MIDWAY GAMES Ltd. SIGNS TV SPONSORSHIP DEAL WITH FIVE’S BOXING ACADEMY SHOW
London - October 8, 2004 - Midway Games Ltd. (NYSE: MWY) today announced a major sponsorship deal with Five's knockout new factual entertainment series, Boxing Academy, and the forthcoming Xmas console hit, Mortal Kombat: Deception.
The deal, which runs from 18th October to 15th November 2004, covers a package of five hour-long programmes, including the live final and includes the opening credit, closing credit and break bumpers. Mortal Kombat: Deception also receives accreditation on the extensive promotional on-air trailers as well as off-air marketing across press and outdoor.
The show pits amateur boxers against each other through elimination rounds, culminating in a live final, which promises to ignite time-old North Vs South rivalry.
"Given the gladiatorial nature of the game and the audience demographic of the show, this was an opportunity not to be missed," said Matt Broughton, European Marketing Director, Midway. "Boxing Academy is round one of a major marketing campaign for Mortal Kombat: Deception, which includes a superb live action and CGI TV ad."
Chrissy Dawson, new business manager, Five, said: "We're delighted to have Midway Games onboard as sponsor for Boxing Academy, especially given Mortal Kombat is one of the best-known fighting games in the world."
About Mortal Kombat: Deception
One of the most well-known and best-selling franchises in videogame history - with more than 22 million home games sold - the Mortal Kombat series, which was first released in 1992, has generated more than $1.5 billion in revenue through games, movies, music, toys and other merchandise. The last installment in the Mortal Kombat franchise, Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance has sold-through more than 2.6 million units worldwide in combined sales, across all platforms, between its November 22, 2002 launch and February 8, 2004.
Mortal Kombat: Deception pushes martial arts-style fighting and the Mortal Kombat franchise to new heights with an innovative fighting system, unparalleled depth and brutally intense action that will appeal to long-time Mortal Kombat fans as well as next-generation gamers. And, for the first time, Mortal Kombat: Deception will feature online play for the ultimate one-on-one multiplayer experience. Mortal Kombat: Deception releases on 19th November 2004 on PlayStation® 2 and Xbox®
About Midway Games
Midway Games Inc. is a leading developer, publisher and marketer of interactive entertainment software. Midway videogames are available for play on all major videogame platforms including the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, Xbox®, Nintendo GameCubeTM and Game Boy® Advance.
For more information about Midway Games visit www.midwayeuro-press.com .
MORTAL KOMBAT: DECEPTION and MIDWAY are trademarks 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.
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 "Risk Factors" in the prospectuses filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 22, 2003.
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.
For More Information Contact:
Phil Robinson
Midway Games Ltd
020 7382 7720
James Beaven
Indigo Pearl
020 8964 4545