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December 6, 2007
New Grand Theft Auto IV trailer
MLB 2K8 names cover star athlete
Games for Health gathering content
World of Mixed Martial Arts ships
Rumble Fighter contest begins
Third Official "Grand Theft Auto IV" Trailer available on
Xbox.com and Xbox LIVE Marketplace at 3pm EST Today
Today “Grand Theft Auto” fans will
get their next look at the eagerly anticipated “Grand Theft Auto IV”
with the release of the third official trailer, "Move up,
ladies" on Xbox.com and Xbox LIVE Marketplace.
At 3pm EST, gamers can get another
glimpse at Grand Theft Auto's colorful world in HD on Xbox.com and Xbox
LIVE Marketplace. While online you can also check out the first two
trailers, screen shots, and a preview of the “Grand Theft Auto IV”
Marketplace theme.
“Grand Theft Auto IV” is the next
chapter of the award winning “Grand Theft Auto” franchise from
Rockstar Games and will be coming to the Xbox 360 on day one. In addition
to online multiplayer, a first for the series, gamers will experience
hours of additional gameplay with two downloadable episodes exclusively
available on Xbox LIVE following the release of the game. Focused on the
story of Eastern European immigrant Niko Bellic, “Grand Theft Auto IV”
takes players back to Liberty City and promises a cinematic story told
like only Rockstar can, an extremely vast and detailed world to explore
and gameplay like the series has never seen before.
For all things Xbox 360 and Grand Theft
Auto IV visit: http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/g/grandtheftautoiv
Jose Reyes Named Cover Athlete and Official Spokesman for Major League
Baseball® 2K8
New York, NY – December 6, 2007 – 2K
Sports, the sports publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.
(Nasdaq: TTWO), announced today that New York Mets shortstop Jose Reyes
will be the cover athlete and official spokesman for Major League
Baseball® 2K8.
“This year we have signed one of the
most exciting players in all of Major League Baseball® as our official
cover athlete,” said Ben Brinkman, Executive Producer, Major League
Baseball® 2K8. “Jose Reyes is a multi-talented player – a great
baserunner, fielder and hitter, making him the perfect spokesperson for
Major League Baseball® 2K8.”
“This is the first time I have ever
been on the cover of a video game and it is very exciting to be a part of
the best video game out there,” said Jose Reyes.
Although he is best known for his speed
and base-stealing ability, Jose Reyes is also one of the most well-rounded
players in the game and is the first player in baseball history to have
more than 63 steals, 120 runs, 192 hits, and 19 homers in a single season.
Reyes led the Major League in 2006 with 17 triples and 64 stolen bases and
set a new Mets club record with 104 hits at Shea Stadium. Also an avid
video gamer and long time fan of 2K Sports’ products, All-Star Shortstop
Jose Reyes is a natural fit as the official spokesperson for this year’s
edition of the critically acclaimed Major League Baseball 2K series.
Major League Baseball® 2K8 will be
available spring 2008 for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment
system from Microsoft, the PLAYSTATION®3 and PlayStation®2 computer
entertainment systems, the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, and the
Wii™ home video game system. For more information, log onto
http://www.2ksports.com
About Take-Two Interactive Software
Headquartered in New York City, Take-Two
Interactive Software, Inc. is a global developer, marketer, distributor
and publisher of interactive entertainment software games for the PC,
PLAYSTATION®3 and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment systems, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable)
system, Xbox 360® and Xbox® video game and entertainment systems from
Microsoft, Wii™, Nintendo GameCube™, Nintendo DS™ and Game Boy®
Advance. The Company publishes and develops products through its wholly
owned labels Rockstar Games, 2K Games, 2K Sports and 2K Play; and
distributes software, hardware and accessories in North America through
its Jack of All Games subsidiary. Take-Two's common stock is publicly
traded on NASDAQ under the symbol TTWO. For more corporate and product
information please visit our website at www.take2games.com.
Grey Dog Software Releases World
of Mixed Martial Arts
Phoenix, AZ December 6, 2007 – Grey
Dog Software, a Phoenix based developer of sports management simulation
software for personal computers, is pleased to announce the release of its
highly anticipated mixed martial arts simulation, World of Mixed Martial
Arts. World of Mixed Martial Arts is available for digital download
exclusively through Grey Dog Software.
WWMA will allow players to manage
contests between fighters from a variety of backgrounds; the player takes
control of a MMA company, and is in charge of just about everything to do
with its running, including hiring fighters, match making, marketing, and
so on.
WMMA includes many realistic features,
such as fighters improving and declining in skill as their career
progresses, shocking upset victories, injuries sustained both during
fights and training, competitors switching training camps to help their
career, and people holding out for more money during contract
negotiations.
For more information on World of Mixed
Martial Arts please visit Grey Dog’s official website at http://www.greydogsoftware.com.
About Grey Dog Software
Grey Dog Software, LLC an Arizona based,
privately-held company, is a leading developer of sports management
simulations for the PC. Grey Dog Software strives to provide
ground-breaking features, enormous depth, and endless replayability with
each game.
GAMES FOR HEALTH PROJECT ANNOUNCES
GAMES FOR HEALTH CONFERENCE 2008 ISSUES CALL FOR CONTENT FOR FOURTH ANNUAL
GATHERING
December 6, 2007 - (Portland, ME) -
Today the Games for Health Project (www.gamesforhealth.org) announced
plans for its fourth annual Games for Health Conference. The conference
will be held May 8–9, 2008, at the Baltimore Convention Center in
Baltimore, Maryland. Games for Health announced Humana has signed on as a
premiere industry sponsor for the event.
Prior to the conference, on May 7, the
Project will also host two additional day-long events devoted to virtual
worlds and health, as well as games accessibility. Together, these three
days of meetings will cover the intersection of next-generation game
technologies, health, and health care.
Registration is now open at
www.gamesforhealth.org, and a call for content has now been issued on the
site and is available to prospective speakers and presenters.
The Games for Health Project is
dedicated to exploring and building on the use of games and game
technologies to improve health and health care. The Project was started in
2002 by the Serious Games Initiative (www.seriousgames.org) and is
sponsored by the Pioneer Portfolio of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF).
On November 7, 2007,RWJF announced an $8.25M grant to fund new research
and continued efforts to build the games for health field, which includes
support for the Games for Health Project and primary sponsorship of the
Games for Health Conference through 2011.
"On the heels of the Robert Wood
Johnson Foundation’s grant announcement, we are proud to launch what we
expect to be our biggest and best gathering to date," said Games for
Health Project Communications Director and conference organizer Beth
Bryant. "The theme this year is ‘Leveling Up,’ which we feel
signifies the great leaps forward the games for health community has made
since our last major event in September 2006."
The Games for Health Conference expects
over 300 attendees at Games for Health 2008. “This conference provides a
forum for collaborations to emerge between the video game industry and the
health and health care industry.” said Chinwe Onyekere, RWJF program
officer. “Through these exchanges, we hope attendees will continue to
explore how the power of video games can help to solve complex health and
health care challenges.”
GAMES FOR HEALTH CONTENT The Games for
Health Conference 2008 will feature more than 30 sessions and an expanded
expo, including specific tracks on exergaming and training—two of the
biggest areas of activity within the greater games for health field. Over
the course of the two-day conference, researchers and game developers are
expected to share research, games, and related engineering covering a
diverse portfolio of activities, including:
* Exergaming & Rehabitainment *
Health Behavior Change * Disease Management & Education * Public
Health Messaging & Patient Communication * Cognitive Health * Training
and Management Sims & Occupational Recruitment * Accessibility for
Games & Disability-Focused Games * Epidemiology * Pain Distraction
& Stress Relief * CyberPsychology * Entertainment Games About Health
or Substantial Health-Related Play * Health Effects of Games * First
Responders & Mass Casualty Training * Medical Informatics & Health
Data Collection * Virtual Patients * Interface & Visualization
Applications * Personal Health & Electronic Medical Record Systems
On May 8, a network reception will also
be held, sponsored by Virtual Heroes of Research Triangle Park, North
Carolina. During the reception attendees will be able to play with
3DiTeams. Funded by the U.S. Army Telemedicine and Advanced Technology
Research Center (TATRC), 3DiTeams was developed by Virtual Heroes with
Duke University's Human Simulation and Patient Safety Center and lets
people interact with a fully 3D simulation of emergency healthcare
environments.
HUMANA PROVIDES PREMIERE INDUSTRY
SPONSORSHIP In addition to RWJF’s primary sponsorship, Games for Health
also announced today that Humana, headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky,
had signed on as a Premiere Sponsor of the 2008 conference, funding a
range of activities at the event. The sponsorship includes the creation of
the Humana Exergaming Room, which will be one of the largest showcases of
exergaming research, software, and hardware seen to date.
