NHL FaceOff™ 2001 for the PlayStation®2 Computer Entertainment System Skates Into Stores
Popular Hockey Franchise Makes its Debut for Revolutionary PlayStation 2
PRNewswire
FOSTER CITY, Calif.
02/06/2001
Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) Inc. announced today that the newest member of its highly-touted hockey videogame series, NHL FaceOff™ 2001, is now available for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system. Modeled after true-to-life hockey physics, NHL FaceOff 2001 utilizes the power of the PlayStation 2 to provide consumers with blazing gameplay and responsive player controls. Gamers can also play as or against a team of hockey legends comprised of 13 NHL greats including "Mr. Hockey®" Gordie Howe®, Bobby Hull, Phil Esposito and Marcel Dionne, a feature exclusive to NHL FaceOff 2001 for PlayStation 2.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000510/SFW104-a )
"We are thrilled to bring the fastest and most responsive NHL hockey action to the PlayStation 2 sports enthusiast," said Ami Blaire, director, product marketing, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. "Incorporating the finest elements of the FaceOff franchise, NHL FaceOff 2001 for the PlayStation 2 will please fans of the series and new gamers alike with exclusive features such as the 989 Sports NHL Legends team."
With more than 1,000 intricately-detailed animations, NHL FaceOff 2001 boasts five times the animations as its counterpart for the PlayStation® game console, offering more than 500 skater and 180 goalie animations that offer gamers a true sense of what it is like to skate with the best. NHL FaceOff 2001 includes the most updated rosters of all 30 NHL teams, including the expansion Minnesota Wild and Columbus Blue Jackets. Gamers can also track individual and team stats and compete for any of 15 NHL awards, including the Hart Memorial, Art Ross, Vezina, Conn Smythe, Presidents and the highly-coveted Stanley Cup.
In addition, a series of new features affords gamers the opportunity to build and manage their team before the puck is even dropped. The FaceOff 2001 Draft Mode lets gamers build their own teams from scratch and battle for the Stanley Cup. Players can utilize the line manager to organize their teams into four forward lines, three defensive pairs, two five-man power play lines, two four-man power play lines, two four-man penalty killing units, a shootout lineup and two extra attackers. Finally, a new Practice Mode allows players to sharpen their skating, passing, checking and scoring skills before taking to the ice against an official opponent.
When ready, gamers can choose from several additional play modes including Exhibition, Season, Tournament and Shootout. NHL FaceOff 2001 is built for one or two players and can accommodate up to eight players with the aid of the multitap(for PlayStation 2).
New Jersey Devils play-by-play announcer Mike Emrick and hockey analyst Darren Pang return to call the exciting game action. Combined with an astonishingly lifelike game environment complete with crowd chants and hit songs from real-life artists, NHL FaceOff 2001 gives gamers a front-row seat to the best hockey action available for PlayStation 2.
NHL FaceOff 2001 features Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Curtis Joseph on the package.
NHL FaceOff 2001 for the PlayStation 2 Computer Entertainment System Key
Features:
-- Every player and team for the 2000-2001 season is included -- even the
Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild, plus eight international
teams
-- Play as or against thirteen NHL legends including Gordie Howe,
Bobby Hull, Phil Esposito, Marcel Dionne, Dennis Potvin, Guy LeFleur,
Stan Makita, Doug Harvey, Mike Bossy, Red Kelly, Jacques Plante,
Pierre Pilote and Bryan Trottier
-- Four all-new play modes:
-- Tournament Mode -- a competition pitting the world's best
international teams
-- Shootout Mode -- puts gamers in a one-on-one battle versus a goalie
who is determined to stop your best shot
-- Practice Mode -- lets gamers perfect passing, shooting, skating and
checking skills
-- Draft Mode -- assume the responsibilities of a general manager by
drafting and trading players to build a championship-caliber team
-- Player models running at 2,500 polygons, close to ten times as many as
the PlayStation version, are based on actual player size, weight and
facial appearance
-- More than 1,000 motion captured animations including 500 plus skater
and more than 180 goalie animations providing the most realistic hockey
action available. Motion-captured players include Chicago Blackhawks
winger Tony Amonte and St. Louis Blues winger Scott Young
-- New Line Manager Feature allows players to choose from more than
12 different offensive and defensive strategies while utilizing the
roster to create strategic lines
-- New Shot Aim Option allows you to control the direction of your shot
during your back swing as you prepare to launch a rocket past the
goalie
-- TV-style presentation features two-man commentary, including New Jersey
Devils' acclaimed announcer Mike Emrick and analyst Darren Pang
-- Seven different gameplay camera angle options and countless cut-aways,
zoom-ins, pop-up stats and in-game panels provide impressive TV-style
telecast
-- Realistic skating physics lets players and the puck glide naturally
across the ice. Players utilize cross-over steps when turning and
skating backwards -- just as in the NHL
-- Gamers can track more than 30 individual and team statistics and
compete for any of 15 NHL awards, including the Hart Memorial,
Art Ross, Vezina, Conn Smythe, Presidents' trophies and the highly
coveted Stanley Cup
-- "Puck Halo" makes the puck easier to see and play when in the corners
and in front of the net
-- NHL arenas are presented in lifelike detail -- each arena's
characteristics are included, even the championship banners
-- Refined Icon Switching on defense and Icon Passing™ on offense
translate into the most realistic hockey control available
-- On-the-fly strategy control allows the gamer change his attack with the
touch of a button
-- Full season and game statistics are available in every offensive and
defensive category
-- Create and manage teams with complete rosters -- draft, trade, release
and sign free agents
-- Supports the DUALSHOCK™ 2 analog controller for ultra-realistic
experience
-- Up to eight players can hit the ice with the multitap
(for PlayStation®2)
The independent Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) rates NHL FaceOff 2001 "E" for "Everyone." For more information about the ESRB visit http://www.esrb.org/.
989 Sports is the sports software brand of Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. Known for its top-selling sports franchise titles such as NFL GameDay™, MLB™, NBA ShootOut, NHL FaceOff™, NCAA® Final Four®, and NCAA® GameBreaker™, 989 Sports is committed to developing authentic and innovative sports games to appeal to both the professional athlete and hard-core sports videogame fan.
Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. continues to redefine the entertainment lifestyle with its PlayStation® and PS one™ game console and the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system. The PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system is set to revolutionize the home entertainment market, offering the most compelling interactive content and the capability to be used as a network terminal in the coming broadband era.
Recognized as the undisputed industry leader, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. markets the PS one game console and PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system and develops, publishes, markets and distributes software for the PS one game console and the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system for the North American market. Based in Foster City, Calif., Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. serves as headquarters for all North American operations and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000510/SFW104-aAP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, 888-776-6555 or 201-369-3467
SOURCE: Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.
Contact: Jamie Tica of Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.,
858-824-5854, or jamie_tica@playstation.sony.com; or Chris Overholser;
213.489.8239, or overholc@fleishman.com, for Sony Computer Entertainment
America Inc.
Website: http://www.989sports.com/
Website: http://www.esrb.org/
Website: http://www.playstation.com/