Atari Announces First Ever DUNGEONS & DRAGONS(R) Game for PSP(TM) System
May 02 2006 - 10:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: Tactics(TM) to Hit Retail in Holiday 2006
NEW YORK, May 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Atari, Inc. (NASDAQ:ATAR)
today announced the development of DUNGEONS & DRAGONS(R):
Tactics(TM) for the PSP(TM) (PlayStation(R)Portable) system,
marking the first time the highly- coveted D&D(R) license has
ever graced a next-generation portable system. D&D(R): Tactics
authentically utilizes the D&D 3.5 rule-set created by Wizards
of Coast, a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE:HAS) and allows
players to take a party of six adventurers into a wide variety of
dangerous environments to experience deep and exciting turn-based
action. Developed by Kuju Entertainment, D&D: Tactics is not
yet rated and is planned for a 2006 holiday season release.
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS is under license from the Hasbro Properties
Group, the intellectual property development arm of Hasbro, Inc.
"DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: Tactics will offer role-playing game fans
and PSP system owners the only chance to bring this fantasy-based
game wherever they go," said Rick Mehler, Director of Marketing,
Atari, Inc. "With wireless cooperative game modes, downloadable
content, customizable characters and the acclaimed 3.5 rule-set,
Atari is thrilled to extend the D&D world to the handheld
market." "The PSP system has proven to be a very exciting platform
to work with and an ideal choice to expand the world of DUNGEONS
& DRAGONS within the interactive gaming space," said Jerry Chu,
Senior Licensing Manager, Hasbro. "Making full use of the PSP
system's unique capabilities, gamers will be granted an accurate
D&D experience and story combined with a robust multiplayer
system and the ability to extend gameplay thru downloadable
content." D&D: Tactics offers an original, intriguing DUNGEONS
& DRAGONS storyline. Players take on the role of a mortal child
caught in a conflict of two competing dragons striving for godhood.
Alignment is critical, as it affects the end of the story and
allows players to change from good to evil, or the other way
around, depending on which quests they choose. Gamers will play
through a series of adventures, completing various objectives along
the way. D&D: Tactics offers all the DUNGEONS & DRAGONS
base character classes including Barbarian, Bard, Cleric, Druid,
Fighter Monk, Paladin, Ranger, Rogue, Sorcerer and Wizard. Five
Prestige Classes are available, as are two Psionic classes, the
Psion and the Psychic Warrior. Players will be able to customize
their characters and store as many as their memory stick can
handle. D&D: Tactics will take full advantage of the PSP
system's wireless capability and offer gamers a multiplayer mode.
The co-operative mode allows a group of gamers to play the
single-player campaign with their friends as a team. In Deathmatch
mode a series of special arenas, such as the randomly- generated
and populated Dungeon Bash, allows players to fight one another
with their saved parties. D&D Tactics also features the ability
to utilize downloadable content helping extend the play in the form
of new dungeon maps. About THE HASBRO PROPERTIES GROUP The Hasbro
Properties Group (HPG), the intellectual property development arm
of Hasbro, Inc., (NYSE:HAS), translates one of the industry's
richest portfolios of brands into a world of fun and excitement for
children and adults globally. Through a host of publishing, digital
media, lifestyle and entertainment platforms, HPG is able to
surround fans worldwide with consumer products that expand Hasbro's
core brands, such as TRANSFORMERS, LITTLEST PET SHOP, MY LITTLE
PONY, MONOPOLY, G.I. JOE, TONKA and PLAYSKOOL. About Atari New
York-based Atari, Inc. (NASDAQ:ATAR) develops interactive games for
all platforms and is one of the largest third-party publishers of
interactive entertainment software in the U.S. The Company's 1,000+
titles include hard- core, genre-defining franchises such as
DRIVER(TM), The Matrix(TM) (Enter The Matrix and The Matrix: Path
of Neo), Stuntman(TM) and Test Drive(R); and mass- market and
children's franchises such as Nickelodeon's Blue's Clues(TM) and
Dora the Explorer(TM), and Dragon Ball Z(R). Atari, Inc. is a
majority-owned subsidiary of France-based Infogrames Entertainment
SA (Euronext - ISIN: FR- 0000052573), the largest interactive games
publisher in Europe. For more information, visit
http://www.atari.com/. Safe Harbor Statement With the exception of
the historical information contained in this release, the matters
described herein contain certain "forward-looking statements" that
are made pursuant to the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking
statements in this release are not promises or guarantees and are
subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual
results to differ materially from those anticipated. These
statements are based on management's current expectations and
assumptions and are naturally subject to uncertainty and changes in
circumstances. We caution you not to place undue reliance upon any
such forward-looking statements. Actual results may vary materially
from those expressed or implied by the statements herein. Some of
the factors which could cause our results to differ materially
include the following: the loss of key customers, such as Wal-Mart,
Best Buy, Target, GameStop and EB Games; delays in product
development and related product release schedules; inability to
secure capital; loss of our credit facility; adapting to the
rapidly changing industry technology, including new console
technology; maintaining relationships with leading independent
video game software developers; maintaining or acquiring licenses
to intellectual property; fluctuations in the Company's quarterly
net revenues and results of operations based on the seasonality of
our industry; the termination or modification of our agreements
with hardware manufacturers; and other factors described in our SEC
filings, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended March 31, 2005 and our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, as
amended. The Company undertakes no duty to update any
forward-looking statements to conform the statement to actual
results or changes in the Company's expectations. ATARI, the ATARI
logo, and classic Atari game titles and logos are trademarks or
registered trademarks of Atari Interactive, Inc. or its affiliates.
"PSP" is a trademark and "PlayStation" and the "PS" Family logo are
registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Memory
Stick Duo(TM) may be required (sold separately). Certain
limitations apply to Wi-Fi compatible connectivity. See manual for
details. Player responsible for Wi-Fi compatible fees. All other
trademarks are the property of their respective owners. DUNGEONS
& DRAGONS, D&D, and TACTICS are trademarks of Wizards of
the Coast, Inc. in the USA and other countries. Used with
permission. * This title has not yet been concept approved by Sony
Computer Entertainment America. DATASOURCE: Atari, Inc. CONTACT:
Andrea Schneider of Atari, Inc., +1-212-726-4259, or Web site:
http://www.atari.com/
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