"Humana is proud to be the first in
the healthcare industry to sponsor the Games for Health Conference. We're
excited to support the Games for Health Conference's ability to bring
together leading researchers and game developers to address critical
health issues,” said Paul Puopolo, Director of Consumer Innovation at
Humana. “Our participation in this conference is just one part of our
overall initiative that is committed to understanding and applying
electronic games to positively impact health."
Ben Sawyer, co-founder of the Games for
Health Project, stated, "One of our goals when we started the Games
for Health Project was for major health industry companies such as Humana
to join with the community to identify and move forward on shared areas of
interest. This leading sponsorship is a sign we're able to serve as a
platform to enable the kind of partnership needed to help the field grow
and to play a meaningful role where research indicates games offer good
benefit." Sawyer continued, "In the coming months we expect to
announce other sponsorships and partnerships aimed at making our 2008
conference a not-to-be-missed event."
ABOUT GAMES FOR HEALTH The Games for
Health Project is produced by the Serious Games Initiative, a Woodrow
Wilson International Center for Scholars effort that applies cutting-edge
games and game technologies to a range of public and private policy,
leadership, and management issues. The project also produces the Games for
Health Conference, now in its fourth year.
The Initiative founded Games for Health
to develop a community and best practices platform for the numerous games
being built for health care applications. To date, the project has brought
together researchers, medical professionals, and game developers to share
information about the impact games and game technologies can have on
health, health care, and policy. For more information, visit www.gamesforhealth.org.
OGPlanet Announces Rumble Fighter
Holiday Items, Contest Elite 8 Event Pits Players Against Game Masters for
Prizes
El Segundo, Calif.- Dec. 6, 2007-
OGPlanet, an innovative provider of multiplayer online games, today
announced a variety of holiday-themed in-game events for its MMO fighting
game Rumble Fighter.
Rumble Fighter characters will be ready
for chilly winter weather with brand-new items including a colorful
holiday scarf and snow boots. Also being introduced this month are a new
hairstyle, the Avenger Cut, and a powerful new ExoCore, Relic of
Phantomcore, which turns its master into a dangerous skeletal form and has
the ability to transform opponents into the mindless walking dead.
A brand-new stage, The Incinerator, will
also debut this month. This welding furnace used by the Dark Guardians to
forge their cryptic weapons will prove a dangerous place for even the most
experienced fighters.
Also continuing this month is the Elite
8 Event, available only to OGPlanet's MySpace friends. Every two weeks,
eight players who have included Rumble Fighter widgets on their MySpace
pages will be chosen for a chance to battle against a team of Rumble
Fighter game masters for a shot at winning the spectacular Star Dust armor
set. Eight new challengers will be chosen next week to compete on Dec. 15.
The Rumble Fighter MySpace page is http://w ww.myspace.com/rumblefighter,
and Rumble Fighter widgets can be found at http://www.ogplanet.com/community/widgets.asp.
Editor's Note: Rumble Fighter holiday
assets for your use are available at http://www.m mpr.com/MMPRFTP/, inside
the OGPlanet folder.
About Rumble Fighter
One of the most unique fighting games
around, Rumble Fighter allows up to 8 players to battle it out online in
simultaneous melee action. Featuring an advanced combo attack skill system
with multitudes of real fighting styles to choose from, Rumble Fighter
allows players to build the fighter they've always wanted to be.
About OGPlanet
Based in El Segundo, California,
OGPlanet focuses on bringing popular multiplayer PC games to U.S. gamers.
Built on an innovative business model, our games allow anyone to play for
free, but offer the opportunity to enhance their experience by purchasing
game pieces, clothing, and accessories. These "Virtual Economy
Games" have already attracted tens of millions of players in Asia and
are building a large audience in the U.S. Co-founded by Jack Liu, Chief
Creative Officer, and Sangchul Park, President, the company is funded by a
team of experienced gaming and digital media executives. For more
information, visit www.ogplanet.com.
> December 5, 2007
Activision touts holiday games
New Bioshock content released
Seven Kingdoms open on Windows
DREAMCATCHER GAMES ANNOUNCES SEVEN
KINGDOMS: CONQUEST FOR WINDOWS®
December 6th 2007. Liezen, Austria:
JoWooD Productions and DreamCatcher Games, leading publishers of
interactive entertainment software around the world, today announced that
they will publish the Real-TimeStrategy (RTS) Game Seven Kingdoms:
Conquest for Windows®.
Set for worldwide release in the first
quarter of 2008, this is the third installment of the classic Seven
Kingdoms franchise, a series known for its unique attributes which
distinguish it from competing RTS titles.
Building on the pedigree of its
predecessor (Seven Kingdoms II scored 90% from PC Gamer magazine and 91%
from Gamespot.com), Conquest delivers all the standout features of the
previous games while adding new features and new strategies. In skirmish,
multiplayer or campaign mode, players will choose one of 7 Human
civilizations or one of 7 Demon races, each with unique units and special
abilities.
“Longtime fans of the Seven Kingdoms
series are really going to be impressed with the new features in Conquest,”
said Brian Gladman, Senior Product Manager at DreamCatcher Games. “We’ve
stayed true to the series while adding new content that is sure to make
Seven Kingdoms: Conquest a successful title in a franchise that continues
to stand out in the RTS genre.”
Seven Kingdoms: Conquest for Windows®
has an anticipated ESRB rating of T for Teen and will sell for a suggested
retail price of $39.99 USD. For further information please visit our
website at www.sevenkingdomsconquest.com
About DreamCatcher Inc.: DreamCatcher
Inc. is a leading worldwide publisher and distributor of interactive
entertainment software. Established in 1996, the company markets its
products under two popular labels: DreamCatcher Games, featuring the
critically acclaimed, best-selling game Painkiller; and The Adventure
Company, the number one brand for PC adventure games worldwide including
award winning titles such as Syberia and Agatha Christie: And Then There
Were None.
DreamCatcher products include titles for
the PC as well as leading hardware platforms - the PlayStation®2 computer
entertainment system, the PlayStation® Portable (PSP) system, the Xbox®
video game and entertainment system, the Nintendo Wii® and Game Boy®
Advance.
About JoWooD Productions Software AG
JoWooD Productions Software AG (ATXPrime: JWD) is listed in the Prime
Market segment of the Vienna stock exchange. JoWooD is a leading publisher
of computer- and videogames, releasing international acclaimed,
high-quality titles for all existing and future gaming systems. JoWooD
games are distributed worldwide by an efficient net of distribution
partners. Visit http://corporate.jowood.com for more information.
2K Games Releases Downloadable
Content and Enhancements for BioShock
BioShock players can elevate their
gaming experience with new Plasmids, achievements and widescreen options
for free
New York, NY – December 4, 2007 – 2K
Games, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ:
TTWO), announced today that BioShock, its top-rated title exclusively
available for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from
Microsoft and Games for Windows®, has released new downloadable content
for players on both platforms. The content includes new Plasmids and
Tonics, achievements and interface upgrades, and is now available as free
downloadable content from Xbox LIVE® Marketplace, through an Xbox 360
Title Update, and as part of a PC patch.
“As one of the highest rated games of
the year, we wanted to continue to connect with the fans that made
BioShock such an overwhelming retail and critically-acclaimed hit,” said
Christoph Hartmann, President of 2K. “We are excited to offer new
downloadable content that will extend and enhance the replay value of this
title.”
New downloadable content includes:
Four Plasmids and Gene Tonics:
· Sonic Boom: Hurls creatures and
objects back with a blast of force
· EVE saver: Enables Plasmids to use
less EVE
· Vending Expert: Reduces prices in the
vending machines
· Machine Buster: Increases the amount
of damage players deal to cameras, bots and turrets
Achievements (exclusive to Xbox 360):
· Xbox 360 players can gain 100 points
for “Brass Balls,” by beating BioShock on the “hard” difficulty
setting without dying
In response to gamers’ requests and
feedback from the Cult of Rapture (www.CultofRapture.com) community
forums, fans of BioShock now have a widescreen option, granting a wider
horizontal field of vision, as well as additional enhancements to the
game. The Xbox 360 Title Update will be automatically applied at the game’s
startup when users log into Xbox LIVE. PC owners can access both the
additional content and gameplay improvements via a downloadable patch,
available at www.2Kgames.com/bioshock/support.
Developed by 2K Boston and 2K Australia
and rated M for Mature, BioShock is a "genetically enhanced"
first-person shooter that lets players do things never before possible in
the genre. Gamers enter the game as a castaway in Rapture, a decaying art
deco underwater utopia torn apart by civil war. Caught between powerful
forces and hunted down by genetically modified "splicers" and
deadly security systems, players have to come to grips with a deadly,
mysterious world filled with powerful technology, fascinating characters
and morality defining choices. To make it to the end, players can turn
everything they encounter into a weapon, biologically modify their body
with Plasmids, hack devices and security systems, upgrade weapons, craft
new ammo variants, and experiment with different battle techniques. No
encounter ever plays out the same and no two gamers will play BioShock the
same way.
