NASCAR Heat 2002 Released For Xbox

Hasbro have released NASCAR Heat 2002 for Xbox. This follows the PlayStation release earlier this year.

Press release:

INFOGRAMES NASCAR HEAT 2002 FOR XBOX BLURS LINE BETWEEN GAME AND REALITY

BEVERLY, Mass. – November 13, 2001 – Bringing the best in NASCAR® racing to the newly launched Xbox™ video game system from Microsoft, NASCAR® Heat 2002™ from Infogrames, Inc. (Nasdaq: IFGM) roars into stores this week with photo realistic graphics utilizing four times the texture detail of any other NASCAR game, amazing sound and features only possible on the powerful new system. Full 43-car Winston Cup racing packs and outstanding multi-player features make NASCAR Heat 2002 the racing title to beat this holiday season on Xbox.

The unparalleled power of Xbox makes competitive racing possible like never before on a gaming system. NASCAR Heat 2002 can be played by up to 32 players simultaneously utilizing Xbox System Link through the Network Hub hosting up to eight Xbox systems with up to four players on each.

NASCAR Heat 2002’s outstanding graphics and sound are also attributable to the power of Xbox. Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound gives players the ability to not only hear NASCAR greats like Jeff Gordon and Rusty Wallace creeping up on their rear bumper, but to practically feel them. Photo-realistic graphics, made possible by the state-of-the-art graphics processor in Xbox, further blur the line between fantasy and reality for the player, providing the most realistic NASCAR console game experience ever.

“With the amazing graphics and sound capabilities of Xbox we’re getting very close to being able to suspend disbelief in games,” said Nancy MacIntyre, vice president of marketing for Infogrames’ Beverly label. “NASCAR Heat 2002 blurs the line between the game and what a fan might watch on TV. The graphics and sound are so real it is almost like reaching into a televised NASCAR race and taking control of your favorite car.”

Through the use of advanced satellite photos, the track geometry of the 2001 NASCAR races jumps to life with unparalleled accuracy – including the newly redesigned Sears Point road-course track. The stars of NASCAR Heat 2002’s rides have also been replicated in minute detail with their latest paint schemes. All car settings are adjustable to get the most from these high-horsepower monsters on race day.

For anyone needing a little advice on race day, track-tip videos from top drivers like Sterling Marlin, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kevin Harvick and more give players the information they’ll need to beat the pack and come in first. Developed by Monster Games, Inc., NASCAR Heat 2002 for Xbox has an ESRB rating of ‘E’ for Everyone and is currently available at most major retail outlets for an estimated retail price of $49.99.

About Xbox

Xbox is Microsoft’s future-generation video game system that delivers the most powerful games experiences ever. Xbox empowers game artists by giving them the technology to fulfill their creative visions as never before, creating games that blur the lines between fantasy and reality. Xbox will be available in North America on November 15, 2001 at the suggested retail price of $299.99.

About Infogrames, Inc.

New York-based Infogrames, Inc. (Nasdaq: IFGM) is the second largest third-party publisher of interactive entertainment software in the U.S. The Company develops video games for all consoles (Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft), PCs, and Macintosh systems. Infogrames’ catalogue of more than 1,000 titles includes award-winning franchises such as Alone In The Dark™, Civilization™, Deer Hunter®, Driver™, Roller Coaster Tycoon®, Test Drive®, and Unreal®, and key licenses including Survivor™, Warner Bros. Looney Tunes™, Nickelodeon’s Blue’s Clues™, Dragon Ball Z, Mission Impossible®, Harley-Davidson®, Major League Baseball®, and the National Football League®, among many others. The Company’s Humongous Entertainment and MacSoft labels are leaders in children’s entertainment software and Macintosh entertainment software, respectively.

Infogrames, Inc. is a majority-owned subsidiary of France-based Infogrames Entertainment SA (IESA) (Euronext 5257), a global publisher and distributor of video games for all platforms, as well as interactive digital television, mobile smart devices (WAP, HDML) and in-flight entertainment systems. In 2001, IESA acquired Infogrames Interactive, Inc. (formerly Hasbro Interactive), including its line of software based on well-known licenses such as Monopoly®, Jeopardy®, Tonka®, and Atari®, which are distributed in the U.S. by Infogrames, Inc. For more information, visit the Company’s Web site at www.infogrames.com.

# # #

*Reseller prices may vary.

++++ NASCAR Licensing ++++

NASCAR provides support for its licensed products through a dedicated office in Charlotte, N.C., that researches new categories, licenses qualified companies, manages accounts, handles quality control and develops retail partnerships to drive sales of NASCAR-licensed product for the benefit of drivers, teams and tracks. NASCAR supports its licensees through annual trade advertising, a comprehensive retail guide, trade show exhibits, a quarterly newsletter and a dedicated web presence on NASCAR.com.