Press release: 2000-07-17: ACTIVISION FIRES UP HOLIDAY SEASON WITH A SIZZLING GAME LINEUP FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY

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: Activision website (archived)

For Immediate Release:

Julia Roether
Senior Manager, Corporate Communications
Activision, Inc.
(310) 255-2727
[email protected]

ACTIVISION FIRES UP HOLIDAY SEASON WITH A SIZZLING GAME LINEUP FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY

Some of the Biggest Names in Entertainment Will Light Up the PC, PlayStation game console, Nintendo 64, Sega Dreamcast and Game Boy Color Platforms

Santa Monica, CA – July 17, 2000 – Activision, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) fires up the holiday season with a sizzling slate of PC and console games for the entire family. All around the world, young and old alike will enjoy endless hours of holiday cheer when the spotlight shines on some of the biggest names in entertainment.

X-MEN®, Spider-Man™ and Blade™ jump off the pages of Marvel Comics to wield their own brand of justice; Disney/Pixar’s space hero Buzz Lightyear™ blasts his way from the silver screen to your television; Disney’s Lion King™ roars to life as king of the jungle; and Star Trek® beams onto the PC and PlayStation® game console with a number of new titles. For ardent sports enthusiasts, renowned skateboard champion Tony Hawk and vert BMX rider Mat Hoffman leave fans awestruck with games that show off their monster moves.

Activision’s dynamic lineup lights up the holidays by offering that extra something for every gamer on your shopping list. Following is a brief description of the titles available:

· Blade™
An original story based on the hit motion picture and Marvel Comics’ popular character, Blade thrusts players into the role of a vampire hunter who must save humanity from the threat of eternal darkness. Using Blade’s signature martial arts moves and unique projectile weapons, gamers explore 21 cinematic levels, from dank sewers to the heart of the Vampire tribes – the House of Erebus. The chilling, third-person action adventure game challenges players to slay 34 blood-thirsty creatures, including the ultimate Vampire – the Night Beast, as they attempt to rescue Whistler from the grips of the Vampire Overlords. (Available for the PlayStation game console and Game Boy® Color. Suggested Retail Price: $49.95/$29.95. ESRB rating “RP“ – “Rating Pending” - the title has not yet been rated by the ESRB)

· Call to Power II™
The follow-up title to the top-selling world-building strategy game Civilization: Call To Power, Call to Power II gives players control over an empire from primitive beginnings into the sci-fi future of 2300AD. Gamers will command powerful armies and employ 6300 years worth of weaponry, politics, exploration and cultural evolution to defend their empire and defeat enemies as they strive for supremacy. Call to Power II offers players several new governing tools, diplomatic options and trade features. The player’s diplomatic strategy will play a large role in the development of their civilization, as enemy states will survey the diplomatic landscape before attacking or forming their own alliances. (Available for the PC. Suggested Retail Price: $49.95. ESRB Rating “RP” – “Rating Pending” - the title has not yet been rated by the ESRB)

· Covert Ops: Nuclear Dawn™
Covert Ops: Nuclear Dawn is an authentic military-based, real-time action-adventure game that allows players to assume the role of a NATO soldier traveling on a new high-speed military train from Russia to Paris. As the lone survivor of a terrorist attack, gamers must rescue an ambassador and his family from a group of terrorists and defuse multiple nuclear weapons before the train reaches Paris. The game challenges players to jump, roll, sneak, climb and shoot their way inside and outside more than 18 multi-level train cars, master more than 10 military weapons and solve multiple puzzles as they attempt to complete their mission. (Available for the PlayStation game console. Suggested Retail Price: $39.95. ESRB Rating “M” Animated Blood and Gore and Animated Violence – “Mature” content suitable for persons ages 17 and older)

· Dark Reign 2™
The real-time strategy genre will never be the same once PC gamers experience the battlefield of the future in Dark Reign 2, the sequel to the best-selling game Dark Reign: The Future of War. Featuring a new 3D engine and a host of stand-out features including gorgeous 3D terrain and units, traditional top-down and immersive “on-the-battlefield” camera viewpoints, never-before-seen strategic options, true line of sight, and unprecedented battlefield control, Dark Reign 2 will innovate the RTS genre and give gamers the most exhilarating war experience ever. (Available for the PC. Suggested Retail Price: $49.95. ESRB Rating “T” – “Teen” – content suitable for persons ages 13 and older)

· Disney/Pixar’s Buzz Lightyear of Star Command™
Based on Disney/Pixar’s upcoming animated television series, Buzz Lightyear of Star Command will let players relive the fun and excitement of the series. Gamers take on the role of the gung-ho, galactic space hero Buzz Lightyear as they explore real-time 3D environments and interact with a multitude of characters. The game challenges players to navigate dynamic environments and plush levels as they venture across the galaxy and fight the evil Emperor Zurg and his minions. (Available for PlayStation, Game Boy Color and Dreamcast™ game consoles. Suggested Retail Price: $49.95/$29.95/$49.95. ESRB Rating “RP” – “Rating Pending” – the title has not yet been rated by the ESRB)