For more information on the game, please
visit www.2Kgames.com/bioshock.
About Take-Two Interactive Software
Headquartered in New York City, Take-Two
Interactive Software, Inc. is a global developer, marketer, distributor
and publisher of interactive entertainment software games for the PC,
PlayStation®2 and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment systems, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable)
system, Xbox® and Xbox 360® video game and entertainment systems from
Microsoft, Wii™, Nintendo GameCube™, Nintendo DS™ and Game Boy®
Advance. The Company publishes and develops products through its wholly
owned labels Rockstar Games, 2K and 2K Sports, and Global Star Software;
and distributes software, hardware and accessories in North America
through its Jack of All Games subsidiary. Take-Two's common stock is
publicly traded on NASDAQ under the symbol TTWO. For more corporate and
product information please visit our website at www.take2games.com.
All trademarks and copyrights contained
herein are the property of their respective holders.
Microsoft, Windows, the Windows Vista
start button, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, and the Xbox logos are trademarks
of the Microsoft group of companies.
ACTIVISION ROCKS IN THE HOLIDAY
SEASON WITH A STELLAR GAME LINE-UP FOR GAMERS OF ALL AGES
Santa Monica, CA – December 5, 2007
– Activision, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) is making wishes come true this
holiday season with games for kids of all ages and interests from the top
brands in interactive entertainment including Call of Duty® 4: Modern
Warfare™ and Guitar Hero® III: Legends of Rock to games based on such
blockbuster movie hits as “TRANSFORMERS,” Sony Pictures Entertainment’s
Columbia Pictures and Marvel Studios’ “Spider-Man 3,” and DreamWorks
Animation’s “Bee Movie™” and “Shrek the Third™.”
Titles Based on Top Brands in
Interactive Entertainment:
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare -- The
new action-thriller from the award-winning team at Infinity Ward, the
creators of the Call of Duty® series, delivers the most intense and
cinematic action experience ever. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare arms
gamers with an arsenal of advanced and powerful modern day firepower and
transports them to the most treacherous hotspots around the globe to take
on a rogue enemy group threatening the world. Call of Duty 4: Modern
Warfare is available for the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment
system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION® 3 computer entertainment system and
Windows® PC and is rated “M” for Mature.
Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock -- Fire
up the fretboard, crank up the amp and get ready to rock like never
before. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock offers the ultimate rock
experience with new wireless guitars, freshly added content and features
including a multiplayer action-inspired battle mode, grueling boss
battles, a host of exclusive unlockable content and visually stunning rock
venues. Expanded online multiplayer modes allow axe-shredders worldwide to
compete head-to-head for true rock status as they riff through a
star-studded soundtrack including master tracks by legendary artists such
as Aerosmith, Guns ‘N’ Roses, The Rolling Stones, Beastie Boys, Rage
Against the Machine and Pearl Jam, as well as original songs by guitar
icons Slash and Tom Morello. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock is now
available for the Xbox 360®video game and entertainment system from
Microsoft, Wii™ home video game system from Nintendo, PLAYSTATION®3
computer entertainment system, and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment
system, and is rated “T” for Teen by the ESRB.
Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground -- In the
largest and deepest Tony Hawk game yet, gamers are now in total control of
their skating destiny in Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground. Set in the streets
of Baltimore, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., the title empowers
players with the freedom to define their character, story and style based
on the choices they make, the paths they select and the style of skating
they want. Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground is available for the Xbox 360™
video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3
computer entertainment system, WiiÔ, PlayStationÒ2 computer
entertainment system and the Nintendo DSÔ and is rated “T” for Teen.
Enemy Territory: QUAKE Wars™ -- Set
within the expansive QUAKE universe in the year 2065, id Software’s
Enemy Territory: QUAKE Wars offers the ultimate in objective-based
multiplayer action, either online or offline with computer controlled
players. Up to 24 gamers can play online, electing to play as the human
GDF or alien Strogg in one of five unique character classes and employ an
arsenal of weapons, vehicles and deployable armaments for an action-packed
test of skill and coordinated teamwork through a series of combat
objectives. Enemy Territory: QUAKE Wars is available for Windows PC is
rated “T” for Teen.
Titles Based on Blockbuster Movies:
Bee Movie™ Game -- Based on DreamWorks
Animation’s hit movie from creator Jerry Seinfeld, Bee Movie Game allows
players to race, chase, fly and blast their way through the
adrenaline-fuelled world from the feature film and beyond. As the witty
and courageous Barry B. Benson, gamers are propelled on an exciting
adventure to save the bee’s right to produce honey. Bee Movie Game is
available for the Xbox 360™ video game system from Microsoft,
PlayStationÒ2 computer entertainment system, Nintendo WiiÔ and DSÔ and
Games for Windows®. The game is rated “E” for Everyone.
Shrek the Third™ -- In the Shrek the
Third video game, players adventure as Shrek® and friends to save Far Far
Away in a hilariously twisted fairy tale from the movie and beyond. Gamers
assume the role of their favorite characters from the film - Shrek,
Donkey, Puss-in-Boots, Fiona, Artie and Sleeping Beauty - and embark on an
all-new adventure to save the land from the evil clutches of Prince
Charming. Shrek the Third is available for the Xbox 360™ video game
system from Microsoft, Nintendo WiiÔ, PlayStationÒ2 computer
entertainment system, PSPÒ (PlayStationÒ Portable) system and Windows®
PC and are rated “E10+” for Everyone 10 and older. The Nintendo DS™
and Game BoyÒ Advance versions of the game are rated “E” for
Everyone.
Shrek®: Ogres and Dronkeys™ -- Shrek:
Ogres and Dronkeys gives handheld gamers the chance to train, play and
explore with Shrek and Fiona’s adorable triplets and Donkey and Dragon’s
playful offspring, the Dronkeys. Once ready, players use the mischievous
youngsters’ newly learned skills and talents to embark on an exciting
journey of puzzle solving and mini-game mayhem throughout the hilarious
world of Shrek. The game is available for the Nintendo DSÔ and is rated
“E” for Everyone.
Spider-Man™ 3 -- Based on Sony
Pictures Entertainment’s Columbia Pictures’ blockbuster feature film,
Spider-Man 3 allows players to experience the actions of heroic red-suited
Spider-Man and, for the first time ever, his darker, more mysterious
black-suited persona. Set in a larger, dynamic, free-roaming New York
City, the game gives players the freedom to choose their own gameplay
experience through multiple movie-based and original storylines, fully
integrated city missions and performance rewards including improved speed,
combat maneuvers and agility. Spider-Man 3 is available for the Xbox 360™
video game system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION® 3 computer entertainment
system, Windows® PC, Nintendo WiiÔ, PlayStationÒ2 computer
entertainment system, and PSPÒ and is rated “T” for Teen. The
Nintendo DSÔ and Game BoyÒ Advance versions are rated “E10+” for
Everyone 10 and older.
Spider-Man™: Friend or Foe -- Inspired
by the Spider-Man film trilogy and the classic Spider-Man™ comics,
Spider-Man: Friend or Foe was designed for younger Spider-Man fans and
challenges them to defeat and then join forces with notorious movie
nemeses including Doc Ock, Green Goblin, Venom and Sandman, as they embark
on an epic quest to overcome a worldwide evil threat. Spider-Man: Friend
or Foe is available for the Xbox 360™ video game system from Microsoft,
Nintendo WiiÔ, PlayStationÒ2 computer entertainment system, Nintendo
DSÔ, PSPÒ and Windows® PC and is rated “E10+” for Everyone 10 and
older.
TRANSFORMERS: The Game -- Based on
Hasbro’s TRANSFORMERS property and the blockbuster live-action feature
film from DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures, TRANSFORMERS: The
Game lets gamers control the outcome in the battle for Earth as they
choose to protect it as AUTOBOTS or destroy it as DECEPTICONS. The game is
available for the Xbox 360™ video game system from Microsoft,
PLAYSTATION® 3 computer entertainment system, Nintendo WiiÔ,
PlayStationÒ2 computer entertainment system, Windows® PC and is rated
“T” for Teen. The Nintendo DSÔ and PSPÒ games are rated “E10+”
for Everyone 10 and older.
About Spider-Man Merchandising, L.P.
Spider-Man Merchandising, L.P. is a
50/50 limited partnership comprised of Marvel Entertainment, Inc. and Sony
Pictures Consumer Products, Inc. The partnership oversees all of the
licensing and merchandising activities for the Columbia Pictures
Spider-Man™ feature films as well as the Sony Pictures Television’s
animated series entitled “The Spectacular Spider-Man,” all based on
the Marvel characters.
