Press Release: Infogrames Ramps-Up 'Ultimate Tycoon Challenge' for Launch of Best Selling PC Franchise
From Video Game Morgue File
INFOGRAMES RAMPS-UP 'ULTIMATE TYCOON CHALLENGE' FOR LAUNCH OF BEST SELLING PC FRANCHISE
BEVERLY, Mass., Oct. 15 -- A roller coaster competition of creative proportions is about to hit, as Infogrames, Inc. (Nasdaq: IFGM) today announced the "Ultimate Tycoon Challenge," a roller coaster design contest co- sponsored by Intel Corporation. Innovative designers can win a Grand Prize of an all-expense paid trip for four to the amusement park of his or her choice, a computer powered by the Intel® Pentium® 4 processor and a RollerCoaster Tycoon® pinball machine from Stern Pinball, Inc. Spurred on by the game's extensive fan base, the contest is one of the many new fan appreciation plans supporting the anticipated launch of the PC title on "Roller Coaster" Tuesday, October 15. For official contest rules and prize information, go to www.rollercoastertycoon2.com. Coinciding with the launch date, the "Ultimate Tycoon Challenge" also heralds in the rousing new RollerCoaster Tycoon® 2 PC game "Ride Exchange" online feature. The "Ride Exchange," for the first time ever, allows players to upload, download and compare ride designs created by RollerCoaster Tycoon® game fans from around the world. Specific enrollment details can also be found at www.rollercoastertycoon2.com. "The most fantastically wild and gut-wrenching coaster is yet to be designed," said Ann Marie Bland, director of brand marketing for Infogrames, Inc. "RollerCoaster Tycoon 2 now allows designers more space for imagination, better platforms for creation and the overriding opportunity to become the Ultimate Tycoon." Bland continued, "The thrill-seeking public will undoubtedly rise to the challenge presented by Infogrames, making the launch of RollerCoaster Tycoon 2, one of the most notable PC events of 2002." Uploaded to the new RollerCoaster Tycoon 2 Web site, each roller coaster entry will be judged on creativity, practicality and functionality, to include ride measurements of maximum speed, G-forces, highest drop height, as well as such ride variables as intensity, excitement and nausea. In addition to selecting the Grand Prize winners, Infogrames will choose First Prize designers who will win a RollerCoaster Tycoon pinball machine from Stern Pinball, Inc. and Finalists who will win the Parker Brothers® RollerCoaster Tycoon® board game. With one million units slated to ship worldwide on October 15, Infogrames will also be providing unprecedented mainstream support for the launch of RollerCoaster Tycoon 2 with an integrated multimillion-dollar marketing campaign that links retail efforts with online, promotional and advertising initiatives. The highlight of the campaign is a captivating new TV spot that will begin airing on October 15, as well as during the key holiday sales period. To date, the RollerCoaster Tycoon franchise, which includes two expansion packs, has been one of the top selling PC games in history, having sold more than five million units worldwide. The all-new RollerCoaster Tycoon 2 will surpass the original title's expectations with many more gameplay options, more creative opportunities, more freedom for design and more control than any previous RollerCoaster Tycoon product. Fresh imaginative features, including all new rides and themes, bigger park maps, quadroupling construction areas, and the highly touted technical advances of the "Roller Coaster Designer" and "Scenario Editor" are just some of the anticipated new attractions. As well, through an exclusive licensing agreement with Six Flags Inc., the world's largest regional theme park company, five Six Flags® theme parks and 25 of the most exciting Six Flags thrill rides will be available to players who will be able to explore and manage these five parks as well as create their own Six Flags theme parks. Slated to hit retail shelves on October 15, RollerCoaster Tycoon 2 will carry a suggested retail price of $29.95. More information about the award winning franchise can be found online at www.rollercoastertycoon2.com. About Infogrames New York-based Infogrames, Inc. (Nasdaq: IFGM) is one of the largest third-party publishers of interactive entertainment software in the U.S. The Company develops video games for all consoles (Sony Computer Entertainment of America, Nintendo and Microsoft), PCs, and Macintosh systems. Infogrames' catalogue of more than 1,000 titles includes award-winning franchises such as Civilization®, Backyard Sports(TM) Deer Hunter®, Driver(TM) RollerCoaster Tycoon®, and Test Drive®, and key licenses including Warner Bros. The Matrix®, Warner Bros. Looney Tune(TM), Nickelodeon's Blue's Clues®, Dragon Ball Z®, Unreal®, Mission Impossible®, Terminator®, Harley- Davidson®, Major League Baseball®, and the National Football League®, among many others. The Company's Humongous Entertainment and MacSoft labels are leaders in children's and Macintosh entertainment software, respectively. Infogrames, Inc. is a majority-owned subsidiary of France-based Infogrames Entertainment SA (IESA) (Euronext 5257), a global publisher and distributor of video games for all platforms. In 2001, IESA acquired Infogrames Interactive, Inc. (formerly Hasbro Interactive), including rights to use its line of software based on well-known licenses such as MONOPOLY, Jeopardy®, TONKA, and Atari®, which are published and distributed in the U.S. by Infogrames, Inc. For more information, visit the Company's Web site at www.infogrames.com. About Six Flags, Inc. Six Flags, Inc. is the world's largest regional theme park company with a total of 39 parks in North America, Europe and Latin America. Six Flags parks serve 35 of the 50 largest metropolitan areas in the United States. Six Flags is a publicly held corporation with corporate offices in New York City and Oklahoma City. The Company's stock trades on the NYSE under the symbol: PKS. American Online keyword: Six Flags. SIX FLAGS and all related indicia are trademarks of Six Flags Theme Parks Inc. (R), TM. RollerCoaster Tycoon is a registered trademark of Infogrames Interactive, Inc. on behalf of Chris Sawyer. Intel and Pentium are the trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
