Acclaim To Publish Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II
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ACCLAIM ENTERTAINMENT, LTD. AND AVALON INTERACTIVE SIGN EUROPEAN DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT FOR 'BALDUR'S GATE: DARK ALLIANCE II'
Acclaim will Distribute Highly Anticipated Action Role-Playing Adventure in Largest European territories - UK, France, Germany and Benelux
GLEN COVE, NY, January 28, 2004 - Acclaim Entertainment, Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Acclaim Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ.SC: AKLM), today announced that they have reached a distribution agreement with Avalon Interactive for the forthcoming release of Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II in the UK, France, Benelux and Germany. The game, which was developed by Black Isle Studios under license from The Hasbro Properties Group, will be available on the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system and the Xbox® video game system from Microsoft on February 6, 2004.
"The Baldur's Gate franchise is hugely successful and there is already significant demand for this sequel among hardcore gamers and fans of the series, so we're extremely excited to have the opportunity to distribute it in four of the largest European territories," said Rod Cousens, Chief Executive Officer for Acclaim. "This agreement further enhances and diversifies our portfolio as we continue to bolster our reputation as one of Europe's leading distributors."
"In Acclaim we have found the ideal distribution partner for these vital European territories," commented Thierry Ortolan, Senior Vice President of Avalon Interactive. "We are confident that the strength of their sales and marketing teams in all these territories will ensure that Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II continues the great success and industry recognition that the million-seller franchise has achieved to date. We are absolutely delighted to be working with them and look forward to a successful partnership."
Developed by Black Isle Studios, Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II is set in Wizards of the Coast's Forgotten Realms® world, the most popular Dungeons & Dragons® campaign setting, using the 3rd Edition Dungeons & Dragons rules set. Embark on a new adventure in Baldur's Gate and brave terrible dangers in search of fortune, glory and power. The game features 100 levels, more monsters, five new customizable player characters, single- or two-weapon fighting styles, graphically stunning environments, hidden areas to explore, and an item creation system that will allow players to create their own ultimate magical artifacts.
In Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II, the darkness gathers yet again in the sprawling port city of Baldur's Gate, and the city's most recent saviors have vanished along with the Onyx Tower, foul bastion of Eldrith the Betrayer. In heroic tradition, adventurers throughout the Western Heartlands make the journey to Baldur's Gate to meet their great and unknown fate. The threat of Eldrith has been eliminated, yet sinister, enigmatic forces still rally against the city. There are many intrigues to unravel, enemies to butcher, and characters to meet - both old and new - before Baldur's Gate is saved from a fate far worse than utter destruction.
The original Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance was released on the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, Xbox® video game system from Microsoft and Nintendo GameCubeTM in 2002 and has sold in excess of one million units worldwide across all three platforms. For more information on Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II visit the website at http://bgda2.blackisle.com.
About the Hasbro Properties Group and Wizards of the Coast
The Hasbro Properties Group develops and expands Hasbro, Inc.'s core brands, such as G.I JOE, TRANSFORMERS, MY LITTLE PONY, MONOPOLY and CANDY LAND, into a wide variety of entertainment and consumer categories.
Wizards of the Coast, Inc., a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE:HAS), is the worldwide market share leader in the trading card game and tabletop role-playing game categories. A leading developer and publisher of game-based entertainment products, the company holds an exclusive patent on the method of playing trading card games (TCGs) and produces the world's best-selling Pokemon® and Magic: The Gathering® TCGs. Publisher of adventure games, family card and board games and electronic media products, Wizards of the Coast is also one of the world's premier book publishers of fantasy series fiction whose novels have made numerous appearances on The New York Times best-seller list and have sold millions of copies worldwide. For more information, visit the Wizards of the Coast website at http://www.wizards.com.
About Black Isle Studios
Black Isle Studios is a division of Interplay Entertainment Corp., a leading developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment software for both core gamers and the mass market. Interplay currently balances its development efforts by publishing for personal computers as well as current and next generation video game consoles. Interplay releases products through Black Isle Studios, Interplay, its distribution partners and its wholly-owned subsidiary Interplay OEM, Inc. More comprehensive information on Interplay and its products is available through its worldwide web site at http://www.interplay.com.
About Acclaim Entertainment
Based in Glen Cove, N.Y., Acclaim Entertainment, Inc., is a worldwide developer, publisher and mass marketer of software for use with interactive entertainment game consoles including those manufactured by Nintendo, Sony Computer Entertainment and Microsoft Corporation as well as personal computer hardware systems. Acclaim owns and operates five studios located in the United States and the United Kingdom, and publishes and distributes its software through its subsidiaries in North America, the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, France and Spain. The Company uses regional distributors worldwide. Acclaim also distributes entertainment software for other publishers worldwide, publishes software gaming strategy guides and issues "special edition" comic magazines periodically. Acclaim's corporate headquarters are in Glen Cove, New York and Acclaim's common stock is publicly traded on NASDAQ.SC under the symbol AKLM. For more information please visit our website at http://www.acclaim.com.
