| | | | Midway Acquires Worldwide Rights to Publish Three Unreal Franchise Titles
Rights Acquisition Marks Midway's Entrance into the Premium PC Games Market
Midway Games, a leading developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software, today announced a multi-year, multi-product agreement with Epic Games to publish three new videogames based on the popular Unreal franchise. The agreement marks Midway's entrance into the premium PC games sector with a property that has sold more than seven million units worldwide and generated nearly $200 million in revenue at retail since the introduction of Unreal Tournament in 1999.
| EA Acquires Criterion, Creator of Burnout 3 and RenderWare
Electronic Arts today announced an agreement to acquire Criterion Software Group Ltd. from Canon. With the acquisition, EA assumes Criterion’s studio in Guildford, UK; two globally recognized intellectual properties, Burnout and Black; and the RenderWare middleware technology.
Under a previous agreement, Criterion’s Burnout3 game is being published by EA and is scheduled for release on all major platforms in September. Criterion is also developing a highly-anticipated game known simply as Black. Both titles received strong critical support earlier this year at the recent E3 game exhibition in Los Angeles.
| AMD Sempron Processor Family Redefines Everyday Computing
Acer, Asus, HP and Lenovo among leading OEMs to offer AMD Sempron processor-based systems
AMD today announced the availability of AMD Sempron processors, a new family of processors that redefine everyday computing for value-conscious buyers of desktop and notebook PCs. The AMD Sempron and Mobile AMD Sempron processors are designed to deliver best-in-class performance and a full-feature set to meet the evolving day-to-day computing needs of home and business PC users.
| | LucasArts Focuses the Force on Star Wars: Episode III Video Game
Following the recent Lucasfilm title announcement of the Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith motion picture, LucasArts revealed today that it will release the Star Wars: Episode III video game on May 5, 2005, two weeks before the opening of the film. Currently under development, the third-person action/adventure game will deliver the ultimate Jedi action experience as Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi join forces in fierce battles and heroic lightsaber duels until one’s lust for power and the other’s devotion to duty leads to a final confrontation between good and evil.
| ATI MOBILITY RADEON 9800 High Definition Gaming for Mobile Users
Leading Developers Agree, MOBILITY RADEON 9800 brings notebook graphics performance to unparalleled levels
ATI Technologies today raised the performance bar to unprecedented heights with the introduction of MOBILITY RADEON 9800. Designed for the mobile gaming enthusiast, MOBILITY RADEON 9800 enables users to enjoy the latest DirectX9 games the way they were meant to be played – at optimal settings for the highest levels of performance.
| | NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Chips Proclaimed Best for Doom 3
Official Benchmarks Show the NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra and the GeForce 6800 GT GPUs Outperform Comparable Competitive Solutions in Blockbuster PC Gaming Title
NVIDIA today announced that independent third-party testing confirms that the NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra and the GeForce 6800 GT graphics processing units (GPUs) deliver faster performance than comparable competitive offerings in Doom 3, regarded as one of the most highly-anticipated PC games in history. The testing reveals that the NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra GPU offers the best performance in the upcoming Doom 3 title, with GeForce 6800 GT running a close second, outperforming the high-end graphics chip offered from the leading competitor that costs approximately $100 more. In the testing, the NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra beat the comparable competitive offering by up to 40%. The GeForce 6800 GT performed up to 70% better than the competitor’s comparable offering.
| | Halle Berry Catwoman Videogame Leaps Onto Shelves
Gamers Play As Catwoman in Game Based On Highly Anticipated Catwoman Motion Picture Starring Halle Berry
Electronic Arts announced today that Catwoman the videogame, licensed by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and based on the highly anticipated Catwoman motion picture from Warner Bros. Pictures starring Oscar winning actress, Halle Berry, is now available for PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, the Xbox video game system from Microsoft, Nintendo GameCube, Game Boy Advance, and PC CD-ROM.
| | New NVIDIA ForceWare Release 60 Graphics Driver Now Available
New Unified Driver Architecture Release Unleashes High-Performance and Broad Range of Capabilities of GeForce 6 Series GPUs
NVIDIA, the worldwide leader in visual processing solutions, today announced the availability of its new NVIDIA ForceWare Release 60 driver. Part of NVIDIA’s Unified Driver Architecture (UDA), ForceWare Release 60 for add-in graphics cards based on NVIDIA GeForce graphics processing units (GPUs). This new driver release includes many new features, performance enhancements and support for the Company’s new GeForce 6 series graphics GPUs. The Microsoft WHQL-certified NVIDIA ForceWare Release 60 driver is available for immediate download at www.nvidia.com/drivers.
| Spider-Man 2 Video Game Tops Worldwide Retail Charts
Activision announced today that its Spider-Man 2 video game is topping worldwide sell-through charts.
Just five days after its initial U.S. launch, the game debuted as the #1 best-selling video game across all platforms in the U.S., according to NPD TRSTS Data. Additionally, the Spider-Man 2 video game was the #1 selling video game across all platforms in the U.K. for the week ending July 17, according to the U.K. Chart Track Flash Report and the #1 selling video game for overall in Australia for the week of July 9, according to GfK Inform Database.
| Neversoft Studio In Development On New Franchise
Activision today announced that one of its wholly owned studios, Neversoft, the creators behind the best-selling Tony Hawk franchise, is in development on a compelling new intellectual property that will bring Neversoft's world-renowned development prowess to a new genre.
