Midway Enters The Next Generation With Both Guns Blazing As Stranglehold(tm) Is Unveiled
Collaboration with World Renowned Action Film Director John Woo and International Action Star Chow Yun-Fat Scheduled for Next Generation Consoles in 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CHICAGO, IL - May 18, 2005 - Midway Games Inc. (NYSE: MWY), a leading interactive entertainment publisher and developer, today announced Stranglehold, an intense action game currently in development for next generation consoles. Stranglehold is a collaboration with world renowned action film director, John Woo's (Face/Off, Hard Boiled, The Killer) Tiger Hill Entertainment and is scheduled to release in 2006. The project is currently in development at Midway's Chicago studio by the critically acclaimed Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy® team, led by industry veteran Brian Eddy.
Stranglehold, will bring John Woo's famous use of hyperkinetic, choreographed action and freeze framed sequences to the video game arena and will also feature the likeness and voice talent of international action film star, Chow Yun-Fat, (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Hard Boiled, Bulletproof Monk) in his video game debut. Having worked together for several feature films, the dynamic duo, Yun-Fat and Woo, are teaming up once again, but this time bringing their expertise to the world of interactive entertainment.
"The video game industry continues to push the envelope, bridging the worlds of games and movies to produce revolutionary entertainment for consumers," said Steve Allison, Midway chief marketing officer. "To have John Woo creatively involved in Stranglehold and Chow Yun-Fat reprising his role as Inspector Tequila is truly a dream come true for fans of Hong Kong action movies. This game is the first pure example of the convergence of entertainment. Stranglehold is an example of what is possible in the next generation of video games as a viable approach to building a new IP as a gaming franchise that speaks to a fan base through its star and director, in the same way a film does."
"Creating, developing and producing original content for various facets of the entertainment industry is the mantra of Tiger Hill Entertainment and Stranglehold is one of our most ambitious projects yet," said John Woo, co-chief executive officer and co-founder of Tiger Hill Entertainment. "We are excited to work with Midway to create an interactive entertainment experience that filmgoers and gamers alike will appreciate and enjoy." "After so many years of working with John Woo as a movie director, I'm thrilled to venture into the world of video games with Woo and Midway at the creative helm," said Chow Yun-Fat. "Being able to bring move-like action where people can watch and enjoy, to the world of video games where they can experience the adrenaline-filled action first hand is a great experience to be a part of."
About Stranglehold
Stranglehold, a third person, action/adventure game set in Hong Kong and Chicago, is being developed in collaboration with world renowned film director, John Woo. Featuring international action film star Chow Yun-Fat as Inspector Tequila, Stranglehold will feature much of the hyperkinetic, choreographed action and freeze framed sequences that Woo is known for.
About Midway
Headquartered in Chicago, IL with offices in San Diego, CA, Seattle, WA, Austin, TX , Los Angeles, CA, Munich, Germany and London, UK, Midway Games Inc. (NYSE: MWY) is a leading developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software for major video game systems. More information about Midway can be obtained at www.midway.com.
PSI-OPS: THE MINDGATE CONSPIRACY and MIDWAY are registered trademarks of Midway Amusement Games, LLC. All other trademarks are the property of their respective companies. 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, the upcoming console platform transition and other technological changes, dependence on major platform manufacturers and other risks more fully described under "Item 1. Business - Risk Factors" in the Copany's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004, and in the more recent filings made by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
For More Information Contact:
Natalie Salzman
Midway - Media Relations
773-961-2163
Tara Monahan
HighWater Group
212-338-0077
Miguel Iribarren
Midway - Investor Relations
773.961.2815