Topic: Sega Sports Makes PlayDate

[PGC-Agent Cooper]

PlayDate named Sega Sports NFL 2K3 and NBA 2K3 Hottest for Holidays.

SEGA SPORTS GAMES VOTED AMONG HOTTEST TOYS FOR HOLIDAY 2002 ON PLAYDATE BEST SELLER LIST

"SEGA Sports NFL 2K3" and "SEGA Sports NBA 2K3" Named Among the Top 10 Video Games Expected to be Best Sellers by Leading Retailers Nationwide

NEW YORK -  PlayDate 2002 - (October 22, 2002) - Building upon its reputation for creating the best video game content, SEGA(R) of America, Inc. today announced that "SEGA Sports(TM) NFL 2K3" and "SEGA Sports(TM) NBA 2K3" were both voted among the top 10 video games expected to be best sellers this holiday season on the PlayDate Best Seller List.  Published by PlayDate, an independent marketing services company known for its unique objectivity in tracking the toy and game industries, the PlayDate Best Seller List includes results from an annual survey polling the nations' top retailers for predictions of the best-selling toys and games for the year's holiday shopping season.  SEGA is one of the only companies placing more than one game on the PlayDate Video Game Best Seller List.

"Inclusion on the PlayDate Video Game Best Seller List indicates strong sales potential for 'SEGA Sports NFL 2K3' and 'SEGA Sports NBA 2K3' for the upcoming holiday season as predicted by leading retailers," said Sean McGowan, veteran research analyst with Gerard Klauer Mattison and co-founder of PlayDate.

"SEGA Sports NFL 2K3" has received rave reviews from video game critics and was heralded as the "Best Sports Game" by the "Game Critics Awards: Best of E3 2002." "SEGA Sports NFL 2K3" features ground-breaking Artificial Intelligence, unparalleled lifelike animations, an ESPN telecast-style presentation, full online gameplay options and an in-depth franchise mode featuring a revolutionary and easy-to-use visual interface. Chicago Bears All-Pro linebacker Brian Urlacher appears on the cover of the game.

"SEGA Sports NBA 2K3" is the most authentic and entertaining NBA simulation available.  Building upon the strength of the franchise, "SEGA Sports NBA 2K3" features unmatched player and ball physics, an ESPN telecast-style presentation, ground breaking animations, an in-depth franchise mode and full online gameplay options taking the genre to unprecedented levels of realism.  "SEGA Sports NBA 2K3" also includes unprecedented passing options that give gamers control of every player on the court, as well as mid-air shot adjustments and blocking. NBA All-Star Allen Iverson of the Philadelphia 76ers appears on the cover of the game.

"SEGA Sports NFL 2K3" and "SEGA Sports NBA 2K3" are currently available for the PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system, the Xbox(TM) video game system from Microsoft(R) and Nintendo GameCube(TM) for a suggested retail price of $49.95.