Nowplaying: Games & Videos Prepare For A Revolution

By Cory Bronson
New game systems, Dreamcast and PlayStation 2, are sparking the game category while Yoga and baseball energize the home video market.
The face of the electronic home video game market is about to change as the next generation of video game consoles emerge.
After unveiling its 128-bit Dreamcast system at the end of last year, Sega Enterprises, has already sold over a surprising two million units in the United States, according to a recent article in The Wall Street Journal. The company has scored big with its exciting sports titles ìNBA 2Kî and ìNFL 2K,î and its games have been nominated for industry awards by organizations such as the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences and the International Licensing Industry Merchandisersí Association.
Sony Corp., which continues to dominate the market with the PlayStation game console, will unveil the PlayStation 2 in October. Consumers are already anxiously awaiting the launch of this new generation video game console, with the technology to support both the audio CD and DVD-video formats, unlike any other video game unit to date.
John Riccitiello, the president and chief operating officer of Electronic Arts Inc., the second-largest manufacturer of PlayStation games behind Sony, believes PlayStation 2 will sell more than 100 million units in its lifetimeóat least 20 million more than its predecessor.
ìPlayStation 2 is going to have an evangelistic impact on both consumers and retailers,î said Jeff Brown, director of marketing communications, EA Sports. ìThis is the console that will take video gaming mainstream. People who never saw themselves as gamers or saw gaming as a retail opportunity are going to be pulled in when they see the next generation of consoles.î
Brown said he sees a ìhuge opportunity here for sporting goods storesî since sports drive so much of the entertainment world.
EA is focused on developing software for PlayStation 2, which also will support the existing PlayStation software catalog, bridging the generation of the two systems while protecting consumersí investment in their PlayStation game libraries.
EA plans to have at least five titles ready for the PlayStation 2 launch and eight games ready by the end of the year. According to Brown, 12 games will be available from EA by March, when Sony is expected to have sold 4 million PlayStation 2 consoles in North America.
Brown predicted by then that ìMadden NFL 2001î will be the number-one title in North America, as itís been the dominant sports title in the past.
ìThereís a saying in this industry that the software defines the success of the hardware, and Madden football is going to show what the PlayStation 2 can do,î he added.
The electronic home video game market will become even more competitive down the road with the Nintendo Dolphin and Microsoft X-Box, which will both have their own advanced, unique features such as broadband Internet connectivity and high-quality graphic performance. However, neither system is scheduled to launch until the middle of 2001.
ìRight now it looks like itís going to be just Dreamcast and PlayStation 2,î said John Charne, president and executive director of the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences in Los Angeles. ìTo say whoís going to come out on top, youíd need a crystal ball. In the end, I think the consumers will decide who they like.î
History has shown that every time there has been a change in video game hardware, there has been in a change in the hierarchy among systems.
ìWhether that will happen again, though, is unclear,î Charne said. ìThe best technology doesnít necessarily win.î
Charne cited the duel between VHS and BETA recorders as an example to support his hypothesis.
ìPeople felt BETA was better technologically. But VHS won out because of BETAís time limitations.î
Charne also said when Sega beat out Nintendo with the Genesis game console, Nintendo had the better software.
ìEither way, the real beneficiary is the consumer because all of these systems are awesome,î he said. ìAnd itís going to create huge competition to produce great software at good prices. So, as far as I see it, consumers canít go wrong.î
Start Your Engines: Sega Drives F1 Circuit Home
Get ready to ìput the pedal to the metalî in the ìF1 World Grand Prixî game by Sega for the Dreamcast system.
Officially licensed to Video Systems by Formula One Administration Limited, ìF1 World Grand Prixî allows gamers to compete as themselves or assume the identity of renowned racers such as Michael Schumacher, Eddie Irvine or Mika Hakkinen. This game features all 22 Formula One cars and drivers, as well as actual track and weather conditions based on official 1998 data.
According to Charles Bellfield at Sega, ìracing and non-racing fans alike will enjoy the adrenaline rush and non-stop actionî that this game has to offer.
Enhanced 3-D graphics and animated sequences help mimic the actual races as crowds, pit crews, backdrops and stands are all rendered in sharp detail. The sponsor names can also be seen around the track walls, right down to the company car logos printed on the steering wheel.
Players can customize every aspect of their vehicle, as well as the weather, number of laps, starting positions and flag usage. They can even turn off the car damage feature to make their vehicle indestructible.
ìF1 World Grand Prixî offers four modes. In ìChampionship Mode,î drivers must conquer all 16 races based on the Formula One Grand Prix í98 season. ìSingle Raceî mode permits players to choose from individual races in the season. ìTime Attackî mode lets players test their skills by racing against the ìGhost Car,î a replica of the vehicle that holds the gamersí current or loaded best lap. Finally, ìMatch Raceî mode allows gamers to compete one-on-one against each other.
The replay feature of the game is truly amazing as players can review their race from multiple camera angles.
Ready, Set, Goal: EA Shoots Big With Soccer Title
EA Sports plans to take the ìinteractive game player out of the stands and onto the fieldî with ìFIFA Soccer World Championshipî for the PlayStation 2 game console.
