WCW Mayhem

Electronic Arts Announces The Simultaneous Release Of WCW MAYHEM
For Both PLAYSTATION And NINTENDO 64

SAN MATEO, Calif., September 23, 1999-Electronic Arts ’ (Nasdaq:ERTS), the world's largest interactive entertainment software company, today announced the simultaneous release of its highly-anticipated wrestling title, WCW Mayhem for both the PlayStation and Nintendo 64 game console systems. Similar to real-life matches, the game offers fast, action-packed professional wrestling both in and out of the ring. The release of WCW Mayhem marks the first product coming out of the high-profile, exclusive long-term partnership for interactive entertainment game titles between Electronic Arts (EA) and the World Championship Wrestling Inc. (WCW), providers of power-packed family sports entertainment.

We are very excited about players being able to finally get their hands on the game, says Chuck Osieja, producer at Electronic Arts. WCW Mayhem truly offers an enjoyable interactive wrestling experience, innovative technological advancements and unique gameplay features that surround fast and furious matches, both in and out of the ring.

Based on the world of the WCW and its well-known roster of professional wrestlers, WCW Mayhem delivers realistic, cutting edge graphics, fast gameplay action, seamless audio presentation and crisp special effects. The game extends beyond the boundaries of the traditional wrestling gaming genre with its unique ability to fight out of hand and out of the ring. This feature, unavailable in any other wrestling titles to date, provides the player with the opportunity to wrestle in 13 different backstage areas such as garages, locker rooms and bathrooms - all of which are located away from the main event arenas. Each backstage arena action will be initially seen through a black and white security camera that will quickly switch to an actual in-game camera view. Elevating the game's overall excitement is the availability of 12 unique items (i.e., chairs, traffic sign, steel gate, trash can, baseball bat and even a kitchen sink) in both the main event sets and backstage areas that wrestlers can pick up and strategically use against their opponent(s).

Wrestling fans can brawl in 15 different WCW ring sets including the popular Monday Nitro, Thursday Thunder, Saturday Night shows, as well as all 12 WCW Pay Per View (PPV) settings. The PPV mode allows the player to experience an intense four match PPV event simply by entering a valid passcode that can be obtained via the official EA product web site (www.wcwmayhem.com) and WCW web site (WCW.com). Players who enter the code prior to each real-life WCW PPV event can engage in wrestling matches that mirror the actual PPV event for that specific month.

More than 50 top WCW wrestlers, some of whom are hidden characters that must be unlocked, are available in WCW Mayhem. Each of the wrestler entrances is complimented with the music used by their real-life counterparts. In addition, the game features a create a custom wrestler option that provides a series of unique physical characteristics, factions, outfits and names from which players can select.

Celebrity WCW wrestlers and commentators featured in the game include:

Alex Wright
Arn Anderson*
Bam Bam Bigelow*
Barry Windham*
Bobby Blaze*
Bobby Duncum Jr.
"Beautiful Bobby Eaton*
Booker T
Bret "Hitman" Hart
Buff Bagwell
Chavo Guerrero Jr.
Chris "The Crippler" Benoit
Chris Jericho*
Curt Hennig
Diamond Dallas Page
Dean Malenko
Disco Inferno
Doug Dellinger*
Eddy Guerrero
Eric Bischoff*
Ernest "The Cat" Miller
Goldberg
Hollywood Hulk Hogan
Horace Hogan
Jimmy "The Mouth of the South" Hart*
Juventud Guerrera
Kanyon
Kaz Hayashi
Kenny Kaos*
Kevin "Big Sexy" Nash
Billy Kidman
Konnan
La Parka
Lash LeRoux*
Lex Luger
Lizmark Jr.
"Macho Man" Randy Savage
Mean Gene Okerlund*
Norman Smiley
Prince Iaukea
Psychosis
Raven
Rey Mysterio Jr.
Ric Flair*
Rick Steiner*
Sgt. Buddy Lee Parker*
Perry Saturn
Scott Hall*
Scott Norton
Scott "Big Poppa Pump" Steiner
Sonny Onoo*
Steve "Mongo" McMichael
Stevie Ray
Sting (standard)
Sting (Wolfpac)*
Wrath
(*indicates hidden wrestlers that need to be unlocked)

WCW Mayhem features more than 600 motion captured animations that provide every WCW wrestler character with a unique set of moves, including signature taunts and finishing moves. The game also features more than 8,000 lines of stitched voice over dialogue to help provide seamless, life-like, play-by-play and color commentary from the actual WCW broadcasters, Tony Schiavone; Mean Gene Okerlund and Bobby The Brain Heenan (PlayStation only). Helping to further immerse the player in the game are the Artificial Intelligence crowd reactions including an array of chants and cheers or boos based on how the match is going.

As previously announced, EA also plans to release a Game Boy Color version of WCW Mayhem later this year. Similar to its console system counterparts, the game will offer an array of backstage areas including a back alley and locker room, in addition to the main event arena. Players will be able to choose from 12 WCW wrestlers including Goldberg, Hollywood Hogan, Sting, Kevin Big Sexy Nash, and so on.

