Majesco will publish the videogame adaptation of the popular comicbook series, THE DARKNESS, for release in 2006. Starbreeze, the acclaimed development studio behind the top-selling videogame, THE CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK: ESCAPE FROM BUTCHER BAY, will develop the best-selling Top Cow comic.
THE DARKNESS casts players as Jackie Estacado, a fearless Mafia hitman for the Franchetti crime family, who is suddenly possessed by the terrifying and spectacular powers of The Darkness. Players must control and harness The Darkness power in order to overthrow the vicious mob boss and fulfill their destiny.
"We are excited to have secured Starbreeze, a highly talented and respected team, to develop one of our first titles for the next generation of videogame consoles," said Jesse Sutton, president of Majesco. "Combining the top-tier development talent and technology of Starbreeze with the compelling content of Top Cow's THE DARKNESS comicbook series provides a solid foundation for success."
Utilizing the Starbreeze engine for next generation consoles, THE DARKNESS features single and online multiplayer action across highly realistic environments, as well as features a seamless and unique blend of modern crime drama and supernatural horror through first and third-person, non-linear gameplay.
Union Entertainment, a feature film and videogame production company, packaged the deal. Paul Jenkins, a seminal writer in THE DARKNESS comicbook series, who will provide game story and dialogue.
THE DARKNESS launched in 1996 and is published in 19 different languages around the world. The highly popular comic sells more than 500,000 copies of each issue, generating more than $25 million annually across its various brand extensions. THE DARKNESS live-action film, produced by Platinum Studios and Dimension Films, is estimated for release in 2007.
Additional information about THE DARKNESS will be unveiled during the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) to be held May 18-20, 2005, in the Los Angeles Convention Center, booth 846 in the South Hall.
Starbreeze (www.starbreeze.com) is a Swedish game developer founded in 1998 and is listed on the Swedish small-cap stock exchange Aktietorget. The company has released four titles, for platforms like Xbox, PC, PS2 and Gamecube. The latest release is the critically acclaimed CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK for PC (91.1% average review score on Gamerankings.com) and Xbox (89.0% average review score).
Top Cow, founded in December 1992, publishes its line of comicbooks in 21 languages in more than 55 different countries. The company has launched 20 franchises (18 original and two licensed) in the industry's Top 10, seven at #1, a feat accomplished by no other publisher in the last two decades. Its flagship franchise, WITCHBLADE, was TNT's #1 original film of 2000. Most of Top Cow's other properties are in development as feature films, live-action television, animation or videogames. Top Cow has also successfully licensed and merchandised its franchises into toys, statues, clothing, lithographs, puppets, posters, magnets, shot glasses, lighters, lunch pails, wall scrolls, mouse pads, die cast cars, calendars, Christmas ornaments, Halloween masks, trading cards, standees, videogames and role playing games.
Headquartered in Edison, NJ, Majesco Holdings (www.majescogames.com) is an innovative provider of diversified products and content for digital entertainment platforms. Its three main product lines include games, which includes highly anticipated titles such as ADVENT RISING and PSYCHONAUTS; videos, which highlights the company's platform-independent video compression technology; and gadgets, which includes innovative digital entertainment products like FROGGER TV ARCADE. More information about the Company can be found online at.
