LAS VEGAS, Sept. 4 NV-I-T-Golden-Tee
LAS VEGAS, Sept. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Golden Tee Golf, the world's #1
coin-operated video game, is celebrating its 20th birthday, a unique
achievement in the fickle, fast-moving coin-op industry. Incredible
Technologies, Golden Tee's creator, kicks off a year-long celebration at its
upcoming World Championship, to be held at the Las Vegas Hilton on September
12-13.
"It's a trifecta, celebration-wise," says Elaine Hodgson, president of
Incredible Technologies (http://www.ITsgames.com).
"It's a $100,000 tournament starring 500 of the best players in the world
... it's a 72-hour birthday bash ... and it's the unveiling of our 2009
Anniversary Edition, with five new courses and some brand new twists."
The Golden Tee World Championship is video golf's version of the Ryder
Cup. In addition to dramatic, exciting team competition, players will compete
individually for the world title and its $20,000 first prize.
Yes, $20,000. IT has awarded more than $15 million in prizes to date, one
reason why Hodgson expects 5 million players to plunk down $200 million on the
game in the next year.
Another reason: IT keeps introducing innovations, so Golden Tee never gets
old.
Back in 1989, inventor Larry Hodgson created Golden Tee to indulge his
love of golf during long Chicago winters. His first prototype featured an
actual golf club.
Eventually, he traded the club for a trackball and asked co-worker Jim
Zielinski to design a virtual golf course. Since then, the IT team has
launched one technological breakthrough after another, like using wireless
connectivity to link game consoles worldwide and designing machines that
accept credit cards -- thus redefining "coin op."
The 20th anniversary edition contains even bigger innovations this year.
For starters, IT redesigned the game cabinet from the top down. The clunky,
old-fashioned, arcade-style cabinet has been replaced with a sleek, slim, sexy
3' pedestal, coupled with a cutting-edge, LCD flat screen.
With the new YouTube Great Shot Videos feature, players will be able to
upload outstanding shots to YouTube to share with the entire world. And to
listen to the Hit List, a soundtrack of ever-changing music by Dave Matthews
Band, OAR, and selected new artists.
"We can't think of a better place to launch our newest, greatest edition
of Golden Tee than at its 20th birthday party at the World Championship in
Vegas," says Hodgson.
SOURCE Incredible Technologies
