Vivendi Universal Games (VU Games) leads its multi-platform product lineup for E3 with Blizzard Entertainment's STARCRAFT: GHOST, a tactical-action console game set in Blizzard's epic STARCRAFT universe. VUs booth (1200) is located in the South Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center.
Blizzard will also showcase WORLD OF WARCRAFT, its massively multiplayer online role-playing game, which has already garnered more than 1.5 million subscribers in North America, Korea and Europe. The game is scheduled to launch in mainland China in summer 2005 and will release in the region of Taiwan shortly thereafter.
Multi-platinum global hip hop sensation 50 Cent will lend his voice, likeness and music to Sierra Entertainment's upcoming 50 CENT: BULLETPROOF, which will debut at E3 behind closed doors. A demonstration of SCARFACE: THE WORLD IS YOURS, developed by Radical Ent., will premiere on the show floor. SCARFACE: THE WORLD IS YOURS is based on Hollywood's iconic underworld film from Universal Pictures.
Other major E3 releases from Sierra Entertainment include: F.E.A.R. (FIRST ENCOUNTER ASSAULT RECON), developed by Monolith Productions, a first-person paranormal action thriller; THE INCREDIBLE HULK: ULTIMATE DESTRUCTION, also developed by Radical Ent., an action game based on the legendary comic from Marvel Enterprises; and CRASH TAG TEAM RACING, developed by Radical Ent. as well, an action racing game that extends the multi-million unit-selling original character franchise in an all-new, hilarious interactive adventure.
"VU Games' strategy of releasing fewer games of higher quality based on bigger, better franchises is clearly reflected in our E3 line-up for 2005," said Bruce Hack, ceo of VU Games. "Blizzard's masterpiece franchises, STARCRAFT and WORLD OF WARCRAFT, are a cornerstone of VU Games' business and will be a major focus for us at E3. We are thrilled to debut 50 CENT: BULLETPROOF and SCARFACE: THE WORLD IS YOURS, which will be a first look for both titles. We are also expecting a strong reception for F.E.A.R., CRASH and THE HULK."
Listed below is additional game information for the titles on display at VU Games' E3 booth:
STARCRAFT: GHOST is a tactical-action console game set in Blizzard's epic STARCRAFT universe, where players take part in the struggle for galactic domination as Nova, a deadly Ghost operative in the employ of the Terran Dominion. Twenty years of ruthless physical conditioning and techno- psychological instruction have transformed Nova into a being of terrifying potential. As she progresses through a series of story-driven missions, Nova is required to engage in a number of dangerous infiltration operations and deadly planetary battles. To complete Nova's mission objectives, players must execute intelligent tactical decisions while mastering an advanced arsenal of sophisticated weaponry and Nova's own psionic abilities.
WORLD OF WARCRAFT is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game, which allows thousands of players to interact within the same award-winning WARCRAFT universe. Players assume the roles of WARCRAFT heroes as they explore, adventure, and quest across a vast world. Whether adventuring together or fighting against each other in epic battles, players will form friendships, forge alliances, and compete with enemies for power and glory.
In 50 CENT: BULLETPROOF, 50 Cent gets caught in a web of corruption, double-crosses, and shady deals that lead him on a bloody path through New York's drug underworld. Teaming up with his G Unit crew, 50 Cent takes on the most dangerous crime families in the city, uncovering an international conspiracy with devastating implications. The music, the lifestyle and the gritty look at urban life all come together to create a unique entertainment experience, and features new songs from 50 Cent recorded exclusively for the game. This includes music from GET RICH OR DIE TRYIN', THE MASSACRE, and the soundtrack for his upcoming movie, as well as more than a dozen 50 Cent and G Unit videos along with new original hot beats and scoring from Sha Money XL (G Unit exec producer).
In addition, the game will offer a sound studio mode in which gamers can mix and match new original freestyles by 50 Cent with new beats straight from the G Unit camp. 50 CENT: BULLETPROOF is scheduled for release in fall 2005 for the PlayStation2 and Xbox and in spring 2006 for the PSP.
SCARFACE: THE WORLD IS YOURS is based upon the epic film, SCARFACE. In a complex world filled with excess and greed, players can take the role of Tony Montana, one of the most ruthless gangsters ever depicted on film. Acclaimed feature screenwriter, David McKenna, has written an original event-driven storyline that leads the player through a sordid and violent underworld. SCARFACE: THE WORLD IS YOURS will offer a gameplay environment that authentically recreates the historical time period of the film, touching on politics, news items and events of the day. SCARFACE: THE WORLD IS YOURS is scheduled for release in 2006 for PlayStation2, Xbox and PC.
F.E.A.R. (FIRST ENCOUNTER ASSAULT RECON) is a paranormal action/thriller presented entirely in first person. An unidentified paramilitary force infiltrates a multi-billion dollar aerospace compound, taking hostages but issuing no demands. The government responds by sending in special forces, but loses contact as the team gets obliterated in an inexplicable wave of destruction. As part of a classified strike team created to deal with threats no one else can handle, the players mission is to contain this crisis before it spirals out of control. Cutting edge graphics and sound combine with eerie special effects and gripping gameplay for an immersive PC title. F.E.A.R. is scheduled for release in fall 2005 for PC CD-ROM.
In CRASH TAG TEAM RACING, Dr. Neo Cortex returns to his evil scheming in his dilapidated Iceberg Lair to get even with Crash Bandicoot for humiliating him yet again by at the end of TWINSANITY. Cortex hatches a sinister plan to challenge Crash to a seemingly friendly race competition ... with plans of crushing the hapless bandicoot under the ruins of the hazardous racetrack. Players will be able to fuse two cars together on the fly to form a super vehicle outfitted with a turret gun with the all-new "clashing" technology. Players can continue their adventures on foot with out-of-car action, allowing them to traverse an amusement park-like world where they can interact with other characters, collect items and complete mini-missions. CRASH TAG TEAM RACING is scheduled for release in fall 2005 for the PlayStation2, Xbox, Nintendo GameCube, Nintendo DS and PSP.
THE INCREDIBLE HULK: ULTIMATE DESTRUCTION enables players to jump anywhere, climb anything and smash everything as the Hulk; the strongest superhero there is and is based on The Incredible Hulk character franchise from Marvel Enterprises. In this non-stop action and destruction-packed superhero game, players will create their own Hulk-powered weapons from almost anything they can rip out of the environment, unlock new moves to battle a variety of huge enemies in epic boss fights and experience deep and varied game elements by exploring free-roaming non-mission and side mission gameplay. THE INCREDIBLE HULK: ULTIMATE DESTRUCTION is scheduled for release in August 2005 for the PlayStation2, Xbox and Nintendo GameCube.
Vivendi Universal Games (www.vugames.com) is a global developer, publisher and distributor of multi-platform interactive entertainment. The company is a leader in the subscription-based massively multiplayer online (MMO) games category, and also holds leading positions in the PC, console and handheld games markets. Its development studios and publishing labels include Blizzard Ent., Radical Ent., Sierra Ent. and Massive Ent. VU Games' library of more than 700 titles features owned intellectual properties, including WARCRAFT, STARCRAFT, DIABLO and WORLD OF WARCRAFT from Blizzard; CRASH BANDICOOT, SPYRO THE DRAGON, EMPIRE EARTH, LEISURE SUIT LARRY, GROUND CONTROL and TRIBES. VU Games also maintains strategic relationships with industry leading content partners, including NBC Universal and Twentieth Century Fox.
