MIDWAY CASTS MAJOR HOLLYWOOD TALENT FOR SCI-FI, ACTION THRILLER AREA 51®
David Duchovny, Powers Boothe, and Marilyn Manson to Provide Voice Talent in Upcoming Action Game
LONDON, August 26th, 2004 ââ'¬â€œ Leading interactive entertainment developer and publisher, Midway Games Inc. (NYSE: MWY) today announced that it has signed on a blockbuster Hollywood cast to lend their award-winning talents to its greatly anticipated new action-thriller, AREA 51. Featuring the voice talent of David Duchovny, Powers Boothe, and Marilyn Manson, Midway's AREA 51 is scheduled to be available in the first half 2005 for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system and the Xbox® video game system from Microsoft.
"Today's top games must deliver a complete and engrossing entertainment experience," said Matt Broughton, European Marketing Director at Midway. "By utilizing the voice talents of some of Hollywood's most recognizable names combined with stunning graphics and sound, AREA 51 will deliver a polished experience in all phases on par with the best games available."
Cast in the lead role is David Duchovny, star of the ultimate conspiracy-theory television show, The X-Files, who will bring his instantly recognizable voice to AREA 51's lead character Specialist Ethan Cole, a special forces soldier specializing in hazardous materials investigations. Powers Boothe, who currently appears in the HBO mini-series Deadwood, will provide the voice of Major Bridges, while infamous recording artist Marilyn Manson will deliver an unforgettable performance as Edgar, the gray alien. It will be revealed that the conspiracy theories and alien autopsies the world has speculated about related to Area 51 are far worse than anyone could ever imagine.
The U.S. Army has received a distress signal from Area 51 where a viral outbreak has just shut down the research facility and the automated quarantine procedures have locked all scientific and military personnel inside.
A small Special Forces unit including Specialist Ethan Cole of the HAZMAT (hazardous materials) Division is sent to investigate. As Cole, players will delve into the massive levels within the confines of Area 51, discovering a deadly mutagenic side effect of the virus that controls the minds of those infected, as well as an ancient alien colony buried beneath the facility. Players will uncover the truth behind chilling conspiracies as they come across the remnants of the extraterrestrial crash at Roswell, alien autopsies, and the faked lunar landing. Cole must solve the enigma of Area 51 before the viral mutagen is released and irrevocably mutates all life on Earth.
Featuring online capabilities of up to 16 players for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox, AREA 51 is the only action-packed 1st person shooter set in the U.S. government's most secret and secure military facility. Players' online AREA 51 experience will be enhanced with game modes such as Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Capture the Flag, and Humans V Alien Mutant Team Deathmatch.
About Midway
Midway Games Inc. is a leading developer, publisher and marketer of interactive entertainment software. Midway videogames are available for play on all major video game platforms, including the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, XboxTM video game system from Microsoft, Nintendo GameCubeTM and Game Boy® Advance.
For More Information Contact:
Phil Robinson
PR Manager
Midway Games Ltd
+44 207 382 7720
Mathew Huband
European Product Manager
Midway Games Ltd
+44 207 382 7720
James Beaven
Non-specialist Media
Indigo Pearl
+44 208 964 4545
AREA 51 is a registered trademark of Midway Games West Inc. MIDWAY is a registered trademark of Midway Amusement Games, LLC. "PlayStation" and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Xbox is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective companies. Midway has provided the www.xbox.com link solely as a convenience for you. The information on this site has been prepared by third parties, and Midway does not monitor, endorse or accept responsibility for the content on non-Midway sites.
About Xbox
Xbox (http://www.xbox.com) is the video game system from Microsoft that brings people together for the most exhilarating game and entertainment experiences. Xbox delivers an expansive collection of breakthrough games, powerful hardware and the unified Xbox Live online service. The new tagline, "it's good to play together," captures the spirit of Xbox as the social hub of the new digital entertainment lifestyle. Xbox is now available in North America, Asia, Europe and Australia. Xbox is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.
"This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning future business conditions and the outlook for Midway Games Inc. (the "Company") based on currently available information that involve risks and uncertainties. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, the financial strength of the interactive entertainment industry, dependence on new product introductions and the ability to maintain the scheduling of such introductions, technological changes, dependence on major platform manufacturers and other risks more fully described under "Item 1. Business - Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003, and in the other more recent filings made by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
For More Information Contact:
Natalie Salzman
Midway Amusement Games, LLC
Media Relations Manager
773-961-2163
Karen Schachter
Highwater Group
Media Relations
212-338-0077
Miguel Iribarren
Midway Games
Investor Relations
773-961-2000