Midway Unleashes First-Ever Psychic Combat Game - ESPionage

ESPionage is the First and Only Action/Stealth Game to Integrate Weapons Combat with Extensive Use of Psychic Mind Powers Including Telekinesis, Pyrokinesis, Remote Viewing and Mind Control

Midway Games, a leading software industry publisher and developer, announced today that ESPionage, is in development and is expected to ship in Fall 2003 for the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, the Xbox video game system from Microsoft and Nintendo GameCube.

ESPionage challenges players to use their most powerful weapon - their mind - as they try to master the first action/stealth game to integrate traditional weapons combat with extensive Psi (psychic) mind powers. Combatting a terrorist movement set to overthrow world order, Nick Geller - an elite American Psi-Operative - fights using telekinesis (lifting and throwing objects), pyrokinesis (controlling fire), remote viewing (going "out-of-body" to plan attacks), mind drain (draining Psi energy from enemies), aura view ("seeing" elements that aren't visible in the real world) and mind control (taking control of enemies) to fight against an army of programmed, psychic terrorist super soldiers that will stop at nothing to reach their goal.

"Never before have players been given the ability to use Psi mind powers in an action/stealth game," said Helene Sheeler, vice president of marketing, Midway. "ESPionage provides a highly entertaining experience that opens up unique and creative combinations of the way gamers can play the game."

As Geller, players must conquer a programmed super soldier army and its psychic agents while using Psi powers. In addition to Psi capabilities, players have access to traditional weapons such as handguns and automatic weaponry. As players strategically navigate seven huge immersive levels within four distinct compounds, they encounter multiple ways to solve missions, which greatly adds to the replay value.

ESPionage Key Features:

• Psi Powers: The first and only action/stealth game to integrate weapons combat with extensive and unique Psi mind powers including:
  

  • Telekinesis - The ability to lift people and objects and
    hold, move or throw them in any direction.
    

  • Pyrokinesis - The ability to launch a wall of fire that ignites everything in its path.
    

  • Mind Control - The ability to take control of enemy bodies.
    

  • Remote Viewing - The ability to go "out-of-body" to see
    through doors to plan your "attack" and/or get information
    you would not be able to get in physical form.
    

  • Mind Drain - The ability to drain Psi power from enemies,
    which results in death to the victim.
    

  • Aura View - The ability to "see" elements that are not
    visible in the real world.
    

• Action and Stealth Combination - Intense, fast-paced action with strategic stealth elements. The emphasis is on action, with elements of stealth.
  

• Traditional Weapons - In addition to Psi mind control powers, traditional weapons, such as handguns and automatic weaponry, still play a major role in gameplay and combined with the Psi powers create an extraordinary and powerful gameplay dynamic.
  

• Intense Storyline - An engaging and compelling storyline reveals the mystery of Nick's identity and the origin of his Psi powers while infiltrating the compounds of "The Movement," a powerful psychic terrorist organization.
  

• Multiple Levels and Compounds - Seven huge and immersive levels within four distinct compounds spread throughout the world.
  

• Deep AI - Adaptive artificial intelligence makes enemies extremely aware of the player's actions and delivers more intense, realistic fighting.
  

• Multiple Methods for Solving Missions - The non-linear design
  allows the gamer to conquer the mission in multiple ways,
  allowing for endless replay value.
  

March 28, 2003

Jim - News Contributor, GameCubicle