2K Partners with Bitcasters to Create and Donate HistoriCanada: The New World Video Game
Professionally Designed Mod Based on Best-Selling Sid Meier's Civilization III™ Engine Will Allow 100,000 High School Students to Replay and Rewrite Canada's History
New York, NY - May 31, 2007 - 2K, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), today announced the completion of HistoriCanada: The New World, the world's first Canadian history computer game, based on the critically-acclaimed Sid Meier's Civilization III series from Firaxis Games. 2K and Bitcasters, an international media firm that produced the game, have teamed up to create this unique mod of Civilization III to offer Canadian students a fun and interactive way to learn about their history. HistoriCanada: The New World will be packaged with copies of Sid Meier's Civilization III and donated to 100,000 high school students across Canada.
"2K is proud to be a part of the development and donation of HistoriCanada: The New World, which will provide students across Canada with access to an unprecedented educational experience," said Christoph Hartmann, President of 2K. "In addition to learning about their history through simulation scenarios, students can look at original artwork, watch vignettes and read articles about hundreds of topics thanks to the involvement of The Canadian Encyclopedia and Historica Minutes."
A historically-based strategy game derived from the history of Canada, HistoriCanada: The New World will allow players to explore the parameters of their Canadian past and even alter outcomes of historical events that, at one point, were unresolved or uncertain. Gamers will control one of Canada's early European or Aboriginal civilizations, making important decisions ranging from planning their settlement and crops, to determining when to wage war or make peace. Additionally, players will ponder questions about specific points in time across 17 civilizations spanning 400 years, including 10 First Nations tribes, European powers and the English and French colonies.
"After two years in development, HistoriCanada: The New World will provide a unique opportunity for students to totally immerse themselves in Canada's deep history," said Nathon Gunn, co-creator of HistoriCanada: The New World and CEO of Bitcasters. "This groundbreaking computer game will increase students' national pride and give them an entirely new outlook on their country."
HistoriCanada: The New World was created using the Sid Meier's Civilization III game engine, integrating the sophisticated social, economic and military simulations of the award winning strategy game. In addition to donating 100,000 copies of HistoriCanada: The New World, 2K will also provide each student with a copy of Sid Meier's Civilization III. HistoriCanada: The New World also comes with a demo version of Sid Meier's Civilization IV, cited as the 2005 PC Game of the Year by many leading gaming reviewers.
Contact information:
Markus Wilding Heather Silverberg
2K Access Communications for 2K
(646) 723-4269 (917) 522-3503
markus.wilding@2kgames.com hsilverberg@accesspr.com
Jim Ankner
(Corporate Press/Investor Relations)
Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.
(646) 536-3006
james.ankner@take2games.com