Electronic Arts Ships Need For Speed III: Hot Pursuit
 SAN MATEO, CALIF. (March 25) BUSINESS WIRE - March 25, 1998 -
 Electronic Arts(tm), the world's largest independent interactive
 entertainment software company, announces the release of Need For
 Speed(tm) III: Hot Pursuit for the PlayStation(tm), the latest
 addition to the popular, adrenaline-pumping realistic racing
 franchise. Need For Speed returns with eight new, exotic supercars
 that are based on their real life counterparts and a white-knuckle
 turning twist... an intelligent law enforcement team dedicated to
 stopping speeders at any cost.
 Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit is packed with new features for
 players to test their racing skills. These include eight real-world
 tracks set in a full 3-D environment; several short cuts and
 alternate routes to discover on each of the tracks; five different
 modes of gameplay with multiple options for racing fans of all types;
 and highly detailed special effects, such as realistic lighting
 reflections and glowing effects in both day and night time. Racers
 can zoom down the open road in a choice of eight new licensed
 supercars that are based on manufacturer specifications. The cars,
 with top speeds over 200 m.p.h.  and price tags as high as $1 million
 include:
     Ferrari 550 Maranello(tm)
     Ferrari 355 F1(tm)
     ITALDESIGN(tm)
     Nazca C2(tm)
     Lamborghini Diablo SV(tm)
     Lamborghini Countach 25th(tm)
     Jaguar(tm) XJR-15(tm)
     Mercedes(tm)
     CLK(tm)
     GTR
     Chevrolet Corvette(tm)
 Each of the cars is supported by a slide presentation containing
 photos of their real life counterparts and respective specifications
 such as: weight, torque, horsepower, top speed, acceleration and
 braking performance, engine type, handling characteristics and
 manufacturer development history. "Need For Speed III: Hot Pursuit
 will set the standards for what a great racing title needs to offer,"
 said Hanno Lemke, the game's senior producer. "We're delivering what
 racing buffs are screaming for – smart cops, high speed chases,
 tracks that have a 'real' feel to them and several million dollars
 worth of untouchable supercars they recognize but unfortunately will
 rarely get the opportunity to see or test drive."
 Need For Speed III: Hot Pursuit racers can select arcade or
 simulation mode to scream through the game's tracks, all of which
 boast real world themes.  Players must earn the right to advance by
 winning the first four tracks -- the tree-lined backroads of the
 Hometown track which is reminiscent of New England, the colorful
 canyon rimmed roads of the Southwest of Redrock Ridge, the curvy
 mountain climbing open road of Rocky Pass and the slick strips,
 avenues and winding coastlines of Atlantica evocative of Miami,
 Florida. Only by winning the first four courses will the remaining
 tracks – Country Woods, Atlantica, Lost Canyons, and The Summit –
 become available.
 The tracks, all of which can be raced backwards or in mirror mode
 (left turns become right and vice versa), take on a new thrill
 through the number of special effects visible in the game which
 include: police lights that cast a red and blue glow onto the roadway
 during a chase; night time driving complete with high and low beams;
 rain that sprays off the tires, varying weather conditions that can
 be randomly set; and thunder and lightening effects. In addition, the
 game utilizes a real-time lighting model and reflective mapping on
 the cars that adds another level of detail and richness to the 3-D
 environment through headlights that shine on the roadway and
 surrounding areas, sunlight that creates car shadows on the road, or
 lights and environmental reflections off of cars. Hot Pursuit Mode:
 Speed Now Has a Consequence Racers who dare to push the envelope with
 bone-chilling speeds and slick moves in Hot Pursuit mode will
 encounter multiple levels of police aggression from high speed chases
 and road blocks to tire spikes. As in real life, the law enforcement
 officers in Need For Speed mean business and will pull out all stops
 to chase, pull over -- using dozens of recorded police commands, cite
 and ultimately arrest all speeders including the player and/or his
 Artificial Intelligence (AI) opponents. For example, if racers
 continuously attempt to outrun the law, police will become more
 aggressive and strategic with their arrest tactics by trying to ram
 speeders off the road, calling in additional cops for back up, and
 strategically placing road blocks and tire spikes up the road. In
 addition to the police, even the opponents come with an attitude.
 Because of the game's rich AI, each of the in-game challengers have
 various personalities, which are reflected through their names. If a
 player continuously cuts off the "Terror" opponent, "Terror" will
 retaliate and make it his mission to knock you off the road with some
 edgy moves of his own from honking to blocking or ramming.
 The game is equipped with four additional game modes including:
 "practice" where a player hones race skills around a track; "single
 race" where the player competes in one race to the finish against one
 or a group of opponents; "tournament" in which the player must win
 each race in order to advance, with an ultimate goal of accessing
 additional cars; and "knock out" where a player must avoid placing
 last in order to stay in the race, and eventually win the bonus
 track. Each of these modes is equipped with selectable options for
 elements such as day and night time driving, setting different
 amounts of traffic and tutor with navigator speech and on-screen
 arrows for negotiating turns. Players can choose one of four
 different camera views from a possible six when in-game, as well as
 customizing their cars with different colors and multiple tuning
 options such as adjusting gear ratios, suspension stiffness, engine
 power, aerodynamics, brake settings and selecting between racing
 skills, stock tires and rain tires.
 Final touches that complement the game are the two-player
 horizontally split screen; a frame rate of 30 frames per second in
 single player, which provides a smooth, fast sensation of speed, and
 new interactive audio effects and music custom designed for each
 track theme. Need For Speed III: Hot Pursuit for the PlayStation is
 available for a suggested retail price of US$49.95 and has an "E"
 ESRB rating. Artwork can be downloaded at:  http://pr.ea.com/nfs3.zip
 
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