"Star Control has always set the standard for sci-fi action/adventure games," said Adam Grosser, president and CEO of Catapult Entertainment. "Now Star Control 3 takes space adventure gaming to yet another level. This will be a 'must have' for gamers and we're looking forward to welcoming this well-known franchise to XBAND PC."
Under the agreement, consumers will be able to access XBAND PC sign-up software on the Star Control 3 CD and play Hyper Melee, the game's space combat feature, against other members of XBAND PC. In previous Star Control version, Hyper Melee has been very popular among gamers. Star Control 3 will ship this fall.
"XBAND PC plays a critical role in Accolade's recently announced strategy to add on-line play to all of our upcoming game," said Jim Barnett, president and CEO of Accolade. "This agreement is the next major step in becoming a leading publisher of multi-player games."
XBAND PC's innovative Internet technology provides high speed connections and reliable Internet performance giving gamers, with any Internet service provider, the most satisfying multi-player experience available. Called RAPIDsm (Reduced-latency And Predictable Internet Deliver), the system uses a combination of a proprietary IP service and an ATM backbone to route gamers. The result is the lowest latency service possible where necessary; use of the Internet for non-priority traffic and, most important, consistent, high quality service to the majority of ISPs available today.
Star Control 3, touted as one of the most widely anticipated games of 1996, boasts intense alien interaction, fast-action space combat and far- reaching exploration. There are more than 50 hours of game play with multiple plot threads in Star Control 3, in addition to the Hyper Melee combat feature.
Catapult Entertainment, Inc. was formed to create premier products and services to support networked real time interactive entertainment for all platforms. XBAND for the PC brings low latency gaming to the Internet. The XBAND Video Game Network, in operation since November 1994, is the only on-line gaming service for the Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo platforms. Equity partners include Viacom Corp, Blockbuster Entertainment Corp. and Nissho Iwai, whose wholly owned subsidiary, Catapult Entertainment K.K, launched XBAND for the Super Famicom in Japan in May 1996. Catapult is a private company based in Cupertino, California.
Headquartered in San Jose, California, Accolade, Inc. publishes action, sports and strategy games for personal computers and next generation gaming systems, such as the Sony PlayStation game console. The company's products are distributed in North America by Warner/Elecktra/Atlantic Corporation, a unit of Warner Music Group. Leading titles from Accolade include Bubsy, HardBall, Jack Nicklaus, Deadlock and Star Control. Accolade games are available from major software specialty stores, computer super-stores or direct from Accolade by calling 800-245-7744.
This press release was provided by Accolade Inc.
