On the planet of Cybertron (TRANSFORMERS home world), the TRANSFORMERS war between the AUTOBOTSTM and DECEPTICONSTM rages on. The DECEPTICONS seek the domination of life-giving planets throughout the universe and only the heroic AUTOBOT warriors – led by OPTIMUS PRIMETM – stand in their way. AUTOBOT losses are mounting and their desperate last stand takes a turn for the worse when the DECEPTICONS introduce their new secret weapon: the massive DECEPTICLONE Army. Created by the DECEPTICON leader, Megatron, the DECEPTICLONES are specialized robots built for the sole purpose of destroying the AUTOBOTS.
Defeat is at hand for the AUTOBOTS when a distress signal from the MINI-CONTM robots, the long-lost third TRANSFORMERS race, reaches Cybertron. Stranded on Earth, the MINI-CON have the ability to tip the balance of power in the ongoing TRANSFORMERS War. Knowing this, the AUTOBOTS and DECEPTICONS race to Earth to find the MINI-CON.
TRANSFORMERS is a fast-paced, single-player, third-person action/combat game with countless enemies, immense battles and intense boss fights against the DECEPTICON leaders. Players control a single AUTOBOT character in the game and can choose from three playable AUTOBOTS: OPTIMUS PRIME; HOT SHOTTM and RED ALERTTM. Numerous offensive and defensive weapons and power-ups are available to aid the player in battle.
The game spans 8 environments across the Earth and on Cybertron. Each expansive environment is incredibly detailed and full of enemy DECEPTICLONES. Specific objectives and numerous secondary objectives need to be accomplished in each location. There are hidden power-ups and unlockable extras that can be discovered through exploration.
TRANSFORMERS puts the player in the TRANSFORMERS universe like never before, allowing them to join the epic battle against the evil DECEPTICONS. It is up to the player to rescue the MINI-CON and defeat the DECEPTICLONE Army and its DECEPTICON leaders.
Game Features:
- Choose to play as OPTIMUS PRIMETM; HOT SHOTTM or RED ALERTTM;
- Go one-on-one against evil DECEPTICONTM leaders including MEGATRONTM, UNICRONTM, STARSCREAMTM, TIDAL WAVETM and CYCLONUSTM;
- Battle though 8 massive locations across the Earth and on Cybertron;
- Destroy enemies with more than 20 types of weapons including Cluster Rocket Launchers, Homing Missiles, Mines and Sniper Rifles;
- Defeat countless DECEPTICLONE Spider Tanks, Sentry Drones, Heavy Grunts and other enemy forces;
- Instantly convert your AUTOBOTTM from Robot form to Vehicle form for greater speed and mobility;
- Rescue over 40 types of MINI-CONTM robots to obtain new abilities, offensive and defensive power-ups including Glide, Stealth, EMP Blast and Tractor Beam
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Press Release: Transformers (Atari) Company Line
Press Release: Transformers (Atari)
BEVERLY, MA – April 12, 2004 – Highlighting the entertainment industry relationships that have become its hallmark, Atari, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATAR) today announced an ongoing cross promotional collaboration with Universal Motown Records Group, which will tie-in ReAlign/Universal’s hot new band, DROPBOX, with Atari’s highly anticipated TRANSFORMERS video game for the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system, based on Hasbro, Inc.’s popular TRANSFORMERS brand.
This marketing relationship will utilize both traditional and non-traditional marketing vehicles to support both the May 11 launch of the TRANSFORMERS game and the DROPBOX album release on April 13. The campaign will include the utilization of DROPBOX performance footage and the TRANSFORMERS game footage in the band’s forthcoming new video and Atari’s TV advertising spot; radio advertising, in addition to TV; online street teams; and live performances.
“The high level of collaboration between Atari and Universal Motown Records Group enables both companies to significantly extend the effectiveness and reach of their marketing efforts,” said Nancy MacIntyre, vice president of marketing for Atari. “DROPBOX and the TRANSFORMERS game are already generating significant buzz with their respective core audiences, and this partnership should serve to attract new fans to both.”
