Midway to reinvent sports genre?

Midway Sports, the sports division of Midway Games, has today announced that it has refocused its league-licensed sports games in order to appeal to a broader gaming audience. Midway's sports games have always offered a unique arcade style of gameplay, but, after some nationwide focus testing of sports game fans, Midway has decided that it also needs to offer players the opportunity to experience their favorite teams, players, and stadiums in an authentic professional-sports context.

The new line of games will be released as Pro versions of the existing series, and both NFL Blitz Pro and NHL Hitz Pro were confirmed today. NFL Blitz Pro will be the flagship game in the new line, and it will feature authentic 11-on-11 play with realistic rules and options, as well as a number of Midway Sports' trademark gameplay features.

"It was exciting to find both hard-core and casual fans so interested in seeing Midway Sports make this move," said Jon Dean, vice president, sports development unit, Midway Amusement Games. "We have always had the corner on the arcade-style sports marketplace. Now, we are in position to deliver the perfect mix of realism and action to a much wider audience of sports gamers."

We'll bring you more information on both NFL Blitz Pro and NHL Hitz Pro as soon as it becomes available.