Press release: 1998-09-03: GameWorks to Land in Guam; Sega GameWorks and LVMH/DFS Announce Strategic Partnership

This is an unaltered copy of a press release, for use as a primary source on Sega Retro. Please do not edit the contents below. Language: English Original source: The Free Library

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 3, 1998--Sega GameWorks and LVMH (Louis Vuitton-Moet-Hennessy), parent company of DFS (DFS Galleria), announced today that they have a preliminary agreement for an exclusive licensing arrangement to bring GameWorks(TM), the state-of-the-art, location-based entertainment center, to the popular vacation destination of Guam. The announcement was made jointly today by the Honorable Carl T. C. Gutierrez, Governor of Guam, Michael Montgomery, President and CEO of Sega GameWorks, and Gerald Perez, President of DFS Guam.

The 25,000 square foot GameWorks will be located in the Pleasure Island entertainment center on Tumon Bay, Guam, a new world class attraction that is drawing visitors from throughout Asia. The venue is expected to open in March, 1999. Together, GameWorks and DFS will create a high energy, one-of-a-kind tourist destination that will offer the entertainment industry's best games and technology on a theme park scale.

"Many tourists visit Guam to experience a touch of America without having to travel as far," said Montgomery. "In Guam, we are taking the core GameWorks concept and expanding it into a full-scale themed adventure, providing Pleasure Island visitors with an exciting, very American experience." He added, "We are proud to be affiliated with such a sophisticated and well-established partner as DFS for this unique tourist destination venue."

"GameWorks has established itself as a leading entertainment brand over the last year and half, and its concept has proven to be both popular and successful in the U.S." said Gerald Perez. "We believe the company's unique vision and fun spirit will translate perfectly into our market and add substantially to our existing attractions."

"Our Vision 2001 outlined the strategy to improve quality of life by growing Guam's tourism industry through enhancing our destination," said Governor Gutierrez. "We welcome GameWorks as a key new partner in the travel industry. Our plan to work closely with our tourism industry partners to develop a first rate attraction for the over one million tourists who visit Guam annually continues forward with this exciting, new addition to Tumon Bay."

GameWorks Guam will be a spectacular entertainment world, complete with eight major attractions and a variety of dramatically themed "neighborhoods" or game zones. The neighborhoods, which are designed to offer a wide range of entertainment experiences, include a lush tropical rainforest, a "Jurassic Park" dinosaur adventure, an out-on-the-edge adventure zone, and action-packed sports and racing zones. The centerpiece of GameWorks Guam will be "Vertical Reality," an eight-player vertical challenge game created by Steven Spielberg and the GameWorks wizards. New to GameWorks are specially designed motion based simulators, water rides, climbing trees and unique game-based attractions. Food and beverages will be available throughout the venue including a full-service sports bar, a juice and coffee bar and a pizza restaurant.

Pleasure Island's open design allows for free flow between GameWorks and the center's other entertainment facilities, such as the UnderWater World Aquarium, Sandcastle, Planet Hollywood and Hard Rock Cafe, providing guests with an invitingly fluid entertainment experience.

The new entertainment center will include GameWorks, UnderWater World and a famous high quality restaurant yet to be announced. The total investment is approximately $50 million. UnderWater World will open by June, 1999.

Under the direction of Steven Spielberg, GameWorks was created as the quintessential entertainment destination, delivering the best social experience around games. Adults and families can play and interact in dramatically themed neighborhoods that offer a variety of high energy, visually stimulating and relaxing environments. Five GameWorks are successfully operating in the United States, with each offering a variety of games and full-service restaurants and bars, except in Seattle, where the GameWorks pub features fresh beer brewed on site, in addition to other beer and wine. In late 1998, GameWorks will open three additional locations; in Miami, Florida; Detroit, Michigan; and Orange, California. The company has also partnered with Grupo Multiplan, the largest developer and operator of shopping centers in Brazil, to introduce GameWorks in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo in 1999.

The managing members of Sega GameWorks L.L.C. are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Sega Enterprises, DreamWorks SKG and Universal Studios, Inc. Universal Studios, Inc. is a unit of The Seagram Company Ltd., a global beverage and entertainment company.

CONTACT: Sega GameWorks

Melissa Schumer, 818/866-9613

or

DFS Guam

Gerald S.A. Perez, 671/646-6761
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