About HPG
HPG, the licensing division of Hasbro,
Inc. (NYSE:HAS), translates one of the industry’s richest portfolios of
brands into a world of fun and excitement for children and adults
globally. Through a host of publishing, digital media, lifestyle and
entertainment platforms, HPG is able to surround fans worldwide with
consumer products that expand Hasbro’s core brands, such as
TRANSFORMERS, LITTLEST PET SHOP, MY LITTLE PONY, MONOPOLY, G.I. JOE, TONKA
and PLAYSKOOL.
About HASBRO
Hasbro (NYSE: HAS) is a worldwide leader
in children’s and family leisure time entertainment products and
services, including the design, manufacture and marketing of games and
toys ranging from traditional to high-tech. Both internationally and in
the U.S., its PLAYSKOOL, TONKA, MILTON BRADLEY, PARKER BROTHERS, TIGER and
WIZARDS OF THE COAST brands and products provide the highest quality and
most recognizable play experiences in the world.
About id Software
id – defined by Freud as the primal
section of the human psyche; id Software, located in Mesquite, Texas, was
founded in 1991. From inception to present day, id Software has
relentlessly provided technical, design and artistic leadership as an
independent game developer and technology provider. Transcending the games
industry, id’s iconic brands such as Wolfenstein, DOOM, QUAKE and Enemy
Territory have become staples of popular culture for generations of
gamers. More information on id Software can be found at www.idsoftware.com.
About Activision, Inc.
Headquartered in Santa Monica,
California, Activision, Inc. is a leading worldwide developer, publisher
and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products. Founded
in 1979, Activision posted net revenues of $1.5 billion for the fiscal
year ended March 31, 2007.
Activision maintains operations in the
U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Sweden,
Spain, the Netherlands, Australia, Japan and South Korea. More information
about Activision and its products can be found on the company's World Wide
Web site, which is located at www.activision.com.
> December 4, 2007
Xbox 360 on the clock
Avencast patch released
Battle for the Pacific begins
Cranium Kabookii hits stores
CRANIUM® KABOOKII VIDEO GAME IN
STORES NOW
Award-Winning Game Brand Arrives on the
Wii
For a press kit, please follow this
link: http://files.us.ubisoft.com/cranium_kabookii.zip
SAN FRANCISCO – Dec. 4, 2007 – Today
Ubisoft, one of the world's largest video game publishers, announced that
Cranium® Kabookii has shipped to retailers nationwide and is available
exclusively for the WiiTM home video game system from Nintendo. Developed
by Ubisoft's Quebec studio, in collaboration with five-time Toy Industry
Association Game of the Year winner Cranium, Inc., Cranium Kabookii
celebrates the amazing things friends and family can do as they create,
perform, discover and connect with one another. Cranium Kabookii is rated
"E” for Everyone and has an MSRP of $49.99.
"The Cranium brand is synonymous
with creativity, expression, and fun. By bringing these attributes to the
Wii, Cranium Kabookii is the perfect addition to our Games for Everyone
line,” said Tony Key, senior vice president of sales and marketing at
Ubisoft, "We are extremely excited to be working with Cranium, Inc.,
who have established themselves as pioneers in the industry by creating
unique and innovative games for all ages.”
Cranium Kabookii brings a new dimension
to Wii play through the use of the Wii Remote(TM) and special Kabookii
Decoder Glasses. New questions and 15 activities get teams playing music,
drawing, acting, puzzling and even cracking codes to win. Spray paint the
solar system on a wall (you actually hear the can shaking in your hand!);
use the Wii Remote as a mallet to hammer out "Auld Lang Syne” on a
xylophone; solve word puzzles (what word is both a face card and car
lifter?); or even trot the globe to test your knowledge of world flags,
landmarks and national anthems (frequent flier miles not included!).
"Cranium Kabookii is our first
family video game, and we couldn't have found a better partner in Ubisoft,”
said Cranium Chief Noodler and co-founder Whit Alexander. "The Quebec
studio's understanding of our brand, paired with their excellence in video
game development, allowed us to create a play experience that's a first
for the Wii and a first for Cranium. This is an exciting milestone for us.”
Key Features:
• The family game show for your Wii:
Enter the Cranium Kabookii arena, spin the carousel and land on one of 15
different activities to start the fun! CREATE works of art and imagination
with spray paint, chalk and disappearing ink DISCOVER fascinating new
things in true-false, multiple choice and globe-spinning trivia puzzles
PERFORM hilarious feats by acting, playing songs and mastering the art of
memorization CONNECT with friends and family as you crack codes, decipher
clues, and remix phrases.
• Something for everyone: Unlimited
players! Up to four teams, each with two or more players of all ages, can
compete against each other. Engaging and hilariously entertaining, Cranium
Kabookii is perfect for any combination of aspiring artists, performers,
data heads or wordsmiths.
• Special Kabookii Decoder Glasses:
Unveil secret clues on the TV without revealing them to other players in
the room.
• Play globally, act locally: Custom
built! Cranium Kabookii is the first Wii game with international questions
carefully crafted to celebrate the unique culture and sense of humor of
players in Canada, France, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United
States.
About Ubisoft Ubisoft is a leading
producer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment products
worldwide and has grown considerably through a strong and diversified
line-up of products and partnerships. Ubisoft has offices in 23 countries
and sales in more than 50 countries around the globe. It is committed to
delivering high-quality, cutting-edge video game titles to consumers.
Ubisoft generated sales of 680 million Euros for the 2006-07 fiscal year.
To learn more, please visit www.ubisoftgroup.com.
About Cranium, Inc. Cranium, Inc.
reinvented the board game category in 1998 with the launch of Cranium and
a pledge to give everybody the chance to shine. Today, Cranium leads the
industry in innovation through a constant passion for changing the rules.
Celebrated for its award-winning products and culture, Cranium is
recognized as one of Seattle's Best Places to Work, one of Washington
State's Top 100 Privately Held Companies, and five-time winner of the Toy
Industry Association's T.O.T.Y. Game of the Year award. With more than 22
million games, books, and toys sold worldwide, Cranium continues to fuel a
global movement of more than half a million Craniacs in nearly 30
countries and more than 10 languages. From Cranium games and puzzles to
books and toys, everything we create celebrates the full range of natural
abilities as kids, families and adults create, discover, perform and
connect. For more information, visit www.cranium.com.
Cranium® Kabookii © 2007 Ubisoft
Entertainment. Ubisoft, Ubi.com, and the Ubisoft logo are trademarks of
Ubisoft Entertainment in the U.S. and/or other countries. Cranium® 2007
Cranium, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Cranium® Kabookii, Cranium ® and
Cranium are trademarks of Cranium, Inc. Licensed to Ubisoft Entertainment
by Cranium Inc. TM and the Wii logo are trademarks of Nintendo. © 2006
Nintendo.
Xbox 360 Family Timer
Launches Worldwide Through Xbox LIVE, Helping Families "Set the
Clock" on Gaming
Microsoft research reveals
that parents in the U.S. and Europe would welcome a timer tool to help
manage ther children’s screen time.
REDMOND, Wash. — Dec. 4,
2007 — Microsoft Corp. today launched the Xbox 360 Family Timer
worldwide, available for download via Xbox LIVE in 26 countries. This is
great news for parents because Microsoft research reveals that children’s
media consumption and time spent playing video games are universal
concerns for families.
A Microsoft survey
conducted throughout Europe found that parents embrace the idea of support
from the gaming industry, with 75 percent of them welcoming built-in
technology or software to monitor the time their children spend playing
video games. A similar Microsoft survey conducted in the United States
last month found that 62 percent of parents say they would use a timer if
it were available to help them manage their children’s interactive
entertainment use. Both surveys were the product of the company’s
ongoing commitment to responsible gaming and the start of year two of
Microsoft’s “Safety is no game. Is your family set?” campaign.
In line with the research,
Microsoft today has made available worldwide to Xbox LIVE users a new
Family Timer feature that will enable parents for the first time to set
the appropriate amount of gaming and entertainment time on the Xbox 360
console for their kids — on a daily or weekly basis. A list of countries
with available Xbox LIVE service is at http://www.xbox.com/live/countries.
“As a leader in
interactive entertainment, it has been our priority to innovate and
improve our Family Settings technology to help parents worldwide manage
their children’s video gaming and online experiences,” said Jeff Bell,
corporate vice president of Global Marketing for the Interactive
Entertainment Business at Microsoft.
In addition, the European
study found that content of games and the time spent playing video games
are important issues to parents. Similarly, in the U.S., 66 percent of
parents have rules about the amount of time their kids can spend playing
video games and 86 percent have rules about the type of content their kids
have access to.
