December 08, 2004 - SEGA(r) of America today announced the North American release of Worldwide Soccer Manager, a sports management simulation game that is officially licensed by Major League Soccer (MLS). Developed for the PC and Mac by UK developer Sports Interactive, creators of the highly popular Championship Manager(tm) series, Worldwide Soccer Manager represents the next evolution in fantasy sports by enabling gamers to control all team-related activities for their favorite professional soccer teams in the U.S. as well as 50 other countries across the world.

Worldwide Soccer Manager features an award-winning game engine that offers highly realistic simulations where gamers are responsible for overall team performance through the management of important franchise elements including, but not limited to, coaching, scouting, trading, human resources and finance. Soccer enthusiasts, fantasy sports and tycoon fans, and other sports fans who want a fresh, challenging experience can put their knowledge to the test by managing every facet of a soccer club.

"We have brought a title that is wildly popular abroad to the U.S., where soccer continues to grow in popularity with the success of our national team and Major League Soccer," said Scott A. Steinberg, vice president of entertainment marketing, SEGA of America, Inc.

"By including players from all MLS clubs, as well as real players from Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Spain, Italy and England to name just a few, we hope Worldwide Soccer Manager will ride the current wave of fascination in fantasy sports that is pervasive in the U.S., and take this genre to the next level," said Miles Jacobson, CEO of Sports Interactive.

"Major League Soccer is pleased to partner with video game leaders such as SEGA and Sports Interactive to include MLS teams and players in the world's most popular management-style soccer game," said Stu Crystal, vice president of marketing and consumer products for MLS. "Worldwide Soccer Manager's entry into the U.S. market will enable core fans who understand the nuances of the game of soccer to truly experience the evaluation and management process that Major League Soccer's coaches and general managers execute on a daily basis."

In addition to MLS, Worldwide Soccer Manager features leagues from more than 50 different countries, so players can manage clubs from countries such as Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, England, Italy and Spain. The game includes a player database of more than 240,000 players and staff from 3,000 clubs worldwide in more than 170 divisions.

Worldwide Soccer Manager is currently available in all major retailers in the U.S. with an MSRP of $39.99.