WCW Mayhem for the Game Boy Color will be the only wrestling title that offers multi-player link support. Players will be able to connect two machines via the link cable to engage in head-to-head wrestling matches.

Both the PlayStation and Nintendo 64 versions will support up to four players (PlayStation via a multi-tap peripheral). The MSRP for both versions is US$49.95/each. WCW Mayhem was developed by Kodiak Interactive Software Studios. The Game Boy Color version is being developed by Adrenalin Studio, owned by Western Technologies, and is scheduled for release in late fall. Electronic Arts is the worldwide publisher and distributor of all platforms. The WCW Mayhem product web site from EA can be logged on at: http://www.wcwmayhem.com.

World Championship Wrestling is a subsidiary of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner Company (NYSE: TWX). WCW produces and markets television programs and live events featuring wrestling superstars. Check out WCW's web site at http://www.wcw.com.

Electronic Arts, headquartered in Redwood City, California, is the world s leading interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, Electronic Arts posted revenues of more than $1.2 billion for fiscal 1999. The company develops, publishes and distributes software worldwide for personal computers and video game systems. Electronic Arts markets its products under seven brand names: Electronic Arts, EA SPORTS , Maxis , ORIGIN , Bullfrog Productions, Westwood Studios and Jane's Combat Simulations. More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://www.ea.com.

Source:

Press Release - Nintendo 64 and PlayStation

EA slickly picks up the baton from long-time WCW license holder THQ and delivers a solid pecs Pak in its first-ever grunting-and-grappling game.

EA has wisely stuck with a tried-and-true grappling engine, which is what helped make monster hits out of THQ's two non-Nitro WCW games, WCW/nWo Revenge and WCW vs. nWo: World Tour.

The beauty of this engine is that it's very easy to learn. For every wrestler, the A Button launches a kick, the B Button grapples, and the C buttons are used for specials, punches and taunts. Because wrestler movement is controlled with the Control Pad, not the Control Stick, EA took the unusual step of using both the R Button (for running) and the L Button (for blocking).

Players can square off on one-shot Main Events or battle up through the ranks to grab various titles in Quest for the Best. Quick Start, a standard feature on virtually all EA and EA Sports games, plunges you into the action. In a wondrous blow for long-suffering webmasters everywhere, www.ea.com and www.wcw.com will post passwords that you can use to access 12 pay-per-view events.

Mayhem offers matches in six formats:

Singles (One on one)
Handicap (Two on one)
Tag-Team (Two on two)
Triangle (One on one on one)
Four-way Dance (Every man for himself!)
Battle Royal Four-way, with new wrestlers replacing fallen ones until one and only one is left standing)

Besides choosing one of three difficulty settings, you can handicap individual contestants. You can also adjust match length and match rules.

The 15 wittily named venues are:

Monday Nitro
Thursday Thunder
Saturday Night
Bash at the Beach
Road Wild
Spring Stampede
Fall Brawl
Halloween Havoc
SuperBrawl
World War III
Starrcade
Uncensored
Souled Out
Slamboree
Great American Bash

A Whole Lot of Mean

Mayhem's roster includes more than 50 celebrated wrestlers from six factions: WCW, nWo Black & White, nWo Wolfpac, Horsemen, Cruiserweight and Hardcore. The lineup includes such faves as Hollywood Hogan, Diamond Dallas Page, Sting, Konnan and Bam Bam Bigelow. EA spent weeks capturing more than 900 moves from dozens of WCW wrestlers.

The finished game will have more than 600 mo-capped moves, including signature taunts and unique finishing moves for each featured wrestler. Wrestlers can climb out of the ring, grab weapons and continue the haymaking in backstage areas, locker rooms and garages.

Bring 'em to Life

The Create Wrestler feature lets you play Svengali to a suplexing stud. You can edit his name and nickname and select his basic moves and finisher; adjust his build, costume, skin type, face, hair style and hair color; assign him to one of the six factions; choose one of four wrestling styles (Technical, Power, Dirty and Luchadore); set his attitude (Babyface, Neutral or Heel) and select from a dozen intro tunes.

The Sound of the Fury

Each faction has its distinct intro theme. When creating a wrestler, you can also pick from six additional themes. EA is to be particularly commended for its handling of the colorful comments of Bobby Henan, Tony Schiavone and Mean Gene Okurlund. While commentary in sports games often seems forced, Mayhem's lively talking points are cued directly to the action.

Source:

www.nintendo.com – Nintendo 64

WCW Mayhem

Tritt' mit WCW Mayhem auf der Sony PlayStation oder dem Nintendo 64 im Wrestling gegen die besten Vertreter dieser unterhaltsamen Sportart an - im und außerhalb des Rings.

Mit Mayhem kannst Du direkt in die Action eintauchen, die WCW so beliebt macht.

Für Sony PlayStation und das Nintendo 64.

www.ea.com

Source:

EA Product Catalog Winter 1999/2000 - PSX / N64 (Ger)