ELECTRONIC ARTS AND NAMCO BANDAI GAMES INC CO-PUBLISH CURIOUS GEORGE VIDEO GAME FOR PAL COUNTRIES
Fun-loving ape embarks on interactive adventure of a lifetime
LONDON, UK, 12th June 2006 -Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS), the world's leading interactive entertainment software company today announced plans to co-publish Namco Bandai's Curious George in PAL territories in October 2006. The Curious George video game is based on Universal Pictures' and Imagine Entertainment's animated feature film release of the same name. The game, made possible through an agreement with Universal Studios Consumer Products Group, invites players to assume the role of the curious monkey as he sets off on the adventure of a lifetime - filled with friends and fun. Curious George will be available for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system and the Game Boy AdvanceTM.
For more than 60 years, children and adults alike have followed the tales of a little monkey named George - known for his fun-loving nature and insatiable taste for curiosity. Fans can now join Curious George on an exciting interactive adventure and will be able to jump into the action as Curious George himself in a variety of levels based closely on the animated feature film. The story begins as The Man with the Yellow Hat travels to the jungle in search of an artefact exotic enough to save the museum where he works. Naturally, George follows him back to the big city and embarks on a series of mis-adventures. Players control George as he runs, jumps, climbs and swings his way around Africa, the museum, The Man with the Yellow Hat's apartment and more - solving puzzles and interacting with new friends from the movie.
The game's environments are filled with "curious objects" that George can explore such as opening drawers to dig through papers, spilling paint cans or unlocking latches on suitcases and watching the clothes fall out. As George gets himself into one humorous predicament after another, players will need to use George's skills, which include distracting performances and crafty escapes, to elude trouble. The game also features special unlockables, such as mini-games, so players will have hours of bonus content to complement the main storyline.
Curious George is developed for PS2 by Monkey Bar Games, and for GBA by Torus Games.
About the Curious George film
Universal Pictures and Imagine Entertainment bring Curious George, the original "monkey see, monkey do" chimp, to the screen in an all-new animated adventure based upon the beloved tales that have been enchanting readers for more than 60 years. George, the inquisitive little guy with an insatiable taste for adventure, sets off in a brand new tale for the big screen, where his spunky and fun-loving nature endears him to new friends he meets along the way and (of course) lands him in a series of (mis-)adventures.
Produced by, Ron Howard, Jon Shapiro and David Kirschner, Curious George is directed by Matt O'Callaghan. Will Ferrell (Elf, Old School) lends his voice to The Man With the Yellow Hat. Dick Van Dyke, Drew Barrymore, David Cross, Eugene Levy and Joan Plowright are also among the distinguished cast of voices. Original songs are written and performed by Jack Johnson.
About Universal Studios Consumer Products Group
Universal Studios Consumer Products Group (USCPG) is responsible for global licensing and retail strategies as well as building brand recognition of the extensive catalogue of NBC Universal properties. Universal Studios Consumer Products Group is a unit of NBC Universal; one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80% owned by General Electric and 20% owned by Vivendi.
About Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is the world's leading interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, the company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive software worldwide for videogame systems, personal computers and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA SPORTSTM, EATM, EA SPORTS BIGTM and POGOTM. In fiscal 2006, EA posted revenue of $2.95 billion and had 27 titles that sold more than one million copies. EA's homepage and online game site is www.ea.com. More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://info.ea.com.
Electronic Arts, EA, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS BIG and POGO are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U. S. and/or other countries.
About Namco Bandai Games Inc.
NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc. is an interactive entertainment software publisher and developer with head offices in Tokyo, Japan. On March 31, 2006, Bandai Co., Ltd. and NAMCO LIMITED implemented a management integration to form NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc. This step was taken to compete more effectively on the global stage in the fast-changing entertainment industry and to deliver further growth.
The resulting NAMCO BANDAI Group is a global entertainment group involved in business fields ranging from toys, amusement facilities, video game software and visual software, to apparel, sundries and network content.
As previous separate entities (Namco Ltd. and Bandai Co., Ltd.) the companies were each known for creating some of the industry's top video game franchises including: Tamagotchi®, TEKKENTM, SOULCALIBURTM, Pac-ManTM, Digimon®, RIDGE RACERTM, Time CrisisTM and ACE COMBATTM.
Curious George movie merchandise ® Universal Studios. Curious George and related characters, created by Margret and A. Rey, are copyrighted and trademarked by Houghton Mifflin Company and used under license. Licensed by Universal Studios Licensing LLLP. Game Program ® 2006 NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc. All rights reserved. Dolby, Pro Logic and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories.
"PlayStation" is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Game Boy Advance is a trademark of Nintendo.