Hawkins Buys Additional Shares

Trip Hawkins, chairman and CEO of 3DO, has increased his stake in the company, 3DO announced Thursday. Hawkins picked up around 2.9 million additional shares of the company's outstanding stock on the open market. Hawkins now owns 5,136,903 million shares, or 19.8 percent of the company.

Hawkins explained the reasoning behind his purchase this way: "To further solidify 3DO's position as an innovator and leader in the gaming software industry, I am hands-on in creating our games, developing marketing strategy, and building our management team. This personal investment is one more demonstration of my commitment and a testament to my confidence in 3DO's success."

Non-executive employees of 3DO picked up 96,000 shares of outstanding 3DO stock.

3DO also began domestic US shipping of its TOCA (Touring Car Association) Championship Racing title for the PC and PlayStation. The game re-creates the cars and tracks of the 1997 European racing season.

Players get to sit behind the virtual wheel of European race cars such as the Audi A4, Ford Mondeo, Honda Accord, Nissan Primera, Peugeot 406, Renault Laguna, Vauxhall Vectra, and the Volvo S40.

3DO is emphasizing the realism of this title, saying that each car is depicted with "realistic impacts, crashes, and spinouts. Realistic suspension dynamics combined with wheel spin, varied traction, and responsive car handling make players feel as if they're flying around the featured tracks at 140 mph," the company says.

Up to two players can compete in the multiplayer function of the PlayStation version of the game, while the PC version can support up to eight racers.