London, July 17, 2003 – Atari today announced plans to bring Hasbro Inc.’s (NYSE:HAS) TRANSFORMERS ARMADA, the enormously popular male action property to PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system with TRANSFORMERS ARMADA: PRELUDE TO ENERGON. All the rage in the ’80′s, the TRANSFORMERS brand is as popular as ever with the top-selling TRANSFORMERS ARMADA toy line and comic book series, and Cartoon Network television series.
Exclusively for the PlayStation 2, TRANSFORMERS ARMADA: PRELUDE TO ENERGON is a revolutionary 3rd person 3-D action/adventure game. Players enter the world of TRANSFORMERS as they become one of three AUTOBOT robots and control their character’s every move and decision. The massive robots can explore numerous rich 3-D environments on foot or convert to vehicle mode for high-speed maneuvering. Players will battle DECEPTICON forces with an arsenal of weapons including cluster rockets, homing missiles and vortex cannons.
“We’re working diligently to develop a game that expands upon the TRANSFORMERS ARMADA brand to deliver a truly unique experience with intense gameplay, vast environments and an emphasis on combat,” said Andrew Carter, vice president of product development for Atari’s Melbourne House. “Every massive environment and character model will be delivered with an unprecedented level of visual realism by harnessing PlayStation 2 system’s powerful graphics technology and techniques – resulting in incredible rendering effects and absolute immersion for players.”
“TRANSFORMERS ARMADA: PRELUDE TO ENERGON for PlayStation 2 is being developed to deliver a deep interactive experience that will immerse players into a rich, bold new TRANSFORMERS world,” said Nancy MacIntyre, vice president of marketing for Atari USA. “TRANSFORMERS is a successful brand that continues to thrive nearly twenty years after it was introduced and we are excited to offer this highly anticipated title.”
“Atari is a leader in interactive gaming and has the talent to bring the world of TRANSFORMERS to life through a dynamic and engaging game that will captivate fans of all ages,” said Tom Klusaritz, Vice President of Publishing for Hasbro Consumer Products Worldwide, the licensing and promotions arm of Hasbro.
TRANSFORMERS characters are now armed with the ability to evolve as players collect different types of MINI-CON robots that power-up character’s abilities. MINI-CON characters possess a unique ability to make ordinary Transformers characters extremely powerful and are desired by both the AUTOBOTS and DECEPTICONS. The ultimate goal is to free the MINI-CON race, battle to defeat MEGATRON warrior and his evil army of DECEPTICLONES to save the Earth from destruction.
