News

Game's top players licensed in World Championship Pool 2004

 

Game slated for release on multiply platforms in December

 

Buffalo, New York (November 19, 2003) - Jaleco Entertainment has teamed up with Matchroom Sport and the International Professional Pool Players Association (IPA) to bring the world's best players and most prestigious competitions to WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POOL 2004, the pool simulation video game for PC CD-ROM, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, and the Xbox® video game system from Microsoft.

 

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POOL 2004  features 11 of the world's highest-ranked 9-ball competitors including the current 2003 World and German Champion, Thorsten Hohmann, along with America's Earl "The Pearl" Strickland, and Steve Davis and Tony Drago, two of the world's biggest names from snooker and now leading 9-ball players.  The agreement with the IPA and its affiliate, the World 8-ball Pool Federation, is linked to 8-ball pool and gives the rights to 13 of the world's leading players as well as the world's biggest competition, the World Championship for 8-ball.  Included in the list of high profile players is Chris Melling - World 8-ball Champion (WEPF) 2003.

 

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POOL 2004 aims to be the most authentic pool game on the market.  Boasting six modes of play - 9-Ball, 8-Ball, Career Mode, a Snooker game, Trick Shots and Fun Games, WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POOL 2004 promises to appeal to both die-hard pool fans and casual pool-hall players.

 

Gamers can assume the role of the sport's best players, adopting their unique style and specific shooting preferences or compete against these true-to-life legends.  Tools such as the precise aiming aid and shot strength meter can improve players' skills.  In venues both real and fictitious, winning a match can unlock unique ball sets and world-class pool cues.  A dynamic camera system and 100% real physics give WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POOL 2004 TV-style coverage complete with famous commentators.

 

The game includes both single and multi-player modes and will be the first online pool game for the PlayStation2 and the first pool game for Xbox and Xbox Live.

 

"The Xbox team is ready for World Championship Pool 2004 to expand the gaming experience for our Xbox and Xbox Live communities," said J Allard, Vice President for the Xbox Platform division of Microsoft.  "The fact that the game includes the world's top pool and snooker players is a real coup for our gamers and Jaleco Entertainment."

 

Matchroom Sport is one of the leading world sports events organizations, creating, promoting, organizing and televising major events worldwide under the charismatic leadership of Executive Chairman Barry Hearn.  The deal with Matchroom Sport focuses on the 9-ball game and gives the rights to the world's leading players and the sport's biggest competitions - the Mosconi Cup, a hugely popular and widely televised competition between Europe and the USA, and the World Championship.  Also included is the use of the image of Michaela Tabb, the referee whose dealings with players have earned her a popular following in the sport.

 

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POOL 2004 is developed by Blade Interactive, makers of the critically acclaimed World Championship Snooker series, and will be available for PC CD-Rom, PlayStation2 and Xbox in December. It cues up on the Nintendo GameCube Q1 2004. The game is rated "E" for everyone. Visit www.jaleco.com/wcp2004 for more information.

  

About Jaleco Entertainment

Jaleco Entertainment (www.jaleco.com) is a premier publisher of interactive software entertainment for console systems, PC, and online gaming. With a team that blends highly experienced individuals from the gaming industry and fresh new talent, the company is committed to developing original intellectual property and cutting edge gaming titles. Jaleco Entertainment is based in Buffalo, New York, with European headquarters in London, England. Jaleco Entertainment maintains development studios in Boulder, Colorado, and Tokyo, Japan. Jaleco Entertainment is a wholly owned subsidiary of PCCW Japan. The company employs more than 200 people worldwide.

 

About Blade Interactive

Blade Interactive (www.bladeinteractive.com) is a dynamic development studio in Manchester, England, creating fun and innovative games that engage all the senses. Our teams comprise some of the most talented individuals in the industry with skill sets that span the spectrum of computer and console formats, and in-depth knowledge of multiple game genres from racing, platform and role-playing to sports simulations.

 
About Xbox
 Xbox (http://www.xbox.com) is the video game system from Microsoft that brings people together for the most exhilarating game and entertainment experiences.  Xbox delivers an expansive collection of breakthrough games, powerful hardware and the unified Xbox Live online service.  The new tagline, "it's good to play together," captures the spirit of Xbox as the social hub of the new digital entertainment lifestyle.  Xbox is now available in North America, Asia, Europe and Australia. 

Xbox Live, which launched in the United States Nov. 15, 2002, allows gamers to play multiplayer Xbox games with other gamers everywhere via a broadband connection. With a built-in hard drive and Ethernet port, the Xbox console is the only video game system built from the ground up for online gaming, negating the need to buy additional, costly peripherals or upgrades. Xbox Live enables gamers to easily find their friends; talk to other players during game play through the Xbox Communicator headset; download current statistics, new levels and characters to their Xbox hard drive; and play online-all exclusive features to Xbox Live