NBA Courtside 2: Featuring Kobe Bryant

NBA COURTSIDE 2: FEATURING KOBE BRYANT IS A SLAM DUNK SEQUEL One of Basketball's Brightest Stars Returns To N64 In The Video Game Of The Season

REDMOND, Wash., November 8, 1999 - "What a phenomenal move by Kobe. I'm starting to feel like I'm an air-traffic controller up here. Now I know why these arenas have such high ceilings. Look out below!" -legendary Lakers announcer Chick Hearn

Combining stunning realism and fast-paced, arcade-style game play, NBA Courtside 2: Featuring Kobe Bryant for Nintendo® 64 drives to the hoop for the start of the 1999-2000 National Basketball Association (NBA) season. Fully licensed by the NBA, this 3-D game features all of the league's teams and players, along with up-to-date 1999/2000 rosters and 1998/1999 statistics. Kobe Bryant, one of the NBA's hottest young stars, adds the finishing touches to the game, contributing his pure athleticism and most creative moves from his all-star repertoire. NBA Courtside 2: Featuring Kobe Bryant is developed by Left Field Productions and published exclusively by Nintendo of America Inc. The game will be available on November 8 for a suggested retail price of $59.95.

A number of specialized game play modes and customizable features make NBA Courtside 2: Featuring Kobe Bryant one of the most in-depth basketball games ever created. For instance, players can choose from an arcade mode for straight-up action complete with smokin' passes, "sonic boom" dunks and 15 point shots, or a Rookie mode that allows novices to compete against more advanced players using simplified controls. An expansive Create-A-Player mode allows N64 gamers to put themselves in the game and power-up their custom player based on their hoop skills and in-game accomplishments.

"By combining the basketball skills and motion-captured moves of Kobe Bryant along with advanced development technology, NBA Courtside 2: Featuring Kobe Bryant further builds on Nintendo's philosophy of creating the most realistic and fun to play sports games on the market," says Peter Main, Nintendo's executive vice president, sales and marketing. "We are very excited to continue our relationship with Kobe and I can't wait to put myself in the game and show him how it's really done."

"Bring it on Peter," says Kobe Bryant, high-flying NBA superstar. "What makes this game so special is the attention to detail and pure fun factor of going against the NBA's best. I've always been into video games and this is easily the most realistic one yet."

NBA Courtside 2: Featuring Kobe Bryant also features signature moves for NBA stars along with the ability to call for picks, lead teammates to the hoop and post up opponents. The enhanced artificial intelligence creates the feel of playing against a human opponent while realistically animated collisions, along with the Rumble Pak®, simulate the bump and grind of real NBA action.

Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, is the acknowledged worldwide leader in the creation of interactive entertainment. To date, Nintendo has sold more than one billion video games worldwide, has created such industry icons as Mario® and Donkey Kong® and launched franchises like The Legend of Zelda® and Pokémon. Nintendo manufactures and markets hardware and software for its popular home video game systems, including the Nintendo 64 and Game Boy - the world's best-selling video game system. As a wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo's operations in North America.

The independent Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) rates NBA Courtside 2: Featuring Kobe Bryant "E" for "Everybody." For more information about the ESRB visit www.esrb.org. For more information about NBA Courtside 2: Featuring Kobe Bryant or any other Nintendo products, visit the company's web site at www.nintendo.com.

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 their respective NBA member teams and may not be used, in whole or part, without the prior written consent of NBA Properties, Inc. © 1999 NBA Properties, Inc. All rights reserved.

Source:

Press Release

Kobe's game keeps getting tighter, and Left Field Productions has followed suit with the Y2K edition of Kobe's Courtside series. Whether you're into arcade action or simulation strategies, Courtside 2 is right on the money.

Ankle-Breaking Drives

Kobe Bryant is one of the most flamboyant players in the NBA. His explosive offensive style is so unique it could probably be trademarked. The development team at Left Field is good, but it's not good enough to capture Kobe's moves without an extensive motion capture session.