The Xbox 360 Family Timer
is an addition to the console’s existing set of industry-leading
parental control features. Similar to the parental controls in the Windows
Vista operating system, the new Xbox 360 Family Timer can restrict
children’s activity time.. Helpful notifications will appear to warn
gamers that the session is nearing the end so they have sufficient time to
save their game, and the feature will automatically turn off the console
when the predetermined time limit has been exceeded.
Although the U.S. survey
focused on media consumption and household rules while the European survey
focused on habits and attitudes of families on gaming issues, both polls
revealed similar results. In Europe and the U.S., video gaming is a family
activity, with most parents in both regions saying that they play video
games with family members (U.S., 54 percent; Europe, 51 percent). The U.S.
public survey polled 800 parents who have a video game console in their
home and found that 99 percent had at least some rules about media use.
The public poll conducted in Europe surveyed 4,000 parents in the U.K.,
France, Germany and Italy and found that seven out of 10 parents (71
percent) expressed concern over the content of video games.
Microsoft’s Commitment to
Families Is Ongoing
Xbox was the first video
game and entertainment system with built-in parental controls for both
online and offline use. Known as Family Settings, these controls allow
parents and caregivers to set guidelines for the types of games they will
allow, make informed choices about content, and decide with whom their
children can play online. Earlier this year, Windows Vista launched with a
similar set of parental controls that allows parents to guide children’s
game playing, Web browsing and overall computer use. These controls help
parents determine which games their children can play, which programs they
can use and which Web sites they can visit — and when.
“We get up every day
committed to providing consumers with unprecedented entertainment
experiences, but we also understand that our success comes with a
responsibility to acknowledge genuine concerns and address them through
technology and education,” Bell said.
According to Bell, with
more than 13 million Xbox 360 consoles sold worldwide, the company’s
drive to empower parents is a core Microsoft responsibility. Last fall,
the company launched the “Safety is no game. Is your family set?”
national grassroots campaign (http://www.xbox.com/isyourfamilyset) with
Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Best Buy Co. Inc. to educate parents
about the tools and resources available to help them manage their children’s
interactive entertainment experiences on both Xbox 360 and Windows Vista.
Year two of the campaign will continue with the support of these partners
and others such as the National PTA to educate families on parental
controls, including the new Xbox 360 Family Timer, distribute a family
guide called “Safety is no game. Is your family set? A Family Guide to
Video Games and
Entertainment” and a PACT — a family contract intended to foster
discussion between parents and children on interactive entertainment
choices.
About Xbox 360
Xbox 360 is a superior
video game and entertainment system delivering the best games, unique
entertainment features and a unified online gaming network that revolve
around gamers. Xbox 360 will have a portfolio of more than 300 games and
will be available in nearly 40 countries by the end of 2007. More
information can be found online at http://www.xbox.com/xbox360.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft
(Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and
solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
THE HISTORY CHANNEL®
BATTLE FOR THE PACIFIC VIDEO GAME BURSTS INTO RETAIL STORES NATIONWIDE
Minneapolis, MN –
December 4, 2007 – Step right into the heart of combat in The History
Channel®: Battle for the Pacific video game from Activision, Inc. (Nasdaq:
ATVI). History is brought to life in this authentic, epic experience as
players relive famous conflicts fought on the intense battlefields of
World War II. Told through the eyes of an American GI, the game features
heart-pumping action, real WWII weapons and actual documentary video
footage as players fight through a variety of territories including
Guadalcanal, the Philippines and Iwo Jima.
“We’re thrilled to
continue our collaboration with the award-winning The History Channel to
deliver gamers with a new chapter in the WWII series,” said David
Oxford, Activision, Inc. “Everything in The History Channel: Battle for
the Pacific from the combat and mission locations to the weapons and
documentary footage is painstakingly researched, allowing us to deliver a
cinematic war experience that is both incredibly exciting and accurate.”
The History Channel: Battle
for the Pacific thrusts players directly into the Pacific’s most
historic battles of WWII. Utilizing real combat skills and authentic
allied and axis weapons, including sub-machine guns, sniper rifles,
anti-aircraft guns and grenades, players will be able to relive history
and fight through missions based on actual battles. Additionally, players
can go online on next generation platforms and the PC and play as an
American or Japanese soldier in individual or team based modes such as
elimination, deathmatch, team deathmatch and capture the flag.
The History Channel: Battle
for the Pacific, which is published by Activision Minneapolis, is
available now on the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from
Microsoft for a suggested retail price of $49.99 and the PlayStation®2
computer entertainment system, the Wii™ home video game system and the
PC for $39.99. The game will also be available on the PLAYSTATION®3
computer entertainment system for $49.99 on December 12, 2007. The game is
rated “T” (Teen) by the ESRB.
About Activision, Inc.
Headquartered in Santa
Monica, California, Activision, Inc. is a leading worldwide developer,
publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure
products. Founded in 1979, Activision posted net revenues of $1.5 billion
for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007.
Activision maintains
operations in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany,
Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Spain, the Netherlands, Australia, Japan and South
Korea. More information about Activision and its products can be found on
the company's World Wide Web site, which is located at www.activision.com.
About The History Channel®
The History Channel® is a
leading cable television network featuring compelling original,
non-fiction specials and series that bring history to life in a powerful
and entertaining manner across multiple platforms. The network provides an
inviting place where people experience history in new and exciting ways
enabling them to connect their lives today to the great lives and events
of the past that provide a blueprint for the future. The History Channel
has earned four Peabody Awards, three Primetime Emmy® Awards, ten News
and Documentary Emmy® Awards and received the prestigious Governor's
Award from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for the network's
Save Our History® campaign dedicated to historic preservation and history
education. The History Channel reaches more than 95 million Nielsen
subscribers.
First Update Released
for AVENCAST: Rise of the Mage
Toronto, Canada -- Dec 04, 2007 -- Leading publisher Lighthouse
Interactive and developer ClockStone Software, today announced the release
of the first update for their fantasy-based action RPG for Windows®,
AVENCAST: Rise of the Mage. The update adds several new enhancements
upgrading the game to version 1.02.
Clockstone amassed the
valuable feedback they received from the dedicated AVENCAST community to
create a worthwhile upgrade. The update is a multi-language version.
AVENCAST: Rise of the Mage was released throughout October and November
2007 across North America and Europe, and is available for purchase at
major retail stores.
Key Upgrades in Version
1.02: Three new auto save options (now the game saves in three separate
auto save slots so players may reload a previous auto save if an old one
is overwritten) Unnecessary quest items removed Overall performance
improvements including various technical fixes Video related fixes
including DirectShow® (DirectX®) To download update version 1.02 (file
size: 7.8 MB) visit: http://www.mmpr.com/MMPRFTP/FTP%20Folders/Lighthouse/
The complete list of new
features included in the upgrade, is available at the Lighthouse forums
and at www.avencast.com.
GAME SUMMARY: As the sun
rises over Avencast, the renowned academy of magic; a young adept begins
his perilous journey. In a world of wizardry, wonder and untold mystery,
you must undertake some of the most diverse quests to hone your abilities
in spell casting, weaponry and melee combat. Your martial skills are soon
put to the test as demonic monsters of unknown ancient origin descend upon
Avencast turning the academy into a horrific state of chaos and
destruction. Armed with over 50 combat moves and spells, and a vast
arsenal of equipment items, you must uncover the source of these ominous
happenings while vanquishing an onslaught of fiendish enemies. Treachery
and deceit reveal themselves as the vicious army of adversaries beleaguers
your frail haven threatening Avencast's very existence. Amidst the mayhem,
an astonishing truth unfolds which will forever change the battle scarred
Wizard.
FEATURES: Cast Lethal
Spells from Different Skill Trees - Surrounded by vicious foes, unleash a
mighty soul magic spell. The pure agglomeration of energy alone produces a
warp in the surrounding atmosphere before the catastrophic nova demolishes
your enemies. Blood Magic (elementally charged blows with varying speeds,
ranges, and damage properties) and Soul Magic (covers all kinds of ranged
magic spells allowing better area control) - both allow players to summon
reinforcements during combat. Perilous Quests - While brawn and agility
will win most battles, acumen and strategic thinking are necessary to
survive challenging quests. Fluid Combat System - Chain together spells
and easily execute lethal attacks using an innovative system that favors
skillful gameplay over dull mouse clicking. Unleash your hero's potential
as you bring your own player skills to each intense battle. Strong Player
Personification & Character Development - Acquire new equipment,
armor, weapons and spell casting skills to craft a powerful character.