· Mat Hoffman’s Pro BMX™
Featuring nine-time world champion vert BMX rider, Mat Hoffman, Mat Hoffman’s Pro BMX delivers a cutting-edge, authentic freestyle BMX biking experience. Choosing from Hoffman and seven other top-ranked pro riders, players can perform hundreds of tricks, combinations and signature moves in numerous “real world” vert, street and dirt-jumping levels. Filled with secret areas, the game also features a track level editor, a two-player split-screen mode, a replay mode, bicycle upgrades, and an easy-to-use combo system. (Available for PlayStation, Dreamcast and Game Boy Color game consoles. Suggested Retail Price: $49.95/$49.95/$29.95. ESRB Rating “RP” – “Rating Pending” – the title has not yet been rated by the ESRB)

· Spider-Man™
One of the world’s most recognizable and celebrated superheroes, Spider-Man, will swing valiantly onto the PlayStation and Nintendo 64 game consoles to fight injustice and restore peace to the world. As the web-slinging, wall-crawling superhero, gamers battle deadly enemies culled from the annals of Spider-Man’s history in an original story from Neversoft Entertainment. Players will move with Spider-Man’s signature fluidity and acrobatic skill as they explore such familiar comic book locales including the Daily Bugle and Times Square. (Available for PlayStation, Nintendo 64 and Game Boy Color game consoles. Suggested Retail Price: $49.95/$59.95/$29.95. ESRB Rating “E” – “Everyone” – content suitable for persons ages six and older)

· Star Trek Conquest Online™
Star Trek ConQuest Online is a turn-based strategy game that challenges players to outwit another opponent in an interstellar game of cat and mouse. In Star Trek ConQuest Online, gamers assume the role of a Q, an all-powerful being who is anxious to reign most clever amongst a bevy of other Qs. Each player manipulates their group of collectible pieces, striving to outwit the competition and emerge victorious. Players start off with a pre-determined set of pieces, constructed from a group of more than 150 characters, weapons and ships, each with varying abilities and value. Each player uses their pieces to gain control of planets, as well as to attack and fend off their opponent’s pieces. A player wins by seizing control of the challenger’s home planet and capturing their Q or by holding off their opponent for long enough to win by racking up points. (Available for the PC. Suggested Retail Price: $49.95. ESRB Rating “E” Mild Animated Violence – “Everyone” – content suitable for persons ages six and older)

· Star Trek Invasion™
Star Trek Invasion is the first Star Trek game made for the PlayStation game console and features the most cinematic space battles to date. The player assumes the role of a member of Star Trek’s Red Squad, a group of elite Starfleet fighter pilots assigned to the command of Lieutenant Commander Worf. Gamers must battle numerous foes and new races, as they uncover the sinister plot that requires them to strike quickly and rid the universe of the alien threat. The game places players in a variety of missions including turret missions and challenges them to complete several objectives in order to gain information about the imminent threat to destroy the Federation as they progress through the game. (Available for PlayStation game console. Suggested Retail Price: $39.95. ESRB Rating – “E” – “Everyone” – content suitable for persons ages six and older)

· Star Trek: Voyager Elite Force™
Powered by the QUAKE III Arena™ engine, Star Trek: Voyager Elite Force is the ultimate, sci-fi first-person shooter. As a crewman of the U.S.S. Voyager, and a member of the newly formed elite security force -- The Hazard Team -- players will leap into action to defend the Voyager from assault, battle through derelict spacecraft, infiltrate a Borg cube and take on the ultimate colonization force – all the while facing annihilation at every turn. Throughout the game, players will battle a multitude of Star Trek® enemies, including the relentless Borg and never-before-seen aliens, in intense single-player and multiplayer combat missions. (Available for the PC. Suggested Retail Price: $49.95. ESRB Rating “T” Animated Violence – “Teen” – content suitable for persons ages 13 and older)

· Tenchu 2™
The highly anticipated prequel to the 1998 best-selling hit Tenchu, Tenchu 2 is one of the most authentic, ninja action/adventure game series ever. Featuring authentic ninja items – from blow guns to grappling hooks -, stealth tactics, immersive storylines and cut-scenes, the game not only expands on the groundbreaking features of the original, but adds additional depth by introducing new mission objectives and character abilities – including swimming, hiding bodies and the ability to retrieve items – that will push players to master new skills and increase their ingenuity. Additionally, the game supports multiple playing modes including a multi-level training mode, a story mode and a mission editor that lets players create their own levels. (Available for the PlayStation game console. Suggested Retail Price: $39.95. ESRB Rating “M” Animated Blood & Gore and Animated Violence – “Mature” – content suitable for persons ages 17 and older)

· Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2™
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2, the much-anticipated sequel to the award winning Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater™, expands on the original game and provide gamers with the most authentic and cutting-edge skateboarding experience. Players can choose to skate with the skills of Tony Hawk, the most legendary pro of all time, or as one of 12 pro skaters from the star-studded line-up. The games intuitive and solid control scheme allows players to perform hundreds of tricks in a variety of realistic, obstacle-filled real-world locations. An innovative skate park editor and expanded multi-player modes, including multiplayer contests, increase the games replayability. Additionally the game provides total character customization, allowing players to modify the skater’s clothing, skateboard and trick sets or build an entirely new character from scratch. (Available for PlayStation game console, Sega Dreamcast, Game Boy Color and the PC. Suggested Retail Price: $39.95/$44.95/$29.95/$39.95. ESRB Rating – “E” – “Everyone” – content suitable for persons ages six and older)

· Vampire: The Masquerade-Redemption™
Based on the well-known White Wolf role-playing system, Vampire: The Masquerade – Redemption is an action-RPG in which the player lives as a Vampire over a span of 800 years. The game challenges players to survive in four stunning 3D gothic cities – medieval Prague and Vienna and modern day New York and London – which are brought to life through dramatic lighting, fog effects and gorgeous textures. Players fight and feed on the blood of more than 100 non-player characters and monsters as they solve a series of quests. Vampire: The Masquerade – Redemption also features a party-based role-playing system, a complex storyline and a faithful online re-creation of the popular paper-based version. (Available for the PC. Suggested Retail Price: $49.95. ESRB Rating – “M” – “Mature” – content suitable for persons ages 17 and older)

· Virtual On: Oratorio Tangram™
The sequel to the arcade classic Virtual On: Cyber Troopers, Virtual On: Oratorio Tangram propels players into frenetic third-person Virtuaroid combat complete with lighting-fast action and futuristic 3-D arenas. A pixel-by-pixel port of the popular arcade game, players pilot over 11 stylistic giant robots and one secret robot, each with unique abilities, weapons and strengths, as they battle their way through a legion of enemies to the ultimate showdown with the powerful Tangram boss. As players progress through the 17 detailed 3D sci-fi arenas, from a space station to an underwater area, they must use both long range weapons including, swarm missiles, laser beams and floating grenades, and close range hand-to-hand combat to conquer the enemy. (Available for the Sega Dreamcast. Suggested Retail Price: $49.95. ESRB Rating – “T” Animated Violence – “Teen” – content suitable for persons ages 13 and older)

· Wizards & Warriors™
Wizards & Warriors is a first-person, party-based, fantasy RPG from D.W. Bradley, the famed maker of Wizardry V, VI and VII. In an enchanted medieval realm known as the Gael Serran, an evil Pharoah has overcome a curse and returned to a world unable to defend itself against him. Only the legendary Mavin Sword has the strength to bring his defeat and end the evil pharaohs diabolical plan. The title blends the excitement of today’s games with a depth and detail of story and character development unsurpassed in computer role-playing games. Boasting an estimated 120 hours of gameplay, Wizards & Warriors is being developed for Activision by Heuristic Park. (Availble for the PC. Suggested Retail Price: $49.95. ESRB Rating – “RP” – “Rating Pending” – the title has not yet been rated by the ESRB.)

· X-MEN: Mutant Academy™
For the first time ever, Marvel’s successful comic book property X-MEN is brought to life in full 3D with the release of X-Men Mutant Academy. The action packed game places players in the role of their favorite mutants and challenges them to harness their rage and utilize their special powers as they train with Professor X to become full-fledged members of the X-MEN. X-Men Mutant Academy treats players to the ultimate X-MEN experience and features 10 playable characters – including Wolverine, Cyclops, Gambit, Beast, Storm, Phoenix, Sabertooth, Mystique, Toad and Magneto – that appear in both their classic comic and movie costumes. Players have three ways to rumble with Academy Training, Arcade Mode and Versus Mode (classic two-player fighting). The game also provides fans withloads “X-MEN” movie clips, behind the scenes movie photos, classic comic book covers and more! (Available for the PlayStation and Game Boy Color game consoles. Suggested Retail Price: $39.95/$29.95. ESRB Ratings: For Playstation game console – “Teen” – content suitable for persons ages 13 and older; for Game Boy Color - “E” – “Everyone” – content suitable for persons six and older)

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 revenues of $572 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2000.

Activision maintains operations in the US, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, Australia, 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 http://www.activision.com.

The statements contained in this release that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements.” The Company cautions readers of this press release that a number of important factors could cause Activision’s actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in any such forward-looking statements. These important factors, and other factors that could affect Activision, are described in Activision’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2000, which was filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers of this press release are referred to such filings.

###