Activision Releases Its Lineup For E3 2004

Straight from my inbox:

ACTIVISION SHOWCASES EIGHT NEW GAMES AT 2004 ELECTRONIC ENTERTAINMENT EXPO

Game Slate Includes High-Profile Entertainment Properties and Titles from Industry’s Premier Development Talent

Santa Monica, CA May 4, 2004 Activision, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) will showcase eight key titles from its fiscal 2005 game slate at the 2004 Electronic Entertainment Expo, taking place at the Los Angeles Convention Center from May 12 – 14. The company’s lineup is comprised of high-profile entertainment properties and titles created by some of the industry’s premiere development talent. The slate includes games based on such highly anticipated movies as (Spider-Man®2,) DreamWorks’ (Shark Tale) and (Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Eventsâ„¢,) as well as id Software’sâ„¢ gripping 3D action game DOOM 3â„¢ and The Creative Assembly’s award winning RTS game Rome: Total Warâ„¢.

Activision Debuts High-Profile Entertainment Titles:
Spider-Man®2 Based upon the biggest movie event of the summer from Sony Pictures Entertainment’s Columbia Pictures and Marvel Studios, and including other world famous Marvel comic book characters, players experience what it’s like to be the world’s most celebrated Super Hero, Spider-Man. Players can swing, sling, dive, jump and scale the heights of Manhattan to protect the innocent, in a living city with Super Villains, common criminals, vehicles, trains and helicopters. Players re-capture the movie experience by following the main storyline or choosing to embark on missions that challenge them to perform good deeds, deter random crimes, and face classic Marvel comic book villains such as Mysterio, using innovative new combat moves in locations from the film and environments exclusive to the game. Spider-Man 2 is being developed by Treyarch and has been rated (T) for Teen by the ESRB. (PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, Game Boy Advance and PC).

DreamWorks’ Shark Taleâ„¢ Players experience the fun and adventure of the DreamWorks movie by assuming the role of Oscar, a fast-talking little fish working his way up the food chain, who becomes an unlikely hero as he searches for an easy path to fame and fortune. Players undertake more than 25 adventure-packed missions set in their favorite film locations and new environments exclusive to the game. With a blend of original and film-inspired gameplay, players immerse themselves in a hip, underwater urban culture featuring the gritty environments of Reef City and funky tunes inspired by the film. DreamWorks’ Shark Taleâ„¢ is being developed by Edge of Reality for the console versions, Vicarious Visions for the Game Boy Advance and Amaze Entertainment for the PC and has not yet been rated by the ESRB. (PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, Game Boy Advance and PC).

Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Eventsâ„¢ — Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events is based on the book series and upcoming Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies film starring Jim Carrey, Jude Law and Meryl Streep. It is the only game that lets players experience first-hand the misadventures of the savvy and resilient Baudelaire orphans as they narrowly escape from the clutches of the villainous Count Olaf who is after their inheritance. In the game, players switch between the three orphans, mastering each one’s unique skills to solve puzzles and collect various items to build ingenious inventions. By combining their talents, the Baudelaire orphans work together to outsmart Olaf’s troupe of creepy cohorts and overcome sticky situations. Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events is being developed by Amaze Entertainment and has not yet been rated by the ESRB. (PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, Game Boy Advance and PC).

X-Menâ„¢ Legends — The first 3D action-RPG based on the popular Marvel characters, the X-Men, X-Men Legends challenges players to master the attributes of their favorite X-Men by creating, customizing and controlling teams of four mutants in real time. Assuming the role of more than a dozen popular Super Heroes, each with individual mutant powers and fighting skills, including Wolverine, Gambit and Storm, players lead teams of mutants as they battle the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants and other Marvel villains on a quest to stop the extinction of mankind and determine the fate of the world. X-Men Legends is being developed by Raven Software and has not yet been rated by the ESRB. (PlayStation 2, Xbox and GameCube)

Activision Redefines Innovation by Partnering with Premier Development Talent

DOOM 3â„¢ id Software’s terrifying battle with the forces of Hell is invading the Xbox®. A massive demonic invasion has overwhelmed the UAC’s Mars research facility leaving only chaos and horror in its wake. As one of only a few survivors, you struggle with shock and fear as you fight your way to Hell and back in an epic clash against pure evil. Battle alone or team up with a friend and fight your way through the horror in the exclusive two-player co-op mode, or test your nerves against other space marines in intense multiplayer action over Xbox Live. Built on id’s revolutionary new 3D graphics engine, DOOM 3 draws you into the most frightening and gripping 3D gaming experience ever created. DOOM 3 is being developed by Vicarious Visions and executive produced by id Software and has not yet been rated by the ESRB. (Xbox)

Rome: Total Warâ„¢ — The latest edition in the Creative Assembly’s award-winning Total Warâ„¢ series, Rome: Total War redefines the RTS genre by enabling gamers to take command of massive armies that wage war in epic, cinematic battles in the brutal world of the Roman Empire. The game delivers an accessible experience by offering players a tutorial that immerses them into the action, advisors who assist them throughout the game and traditional RTS controls. Players can elect to either auto-manage cities, troop recruitment, finances, economy and auto resolve military battles, or take full control of all aspects of the game. Rome: Total War has not yet been rated by the ESRB. (PC)