Over 30 Nightmarish Monsters with Advanced AI - Each with versatile combat
strategies, attacks, and defensive moves dependent upon the player's
behavior and attack strategy. State-of-the-art 3D Engine - Stunning
graphics enhanced with advanced visual effects make for an impressive
display of devastating spell casting. Many Hours of Exciting Gameplay -
Set in diverse worlds with both indoor and outdoor environments to
explore. Attractive to a Broad Range of Players - An Action RPG at its
core, but dynamic gameplay and adventure-like quests make AVENCAST
attractive to a broad range of game players.
MINIMUM SYSTEM
REQUIREMENTS: OS: Windows® XP / Vista(tm) CPU: 2.2 GHz Intel® Pentium®
or 2200+ AMD® Athlon(tm) processor RAM: 512 MB (1 GB recommended for
Windows® Vista(tm)) Video: nVidia® GeForce(tm) FX 5700 or better / ATI®
Radeon® 9700 or better PC DVD-ROM: 4x Sound: DirectSound® compatible
(Sound Blaster® X-Fi(tm) series sound card recommended) Available Hard
Disk Space: 4.4 GB DirectX®: 9.0c Other: Mouse, Keyboard and Speakers
To find out more about
AVENCAST: Rise of the Mage and to keep up with the latest news on the
game, visit www.lighthouse-interactive.com and www.avencast.com.
About ClockStone
ClockStone Software GmbH is
an up-and-coming Austrian company specialized in developing games and
multimedia applications for the PC. Located in the beautiful town of
Innsbruck, Austria, their growing team of artists, programmers, and game
designers together with numerous freelancing partners seeks to create
innovative, state-of-the-art software and graphics at the highest level.
www.clockstone.com
About Lighthouse
Interactive
Lighthouse Interactive is a
fast growing publisher of interactive entertainment with offices
established in Toronto and Montreal, Canada, Haarlem, The Netherlands and
London, England. The company is focused on bringing strong titles to the
worldwide market in a wide array of genres including: RPG, Simulation,
Adventure, Action and Strategy. Staffed with industry veterans, Lighthouse
is the right choice for developers looking to bring their products to a
worldwide audience. www.lighthouse-interactive.com
> December 3, 2007
Vivendi-Blizzard & Activision merger
Duetsch grabs Playstation ads
Xbox Live Arcade titles price cut
World of Mixed Martial Arts demo out
VIVENDI AND ACTIVISION TO CREATE
ACTIVISION BLIZZARD – World’s Largest, Most Profitable Pure-Play Video
Game Publisher
Combination Brings Activision’s
Best-Selling Video Games, Including Guitar Hero®, Call of Duty®, and
Tony Hawk, Together With Vivendi Games’ Portfolio of Leading Franchises,
Including Crash Bandicoot™ and Spyro™, and Blizzard Entertainment’s™
StarCraft®, Diablo® and Global #1 Subscription-Based World Of Warcraft®
Vivendi to Contribute Vivendi Games
Valued at $8.1 Billion, Plus $1.7 Billion in Cash in Exchange for
Approximately 52% Stake in Activision Blizzard at Closing; Total
Transaction Valued at $18.9 Billion
Activision Blizzard Will Commence
Post-Closing Cash Tender Offer for Up to 146.5 Million of its Shares at
$27.50 per Share, Representing 31% Premium for Activision Stockholders
Based on 20-Trading Day Average
Transaction Will Unlock Value of
Blizzard Entertainment’s Massively Multiplayer Online Games Business and
Will Be Accretive to Stockholders of Activision and Vivendi
_______________________________________________________________
December 2, 2007 (Santa Monica, Calif.
and Paris, France) – Activision, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATVI) and Vivendi (Euronext
Paris: VIV) today announced that they have signed a definitive agreement
to combine Vivendi Games, Vivendi's interactive entertainment business --
which includes Blizzard Entertainment’s™ World of Warcraft®, the
world’s #1 multi-player online role-playing game franchise -- with
Activision, creating the world’s largest pure-play online and console
game publisher. The new company, Activision Blizzard, is expected to have
approximately $3.8 billion in pro forma combined calendar 2007 revenues
and the highest operating margins of any major third-party video game
publisher. On closing of the transaction, Activision will be renamed
Activision Blizzard and will continue to operate as a public company
traded on NASDAQ under the ticker ATVI.
Activision, one of the world’s leading
independent publishers of interactive entertainment, is best known for its
top- selling franchises, including Guitar Hero®, Call of Duty® and the
Tony Hawk series, as well as Spider-Man™, X-Men™, Shrek®, James Bond™
and TRANSFORMERS™. Blizzard Entertainment, a division of Vivendi Games,
has projected calendar 2007 revenues of $1.1 billion, operating margins of
over 40% and approximately $520 million of operating profit. Blizzard owns
the #1 multi-player online role-playing game franchise, World of Warcraft,
which currently has over 9.3 million subscribers worldwide. Blizzard’s
World of Warcraft, Warcraft®, StarCraft® and Diablo® games account for
four of the top-five best-selling PC game titles of all time. Vivendi
Games also owns popular franchises, including Crash Bandicoot™ and Spyro™.
Pro forma for calendar 2007, Activision Blizzard expects to generate
approximately 70% of its revenues from owned franchises. As a result of
the business combination, Activision Blizzard expects to have the most
diversified and broadest portfolio of interactive entertainment assets in
its industry, positioning the combined company to capitalize on the
continued worldwide growth in interactive entertainment.
Jean-Bernard Lévy, Chairman of the
Management Board and Chief Executive Officer of Vivendi stated: “This
alliance is a major strategic step for Vivendi and is another illustration
of our drive to extend our presence in the entertainment sector. By
combining Vivendi’s games business with Activision, we are creating a
worldwide leader in a high-growth industry. We are excited about the
opportunities for Activision Blizzard as a broader entertainment software
platform. We believe this transaction will create significant value for
Activision Blizzard and Vivendi stockholders. In Activision, we have found
a partner with a highly complementary business and strong operating team.
Bobby Kotick and Brian Kelly are industry pioneers, well known for
creating shareholder value. The combined strength of the existing
management teams at both companies will set the stage for further
profitable growth of Activision Blizzard. We look forward to being an
active and supportive majority stockholder in a company that is poised to
lead the worldwide interactive entertainment industry in the years ahead.”
René Penisson, Member of the Management
Board of Vivendi and current Chairman of Vivendi Games, added: “We are
very confident that by combining forces, Activision Blizzard will set the
highest standards in quality, reputation and profitability, and will bring
together the best creative teams in the industry. The combination of this
unique product portfolio with highly professional employees gives us great
confidence in the growth prospects for Activision Blizzard.”
Said Robert Kotick, Activision's
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer: “This is an outstanding
transaction for Activision and our stockholders, as well as a pivotal
event in the continuing transformation of the interactive entertainment
industry. By combining leaders in mass-market entertainment and
subscription-based online games, Activision Blizzard will be the only
publisher with leading market positions across all categories of the
rapidly growing interactive entertainment software industry and reach the
broadest possible audiences. By joining forces with Vivendi Games, we will
become the immediate leader in the highly profitable online games business
and gain a large footprint in the rapidly growing Asian markets, including
China and Korea, while maintaining our leading operating performance
across North America and Europe. Activision stockholders will benefit from
significantly increased earnings power and the recurring nature and
predictability of subscription-based revenues, while also having the
opportunity, if they choose, to receive $27.50 per share for a portion of
their shares in the post-closing tender offer.”
Kotick continued: “Vivendi Games
provides Activision with unique strategic and financial benefits and will
allow us to leverage our franchises into emerging online opportunities as
Blizzard has done so successfully. Activision hasbeen very focused on
margin expansion, and this transaction will meaningfully increase our
overall operating margins as we expand our franchises online and in new
geographies. Diversifying our revenue base among subscription-based
online, console and PC formats, as well as wireless and casual emerging
opportunities, gives us the broadest platform to capitalize on industry
growth. With Blizzard’s successful franchises, such as World of Warcraft,
StarCraft and an exciting pipeline of yet-to-be announced titles, Vivendi
Games’ and Blizzard’s management team will join with Activision’s
strong and experienced leaders to become an even more powerful force for
innovation in online and offline interactive entertainment across a wide
range of platforms. This transaction also provides a unique relationship
with Universal Music Group – the world’s largest music company –
which will benefit Guitar Hero and further extend our sizable leadership
position in music-based games.”
Mike Morhaime, President and Chief
Executive Officer of Blizzard, added: "Blizzard's industry-leading PC
games business, with a track record of nine consecutive bestsellers and a
global subscriber base of more than 9.3 million World of Warcraft players,
is an exceptional fit for Activision's highly profitable console games
business. From our interactions with the Activision team, it is clear we
have much in common in terms of our approaches to game development and
publishing. Above all, we are looking forward to continue creating great
games for Blizzard gamers around the world, and we believe this new
partnership will help us to do that even better than before.”
