Nihilistic Software Set to Develop First Game Based on
Vampire: The Masquerade
SANTA MONICA, Calif., May 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Activision, Inc.
(Nasdaq: ATVI) announced today that it has acquired the worldwide license from
White Wolf, Inc. to the popular role playing universe, Vampire, that includes
Vampire: The Masquerade, Vampire: The Dark Ages, and Kindred of the East.
Under the long-term agreement, Activision has attained the exclusive rights to
develop and publish interactive games based on the property across all
platforms.
According to White Wolf, the Vampire universe is the # 2 role-playing
universe, second only to Advanced Dungeons & Dragons. White Wolf first
published Vampire: The Masquerade in 1991 and, to date, there are an
estimated 1.5 million people worldwide who have played White Wolf's Vampire
games.
Activision's first Vampire title will be a 3D roleplaying game developed
by Nihilistic Software, which is currently expected to be released in fall
1999. The game will cast players in a time-spanning epic quest fraught with
action, intrigue, and vengeance. In their journey through the gothic past to
a dark modern day, gamers must battle their inner beast and bloodlust while
hiding their true nature from mortals.
"White Wolf has revolutionized the roleplaying and hobby industry and we
are excited to be working with them on this extraordinary new project," states
Robert Kotick, Chairman and CEO, Activision, Inc. "The Vampire license allows
us to bring the appeal of role-playing games to broader PC audiences and add
to one of richest and most successful RPG universes in the world."
"Activision is our ideal partner for our premier property. We couldn't be
happier with the direction this license is going," said Mike Tinney, VP of
Licensing and Marketing for White Wolf, Inc. "We are equally excited to have
Nihilistic on board for the first game. We have every confidence that they
can capture the edgy, haunting nature of our Vampire property and usher a
dynamic and graceful transition for Vampire into electronic media."
"For the first time ever, players will be able to command the supernatural
powers of the immortals in a world steeped in mysterious and frightening
themes," states Ray Gresko, President and CEO of Nihilistic Software, Inc.
"Vampire is a phenomenal license and Nihilistic is looking forward to bringing
White Wolf's universe to gamers."
White Wolf is a company dedicated to redefining the art of storytelling.
Since its birth in 1991, White Wolf has consistently stretched the boundaries
of familiar modes of artistic entertainment, introducing a whole new level to
the horror/science fiction/fantasy genres. Their success began with the now
highly popular Vampire: The Masquerade roleplaying line, and has been expanded
into mass market fiction publishing.
Nihilistic Software, Inc. is a newly formed development company headed by
game industry veterans Ray Gresko, Robert Huebner and Steve Tietze. The
Nihilistic principals' combined credits include such top-selling games as Dark
Forces, Dark Forces II: Jedi Knight, Descent, Descent II and the Quake Mission
Pack #2: Dissolution of Eternity.
Headquartered in Santa Monica, CA, Activision, Inc. is one of the world's
leading interactive entertainment software companies. Founded in 1979,
Activision posted revenues of approximately $260 million for fiscal 1998. The
company is a worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive
entertainment software for Microsoft Windows compatible personal computers as
well as advanced console game systems such as the Sony PlayStation and
Nintendo 64.
Activision maintains international publishing subsidiaries in the United
Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan and Australia and distribution subsidiaries in
the United Kingdom and Germany.
Activision maintains North American development and publishing operations
in Santa Monica, CA and a development studio in Madison, Wisconsin. More
information about Activision and its products can be found on the company's
World Wide Web site which is located at http://www.activision.com.
The statements contained in this release that are not historical facts are
"forward-looking statements." The company cautions readers of this press
release that a number of important factors could cause Activision's actual
future results to differ materially from those expressed in any such forward-
looking statements. These important factors, and other factors that could
affect Activision, are described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1997, which was filed with the United
States Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers of this press release are
referred to such filings.
SOURCE Activision, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.activision.com
Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com or
fax, 800-758-5804, ext. 007396
CONTACT:
Maryanne Lataif, Sr. Director, Corporate
Communications of Activision, 310-255-2704,
mlataif@activision.com
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