Car race video game players to join competition in July

JAKARTA (JP): Players of the Sega video game Daytona will compete for the first time in July.

"The Daytona car race video game has been popular among the public, with children and adults. We will provide them the chance to prove their skills through this contest," said Adiguna Sutowo, president director of PT Citra Pramudita International, at yesterday's press meeting at the Hard Rock Cafe.

Citra Pramudita International is the license holder of Sega products in Indonesia.

Sega, based in Japan, is among the world's four biggest video game businesses. The others are Nintendo, Namco and Sony.

Adiguna said Sega has produced about 70 video games, including Daytona, Sega Rally, Manx TT, Cyber Cycles, Virtua Striker VS and Fighting Vipers.

"We chose the Daytona game because it was the first Sega product to be introduced here in 1994, and the most popular one," said Adiguna.

The Daytona game is available in 11 Sega outlets across the country, including Plaza Senayan, Plaza Indonesia, Plaza Bintaro, Plaza Barito, Yoshinoya Kelapa Gading and Mal Ciputra, all in Jakarta; Mal Malioboro in Yogyakarta; Bandung Indah Plaza and Plaza Hong Kong in Medan; and Plaza Balikpapan and Plaza Tunjungan in Surabaya.

The preliminary round will be held at each outlet from July 13 to 14 to select the best player. The final round will be held at the Plaza Senayan mall in Jakarta on July 21.

For the winners, the committee will provide Rp 2,250,000 (US$971.5) in total cash prizes as well as a trophy. They will also be given a chance to participate in a video game competition with real race car drivers like Adiguna, Ricardo Gelael, Chandra Alim, Ananda Mikola and others.

Participants are required to pay a Rp 10,000 registration fee. Trip expenses and accommodation for finalists from outside the Jakarta area will be for paid by the committee.

"They will be flown to Jakarta by Sempati Air and sleep in the Hilton," said Adiguna. (jsk)