Structure & Terms of Transaction
Under the terms of the agreement, Vivendi Games will be merged with a
wholly owned subsidiary of Activision. In the merger, shares of Vivendi
Games will be converted into 295.3 million new shares of Activision common
stock. Based on the transaction price of $27.50 per share of Activision
common stock, this implies a value of approximately $8.1 billion for
Vivendi Games. Concurrently with the merger, Vivendi will purchase 62.9
million newly issued shares of Activision common stock at a price of
$27.50 per share – a premium of 31% to Activision’s average closing
price over the past 20 trading days – for a total of $1.7 billion in
cash. As a result of these transactions, Vivendi will own an approximate
52% ownership stake in Activision Blizzard on a fully diluted basis.
Within five business days after closing
the transaction, Activision Blizzard will launch a $4 billion all-cash
tender offer to purchase up to 146.5 million Activision Blizzard common
shares at $27.50 per share. The tender offer will be funded by Activision
Blizzard’s cash on hand at closing, including the $1.7 billion in cash
received from the Vivendi share purchase. In addition, Vivendi has agreed
to acquire from Activision Blizzard additional newly issued shares for up
to an additional $700 million of Activision common stock at $27.50 per
share, the proceeds of which would also be used to fund the tender offer.
Any remaining funds required to complete the tender offer will be borrowed
by Activision Blizzard from Vivendi or third-party lenders. If the tender
offer is fully subscribed, Vivendi will own an approximate 68% ownership
stake in Activision Blizzard on a fully diluted basis.
The transaction is expected to be
immediately accretive in its first year post-closing for Activision’s
stockholders and slightly accretive for Vivendi’s stockholders.
Activision Blizzard is targeting pro forma operating income of $1.1
billion and pro forma earnings per share (EPS) in excess of $1.20 in
calendar year 2009. The transaction is expected to be at least $0.20
accretive to Activision stockholders in calendar year 2009.
Governance Activision Blizzard’s board
of directors will be comprised of eleven members: six directors designated
by Vivendi, two Activision management directors and three independent
directors who currently serve on Activision’s board of directors. René
Penisson, currently a member of the Management Board of Vivendi and
Chairman of Vivendi Games, will serve as Chairman of Activision Blizzard.
Brian Kelly, currently Co-Chairman of Activision, will serve as
Co-Chairman of Activision Blizzard. The three independent directors will
be Richard Sarnoff, Robert J. Corti and Robert Morgado. Other Activision
Blizzard directors will be Robert Kotick (President and Chief Executive
Officer of Activision Blizzard), Bruce Hack (Vice-Chairman and Chief
Corporate Officer of Activision Blizzard), Jean-Bernard Lévy (Chairman of
the Management Board and Chief Executive Officer of Vivendi), Doug Morris
(Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Universal Music Group),
Philippe Capron (Member of the Management Board and Chief Financial
Officer of Vivendi), and Frédéric Crépin (Senior Vice President, Head
of Legal, Vivendi).
Management Following the completion of
the transaction, Robert Kotick will be President and Chief Executive
Officer of Activision Blizzard. Bruce Hack, current Chief Executive
Officer of Vivendi Games, will serve as Vice-Chairman and Chief Corporate
Officer of Activision Blizzard, accountable for leading the merger
integration and the finance, human resources and legal functions. Mike
Griffith will serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of Activision
Publishing, which after closing will include the Sierra Entertainment,
Sierra Online and Vivendi Games Mobile divisions in addition to the
Activision business. Mike Morhaime will continue to serve as President and
Chief Executive Officer of Blizzard Entertainment. Thomas Tippl, currently
Chief Financial Officer of Activision, will be appointed Chief Financial
Officer of Activision Blizzard and Jean-François Grollemund, currently
Chief Financial Officer of Vivendi Games, will be appointed Chief
Accounting Officer of Activision Blizzard.
Conditions to Closing The transaction
has been approved by the boards of directors of Vivendi, Vivendi Games and
Activision. The transaction is subject to the approval of Activision's
stockholders and the satisfaction of customary closing conditions and
regulatory approvals, including expiration of applicable waiting periods
and receipt of applicable approvals under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust
Improvements Act and European Union merger control regulations. Pending
regulatory and stockholder approval, the companies expect the transaction
to be completed in the first half of calendar year 2008.
Financial and Legal Advisors Activision’s
financial advisor on the transaction is Allen & Company LLC and its
legal counsel is Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. Vivendi’s
financial advisor is Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Gibson, Dunn &
Crutcher LLP is acting as legal counsel to Vivendi.
Conference Call and Webcast Information
The management of both companies will host a joint conference call and
live webcast on Monday, December 3, 2007 at 8:30 a.m. ET, 2:30 p.m. Paris
time, 1:30 p.m. London time to discuss this announcement. The companies
welcome all members of the investment community to listen to the call live
by dialing into (888) 765-5554 in the U.S. or (913) 312-1235 outside the
U.S. The live webcast of the call can be accessed at www.vivendi.com and
www.activision.com.
For those unable to listen to the live
conference call, an audio replay of the call will be available through
December 17, 2007, approximately two hours after the call’s conclusion
and can be accessed by calling (888) 203-1112 in the U.S. or (719)
457-0820 outside the U.S. and entering the pass-code: 5648597. In
addition, a webcast replay also will be archived on the Investor Relations
section of each company’s website.
Activision Broadcast Media Center
Broadcast quality video and web-streaming video is available in PAL and
NTSC formats on Activision's Broadcast Media Center at http://activision.pondeserver.com.
Pathfire users can download video to their Digital Media Gateway by
choosing the Pathfire Enabled file. All video is free of charge and its
use is unrestricted.
About Vivendi Vivendi is a global leader
in digital entertainment with activities in music, TV, cinema, mobile,
internet, and games through its ownership of Universal Music Group, Canal+
Group, SFR, Maroc Telecom and Vivendi Games. In 2006, Vivendi had revenues
of over €20 billion and a global headcount of 39,000. Listed on the
Paris Stock market, Vivendi is a member of the CAC 40. More information
about Vivendi is available at www.vivendi.com.
About Vivendi Games Vivendi Games is a
global developer, publisher and distributor of multiplatform interactive
entertainment. The company is the leader in the subscription-based
massively multi-player online role-playing games (MMORPG) category and is
building on its position in the PC, console and handheld games markets.
Vivendi Games has a global presence, a history of franchise success,
development teams around the world and a catalog of its own original and
licensed material. Vivendi Games has approximately 4,000 employees and is
driven by four creative divisions: Blizzard Entertainment, Sierra
Entertainment, Sierra Online and Vivendi Games Mobile. Irvine,
California-based Blizzard, creator of the Warcraft, StarCraft and Diablo
games series, is by far the largest of the four entities with
approximately 2,300 employees.
About Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. Best
known for blockbuster hits including World of Warcraft and the Warcraft,
StarCraft, and Diablo series, Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. (www.blizzard.com),
a division of Vivendi Games, is a premier developer and publisher of
entertainment software renowned for creating some of the industry’s most
critically acclaimed games. Blizzard Entertainment’s track record
includes ten #1-selling games and multiple Game of the Year awards. The
company’s online-gaming service, Battle.net®, is one of the largest in
the world, with millions of active users.
About Activision, Inc. Headquartered in
Santa Monica, California, Activision, Inc. is a leading worldwide
developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and
leisure products. Founded in 1979, Activision posted net revenues of $1.5
billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007. Activision has more than
2,000 employees worldwide.
Activision maintains operations in the
United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland,
Italy, Scandinavia, Spain, the Netherlands, Australia, Japan and South
Korea. More information about Activision and its products can be found on
the company's World Wide Web site, which is located at www.activision.com.
SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT
AMERICA SELECTS DEUTSCH LOS ANGELES FOR NORTH AMERICA PLAYSTATION
ADVERTISING ACCOUNT
FOSTER CITY, Calif., December 3, 2007
– Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) today announced it has
selected Deutsch Los Angeles for its PlayStation advertising account in
North America. The account will include creative, media planning and
buying, as well as local marketing, online advertising and in-store
marketing. The integrated account includes work for the PlayStation family
of products, consisting of PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™), PlayStation®2, PSP®
systems, as well as PLAYSTATION® Network and the library of first-party
software titles. The collaborative work of this partnership will begin to
appear in early 2008.
“The PlayStation brand has become an
iconic brand in North America and around the world since we launched our
first platform, the original PlayStation, in 1995,” said Peter Dille,
senior vice president, marketing and PLAYSTATION Network, SCEA. “We were
impressed with the Deutsch team’s strategic discipline and integrated
approach to marketing our various platforms. We look forward to working
with them on innovative marketing campaigns to build the PlayStation brand’s
influence even further.”
