Activision Ups the Ante with The World Series of Poker(R): Tournament of Champions Game
Activision Debuts New Game and Kicks-Off 'Play with the Big Boys Sweepstakes' at Electronic Entertainment Expo
SANTA MONICA, Calif., May 08, 2006: Building
on the success of 2005's top-selling World Series of
Poker® video
game, Activision Publishing, Inc. (Nasdaq:ATVI) announced
today that it will debut an all-new title, World Series of
Poker®:
Tournament of Champions, at the E3 Expo on May 10. The game
takes high-stakes poker action to new heights with twice as
many top pros, access to extensive poker tools that will help
players improve their game, and DigiMaskTM Technology that actually maps
a player's face into the game.
Additionally, Activision and Microsoft will launch the "Play
with the Big Boys Sweepstakes," giving consumers the chance
to win a trip to the World Series of Poker event in Las
Vegas, Nevada and the opportunity to play for the Grand Prize
-- a seat at the $10,000 Main Event.
To enter the sweepstakes, U.S. residents 21 years and older
can log on to www.xboxpokersweeps.com
between May 10 and June 16. Additionally, attendees at the E3
Expo, which is being held at the L.A. Convention Center from
May 10-12, can enter at the World Series of Poker: Tournament
of Champions kiosk in the Activision booth, located in the
South Hall, #1200.
Six prize winners will be randomly selected to receive a
three-day/two night trip to the 2006 World Series of Poker
event in Las Vegas, Nevada, where they will have the
opportunity to compete in a virtual game of No-Limit Texas
Hold 'Em in Activision's World Series of Poker: Tournament of
Champions game on Xbox® 360 for the Grand Prize -- a
seat at the $10,000 Main Event. Contest and sweepstakes
participants can view the official rules at www.xboxpokersweeps.com.
World Series of Poker: Tournament of Champions features an
immersive storyline that casts players as a newly turned
poker pro building his career under the tutelage of Chris
"Jesus" Ferguson, learning strategies and tips directly from
one of the world's foremost poker pros. Gamers advance their
career by competing against top pros in the premiere Circuit
Events in hopes of qualifying for the winner-take-all,
invitation-only Tournament of Champions, which is held at the
Rio Resort Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The game
will be available this fall for the Xbox® 360, as well as other
platforms.
"This is the most authentic and realistic World Series of
Poker video game to ever hit the shelves," said Jeffrey
Pollack, commissioner of the World Series of Poker and vice
present of Sports & Entertainment Marketing for Harrah's
Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:HET). "Activision has again
innovated for the benefit of poker players, our media
partners, and, most importantly, World Series of Poker fans
around the world."
About Activision Publishing, Inc.
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 net revenues of $1.47 billion for the
fiscal year ended March 31, 2006.
Activision maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, the
United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Australia,
Scandinavia, Spain 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 www.activision.com.
The statements made in this press release that are not
historical facts are "forward-looking statements." These
forward-looking statements are based on current expectations
and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties.
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. Such factors include,
without limitation, product delays, retail acceptance of our
products, industry competition, rapid changes in technology
and industry standards, protection of proprietary rights,
maintenance of relationships with key personnel, vendors and
third-party developers, international economic and political
conditions, integration of recently acquired subsidiaries and
identification of suitable future acquisition opportunities.
These important factors and other factors that potentially
could affect the Company's financial results are described in
our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
including the Company's most recent Annual report on Form
10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Readers of this press
release are referred to such filings. The Company may change
its intention, belief or expectation, at any time and without
notice, based upon any changes in such factors, in the
Company's assumptions or otherwise. The Company undertakes no
obligation to release publicly any revisions to any
forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances
after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of
unanticipated events.