SEGA® of America, Inc. announced today the simultaneous release of “SEGA
Sportsâ„¢ NBA 2K3” for the PlayStation® 2 computer
entertainment system, the Xbox™ video game system from Microsoft® and
the Nintendo GameCubeâ„¢. Critically acclaimed for its authentic and entertaining
simulation of the NBA game, “SEGA Sports NBA 2K3″ takes the genre to
unprecedented levels of realism with unmatched player and ball physics, an ESPN
telecast-style presentation, ground-breaking animations, an in-depth franchise
mode and full online gameplay on PlayStation 2 and Xbox. Developed by Visual Concepts
Entertainment, a SEGA development studio, “SEGA Sports NBA 2K3”
captures all of the nuances of the NBA game, from Allen Iverson’s signature crossover
to high-flying dunks from the league’s top skywalkers. . .

“The `SEGA Sports NBA 2K’ series has consistently delivered the type of
hoops simulation experience that NBA fans crave and it has quickly become a
cornerstone of the SEGA Sports brand,” said Tom Nichols, vice president
of sports marketing, SEGA of America, Inc.

“In the development of `SEGA Sports NBA 2K3,’ we concentrated on perfecting
both the gameplay and visual elements that are truly specific to the NBA,”
said Greg Thomas, president of Visual Concepts Entertainment, a SEGA development
studio. “As a result, gamers are closer to the NBA hardwood in `SEGA Sports
NBA 2K3′ than any other NBA video game.”

Building off the strong gameplay foundation of the “SEGA Sports NBA 2K”
series, gameplay enhancements to “SEGA Sports NBA 2K3″ include the
ability to control pass type and direction, fake a pass, freely adjust lay-ups
and dunks in mid-air and lunge out of bounds for loose balls. In the paint,
an enhanced low-post game lets players fake, pivot, drop-step and even front
the offensive player, while total control rebounding allows effective blocking
out and board work. Enhanced ball and player physics produces more realistic
caroms off the rim, while accurate impact collisions on hard fouls and blocks
mimic the precise nature of the NBA.

The game’s visual improvements are equally as striking. Specular Highlighting,
a graphical technique designed to show players sweating during the game, is
among the game’s key visual enhancements. “SEGA Sports NBA 2K3″ also
features the incredibly detailed player faces and lifelike player expressions
that more effectively convey the emotions of an NBA game. Players are instantly
recognizable and react realistically to the action around them. From the players’
tattoos to the mascots, each individual 3D model is designed to match the exact
look of its real-world counterpart. Rounding out the package is a complete ESPN
telecast presentation, which includes TV-style player introductions, dynamic
replays and scoreboards and graphics overlays.

“SEGA Sports NBA 2K3″ returns the series to the online arena with
the introduction of full online play and downloadable content for both PlayStation
2 and Xbox. Gamers from around the country will be able to challenge one another
over the Internet, check their win/loss records, download roster updates and
maintain a list of favorite opponents. Additionally, the SEGA Sports Challenge,
appearing in the SEGA Sports 2K3 games, allows fans to compare their offline
stats against other players nationwide.

Joining the returning Exhibition, Tournament, Season and Practice Modes are
reconstructed Franchise and Street Modes. The Franchise Mode allows users the
option of signing free agents and coaches, scouting and drafting rookies, making
trades and even drafting graduating seniors from “SEGA Sportsâ„¢ NCAA®
College Basketball 2K3.” The Street Mode, which features legendary real-world
street courts from around the country, now lets players customize their own
street team by selecting any player from the current NBA rosters, one of the
all-decade legends teams or from their roster of created players. Other exciting
new features in the Street Mode include animated crowds and the addition of
variable weather including rain and fog.

“SEGA Sports NBA 2K3″ is endorsed by NBA All-Star Allen Iverson of
the Philadelphia 76ers and is currently available for PlayStation 2, Xbox and
Nintendo GameCube for a suggested retail price of $49.95.

About SEGA
SEGA® of America is the American arm of Tokyo, Japan-based SEGA Corporation,
a $3.5 billion corporation by market capitalization, recognized as 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. SEGA
of America’s Web site is located at www.sega.com.

About ESPN
Based in Bristol, Ct., ESPN, Inc., “The Worldwide Leader In Sports,”
is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc., which is an indirect subsidiary of The Walt
Disney Company. The Hearst Corporation holds a 20 percent interest in ESPN.
ESPN, Inc. includes six domestic television networks (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Classic,
ESPNEWS, ESPN Now and ESPN Today), ESPN International (24 international networks
and syndication), ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, ESPN The Magazine, ESPN Regional Television,
SportsTicker, and ESPN Enterprises, overseeing brand extensions such as the
ESPN Zone, an interactive sports-themed dining and entertainment experience.

“PlayStation” and the “PS” Family logo are registered trademarks
of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. ™, ® and the Nintendo GameCube
logo are trademarks of Nintendo. Xbox is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation
in the United States and/or other countries. ESPN is a registered trademark
of ESPN, Inc. ESPN branded elements © Disney. All other trademarks are
the property of their respective owners.

The NBA and individual NBA member team identifications used on or in this product
are trademarks, copyrighted designs and other forms of intellectual property
of NBA Properties, Inc. and the respective NBA member teams and may not be used,
in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of NBA Properties, Inc.
© 2002 NBA Properties, Inc. All rights reserved.

Officially Licensed Collegiate Products” label is the exclusive property
of The Collegiate Licensing Company. The “Collegiate Licensed Product”
label is the property of the Independent Labeling Group. All names, logos, team
icons, and mascots associated with the NCAA, universities, and conferences are
the exclusive property of the respective institutions. NCAA, the NCAA logo,
and NCAA Basketball are trademarks or registered trademarks of National Collegiate
Athletic Association.

Filed under: Release Dates

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