Buena Vista Games shipped more than two million units of the multiplatform videogame, THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE, to retail outlets in North America and Europe. It was released in conjunction with the epic film from Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media, which debuted Dec. 9, 2005, in theaters.
"THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE videogame launch marks the largest self-publishing initiative executed to date by Buena Vista Games," said Graham Hopper, svp/gm, Buena Vista Games. "By building upon and expanding the NARNIA entertainment experience, BVG is playing an important role as the next content creation engine for the company."
THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE videogame takes the classic story from the renowned book from C.S. Lewis to new heights by bringing the feature film's cinematic experience to life in a stunning interactive adventure. Players can take on the role of each of the four Pevensie heroes Peter, Edmund, Susan and Lucy to battle the White Witch's sinister minions in team-based, action-packed combat.
Prominent U.K. software developer Traveller's Tales created the console and PSP titles.
"The ever-expanding videogame marketplace is of great interest to me," said Andrew Adamson, the film's director. "It was such a thrill to work with the Buena Vista Games and Traveller's Tales teams to provide creative input for the videogame, which has resulted in a beautiful translation of the film into an epic interactive experience."
"Transitioning from the movie into the videogame area is an uplifting experience because every person who has read the book has longed to go to Narnia," said Douglas Gresham, stepson of author C.S. Lewis. "With the videogames, people can not only visit Narnia but they can control the heroes' actions. In a sense, they can invent their own adventure within Narnia."
In the action/adventure console and PC versions, players take on 15 levels of combat and puzzle-solving gameplay. The console and PC games also feature seamless integration of film footage with gameplay and include extensive use of voice talent from the film.
THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE for PlayStation 2, Xbox, Nintendo GameCube and PC "T" for Teen by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). The PlayStation 2, Xbox and Nintendo GameCube versions carry a suggested retail price of $49.99. The PC version carries a suggested retail price of $39.99. The Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance versions are developed by Amaze Ent. The Nintendo DS version has an ESRB rating of "E10+" for Everyone 10 and older and carries a suggested retail price of $34.99. The Game Boy Advance version is rated "E" for Everyone by the ESRB and carries a suggested retail price of $29.99.
THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE is a live-action/CGI motion picture adaptation of C.S. Lewis' beloved literary classic. The film marks the first live-action directorial effort for Andrew Adamson (SHREK, SHREK 2), who also co-wrote the film's screenplay adaptation with Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely. The film is produced by Mark Johnson (RAIN MAN).
Lewis' timeless adventure follows the exploits of the Pevensie siblings in World War II England. The children enter the world of Narnia through a magical wardrobe while playing a game of "hide-and-seek" in the rural country home of an elderly professor. Once there, the children discover a land inhabited by talking beasts, dwarfs, fauns, centaurs and giants that has become a world cursed to eternal winter by the evil White Witch, Jadis. Under the guidance of a noble and mystical ruler, the lion Aslan, the children fight to overcome the White Witch's powerful hold over Narnia in a spectacular, climactic battle that will free Narnia from Jadis' icy spell forever.
In the game, these four heroes must battle the evil forces of the White Witch by waging war against a vast variety of creatures, including minotaurs, minoboars, cyclops, werewolves, wraiths, ankleslicers, wolves, boggles and more. These ferocious creatures are modeled in the game after the characters being created for the motion picture, by the digital and visual effects geniuses at New Zealand-based Weta Workshop. Additional game features include intricate puzzle solving, two-player action featuring all four characters and seamless gameplay integration with real film footage.
Buena Vista Games Inc. (BVG) is the interactive entertainment arm of The Walt Disney Co. BVG (www.buenavistagames.com) publishes, markets and distributes a broad portfolio of multi-platform video games and interactive entertainment worldwide. The company also licenses properties and works directly with third-party interactive game publishers to bring products for all ages to market.
Founded by Cary Granat, former president of Miramax Films' Dimension label, and education reformer Micheal Flaherty, Walden Media, a subsidiary of AFG, specializes in entertainment that sparks the imagination and curiosity of kids and provides parents and teachers with materials to continue the learning process. In association with The Walt Disney Co., THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE is Walden Media's the first live-action feature film adaptation of C.S. Lewis' THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA.
