Psygnosis A Subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America 919 East Hillsdale Blvd., 3rd Floor Foster City, CA 94404 Tel: 415/655-8060 Fax: 415/655-8031 News Release - For Immediate Release Contacts: Norma Velvikis/Andrea Sausedo Faiola Davis Public Relations (213) 933-4959 Dana Oertell/Mark Day Psygnosis, Inc. (415) 655-8060 / (415) 655-5679 PSYGNOSIS, INC. - E3 summary GAME CONSOLE AND PC CD-ROM TITLES (* Denotes working title) adidas Power Soccer: adidas Power Soccer, from Psygnosis, is the next generation in sports titles soon to be released for the Sony PlayStation game console. With precise player characteristics and brilliant graphics, adidas Power Soccer will push-the-envelope in the sports-gaming genre. Featuring a real-time 3-D environment and realistic motion capture technology for players, adidas Power Soccer is the most convincing sports title yet. Developed in France (one of the undisputed centers of excellence for computer graphics), adidas Power Soccer features four game modes that include Friendly Match, Tournament, Season and Arcade. There is also an in-game FMV training mode giving the player the ability to train himself in several fields of the game. In season play each player will have his own characteristics. These attributes are based on physical (weight, height, speed, endurance, tackle resistance), technical (strength, precision, tackle level, dribble level) and mental (discipline, willpower, aggressiveness) qualities. These parameters will change between matches, and during matches with players getting tired and injured as the season progresses. The ultimate goal? To win the European Cup. (Available for PlayStation Game Console: Summer 1996) Athanor: Life is hard in the pit-city of Byzance. The only escape offered is through virtual sports and entertainment. In Athanor, a virtual universe inspired by Greek mythology, competitors do battle with beast such as the Minotaur, the Hydra, and the Gorgon Medusa. Those who survive go on to become city heroes. Join them, and solve a series of mysterious disappearances. Athanor features over 200 scenes featuring real-time 3D backgrounds and characters in high resolution gouraud shaded SVGA graphics. In Athanor, only you can discover the secret links between virtuality and reality (Available PC CD-ROM and for PlayStation Game Console: Winter 1996) Chronicles of the Sword: Gorgeous graphics and movie-style cinematic techniques contribute to this truly exciting journey within the rich and ancient times of King Arthur's Britain. Set in the early years of Camelot, you are Gawain, a heroic Knight of the Round Table. Morgana, King Arthur's evil half sister is out to undermine your aspirations for a politically United Kingdom. You, the foremost of Arthur's Knights, must aid the court in its defeat of evil within. Utilizing movie techniques which create greater ambiance and realism, the detailed, realistic graphics in this interactive adventure encompass you through 100 breathtaking environments as you take your sword against human and non-human foes. Published by Psygnosis, Chronicles of the Sword will be released for both PlayStation game console and PC CD-ROM. (Available PC CD-ROM and for PlayStation Game Console: June 1996) Destruction Derby 2: Destruction Derby’s outrageous, fender-bending racing style has won rave reviews on both Sony PlayStation game console and PC, with Sega Saturn and Windows ’95 Direct X compatible versions due soon. Next Generation magazine’s cover story on the game described it as "the best PlayStation game yet", while PC Gamer said of the PC version, "Destruction Derby delivers more smash-‘em-up action than a bull in a china shop". Destruction Derby 2 will be revving up on the E3 starting blocks to deliver more - much more - of the same. Joining the spectacular crashes and open- arena wrecking action that made Destruction Derby such a hit in the first place will be longer, more intense race tracks, an improved racing model, banking sections on the open arena Bowl, a more advanced 3D engine and other new features to be revealed at E3. (Available for PC CD-ROM and PlayStation Game Console: Fall 1996) Discworld II - Missing Presumed...!? Discworld II - Missing Presumed...!? -, continues the bizarre adventures of Rincewind, the hopelessly inept wizard who stars in the best selling Discworld series developed by Perfect Entertainment based on novels by fantasy humorist Terry Pratchett. Once again, Monty Python star Eric idle gives voice to our bumbling hero, who teams up with another Discworld favorite, Death (yes, that's right - the Grim Reaper himself) for another side-splitting, puzzle-packed graphic adventures. Discworld II features animation so smooth you'd swear you were playing an interactive cartoon. But don't be deceived by the slick new look -- the gameplay will be as fiendish -- and