IGNITION ENTERTAINMENT LTD AND UTV SOFTWARE COMMUNICATIONANNOUNCE FINALIZATION OF INVESTMENT ACQUISITION
Majority Stock Investment by Multi-Platform Entertainment Leader Creates New Opportunities for Videogame Publisher; Ignition Set to Announce Upcoming Content and Seeking New Partnerships
LONDON, ENGLAND and SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, APRIL 20, 2007 - Ignition Entertainment Ltd., a worldwide publisher and developer of videogames, today announced the completion of its 70% controlling share acquisition by Indian entertainment giant, UTV Software Communication. The closing was effective as of 12th March 2007. Ignition is currently in negotiations with a number of leading development teams across all formats with an objective to bolster its release schedule for 2007/08 and elevate the company's prominence within the gaming sector.
"This transition marks the beginning of an aggressive plan for Ignition Entertainment's future and we will soon be announcing new products for the upcoming year, along with further details of our first PS3 title, Wardevil. We are also actively seeking new product to ensure continued growth and focus for the company," said Vijay Chadha, CEO and co-founder of Ignition Entertainment Ltd. "UTV Software has vast expertise in the movie and entertainment industry which will provide greater potential to our development and publishing partners as we ensure their titles reach the biggest audience possible."
The synergy of incoming expertise with UTV presents Ignition Entertainment with many opportunities within the movie and entertainment arena where UTV specialise and is a leading exponent. Investigating possibilities in securing original content will also be undertaken.
"This fiscal year will see Ignition Entertainment sourcing next gen titles with premier development teams, as well as actively chasing original and key intellectual properties in our endeavour to ensure we position ourselves as a company that releases cutting edge and exciting games," said Ronald D'Mello, COO of UTV Software. "We are currently in a period of rapid growth, and looking for partnerships with development teams that share our vision."
Throughout 2007/08 many changes will be seen within the Ignition Entertainment infrastructure with a re-emphasis on releasing original IPs and licenses across a number of formats.
Formed in April 2002, Ignition Entertainment has offices in the USA, UK and Japan. The company has a rich history and has sourced and successfully released innovative titles, as well as building alliances to publish titles in a number of territories. Ignition has successfully created its own series of Mercury titles, which will see the culmination this May/June with the acclaimed and eagerly anticipated Mercury Meltdown Revolution for the Nintendo Wii home video game system.
Digi-Guys are a wholly owned subsidiary of Ignition - with its roots in both Videogames & High End CGI, Post-Production & VFX for movies. Based in it's own high-end facility inside the world famous Ealing Studios (London, UK), the studio's remit is to push far beyond the confines of conventional 'next-gen' thinking and produce unique, innovative and platform leading Videogames & Digital content across all media, utilising a broad spectrum of Games & Movie CG experience.
WarDevil on PS3 is the first of these projects and it represents a cornerstone of the new type of media-rich synergies that are leading drivers in UTV's overall global strategies.
The project has been shrouded in secrecy and R&D for 18 months, whilst it's first official engine demo was part of Sony's PS3 launch at E3 2006. Work at the studio is ongoing, but is being held, under wraps, for the time being, with major announcements due closer to TGS2007.
"We're delighted to be part of the UTV family, as this gives WarDevil the ability to cross many artistic and technical boundaries, become a leading IP for the PS3," comments Andy Whitehurst, Founder of Digi-Guys and Ignition's Creative Director. "By focusing on cutting edge technology and fusing both games and movie technologies together, we're able to create one of the first true hybrid projects that literally bridge the gap between the two mediums. It's a very exciting time for everyone involved, as we continue to push back the boundaries to create a world beating IP."
About Ignition Entertainment Ltd.
Ignition Entertainment Limited is a privately owned software developer and publisher. Ignition was created by a core team of gaming industry veterans with the purpose of building upon their successful track record within the international games industry and to bring a fresh new approach to both the development and distribution of original gaming product. You can find more information about IGNITION ENTERTAINMENT LIMITED at http://www.ignitionent.com
About UTV Software.
UTV Software Communications Ltd. is India's foremost Media & Entertainment Company with leadership position in four verticals that includes Motion Pictures, Broadcasting, TV Content and New Media (i.e. Animation and Gaming). Listed on the Mumbai Stock Exchange. Walt Disney Inc holds a strategic stake in UTV. It has subsidiaries with offices across India, the UK and USA.
UTV Motion Pictures pioneered the Studio Model in India with operations encompassing Production, Marketing, Distribution and International Co-Productions. Strategic relationships with 20th Century Fox, Walt Disney and Sony Pictures, along with Will Smith's Overbrook, have positioned UTV as the only South Asian Company in the International Movie Space. Recent releases include Mira Nair's "The Namesake" and under-Production M. Night Shyamalan's "The Happening". Its Indian slate includes the BAFTA nominated Rang De Basanti with a slate of over 12 movies on the floor, along with its International Co-Productions makes it the largest Movie Studio in South Asia.
In New Media, UTV has one of the largest 3D Animated facilities located in Mumbai and after it acquiring controlling stakes in two Gaming Companies i.e. India Games (India's largest Mobile Gaming company) and Ignition UK (Console Gaming), along with it having under production three of the largest animation movies to come out of India in the next 2 years, it has carved a space as the premier New Media Company in South Asia.
In Television Content, a business with which UTV was founded, the company produces and markets over 20hrs of television programmes a week in multiple languages.
In Broadcasting, after its roaring success of its Kids Channel - Hungama TV to the Number 1 position in 18 months, UTV launches a bouquet of Channels including India's first Youth Entertainment Brand and related channels called "Bindass", a World Cinema Channel entitled "Olive" and a slue of other Channels to be announced soon. UTV will also create its own Distribution Bouquet for its channels.
More information on the group is available at www.utvnet.com
About Digi-Guys
Digi-Guys is a Next Generation Digital Content Creation facility, based in Ealing Film Studios (U.K.). Further info on the studio & facilities can be found at www.digi-guys.com
The studio has been built to push the boundaries of both Next Generation Games & High End CGI. It is neither a traditional games nor a movie studio, but a combination of both. This dynamic digital environment gives the ability to handle a wide range of projects and keep everything inside the digital domain.
Further WarDevil materials can be found at www.wardevil.com
UK Ignition Media Contact:
Derek Reeve
Derek@ignitionent.com
Peter Rollinson
Peter@ignitionent.com
01992 70 39 70
US Ignition Media Contact:
Tracie Snitker
Reverb Communications
Tracie@reverbinc.com
209-586-1495 x104
® 2007 Ignition Entertainment. All rights reserved. Ignition is a registered trademark and Mercury Meltdown is a registered trademark of Ignition Entertainment Ltd. Developed by Ignition Entertainment Ltd.