With the help of Seattle Supersonic Jelani McCoy, Kobe Bryant provided all of the motion captured moves for Courtside 2. Awesome cross-overs and creative dribbles are guaranteed to make you feel something, whether it's the pleasure of blowing by an opponent or the humiliation of being taken to the hole yourself. You'll recognize the signature slams of the league's superstars, but Kobe's own moves are without a doubt the most impressive in the Pak.

Iced Down Graphics

Courtside's visual package matches the slick style of the gameplay. Left Field has beefed up the graphics for Courtside 2, using 200 polygons-per-head to ensure that you recognize every player on the court. Kobe takes it to the rim in hi-res mode even without the Expansion Pak, and while you're schooling your friends in slow motion, be sure to check out the animated facial expressions which change throughout the game.

During gameplay, a speedy framerate results in a buttery-smooth game, even if you opt to pump up the game speed. Inconsistent player-to-player collision detection is evident during ultra-slow instant replays, but the overall visual impact of the game is extremely polished.

High Caliber Competition

The words "advanced artificial intelligence" seem to pass the lips of almost all developers making sports games, but Left Field genuinely increased the brain power of your opposition. CPU-controlled players behave more like real NBA players, by actually capitalizing on the strengths and weaknesses of your team.

Defensive players try to block your lay-ups and dunks, but only if they've established proper defensive positioning. You'll still get breakaway dunks, but generally you have to earn your points in the paint. A quick jolt from the Rumble Pak lets you know when a defensive player isn't going to let you get to the basket. If the pros are too tough to handle, an adjustable difficulty scale can make the competition less intense.

As Comprehensive as You Wanna Be

NBA Courtside 2 has enough options and features to go dunk-to-dunk with any b-ball game on the market. For a detailed list of the features and options available in Courtside 2, check out Nintendo Sports' basketball comparison. Courtside 2 allows up to four players to hit the hardwood simultaneously, either two-on-two or three-on-one. Other play modes include:

Quick Play
Season Play
Arcade Play
3-Point Contest
Practice

Season Play

Season Play allows players to participate in the draft, work on their game during the preseason, plus a full Season Mode complete with trades and the ability to manipulate rosters. Practice Mode is a great way to perfect picks and to practice throwing lead passes to the hoop. This no-pressure feature is also a prime opportunity to check out the signature moves of each player.

Players can call for eight different offensive plays on the fly, and choose which player will receive the ball before a pass is made. On the other side of the ball, defensive match-ups and aggression levels can be assigned to each player.

Left Field has done an excellent job in recreating the scientific style of NBA play, with natural play control and a wide variety of moves for advanced players to master. If you're not comfortable with the freedom of controlling your team's every move, a rookie control option is available which greatly simplifies the button assignments.

Career Player

A Career Player feature gives gamers the opportunity to create their own custom players and follow their careers from rookie season to retirement. The custom players begin with minimal stats, but their skills slowly improve based on how they perform during the game. If a player passes frequently, for example, his passing stats will improve throughout the season. Check the table on the right for a full list of the statistics maintained for Career Players.

Arcade Play

Arcade Play appeals to players who prefer extreme b-ball, with sky-high dunks from the 3-point line and bullet passes that leave trails of smoke. Sonic Boom dunks actually knock the competition on their backs, and special bonus point hot spots add more excitement to the match up.

With solid graphics, a wide variety of options and fluid gameplay, Courtside 2 impresses. Arcade fans and simulation freaks alike can both enjoy this game, which proves worthy of the superstar that graces its box.

Source:

www.nintendo.com

Step onto the hardwood in the shoes of one of the most exciting and creative players in the NBA today. NBA Courtside 2 delivers unparalleled graphics, incredibly fluid player animations, an extremely wide range of one-player controls and all-new two-player controls. * Unbelievably smooth motion capture of Kobe Bryant's most electrifying moves, plus signature moves for more than twenty of the NBA's biggest superstars * First time ever! Create a Rookie and depending on how well you play, their skill ratings will increase or decrease * Quick Play, Season Play, Arcade Play, 3-Point Contest, Tournament Mode and 4 different Season Modes * Officially licensed by the NBA with full '98-'99 stats and rosters for the '99-'00 season.

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Back of Box - N64 (US)