Elements expected to be included in this joint campaign include:
- DROPBOX’s debut single, “Wishbone,” as well as the band’s recording of its version of the TRANSFORMERS theme song will be available in the game as un-lockable bonus tracks;
- DROPBOX’s new music video for “Wishbone,” shot by award-winning director, Nigel Dick, and produced by Quentin Tarantino’s production company, A Band Apart, will feature TRANSFORMERS game footage;
- A TRANSFORMERS brochure will be included in 1 million Universal Records music CDs;
- Atari’s TRANSFORMERS TV commercial will highlight the “Wishbone” sound track and portions of the band’s music video;
- DROPBOX will be included in Atari’s national print advertising campaign for the TRANSFORMERS game;
- The DROPBOX multi-city promotional radio tour will include mention of its tie-in with Atari’s TRANSFORMERS video game;
- Atari’s in-store TRANSFORMERS videos will feature DROPBOX’s “Wishbone” single and its version of the TRANSFORMERS theme song;
- Universal will develop and produce key account radio commercials which will include a TRANSFORMERS tag;
- A fully integrated on-air and online promotion with the FUSE music video network will include:
- A live appearance by DROPBOX on the live daily show “IMX” that will also feature behind-the-scenes footage from the filming of the music video;
- An online campaign including the IMX “Daily Download” and a promotional contest;
- Atari will include DROPBOX content on its TRANSFORMERS website located at www.atari.com/transformers and Universal will utilize online street teams and other online vehicles in support of the Transformers game and DROPBOX;
To kick off this relationship, DROPBOX celebrated with video game media at Atari’s TRANSFORMERS preview event in February. In anticipation of the formal agreement, public relations and promotional initiatives for the making of the DROPBOX music video featuring Transformers video game footage are moving forward as well as additional retail and consumer outreach.
“Atari and Universal Motown Records Group are respected industry leaders and it is fitting that such a collaborative effort comes from two such vanguards,” said Kojo Bentel, SVP of Strategic Marketing and Business Development, Universal Motown Records Group. “Music has become a crucial element of the video game experience and DROPBOX’s raw, rock sound is a perfect fit for Atari’s TRANSFORMERS game.”
Developed by Atari’s Melbourne House studio, the TRANSFORMERS game will be available worldwide on May 11, 2004. More information can be found online at www.atari.com/transformers.
About Universal Motown Records Group
Universal Motown Records Group is a division of Universal Music Group, the world’s leading music company with wholly-owned record operations or licensees in 71 countries. Its businesses also include Universal Music Publishing Group, one of the industry’s largest global music publishing operations.
Universal Music Group consists of record labels Decca Record Company, Deutsche Grammophon, DreamWorks Records, Interscope Geffen A&M Records, Island Def Jam Music Group, Lost Highway Records, MCA Nashville, Mercury Nashville, Mercury Records, Philips, Polydor, Universal Music Latino, Universal Motown Records Group, and Verve Music Group as well as a multitude of record labels owned or distributed by its record company subsidiaries around the world. The Universal Music Group owns the most extensive catalog of music in the industry, which is marketed through two distinct divisions, Universal Music Enterprises (in the U.S.) and Strategic Marketing and Commercial Affairs (outside the U.S.). Universal Music Group also includes eLabs, a new media and technology division.
Universal Music Group is a unit of Vivendi Universal, a global media and communications company.
About Atari
New York-based Atari, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATAR) develops interactive games for all platforms and is one of the largest third-party publishers of interactive entertainment software in the U.S. The Company’s 1,000+ titles include hardcore, genre-defining games such as Driver, Enter the Matrix, Neverwinter Nights, Stuntman, Test Drive, Unreal Tournament 2003, and Unreal Championship; and mass-market and children’s games such as Backyard Sports, Nickelodeon’s Blue’s Clues and Dora the Explorer, Civilization, Dragon Ball Z and RollerCoaster Tycoon. Atari, Inc. is a majority-owned subsidiary of France-based Infogrames Entertainment SA (Euronext 5257), the largest interactive games publisher in Europe. For more information, visit www.atari.com.
# # #
© 2004 Atari, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
TRANSFORMERS is a trademark of Hasbro, Inc. Used with permission. ©2004 Hasbro. All Rights Reserved.
Universal Motown Records Group is a unit of Vivendi Universal, a global media and communications company.
“PlayStation” and the “PS” Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Company Line – 12th May 2004
On the planet of Cybertron (TRANSFORMERS home world), the TRANSFORMERS war between the AUTOBOTSTM and DECEPTICONSTM rages on. The DECEPTICONS seek the domination of life-giving planets throughout the universe and only the heroic AUTOBOT warriors – led by OPTIMUS PRIMETM – stand in their way. AUTOBOT losses are mounting and their desperate last stand takes a turn for the worse when the DECEPTICONS introduce their new secret weapon: the massive DECEPTICLONE Army. Created by the DECEPTICON leader, Megatron, the DECEPTICLONES are specialized robots built for the sole purpose of destroying the AUTOBOTS.
Defeat is at hand for the AUTOBOTS when a distress signal from the MINI-CONTM robots, the long-lost third TRANSFORMERS race, reaches Cybertron. Stranded on Earth, the MINI-CON have the ability to tip the balance of power in the ongoing TRANSFORMERS War. Knowing this, the AUTOBOTS and DECEPTICONS race to Earth to find the MINI-CON.
TRANSFORMERS is a fast-paced, single-player, third-person action/combat game with countless enemies, immense battles and intense boss fights against the DECEPTICON leaders. Players control a single AUTOBOT character in the game and can choose from three playable AUTOBOTS: OPTIMUS PRIME; HOT SHOTTM and RED ALERTTM. Numerous offensive and defensive weapons and power-ups are available to aid the player in battle.
