the game life for both players and operators," said Mr Burke. Similarly for Virtua Striker 4, which is to be released in January 2005 - the Smart Card allows the player to effectively collect and manage a team of players, build bigger and better home ground stadiums and accumulates the results of games played, fouls and so on. These games are no longer a one-coin play, enjoy and walk away. They give the customer something to take with them and a reason to return.