newsbytes@clarinet.com (01/14/90)
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1990 JAN 11 (NB) -- The world-famous entertainer Michael Jackson has applied his enthusiasm for games to a video game based on his movie Moon Walker. Japan's major video game firm Sega Enterprises will launch the video game titled Moon Walker into the domestic and U.S. market in June this year. The game software will run on its 16-bit MegaDrive, and the U.S.-version Genesis, as well as arcade game machines. Sega has not decided the prices yet. The action game, adopted from the movie, will mimic Michael's rhythmical actions faithfully as well as include his hit songs such as Bad and Beat It, according to Sega. Michael and Sega have joined forces to realize the game software, as Jackson is reportedly something of a video game junkie. Sega, chasing Nintendo's Family Computer or Nintendo Entertainment System for market share, aims to sell more of its video game machines by launching the new game software. Sega has so far sold 800,000 units of its MegaDrive and 500,000 units of its Genesis. (Ken Takahashi/19900111/Press Contact: Sega Enterprises, 03-743-7447, Sega U.S.A., 408-435-0201)