Vivendi Universal Games Embarks On Its Most Epic Videogame Adventure Yet With Twentieth Century Fox's Highly Anticipated Feature Film - Eragon
Vivendi Universal Games to Publish Video Games Based on New York Times Best-Selling Novel Turned 20th Century Fox's Highly Anticipated Feature Film; Fans Will Get A First Look At The Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3 Expo) May 10-12
LOS ANGELES (April 18, 2006) - Vivendi Universal Games (VU Games) announced today they are bringing the fantasy-adventure Eragon to the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, Xbox® video game system from Microsoft, Xbox 360® video game system from Microsoft, Nintendo Game Boy® Advance, Nintendo DSTM, the PSPTM (PlayStation®Portable) system, and the PC in November 2006. Developed by Stormfront Studios for consoles and PC, and Amaze Entertainment for handhelds, Eragon is based on the upcoming Twentieth Century Fox feature film inspired by Christopher Paolini's best-selling fantasy novel, featuring Edward Speleers, Djimon Hounsou and Robert Carlyle.
"Christopher Paolini's amazing fantasy worlds, characters and adventures portrayed in Eragon offer fans of the genre an opportunity to step into Eragon's world and live out the dragon rider legacy," said Bruce Hack, CEO of VU Games. "Eragon is sure to be one of the most anticipated movies of 2006 and we are excited to bring this rich story to gamers worldwide."
Elie Dekel, Executive Vice President Licensing & Merchandising for 20th Century Fox added, "VU Games has done a wonderful job adapting many of our top films to the interactive format. Eragon has proven to be the best example to date of what can happen when true collaboration comes to fruition. Movie-goers are going to be hugely impressed with the film, and gamers will be blown away by this state-of-the-art video game.
Movie-goers and gamers will get to experience the rich fantasy of Eragon on the big screen when the film hits theaters December 15TH 2006.
The Eragon Story
Based on the best-selling novel, this epic fantasy-adventure centers on a young farm boy named Eragon whose destiny is revealed with the help of a dragon. Eragon, now a Dragon Rider, is swept into a world of magic and power, discovering that he alone has the power to save - or destroy - an Empire.
The Dragon Rider Legacy will be revealed at the upcoming Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3 Expo) when Fox and Vivendi Universal Games will be premiering exclusive footage from the studio and a first look at gameplay from Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance.
About Eragon for Console and PC
Based on the worldwide literary phenomenon and Fox 2006 tentpole film starring Academy Award winner Jeremy Irons and Academy Award nominee John Malkovich, Eragon immerses the player in a magical world of dragons, destiny and adventure. Gamers will engage in intense battles with an unparalleled combo and magic-based combat system, including stunning finishing moves, multiple grapples and degradable blocks with unique counter attacks. The adventure is heightened with breathless dragon flight-based combat and devastating dragon summon attacks. Fantasy fans can also share the adventure with 2 player co-op featuring team attack bonuses and dragon fight/flight combo gameplay.
About Eragon for Handheld
Offering a completely different gaming experience on all major handheld platforms, Eragon will offer Nintendo DS gamers an action-filled combat-RPG with touch screen spell casting and unique dual screen attack mode. Gamers can also sharpen their magic and dragon riding skills in unlockable mini-games.
Delving further into the rich story of the Eragon universe, Eragon for the GameBoy Advance is a deep, story-driven turn-based RPG with nine playable characters and fully customizable character skills, along with weapon forging and potion crafting.
Eragon and Saphira take flight in this aerial combat game, featuring four person multiplayer in seven different arenas with 12 unlockable arena game types for the PSP system. An extensive single player story mode allows gamers to experience the epic Eragon saga from the dragon's perspective.
For more information go to www.eragongame.com.
About FOX Licensing & Merchandising
A recognized industry leader, Twentieth Century Fox Licensing and Merchandising licenses and markets properties worldwide on behalf of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, Twentieth Television and Fox Broadcasting Company, as well as third party lines. The division is aligned with Twentieth Century Fox Television, one of the top suppliers of primetime entertainment programming to the broadcast networks.
About Vivendi Universal Games
Vivendi Universal Games (www.vugames.com) is a global developer, publisher and distributor of multi-platform interactive entertainment. The company is a leader in the subscription-based massively multi-player online (MMO) games category, holds leading positions in the PC, console and handheld games markets, and is an emerging player in mobile and wireless games. Its development studios and publishing labels include Blizzard Entertainment®, Radical Entertainment, Sierra® Entertainment, Massive EntertainmentTM, Swordfish Studios and High Moon Studios. VU Games' library of over 700 titles features owned intellectual properties including Warcraft®, StarCraft®, Diablo® and World of Warcraft® from Blizzard Entertainment; Crash Bandicoot®, Spyro The Dragon®, Empire Earth®, Leisure Suit Larry®, and Ground Control® from Sierra® Entertainment. VU Games also maintains strategic relationships with industry leading content partners, including Universal Music Group, NBC Universal, Twentieth Century Fox and Ludlum Entertainment.
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