“PlayStation is one of America’s
most powerful and recognized brands and we’re honored to be their
partner,” said Mike Sheldon, President, Deutsch/LA. “We are delighted
to work with such an exceptionally talented team at SCEA and with the best
of class products across the entertainment landscape.”
About Sony Computer Entertainment
America Inc.
Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.
continues to redefine the
entertainment lifestyle with its
PlayStation® brand, including the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment
system, the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, the ground-breaking
PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™) computer entertainment system and its online and
network services PLAYSTATION®Network and PLAYSTATION®Store.
Recognized as the undisputed industry
leader, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. markets the PlayStation
family of products and develops, publishes, markets and distributes
software for PlayStation 2, PSP, PS3 and PLAYSTATION Network for the North
American market. Based in Foster City, Calif. Sony Computer Entertainment
America Inc. serves as headquarters for all North American operations and
is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
About Deutsch
Deutsch Inc. is a multi-disciplinary
marketing communications agency known for its insatiable culture and
ability to drive bottom-line business results for clients. Part of the
Interpublic Group of Companies (NYSE: IPG), Deutsch crafts a best-in-class
array of marketing programs, including advertising, direct marketing,
interactive, media buying and planning, design, public relations,
promotions, events and branded entertainment.
Xbox LIVE Arcade Ends Year with
Arcade Hits and Fresh Lineup of Upcoming Titles
Top-Selling Arcade Titles Available
Tomorrow at Discounted Prices with Launch of Xbox LIVE Arcade Hits
This week’s Xbox LIVE Arcade Wednesday
is coming a day early with the Tuesday, Dec. 4 launch of the Arcade Hits
program, offering some of the best-selling Xbox LIVE Arcade games at
permanently reduced prices. Timed with the Xbox LIVE Fall Update, Arcade
Hits can be found within the Xbox LIVE Arcade section of the new Game
Store, making it easier than ever to build a library of great downloadable
games. The first games to become Arcade Hits:
· “Bankshot Billiards 2” (PixelStorm).
“Bankshot Billiards 2” improves on the original with nine game styles:
classic 8-Ball, 9-Ball, Cutthroat, Euro 8-Ball, 14.1 Continuous, 3-Ball,
Trick Shots, Time Trial and Golf. The game will be available for 800
Microsoft Points.
· “Lumines LIVE!” (Q Entertainment
Inc.). “Lumines LIVE!” is a deep and entertaining game experience,
enhanced with vibrant music and newly designed skins that players can
custom-select in Skin Edit mode. The game will be available for 800
Microsoft Points.
· “Marble Blast Ultra” (Garage
Games). In “Marble Blast Ultra,” players compete against each other by
navigating marbles through moving platforms and dangerous hazards, while
collecting rare gems and power-up enhancements, in an effort to complete
each course in record time. The game is available for 400 Microsoft
Points.
· “Small Arms” (Gastronaut
Studios). Easy to pick up but hard to put down, “Small Arms” is a
frantic multiplayer action game with the feel of an arcade shooter. The
game is available at 400 Microsoft Points.
· “Zuma Deluxe” (Oberon Media).
Gamers can explore more than 20 realms in Adventure mode and put their
skills to the test in this fast-paced puzzle game. The game is available
at 400 Microsoft Points.
With free trial downloads for every game
and over 100 games to choose from, Xbox LIVE Arcade offers something for
every member of the family. Last month, Xbox LIVE Arcade celebrated two
major milestones: its 100th title release on Nov. 14 and its two-year
anniversary on Xbox 360 on Nov. 22, highlighting the platform’s
leadership position as the premier destination for digitally distributed,
high-definition original and classic games. The fun continues through the
New Year as Xbox LIVE Arcade prepares to release several new titles in the
coming weeks:
· “Arkadian Warriors” (Sierra
Online). Gamers can play as one of three heroic shape-shifting warriors
embarking on a trek of epic proportions to release the Land of Arkadia
from the evil Gorgon’s stony gaze. An original title on Xbox LIVE
Arcade, “Arkadian Warriors” features treacherous dungeons where
cooperative hack-and-slash role-playing action enhances a deep
single-player storyline. The game includes a robust LIVE-enabled
cooperative multiplayer mode for two players online or on the same
console.
· “Brain Challenge” (Gameloft). An
entertaining brain training program, “Brain Challenge” boosts brain
activity and helps players develop stress-management skills thanks to a
wide variety of games. A personal coach helps players develop their
abilities in several areas of cognitive function, including logic, math,
memory and visual thinking, in a fun and entertaining way.
· “GripShift®” (Sidhe
Interactive). Through a mix of sky-high platforming and stunt driving, “GripShift”
combines automotive and puzzle-solving skills across 120 challenge levels,
25 rubber-burning racetracks and 20 deadly Deathmatch arenas. Gamers can
zoom to victory with four players over Xbox LIVE or race solo, all while
enjoying a customizable music experience.
· “N+” (Slick Entertainment and
Metanet Software Inc.). Gamers can play as an acrobatic ninja in this
addictive action-puzzle platformer. “N+” features inadvertently
homicidal robots, stylish graphics, a level editor and intense multiplayer
awesomeness.
· “Omega Five” (Hudson
Entertainment). “Omega Five” is a next-gen, high-definition shooter
with awe-inspiring graphics. Gamers can fly through dangerous 3-D
environments in this side-scroller and do battle with enemies that come at
them from all sides, even the background. “Omega Five” comes to Xbox
LIVE Arcade this winter.
· “Poker Smash” (Void Star
Creations). Players will experience a whole new puzzle game with a poker
twist as “Poker Smash” delivers stunning visuals and radical features
such as super-slow motion and card-blasting bombs. Gamers should get ready
for a fast-paced innovative game with amazing HD graphics and a custom
soundtrack that will blow them away!
· “Rez HD” (Q Entertainment). The
psychedelic, cult-classic shooter created by Tetsuya Mizuguchi, “Rez HD”
makes its way onto Xbox LIVE Arcade early next year. A frenetic,
wire-frame adventure backed by industrial beats, the story of “Rez HD”
takes players deep into the world’s computer network, where they must
hack the system, alter the visual output and take over the music, creating
their own rhythms and eye candy as they dig deeper into the cyberworld.
· “Sensible World of Soccer” (Codemasters).
The game that inspired a generation, “Sensible World of Soccer” lets
players experience both the classic and modern HD version. With multiple
play modes, they can play a quick game, start a career mode, manage a team
or take part in their own Champions league.
· Please note that linking directly to
the game’s Xbox.com page from a Web site is encouraged.
More than 100 games are now available on
Xbox LIVE Arcade, including dozens of original intellectual properties and
classic titles updated for this generation. Specific game information
about each title will be available on http://www.xbox.com in the coming
weeks.
About Xbox LIVE Arcade
Xbox LIVE Arcade on Xbox 360 is the
premier destination for digitally distributed high-definition games. Xbox
LIVE Arcade is a fast-growing phenomenon with a diverse library of
original development and classic titles from the world’s best
independent and established developers and publishers. With a dynamically
updated library and free trials for every title, Xbox LIVE Arcade makes it
easy for every type of gamer — from casual to hard-core — to get
instantly immersed in the fun. Xbox LIVE Arcade also lets friends connect
and play these incredible games either from the same room or from around
the world via the Xbox LIVE online entertainment network. More information
can be found online at http://www.xbox.com/en-us/games/livearcade.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”)
is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help
people and businesses realize their full potential.
World of Mixed Martial Arts Demo
Released
Phoenix, AZ December 1, 2007 - Grey Dog
Software, a Phoenix based developer of sports management simulation
software for personal computers, is happy to release a limited time demo
of World of Mixed Martial Arts. Grey Dog’s demo release of WMMA is
considered both a trial version for fans as well as an opportunity for
public beta. Starting today, players will be able to download and try out
the entire game and be permitted to continuously repeat 6 weeks of game
time.
WMMA is scheduled to be available
beginning December 8th, 2007 for digital download exclusively through Grey
Dog Software.
World of Mixed Martial Arts is a
PC-based management simulator set in the world of Mixed Martial Arts. The
player takes control of an MMA company, and is in charge of just about
everything to do with its running, including hiring fighters, match
making, marketing, and so on.
For more information on World of Mixed
Martial Arts or to download the free demo please visit Grey Dog’s
official website at http://www.greydogsoftware.com. Or, to check out WMMA’s
developer journal, visit our forums at http://www.greydogsoftware.com/forum/
About Grey Dog Software
Grey Dog Software, LLC an Arizona based,
privately-held company, is a leading developer of sports management
simulations for the PC. Grey Dog Software strives to provide
ground-breaking features, enormous depth, and endless replayability with
each game.
