SQUARE EUROPE ANNOUNCES FORTHCOMING RELEASE OF CHOCOBO RACING™ 
_____________________________________________________________________________________

London, September 1999 – Square Europe, a leading publisher of home video game console software is pleased to announce forthcoming release of Chocobo Racing TM, an action/racing game on PlayStation. This title is to be distributed by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, within its exclusive European distribution partnership. 

Chocobo Racing™ is the first action/racing title from Square Co., Ltd. that features Chocobo, a familiar chicken-like bird that originated in the company’s world-renowned FINAL FANTASY® series.  Other popular FINAL FANTASY characters also make surprise appearances in the game. Chocobo Racing is just one of several chart topping games released in Japan featuring the loveable Chocobo’s. The arcade-style game is packed with eight cartoon-like characters who race their way over eight tracks, in five game modes, picking up special abilities to help them outpace their challengers. Chocobo Racing™ is a fun game for all ages. 

The Managing Director of Square Europe, Mr. Tomohiro Yoshikai, said “We are very pleased to bring Chocobo Racing to Europe – not only as it’s a great, fun title, but it also shows the wide breadth of titles that Square has to offer the European Gamers” . He further commented “ Chocobo Racing is not just a racing game. It has enjoyable features which, for example, enable the player to edit the characters’ abilities as he/she wants.  The game can be enjoyed by a wide variety of users”

Chocobo Racing™ is an arcade-style racing game that offers lots of challenge through the game’s various modes that include:  Story, Grand Prix (GP), Time Attack, Versus, and Relay Race.  

Story Mode is set in an old fashioned, pop-up storybook where the story unfolds through cinematic cut scenes.  Chocobo progresses through the story on a quest to find more ability enhancing “Blue Crystals.”  He must compete against different characters as he moves into each new chapter and is faced with a new and more challenging race.  Players skilled enough to make it to the end of the story are rewarded with the ability to customize their own character.  At the end of the Story Mode, the player is given a score of points which he can use to change the five different “parameters” or “stats” of his new racer.  Ultimately each new racing character a player builds can be saved on a MEMORY CARD and raced in other game modes.

GP is one of the game’s toughest modes because this mode isn’t just about speed.  Players must pay attention to magic stones, abilities and driving techniques to outdistance competitors. GP allows six racers to compete on four courses. The character with the highest score from the series of races is dubbed the “Supreme Champion.”  

The three other modes offer time and team intensive racing action. They include: Time Attack where players race against a clock; Versus which lets players race head-to-head against a friend or against one of the game’s artificial intelligence (AI) characters; and Relay Race, which pits teams of three against three in a race to the checkered flag.  Players can ratchet up the excitement with two player action in GP, Versus and Relay Race modes. 

In each game mode, players can take on the role and special characteristics of a variety of colorful characters, including: Chocobo, Mog, Golem, Goblin, Black Magician, Chubby Chocobo, White Mage or Behemoth.  Every character comes with its own vehicle and abilities. For example, Chocobo speeds through each of the game’s tracks on roller blades dubbed “jet blades” which propel him through the race.    

All of the game’s courses are littered with magic stones giving players special powers to outpace their challengers, but watch out for wily players who can enhance their power by stealing their challengers’ stones.  Collect two or three stones of the same type and a character’s power grows exponentially.  Players can slide into a better position by mastering the game’s cornering technique called, “drifting.”  Or collect a magic “minimize” stone and shrink your rivals – wield three of these stones and your rivals can be squished by other racers. 

Chocobo Racing™ offers eight tracks with varying degrees of difficulty.  Cid’s Test Track allows players to hone their racing skills while The Black Manor Track presents players with tricky cornering challenges that send racers sliding into ponds.  The most difficult track, Vulcan-o Valley, is the ultimate test for aggressive racers as they can find themselves skidding into molten lava if they’re not on top of the game.  

-Ends-

For further information, please do not hesitate to contact:

Simon Etchells
Square Europe Ltd
Walmar House
296 Regent Street
Phone +44 (0) 207 291 5120
Email:  Simon@square-europe.com

Elizabeth Ashford
Sony Computer Entertainment Europe
25 Golden Square
London W1R 6LU
Phone	 +44 (0) 171 533 1349
Email: Liz_Ashford@playstation.sony.com

Square Co., Ltd.
Square Co., Ltd. is the leading third-party developer and publisher of home video game console software in Japan with annual sales of more than 34 billion Yen and 1,200 employees worldwide.  Square Co., Ltd. became famous for its role playing games, including its world-renowned Final Fantasy series, which has sold more than 22 million units to date, and now publishes other titles under the Square Soft brand spanning all genres.  Square Co., Ltd. is based in Tokyo, Japan, and maintains a branch office in Osaka. 

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE)
SCEE is responsible for the distribution and software development for the PlayStation, the world’s number one selling (CD-based) video game system and has offices around Europe, the Middle East, Australia and New Zealand promoting the PlayStation and its software to a total of 70 territories.

Final Fantasy and Chocobo Racing
Final Fantasy and Chocobo Racing are registered trademarks of Square Co., Ltd. Square Soft is a registered trademark of Square Co., Ltd..  PlayStation and the PlayStation logos are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.  All rights reserved.

Visit our websites:
www.square-europe.com
www.playstation-europe.com

                            
Developer: Square Co., Ltd. Genre:  Racing  No. of Players:  1-2 
Peripherals:  Analog Controller (DUAL SHOCK), Memory Card