the punchline packed -- as ever. (Available on PC CD-ROM and for PlayStation Game Console: Winter, 1995) (Available on PC CD-ROM and for PlayStation Game Console: Winter 1996) Ecstatica 2:* Released in late 1994, Ecstatica was the singular, dark vision of developer Andrew Spencer. Set in a medieval village overrun by the demonic manifestations of a possessed young girls dreams, it plunged the player into a constantly evolving nightmare. Computer Gaming World hailed it as "a difficult adventure to resist"; PC Gamer cautioned that "Ecstatica is an extremely violent game", while Multimedia World noted that "from the intense opening sequence to the dramatic finale (it) demands and captures your full attention." As its cult success grew, publications as varied as horror-zine Fangoria "evokes an atmosphere of dread" and cyber-bible Wired "Ecstatica bears the hallmark of a finely warped mind" recognized that this was no ordinary adventure game. Its minimalist dialogue, unusual puzzles and surprisingly brutal combat scenes were brought to life via unique ellipsoid technology (which created a distinctive, more rounded and natural look than traditional, angular polygon graphics). Ecstatica 2 revisits the same medieval world, for a new adventure in a much larger environment than the original. With enhanced graphics, and more involving gameplay, it’s sure to please fans of the first Ecstatica, and win over a new legion of admirers. (Available: Winter 1996) Formula 1: Welcome to Formula 1 - the only official Formula One racing game for the PlayStation. Experience the glamor and excitement of a full F1 season as you take on the formidable challenge issued by the biggest names in Formula One competition. Schumacher or Hill? Barricello or Brundle? The choice is yours as you take your pick from 13 teams, 35 drivers and 17 circuits in an attempt to win motor racing’s most coveted title - Formula 1 World Champion. Combining both arcade race modes and more serious simulation-style features, Formula One is already the most talked about racing game of the Summer. (Available for PlayStation Game Console: Summer 1996) Island of Dr. Moreau: Manbeasts yearn for the warmth of fresh blood. And it’s yours they can smell. Feel the fear as it grows inside. Your heart pounding. Feel your lungs shredding. Seems like you’re running faster but getting nowhere. On The Island of Dr. Moreau, the hunter can easily turn into the hunted. Experience real time calculated 3D characters and high resolution 3D pre-rendered FMV backgrounds in this action adventure game. Its cinematic sequences including real actors performing inside 3D scenes add to the realism. Island of Dr. Moreau contains English, French and German digitized dialogues. (Available on PC CD-ROM and for PlayStation Game Console: Winter 1996) Monster Truck Rally:* From Reflections, the same team that brought you the sensational Destruction Derby, comes Monster Truck Rally, an all-action off-road racer that combines dirt- busting rally adventure with raucous monster truck arena stunts. Monster Truck Rally’s real-time 3-D engine places you in the driving seat for 4-wheel driving thrills and spills, with a Destruction Derby-style multitude of in-game racing options, including endurance racing, circuit racing and challenge races. The combination of Reflections’ acclaimed programming skills and the obvious appeal of the subject matter makes Monster Truck Rally a game which both PlayStation game console and PC racers will not want to miss. (Available for PlayStation Game Console: Fall 1996) Myst: You have just stumbled upon a most intriguing book, a book titled Myst. You have no idea where it came from, who wrote it, or how old it is. Reading through its pages provides you with only a superbly crafted description of an island world. But it's just a book, isn't it? As you reach the end of the book, you lay your hand on a page. Suddenly your own world dissolves into blackness, replaced with the island world the pages described. Now you're here, wherever here is, with no option but to explore. Journey to a surreal island world riddled with mysteries. Tales of intrigue and injustice wait to be unravelled in this note-perfect conversion of the CD-ROM classic. Only wits and imagination will help you stay the course and unlock the secrets of betrayal in ages past. Myst features hundreds of beautifully pre-rendered locations displaying unsurpassed attention to detail over 40 minutes of original music. (Available for PlayStation Game Console: Summer 1996) Sentient: Sentient is a race against time set on a space station in a failing -- and potentially fatal -- orbit around a distant sun. The player must enlist the help of the station’s crew members to solve a number of problems and puzzles that will emerge as he or she attempts to halt the station’s slow descent towards doom. A