2K Sports Signs Licensing Agreement With WPT Enterprises, Inc. For Console, PC And Handheld Games Based On WORLD POKER TOUR® Show
New York, NY - February 17, 2005 - 2K Sports, the sports division of 2K Games, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (Nasdaq:TTWO), today announced that it has signed an exclusive licensing agreement with WPT Enterprises, Inc. (Nasdaq:WPTE) for WORLD POKER TOUR® (WPT) interactive poker games. The console, PC, and handheld games are in development at both Coresoft and Backbone studios.
"The WORLD POKER TOUR is fast becoming one of the most recognizable properties in entertainment," said Steve Glickstein, Vice President of Publishing for 2K Sports. "We are very excited to be partnering with WPT Enterprises, Inc. to bring everyone's favorite poker show into the virtual world of interactive gaming. Poker is one of the world's most popular pastimes and a natural fit for our lineup."
"This agreement with 2K Sports takes the WORLD POKER TOUR into people's homes in a truly interactive manner," said WPT Enterprises, Inc. founder and President Steve Lipscomb. "Gamers will have a chance to feel the exhilaration that our WPT players do when they grab one of those monster pots. We are looking forward to having our WPT brand available on the world's most popular game platforms."
The games will create an authentic WORLD POKER TOUR experience for users simulating the excitement of the smash hit television show. The WORLD POKER TOUR, the show that launched the sport, will broadcast 16 new tournaments filmed at leading casinos from Las Vegas to Paris, beginning with the launch of its Third Season on March 2, 2005. The WORLD POKER TOUR airs in the U.S. Wednesday nights at 9 p.m. ET/PT on the Travel Channel and is the highest rated series in the network's history.
About Take-Two Interactive Software
Headquartered in New York City, Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. is an integrated global developer, marketer, distributor and publisher of interactive entertainment software games and accessories for the PC, PlayStation® game console, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, PSPTM handheld entertainment system, Xbox®, Nintendo GameCubeTM and Game Boy® Advance. The Company publishes and develops products through its wholly owned labels Rockstar Games, 2K Games and Global Star Software; and distributes products in North America through its Jack of All Games subsidiary. Take-Two also manufactures and markets video game accessories in Europe, North America and the Asia Pacific region through its Joytech subsidiary. The Company maintains sales and marketing offices in Cincinnati, New York, Toronto, London, Paris, Munich, Madrid, Vienna, Milan, Sydney, Breda (Netherlands) and Auckland. Take-Two's common stock is publicly traded on NASDAQ under the symbol TTWO. For more corporate and product information please visit our website at www.take2games.com.
About WPT Enterprises, Inc.
WPT Enterprises, Inc. (Nasdaq: WPTE) is a company engaged in the creation of internationally branded entertainment and consumer products driven by the development, production, and marketing of televised programming based on gaming themes. WPTE is the creator of the World Poker Tour®, a television show based on a series of high-stakes poker tournaments that airs on the Travel Channel in the United States and more than 50 markets globally. WPT Enterprises currently licenses its brand to companies in the business of poker equipment and instruction, apparel, publishing, electronic and wireless entertainment, DVD/home entertainment, casino games, and giftware. For show information, tools for improving poker play, and other WPT news, fans may log on to www.worldpokertour.com. The company is also engaged in the sale of corporate sponsorships. WPT Enterprises, Inc. is a majority owned subsidiary of Lakes Entertainment, Inc. (Nasdaq: LACO). Photos and media information can be found online at: www.worldpokertour.com/media.
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Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Reform Act of 1995: This press release contains forward-looking statements made in reliance upon the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The statements contained herein which are not historical facts are considered forward-looking statements under federal securities laws. Such forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs of our management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to them. The Company has no obligation to update such forward-looking statements. Actual results may vary significantly from these forward-looking statements based on a variety of factors. These important factors are described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2004 in the section entitled "Risk Factors".
Jim Ankner, Director of Corporate Communications
Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.
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