Digital Bridges Brings Authentic Snowboarding Action To Mobile Phones With 'Arctic Challenge Snowboarding'
Only mobile snowboarding title to be based on a real event with real pro riders
London UK, 23rd March 2005: Digital Bridges, a world leader in the creation and distribution of mobile entertainment solutions, today announced its latest sports title. Based on the most prestigious event in the world professional snowboarding calendar, Arctic Challenge Snowboarding is now available on leading wireless network operators and portals across Europe.
The Arctic Challenge, which kicks off next Wednesday 29th March, is an iconic snowboarding event created by snowboarding legend and three times world champion Terje Haakonsen of Norway, and held every year above the Arctic Circle in Terje's home country. The pinnacle event of the Ticket to Ride series, in which the best snowboarders in the world win tickets to The Arctic Challenge over the course of independent competitions in Europe, USA and Japan, The Arctic Challenge has become not only the ultimate test of snowboarding prowess and style; but has also emerged as an annual lifestyle event for the world's snowboarding elite.
Featuring valuable game design input from Terje Haakonsen, Arctic Challenge Snowboarding enables gamers to experience all the excitement of the real-life Arctic Challenge competition. Players get to assume the identity of any one of three of the world's top riders -- Travis Rice, Andy Finch and Gretchen Bleiler -- on three international courses, and can choose from six different boards to ride. The game is all about pulling off the best tricks, with style being the dominant factor. Players can even review their moves with video replay pick-ups. Featuring realistic slope graphics and a host of jumps and rails to ride, Arctic Challenge Snowboarding is the closest mobile gamers can get to being a "pro" snowboarder.
"Snowboarding has become one of the defining youth sports of the last decade; and The Arctic Challenge is the most authentic and aspirational competition brand in this space. We are delighted to be the first publisher to associate real-life competition and world-famous snowboarders with a snowboarding mobile game title, and look forward to rolling out this title in partnership with carriers and portals in all key markets," said Paul Maglione, Senior Vice President of Publishing and Marketing for Digital Bridges.
"We have experimented with mobile content to snowboarders for several years now. Already in early 2003 we delivered MMS services from the event to mobile users. Our ambition is to bring The Arctic Challenge to as many snowboard fans as possible - no matter where they are or what technology they use. If you can't come to the Arctic, you can enjoy the good vibes of the event on your mobile phone. By developing and distributing "Arctic Challenge Snowboarding", Digital Bridges are bringing solid content value to the event and the fans", says Henning Andersen, CEO of The Arctic Challenge.
For more information on Arctic Challenge Snowboarding and other Digital Bridges products, please visit www.digitalbridges.com.
For more information regarding the world's greatest snowboarding event, please visit http://www.the-arctic-challenge.com.
About The Arctic Challenge
The Arctic Challenge was established in 1999 by snowboarding legend Terje Haakonsen (World Champion in 1992, three world titles, five European championships, three US Open titles, endless victories in World Cups and Invitationals) as a rider-centric, innovative and independent alternative to what he describes as the "corporate jungle" of professional sports. The event, which is today the crowning competition of the Ticket-to-Ride tour of professional snowboarding competitions, has since blossomed into one of the most respected "purist" events in the sporting calendar. The 2005 Arctic Challenge will feature a half-pipe, slopestyle and quarter-pipe. The remarkable facilities as the arctic city of Tromsø will encourage formats not seen in traditional competitions, and the tournament mechanic will consist of multiple challenges with a rider involvement system to really make the TAC the true snowboarders event. Also featured in the 2005 TAC will be extreme mountain free riding, surfing, fishing and a top-notch concert program. Media coverage of the event will include over 150 hours of show and news distribution worldwide to nearly 200 countries.
About Digital Bridges
Founded in 1998, Digital Bridges is a world leader in the creation and distribution of mobile entertainment solutions. An industry pioneer, Digital Bridges provides the best in mobile entertainment to a global distribution network of operators, portals, retailers, interactive TV channels and other e-commerce outlets, representing over 400 million subscribers worldwide. The company possesses a unique combination of mobile technology, development and publishing expertise, and works with many of the world's leading media and entertainment brands including Crash BandicootTM, RollerballTM, RobocopTM, The Pink PantherTM, PlatoonTM, 2 Fast 2 FuriousTM, Weakest Link, Space Invaders®, EA SPORTSTM 2005 FIFA Football Mobile International Edition and EA SPORTSTM 2005 Tiger Woods PGA TOUR®. UNITY, the company's best-in-class technology platform, supports all current and future mobile standards, protocols, technologies and operating systems. Digital Bridges' investors include funds advised by Apax Partners, Argo Global Capital and Openwave Systems Inc. Digital Bridges has its commercial and publishing headquarters in London, with technology & production divisions in Dunfermline, Scotland and San Mateo, California as well as sales offices in Paris, Munich, Madrid, New York, Fairfax, Sao Paolo and Singapore.
For more information, please call +44 (0) 20 7901 1760 or visit us at our corporate site www.digitalbridges.com