KOEI Brings the Sport of Kings to the PlayStation®2 Computer Entertainment System

Burlingame, CA – March 19, 2003 – KOEI Corporation today announced plans to release G1 Jockey 3, for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system. G1 Jockey 3 captures of all the excitement, action and splendor of one of America’s most beloved spectator sports, thoroughbred racing.

“KOEI is proud to finally bring G1 Jockey 3 to North America. The title is the best-selling action-oriented thoroughbred racing game in Japan, and the second top selling horse racing game after KOEI’s Winning Post simulation series,” said Amos Ip, Vice-President of Sales & Marketing at KOEI Corporation. “Bringing the title stateside this summer is part of KOEI’s ongoing commitment to provide a product mix of internationally acclaimed titles that will appeal to a worldwide audience.”

Riding atop a half-ton thoroughbred at lightning speeds requires strength, stamina, and intense concentration. But that’s only part of a jockey’s life. The greatest jockeys are daredevil athletes, clever negotiators, and warrior-like tacticians who know how to get the best ride from champion steeds.

In G1 Jockey 3 players take the role of an apprentice jockey thrust into the highly competitive sport of thoroughbred racing. Over the course of a season, players face fierce competition as they battle to become the world’s top Grade 1 jockey. All the action and the vibrant spectacle of thoroughbred racing are captured in real-time 3D. Players have full control of their steed right out of the gate and all the way to the furious finish.

G1 Jockey 3’s racing features include:

- 10 tracks and 35 courses, including flat and steeplechase races.

- 4,000 playable horses, each with its own unique characteristics. More horses than any other racing game.

- Over 100 rival jockeys

- Changing weather and track conditions

- Meticulous 3D modeling – from colorful jockey silks to horse markings (“socks” and “blazes”), hoods and blinkers. 

Arcade-style racing is only part of the action. From negotiating with trainers to year-end awards ceremonies, G1 Jockey 3 faithfully recreates the drama of the trackside world. Players will:

- Negotiate with trainers for the best rides. Each year older horses retire and younger horses become eligible for competition. It’s up to the player to find the next champion.

- Learn racing tactics from veteran jockeys

- Set-up a racing schedule and work the system of race classes. Ride a horse all the way from Maiden races to the pinnacle of the racing world, the G1 or Grade 1 Class.

G1 Jockey 3 also includes a Training Mode and a 2-Player Versus Mode. Both modes focus purely on racing. Players select a horse, track, and race distance, flat or steeplechase course, size of field, weather and track conditions, and difficulty level.

G1 Jockey 3 is the first game in the series to be released in North America, and ships to retailers in June 2003. Available exclusively for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, G1 Jockey 3 is rated “RP” (Rating Pending) by the ESRB.

About KOEI Corporation

KOEI Corporation, the North American subsidiary of KOEI Co., Ltd. of Japan, established operations in 1988. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, the company is now in its fifteenth year and is recognized as a leader in the highly competitive video game industry.

KOEI is respected worldwide as the premier brand for strategy and simulation games. The company’s Tactical Action series, Dynasty Warriors™, has generated more than 4 million units in sales worldwide, since releasing for the Sony PlayStation in 1997.