IndyCar® Series 2005 Gets the Green Flag

Officially Licensed IRL® Game Has Shipped for Xbox

New York, NY – June 22, 2004 – Codemasters, a global interactive entertainment software publisher, announced today that IndyCar® Series 2005 has shipped to North American retail outlets for the Xbox® video game system from Microsoft. The game will be available at a suggested retail price of $19.99, offering incredible value to Xbox and Xbox Live gamers.

IndyCar Series 2005 offers 220+mph online gameplay via Xbox Live, where drivers can compete head-to-head with up to 12 players simultaneously. The game contains 15 IndyCar Series tracks and is the only title to feature The Greatest Spectacle in Racing®: the Indy 500®. Players can race individual tracks or re-create a full racing season as a leading IRL driver, including newly crowned Indy 500 winner Buddy Rice, Tony Kanaan, two-time series champion Sam Hornish Jr. and two-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves. New additions to the game also include improved graphics, realistic rear-view mirrors, steering wheel support and an updated Masterclass training mode narrated by Bombardier Rookie of the Year Dan Wheldon.

“Taking IndyCar Series online brings the game to a whole new level,” said Tom Bass, senior product manager, Codemasters. “Couple this with many additional year-over-year improvements and a competitive price of $19.99, and IndyCar Series 2005 is a must-own for all Xbox racing fans.”

A completely authentic and realistic IRL® racing experience, IndyCar Series 2005 features:

• Head-to-head Xbox Live with up to 12 players simultaneously

• 15 IndyCar Series tracks, including the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway, Chicagoland Speedway, Pikes Peak International Raceway and the newly featured Twin Ring Motegi in Japan

• All-new steering wheel support with in-game adjustments

• Realistically functioning rear-view mirrors so drivers can watch their back

• Official drivers, tracks, rules and sponsors of the IndyCar Series

• Ability to re-create a full season competing as a favorite driver, including 2003 series champion Scott Dixon, Dario Franchitti, 2003 Indy 500 winner Gil de Ferran, two-time Indy 500 winner Al Unser Jr., Tomas Scheckter, Sarah Fisher and more

• Up to 33 cars on the track simultaneously

• Masterclass training mode narrated by Bombardier and Autosport Rookie of the Year Dan Wheldon

IndyCar Series 2005 features an advanced and updated genetic “AI” system that renders each race as a unique experience. The “AI” drivers actually race and make dynamic strategic decisions, defend their position, draft to pass other drivers and even make mistakes.

ABOUT CODEMASTERS
Codemasters is a global interactive entertainment company with offices in New York City, England, France, Spain, Holland and Germany. Founded in the UK in 1986, Codemasters publishes award-winning software for the PC, next generation video game consoles and online gaming. Codemasters develops original titles such as Operation Flashpoint (PC Game-of-the-Year) and ToCA Race Driver, as well as games based on top licensed properties including American Idol, MTV Music Generator and IndyCar Series. Additional information about Codemasters and its products can be found at www.codemasters.com.

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.

ABOUT Xbox Live
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.

Xbox is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.
 

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