Call of Dutyâ„¢: United Offensive — Expanding on the award-winning, epic and cinematic first-person action of Call of Dutyâ„¢, Call of Duty: United Offensive delivers more of WWII’s most legendary conflicts by offering over 10 new levels in an all-new single player campaign, as well as nine new multiplayer maps. Players engage in explosive action from the front lines with newly added special effects, player abilities and authentic WWII weapons. The enhanced multiplayer component features three new team and objective-based modes including Tank Combat, Capture the Flag and Domination where players vie for control of the map by occupying multiple key locations scattered throughout the level. Call of Duty: United Offensive is being developed by Gray Matter and has not yet been rated by the ESRB. (PC)

Vampire®: The Masquerade Bloodlinesâ„¢ — Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines takes the power of Valve’s Source Technology, the driving force fueling Half-Life 2, and delivers a new type of RPG that blends the deep storyline, character development and interaction, exploration, and multiple solutions to quests of a traditional RPG, with the graphical beauty, fast action and first-person immersion of an FPS. Gamers choose to play as one of seven different vampire clans, all with unique skills, strengths and disciplines, and develop their characters by completing story-driven quests using politics, alliances, persuasion and combat to rise to power and become the most dangerous creature of the night. Experience an authentic White Wolf Vampire: The Masquerade storyline set in the dark and gritty vampire underworld of modern-day L.A. where your character’s clan affiliation, (reputation) and gameplay choices will determine how the story unfolds. Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines is being developed by Troika Games and is not yet rated by the ESRB. (PC)

About Marvel Enterprises, Inc.
With a library of over 4,700 proprietary characters, Marvel Enterprises, Inc. is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies. Marvel’s operations are focused in four areas: entertainment (Marvel Studios), licensing, comic book publishing and toys (Toy Biz). Marvel facilitates the creation of entertainment projects, including feature films, DVD/home video, video games and television based on its characters and also licenses its characters for use in a wide range of consumer products and services including apparel, collectibles, snack foods and promotions. Marvel’s characters and plot lines are created by its comic book division, which continues to expand its leadership position in the U.S. and worldwide while also serving as an invaluable source of intellectual property.

About Spider-Man Merchandising L.P.
Spider-Man Merchandising L.P. is a 50/50 limited partnership comprised of Marvel Enterprises, Inc. and Sony Pictures Consumer Products Inc. The partnership oversees all of the licensing and merchandising for the upcoming Columbia Picture’s feature film “Spider-Man 2”, as well as the Sony Pictures Television’s animated series entitled “Spider-Man,” all based on Marvel characters.

About Marvel Enterprises, Inc.
With a library of over 4,700 proprietary characters, Marvel Enterprises, Inc. is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies. Marvel’s operations are focused in four areas: entertainment (Marvel Studios), licensing, comic book publishing and toys (Toy Biz). Marvel facilitates the creation of entertainment projects, including feature films, DVD/home video, video games and television based on its characters and also licenses its characters for use in a wide range of consumer products and services including apparel, collectibles, snack foods and promotions. Marvel’s characters and plot lines are created by its comic book division, which continues to expand its leadership position in the U.S. and worldwide while also serving as an invaluable source of intellectual property.

About Spider-Man Merchandising L.P.
Spider-Man Merchandising L.P. is a 50/50 limited partnership comprised of Marvel Enterprises, Inc. and Sony Pictures Consumer Products Inc. The partnership oversees all of the licensing and merchandising for the upcoming Columbia Picture’s feature film “Spider-Man 2”, as well as the Sony Pictures Television’s animated series entitled “Spider-Man,” all based on Marvel characters.

About id Software
id Freud’s primal part of the human psyche and one of the hottest game shops on Earth has been rocking the gaming world from Mesquite, Texas since 1991. As a renowned leader in the industry, id Software forged such frenetic titles as Wolfenstein 3D®, DOOM®, DOOM IIâ„¢, QUAKE® and QUAKE IIâ„¢. With intense graphics and mind-blowing action, id’s games have helped redefine the modern video game, continually setting industry standards for technology and gameplay. And, in keeping with tradition, id Software has amplified the world of adrenaline pumping 3-D gaming with the release of their latest action titles, QUAKE III Arenaâ„¢, QUAKE III: Team Arenaâ„¢, and Return to Castle Wolfensteinâ„¢. id Software’s advanced DOOM 3 engine is leading the next revolution in 3-D interactive games. Check out more about id Software at www.idsoftware.com.

About Activision, Inc.
Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision, Inc. is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products. Founded in 1979, Activision posted net revenues of $864 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2003.

Activision maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Australia, Scandinavia and the Netherlands. More information about Activision and its products can be found on the company’s World Wide Web site, which is located at www.activision.com.