The unnamed title is slated for release in fiscal 2006, alongside a new game based on the Tony Hawk franchise that Neversoft will also develop for same fiscal year.
| | ATI and CCR to Enable Top Graphics in RF Online Game
Hardcore gamers can now enjoy awesome gaming experience with ATI graphics and CCR’s games
ATI Technologies today announced a major new business relationship with CCR, a top Korean on-line gaming developer. The relationship combines ATI’s award-winning graphics technology with CCR’s overwhelming next generation on-line game – RF online - to bring the industry’s most awesome gaming experience possible to Asian hardcore gamers.
| Colin McRae Rally 2005 Release Date Confirmed for PC
To Launch Alongside Console Editions
PC gamers can prepare to go faster, get muddier, and compete in more off-road events than ever as Codemasters confirms that Colin McRae Rally 2005, the new arrival in the genre-leading series, is coming to PC and sooner than expected!
| | The Worldwide DOOM 3 Invasion Begins
See you in Hell! id Software and Activision confirmed today that id Software's highly anticipated DOOM 3 for the PC has entered manufacturing and will begin shipping to retail stores worldwide the week of August 2. A sci-fi horror masterpiece, DOOM 3's dramatic storyline, pulse-pounding action, incredible graphics, and ground-breaking technology combine to draw you into the most frightening and gripping first-person gaming experience ever created.
| Crucial Technology Launches Ballistix High-Performance Memory
Crucial enters the enthusiast memory market with high-speed, low-latency memory for gamers and power users
Crucial Technology, a division of Micron, and one of the world's largest direct memory upgrade providers, today introduces the Crucial Ballistix high-performance memory line, designed specifically for computer gamers and power users seeking maximum system performance and stability at a competitive price-point. The Ballistix line features both DDR and DDR2 memory with advanced speed grades, low latencies, and integrated aluminum heat spreaders.
| | Splinter Cell Chaos Theory Coming to PC and Xbox for Holiday 2004
Ubisoft Montreal's Original Splinter Cell Team Returns to Change The Face of Action Gaming Forever.
Ubisoft today announced Splinter Cell 3 (working title), the third blockbuster in the Splinter Cell franchise, will officially be called Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Chaos Theory. In addition to the PC, the game will be available on the Xbox video game system from Microsoft for Holiday 2004, as well as on the N-Gage platform, published by Gameloft. Details on other platforms will be forthcoming. The game, which debuted to massive buzz and won numerous awards at the recent Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles, including official show awards for Best PC Game, Best Action Adventure Game, and a Special Commendation for Graphics, is expected to be one of the year's most talked-about titles. The first Xbox screenshots and hands-on details of the game may be found in the August issue of Game Informer Magazine, on stands next week.
| | Interplay Announces Fallout 3 Licensing Deal With Bethesda
Interplay Entertainment today reported it has entered into a licensing agreement that will allow Bethesda Softworks to develop and publish Fallout 3, a sequel to the highly popular Fallout role-playing game franchise. The deal awards Bethesda exclusive worldwide rights to publish the title for PC, console, and handhelds with the rights to develop and publish future sequels. Interplay retains all online gaming rights for the Fallout franchise, as well as ownership of the Fallout intellectual property. The company announced last month its intent to enter into Massively Multiplayer Online Gaming with titles including Fallout.
| | Activision Ships Over Two Million Units Of Spider-Man 2 Video Game
Activision announced today that the company's North American Publishing unit has shipped more than two million units of its Spider-Man 2 video game timed to the theatrical release of Sony Pictures Entertainment's Columbia Pictures Spider-Man 2. The game, which is currently available at retail stores, lets players experience what it's like to be the world's most celebrated Super Hero as they web sling from buildings, dive from rooftops to the streets and scale the heights of Manhattan, a living breathing city complete with pedestrians, traffic, trains and helicopters. Gamers can re-live the film's storyline or embark on exclusive game missions as they perform heroic deeds, protect citizens from random crimes, and face off against the nefarious Doc Ock and other Marvel super-villains.
| Matrix Games and Destroyer Studios Release Starshatter
Ultimate Space Combat Simulator Combines Fighter Combat with Real Time Strategy
Matrix Games (www.matrixgames.com) and Destroyer Studios are pleased to release Starshatter (www.starshatter.com), the culmination of a multi-year project to create the definitive 3-D space combat simulation from fighter combat to starship fleet operations.
| | Madden NFL 2005 All-Star Soundtrack
Music from Green Day, Chevelle, Alter Bridge, The Hives, Will.I.Am, and More
Electronic Arts today unveiled the highly-anticipated soundtrack for Madden NFL 2005. Featuring an all-star line-up of emerging rock and hip-hop artists, the world’s best-selling football videogame will once again shape the sound of the 2005 football season. The in-game soundtrack features 21 groundbreaking new songs that will rock the music scene this fall.
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