Driver: Parallel Lines - A Fast Ride Needs Hot Tunes

LYON, FRANCE - 6 March 2006 - Atari today revealed details about the soundtrack to its forthcoming Hollywood-style action-driving blockbuster Driver: Parallel Lines. Alongside over 70 stunning licensed tracks which bridge the two gameplay eras with effortless cool, Atari have secured the services of a number of exceptional world-renowned artists from the worlds of hip hop, punk rock and dance to produce brand new music exclusively for Driver: Parallel Lines. The music and artists have been chosen to reflect the two distinct eras of gameplay and also the great city of New York which has contributed immeasurably to the musical wealth of the world.

Working with Nimrod Productions Ltd, one of the most established audio production companies in the video game industry, Atari has selected a number of top artists to supply new exclusive material for Driver: Parallel Lines including Public Enemy, Grandmaster Flash, Suicide, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Arthur Baker, Mylo, Paul Oakenfold, Lifesavas featuring Vernon Reid and the Audio Bullys. Interviews with some of the artists involved in Driver: Parallel Lines are available exclusively for subscribers to the official website www.atari.com/driver.

In addition to the brand new exclusives, the two eras will be underscored by a remarkable roster of licensed music, with David Bowie, Blondie, Iggy Pop, WAR, The Temptations, Funkadelic, Marvin Gaye, Parliament, and Average White Band amongst those scoring the 1978 era, and bands including The Roots, LCD Soundsystem, TV on the Radio, Kaiser Chiefs, Secret Machines, and The Dead 60's lend their visceral sounds to the New York cityscape of 2006.

"Driver: Parallel Lines gives players two eras of hard driving in one of the greatest cities on earth, and so the music had to be right. The artists who have produced tracks exclusively for the game barely need an introduction to anyone with a musical bone in their body, and to have secured their services is testament to the potency of the Driver brand," said Cyril Voiron, Marketing Director, Atari Europe. "The right in-game music can transform a gaming experience from great to unforgettable and the tracks we have picked for Driver: Parallel Lines will literally keep players in the cars just to hear what the next tune is."

"The melting pot of the New York music scene stretches across so many musical boundaries that it seems to effortlessly create an infectious mix, from obscure 70's gems to classic tracks, and important new bands to the modern day musical heroes," said Marc Canham, game soundtrack composer and music producer for Driver: Parallel Lines.

Developed by award-winning studio Reflections Interactive, Driver: Parallel Lines is the next instalment of Atari's legendary action driving franchise. Players can modify and juice up cars while engaging in the most thrilling Hollywood-style car chases ever across a free roaming, stylized New York City with over 35 diverse missions, no loading times, incredibly realistic driving physics, and a brand new story set in 1978 and 2006.

Set for release on PlayStation^®2 computer entertainment system and the Xbox^® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, Driver: Parallel Lines will be a must-have title for action driving fans. The Driver: Parallel Lines Collector's Edition will include a soundtrack CD featuring tracks written exclusively for the game from hip-hop legends Grandmaster Flash and Public Enemy alongside licensed music. Further information about the Collector's Edition will be revealed prior to launch.

For more information about Driver: Parallel Lines and to sign up for exclusive content including bi-weekly artist interviews, trailers and more, visit www.atari.com/driver. Additionally, the site features a live MP3 player where visitors can select and play tracks from the game soundtrack.

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Marc Canham is co-founder of Nimrod Productions Limited. Nimrod is one of the most established and successful audio production companies in the video game industry. Over the last five years Nimrod has developed a composition, production and orchestral team that is responsible for some of the most groundbreaking and original game soundtracks to date.

Having cut their teeth in the music industry the pioneering composer-production team of Marc Canham and Rich Aitken formed Nimrod Productions in 2000. With over 40,000,000 video game sales demonstrating Marc's instinctive composition style and Rich's detailed and contemporary production techniques this complete team of forward-thinking audio minds have made a huge impact in the world of game audio with their edgy orchestral soundtracks to more contemporary sounding scores and licensed soundtracks. Working from their top-flight studio headquarters in Oxfordshire Marc and Rich have developed Nimrod and the NSO in to one of the most respected orchestras, composers and production houses in the music business...

Soundtracks include: '24' The Game, Driv3r, Driver Parallel Lines, Getaway - Black Monday, Act of War, Gran Turismo, Stuntman, TOCA Race Driver 3 and Vietcong to name just a few. www.nimrodproductions.com

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