According to Marc Aubanel, the executive producer of the game, ìëFIFA Soccer World Championshipí is the perfect marriage of stunning graphics, silky smooth animation and refined gameplay in an emotionally evocative environment.î
The game offers enhanced graphics for the PlayStation 2 game console through an intuitive and responsive Artificial Intelligence featuring highly detailed facial animations, high-resolution player models, and dynamic player and stadium lighting. Players run in and out of the shadows as they move up the field while the animated crowd waves flags and chants wildly.
ìFIFA Soccer World Championshipî will feature five game modes. ìExhibition Modeî allows players to match their favorite team against any other in the world. ìWorld Cup Modeî allows players to play in the World Cup Final as home team Japan or 46 other international teams. ìU-23 World Championship Modeî lets players choose one of the 16 top Under-23 National teams. ìLeague Modeî allows players to pick their favorite club team from England, Spain, Germany or Italy and play through a full season. The fifth mode is ìTraining,î which allows players to hone their skills before taking on the big teams in the other modes. They can work on penalty, corner and free kicks, or play a full practice match before moving onto the heated competition.
This new game will be localized in over 13 markets throughout the world. The North American game, titled ìFIFA 2001 Major League Soccer,î has the Major League Soccer license and will include all the players and teams of MLS. Throughout Europe, the title will be known as ìFIFA 2001.î The ìFIFA 2001î titles will also be developed for the PlayStation, PC and Game Boy Color.
Set, Down, Hike: Madden Football Returns
For those sports fans who have played Madden football before, EA Sports has a few new things in store with ìMadden NFL 2001.î
For the first time, Madden football incorporates coaches into the mix with the exclusive NFL Coaches Club license. Now coaches can be seen on the sidelines, and will give unique coaching strategies for each team.
The player models also feature a whole new level of detail. From wristbands to visors to face masks to turf tape and elbow pads, each player is featured wearing the same gear that he actually wears in the NFL.
Pushing the limits of realistic play, EA Sports took into consideration the weight and height of each player to help determine how much ground a ball carrier gains as the tackle is made. A small defensive back will have a tough time knocking down a big bruising fullback, whereas the lighter and quicker wide receivers will be able to shake a linebacker during a pass route.
ìMadden NFL 2001î incorporates platform-specific features for the PC, PlayStation 2, PlayStation and Nintendo 64 game consoles.
VIDEOS:
A Healthy Balance: Stretching The Body Through Fitness
Living Arts recently released the ìBalanceBall Fitnessî series of videos featuring popular fitness expert Suzanne Deason.
This series includes three videos: ìBalanceBall Fitness Upper Body Workout,î ìBalanceBall Fitness Lower Body Workoutî and ìBalanceBall Fitness Abs Workout.î
Each video offers viewers a fun, new, effective way to work out at home and improve strength, endurance, flexibility, posture and balance.
In the ìBalanceBall Fitnessî videos, Deason demonstrates a variety of workouts using the large, inflatable BalanceBall (available from Living Arts) to stretch the body and to provide a leverage point from which to perform body toning and strengthening exercises such as modified push-ups and crunches.
According to Deason these videos were designed to ìgive people a new way to work out.î
ìPeople get bored with the same traditional workouts, so this is something different that they can do safely and effectively and still achieve excellent results.î (SRP: $14.98/each)
Viva el beisbol: Latin Stars On The Diamond
USA Home Entertainment and Major League Baseball Productions present some of the most electrifying and heartwarming personalities on the field with the release of ìMLB Latin Superstars.î This collectible video showcases the talent of Latin American superstars including: Mariano Rivera, Orlando ìEl Duqueî Hernandez, Sammy Sosa, Juan Gonzalez, Manny Ramirez, Rafael Palmiero, Pedro Martinez, Rey Ordonez, Omar Vizquel, Ivan Rodriguez, Vladimir Guerrero and Andruw Jones. (Order Date: June 1, 2000; Street Date: June 20, 2000; Price: $14.95)
Fall Classic: Catch The Fever Of The 2000 World Series
Relive the excitement of the post season with ìThe Official 2000 World Series Videoî by USA Home Entertainment and Major League Baseball Productions. This video is a total action, all-access ticket to the World Series that includes never before seen film and behind-the-scenes footage as well as exclusive interviews with key athletes who are wired for sound during every game of the World Series. (Order Date: November 2, 2000; Street Date: November 21, 2000; Price: $19.95)
Mind, Body and Spirit: Yoga Helps Improve Weight Loss
For people who are looking for more natural ways to lose and control their weight, the new ìYoga Conditioning for Weight Lossî videotape by Living Arts may be good a start.
Yoga expert Suzanne Deason and three other yoga instructors take the viewer through a 60-minute complete yoga workout, demonstrating the routine at different levels, from beginners to advanced.
From the very first workout, the viewer begins to reduce stress, increase strength and flexibility, and improve cardiovascular fitness.
According to Deason, yoga ìhelps people make more conscious choices, so they will take better care of their bodies and be more able to identify their bodiesí needs.î
Jane Pemberton, president of Living Arts, said she expects ìYoga Conditioning for Weight Lossî to be one of the companyís best-selling videos. (SRP: $19.98) (Auto Sports, Soccer)