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08-05-2004, 11:33 AM
Wayne Gretzky, the highest scoring player in the history of the National Hockey League, will serve as cover athlete and spokesman for a new game from the U.S. video game arm of Sony Corp (NYSE:SNE - news) (news - web sites)., the company said on Tuesday.
Sony Computer Entertainment of America said "Gretzky NHL 2005" would be out this fall for the PlayStation 2 (news - web sites).
The game was first announced as "NHL FaceOff 2005." After skipping a year, Sony brought hockey back to its lineup this year with a new developer and a new design. A spokesman for 989 Sports, Sony'ssports division, said the company now considers the game essentially a new franchise.
Called "The Great One" for his scoring prowess, Gretzky retired in 1999 and was inducted into his sport's hall of fame soon after. He is currently a partner with the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League.
The new title will not be the first time Gretzky's name has graced a game. Midway Games Inc . released a game in the late 1990s called "Wayne Gretzky's 3D Hockey '98," and there were Gretzky titles on older platforms in the early 1990s as well.
Sony said Gretzky signed a three-year deal and will be involved in the game's development and promotion. Sony will also become the exclusive video game partner of the Wayne Gretzky Foundation.
Sony Computer Entertainment of America said "Gretzky NHL 2005" would be out this fall for the PlayStation 2 (news - web sites).
The game was first announced as "NHL FaceOff 2005." After skipping a year, Sony brought hockey back to its lineup this year with a new developer and a new design. A spokesman for 989 Sports, Sony'ssports division, said the company now considers the game essentially a new franchise.
Called "The Great One" for his scoring prowess, Gretzky retired in 1999 and was inducted into his sport's hall of fame soon after. He is currently a partner with the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League.
The new title will not be the first time Gretzky's name has graced a game. Midway Games Inc . released a game in the late 1990s called "Wayne Gretzky's 3D Hockey '98," and there were Gretzky titles on older platforms in the early 1990s as well.
Sony said Gretzky signed a three-year deal and will be involved in the game's development and promotion. Sony will also become the exclusive video game partner of the Wayne Gretzky Foundation.