First Console Game to Arrive Fall 2001
SAN JOSE, Calif., May 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Infogrames, Inc (Nasdaq: IFGM)
and Sony Pictures Consumer Products today announced that Sony has granted
gaming rights to the globally successful franchise, Men In Black to
Infogrames, Inc. The first game, based on the animated series, will be
released in the fall of 2001 on PlayStation(R) and will be shown for the first
time at Infogrames booth during the Electronic Entertainment Expo, May 17-19th
at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
The agreement entitles Infogrames, Inc. to develop a series of video games
based on the Men In Black franchise. The company has rights to bring the
property to a variety of platforms including Sony PlayStation(R) and
PlayStation(R)2, Microsoft(R) Xbox, Nintendo(R) Game Cube and PC, Macintosh(R)
and Arcade Games.
"The Men In Black license is a big step in our plan to be one of the top
mass-market digital interactive entertainment companies," said Robert Miles
Watson, senior vice president of worldwide licensing for Infogrames, Inc.
"The property offers a rich universe, full of interesting characters and
situations that will become the basis for several quality titles."
Men In Black features Director Zed and alien immigration agents Jay and
Kay, who are armed with an enormous inventory of sophisticated weaponry to
protect the earth from aliens with bad attitudes. The Infogrames games will
be based on the colorful animated series and feature films, which combines
outrageous creatures, fantastic weaponry and offbeat humor -- all of which
make the property an ideal foundation for digital interactive entertainment
with mass appeal.
"We are thrilled to be working with Infogrames to create entertaining,
interactive experiences that stay true to the spirit of the property," stated
Michael Peikoff, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Client Relations of
Sony Pictures Consumer Products. "One of the hottest franchises in the
entertainment industry, Men In Black has dominated the 'universe' and will be
around for a long time to come."
The Men In Black Franchise
Men in Black has delighted audiences in all mediums, delivering much more
than aliens to date:
-- A MIB film sequel is under development with Director Barry Sonnenfeld
and Screenwriter Robert Gordon for 2002;
-- The first feature film reached a global box office of $589 million
worldwide and was the sixth biggest opening of all time;
-- It is the highest grossing film in Columbia Pictures' 75 year history;
-- The Men In Black home video is one of the all-time best-selling sci-fi
comedy videos and DVDs with more than 17 million units sold;
-- The DVD version of the film was one of the biggest fourth-quarter
titles of 2000;
-- "Men In Black: The Series" launched on Kids' WB in 1997 and has
consistently received one of the highest rating and share among key
demographics for its time period.
About Sony Pictures Consumer Products and Columbia Pictures
Sony Pictures Consumer Products and Columbia Pictures are divisions of
Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE). SPE is a division of Sony Corporation of
America (SCA), a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global
operations encompass motion picture production and distribution, television
production and distribution, worldwide channel investments, home entertainment
acquisition and distribution, operation of studio facilities, development of
new entertainment products, services and technologies, and distribution of
filmed entertainment in 67 countries. Sony Pictures Entertainment can be
found on the World Wide Web http://www.spe.sony.com .
About Infogrames
Infogrames, Inc. is a leading publisher and distributor of video games for
consoles (Sony, Sega, Nintendo, and Microsoft), personal computers and
Macintosh systems. The company's award-winning franchises include Alone In
The Dark, Driver, Deer Hunter, Test Drive, and Unreal. Infogrames Inc.'s
Humongous Entertainment division is a leader in children's entertainment
software and its Macintosh publishing label, Macsoft, is the number one
publisher of Macintosh entertainment software. Based in New York, NY,
Infogrames, Inc. is a majority-owned subsidiary of France-based Infogrames
Entertainment SA (Euronext 5257) and serves as the headquarters for the
company's operations in North America.
Founded in 1983, Infogrames Entertainment SA is a global publisher and
distributor of video games for all platforms, as well as interactive digital
television, mobile smart devices (WAP, HDML) and in-flight entertainment
systems. With Infogrames Entertainment SA's recent acquisition of Hasbro
Interactive, the company now boasts a line of software based on well-known
licenses such as Monopoly, Jeopardy, Tonka, and Atari. For more information,
visit Infogrames' US Web site at http://www.us.infogrames.com.
SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT
Certain statements contained in this release are forward-looking
statements (rather than historical facts) that are subject to risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
described. With respect to such forward-looking statements, the company seeks
the protection afforded by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995 and other enabling legislation. Statements contained herein with regard
to the company's business outlook and prospective operating and financial
results are based upon management's expectations regarding various factors,
which may be beyond the company's control. This statement is not intended to
identify each and every risk and uncertainty inherent in the company's
business, and should be read in conjunction with the company's cautionary
statements contained in its most recent filings with U.S. and foreign
regulatory authorities.
SOURCE Infogrames, Inc
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Related links:
http://www.us.infogrames.com
CONTACT:
Meridith Braun of Infogrames, Inc.,
408-985-3133, or mbraun@us.infogrames.com; or Amy Friedland of
Freeman Public Relations, 973-470-0400, or
afriedland@freemanpr.com, for Sony Pictures Consumer Products
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