comprehensive menu-driven communications system allows you to interact with both the many crew members of the ship, and with the ship itself. (Available for PlayStation Game Console: Winter 1996) The City of Lost Children: From the seductively twisted imaginations of French film makers, Jean-Pierre Junet and Marc Caro (creators of the award winning film, Delicatessen), comes The City of Lost Children, for PC and PlayStation game console. It’s the setting for a dark, surreal adventure featuring an unusual cast of orphans, a circus strongman and Siamese twins. Under the guidance and artistic direction of cinematic auteur Marc Caro, the Paris development studio of Psygnosis has recreated the ominous "city" location in exacting detail, for an adventure game like no other. Making extensive use of motion capture technology, and a full rendered recreation of the movie sets, The City of Lost Children combines the most advanced computer graphic techniques with a distinct artistic vision. The end result takes adventure gaming in new directions, delivering a unique experience in a field overpopulated by generic, creatively barren products. (Available on PC CD-ROM and for PlayStation Game Console: Winter 1996) The Fallen: Bribery, corruption, gambling and violence are all on the agenda in The Fallen. Two groups, The Lords and the Fallen, make up the foundation of this strategic adventure game. The Lords are the secret police of the future, maintaining their own brand of vicious law and order in cities across the U.S. The Fallen are their prey, the drop- outs from society who fall foul of the system and want to find their own way without rules. When the two meet, only chaos can follow. Play the Lord or the Fallen in this huge and minutely detailed strategic adventure which takes you from coast to coast across America. The Fallen contains a unique characterization system that introduces realistic characters capable of complex interaction. Combat includes hand-to-hand fighting, vehicle ramming and use of futuristic weapons, along with a huge array of fully interactive vehicles, weapons and special objects. Non-linear structure allows the player to dictate the action strategy and the fully textured real- time 3D graphics are sure to make this the most exciting graphic adventure on the market. (Available: Winter 1996) WipeOut XL: In 1995, an anti-gravity race game called WipeOut defined the next generation in video gaming. Hailed as a classic, it set the pace and disappeared over the horizon into a techno-drenched future. Many came to challenge WipeOut’s crown, but none delivered. WipeOut’s speed, dazzling graphics and cooler-than-thou attitude set jaws dropping wherever games were played. With everyone else trying to catch up, Psygnosis is ready to blow a hole through the future with WipeOut 2. Even more eye-popping visual glory and an enhanced race structure give a cutting-edge arcade feel to this king of the racers. With even faster, smoother graphics, more tracks, more craft and some extremely distressing weapons, console gamers will be talking about this game for the next hundred years. (Available for PlayStation Game Console: Fall 1996) Zombieville: As the chief investigative reporter for ‘The Daily News’, you have received a tip from a source in Washington about a military project that has gone terribly wrong. Memories of a cover-up related to atomic weapons research come drifting back and, sniffing the scent of scandal, you decide to go and investigate. Zombieville is a graphically stunning point and click action adventure. The professionally scripted plot twists and turns, while cinematic pans and fades lead you on a mysterious journey into a world of puzzles where you, the living and the dead walk the same streets. Zombieville’s intricate, humorously dark script was written by the professional author, Mary Gentle. An atmospheric soundtrack draws you into the game and is an integral part of some puzzles. With its visually stunning cinematic rendered graphics and its action-packed puzzles, Zombieville is a must play for 1996. (Available: September 1996) Psygnosis employs over 300 people with publishing and development offices in the U.S., U.K. and across Europe. Working with over 30 development teams across the world and six internal development sites, the company is now the largest development house in Europe. Psygnosis is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America. EDITORS NOTE: Power Soccer will be available at most computer and software specialty stores or direct by calling 1-800-438-7794. Reviewers’ copies and screen shots can be obtained from Dana Oertell (415) 655-8060 or Mark Day (415) 655-5679. Visit us on the Net. Psygnosis’ latest offerings - including current and future titles, game tips, contests, press releases and company information - are accessible at http://www.sony.com.