The game spans 8 environments across the Earth and on Cybertron. Each expansive environment is incredibly detailed and full of enemy DECEPTICLONES. Specific objectives and numerous secondary objectives need to be accomplished in each location. There are hidden power-ups and unlockable extras that can be discovered through exploration.
TRANSFORMERS puts the player in the TRANSFORMERS universe like never before, allowing them to join the epic battle against the evil DECEPTICONS. It is up to the player to rescue the MINI-CON and defeat the DECEPTICLONE Army and its DECEPTICON leaders.
Game Features:
* Choose to play as OPTIMUS PRIMETM; HOT SHOTTM or RED ALERTTM;
* Go one-on-one against evil DECEPTICONTM leaders including MEGATRONTM, UNICRONTM, STARSCREAMTM, TIDAL WAVETM and CYCLONUSTM;
* Battle though 8 massive locations across the Earth and on Cybertron;
* Destroy enemies with more than 20 types of weapons including Cluster Rocket Launchers, Homing Missiles, Mines and Sniper Rifles;
* Defeat countless DECEPTICLONE Spider Tanks, Sentry Drones, Heavy Grunts and other enemy forces;
* Instantly convert your AUTOBOTTM from Robot form to Vehicle form for greater speed and mobility;
* Rescue over 40 types of MINI-CONTM robots to obtain new abilities, offensive and defensive power-ups including Glide, Stealth, EMP Blast and Tractor Beam
DVD: Transformers Season 2 Part 2 (R2 UK)
INFO PAGE | REVIEW
Release Date: 3rd May 2004
Distributor: Metrodome Distribution
Country: UK
Region: 2 PAL
Number of Discs: 3
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audio: English Dolby Digital 5.1 & Dolby Digital Stereo 2.0
Subtitles: None
Catalogue Number: MTD5150
May 3rd 2004 sees the release of the Transformers season 2 Part 2 DVD for the first in the UK.
Episodes
41. The Golden Lagoon
42. The God Gambit
43. Make Tracks
44. Child’s Play
45. Quest for Survival
46. The Secret of Omega Supreme
47. The Gambler
48. Kremzeek!
49. Sea Change
50. Triple Takeover
51. Prime Target
52. Auto-Bop
53. The Search for Alpha Trion
54. The Girl Who Loved Powerglide
55. Hoist Goes Hollywood
56. The Key to Vector Sigma: Part 1
57. The Key to Vector Sigma: Part 2
58. Aerial Assault
59. War Dawn
60. Trans-Europe Express
61. Cosmic Rust
62. Starscream’s Brigade
63. The Revenge of Bruticus
64. Masquerade
65. B.O.T.
Extra Features
Exclusive Character Art From Marvel Comic’s Andrew Wildman
Transformers Comic “The Beast Within” by Darren Jamieson & Dylan Gibson
Atari Game Trailer
Extended Quiz
Fan Art Gallery
Character Profiles
Easter Egg
Complete Scripts On DVD Rom
Images
Review: Transformers Season 2 Part 2 (R2 UK) DVD
INFO PAGE | REVIEW
Written by Chris McFeely
Woo-hoo, my copy of Season 2, Part 2 finally came today! I’ve been really looking forward to this set, even more than I was looking forward to Part 1, and even better, I’m off work right now, so I can just sit and soak it in all day.
Now, to kick this off, I’ll say this – this set is SO much better, in terms of presentation and professionalism than the first set was. The sleeve is just like the first set, shiny silver, on this time, it’s decked out with a big Decepticon symbol, and the two boxes look very well next to each other on a shelf. The back of the sleeve remains mostly the same, except with the purple and red backgrounds for the extra features list and character illustrations switched. The blurb for the set itself is now in purple, making it *much* easier to read than the white text on Part 1 (white on silver, really?). Once again, the individual boxes are red plastic (I was kinda hoping for purple to really set off that Decepticon theme), and their covers are a little gaudy, but functional. They depict, in order, Jazz, Starscream and Soundwave. I wonder why they didn’t put Jazz in Devastator’s place as the cover to volume 3 in part one, to make that set fully Autobot-centric, and this one fully Decepticon-centric, but there you go. The discs are labelled volumes 4, 5 and 6.
Before getting into the discs themselves, there’s a small bundle of inserts and stuff inside volume 4’s case. First is the booklet like that which was included with Part 1 – a listing of the episodes on the disc (and instead of a red border at the bottom of each page, it’s now purple. The Decepticon theme runs strong!). Also included are ads for Dorling Kindersly’s “Transformers: The Ultimate Guide” (out this Thursday, the 6th), and Atari’s PS2 game (no date given, and official sources range, but this Friday is looking good. It’s a damn good week to be a Transfan!). A typically enthusiastic intro from Darren Jamieson rounds out the booklet.
Next are Andy Wildman’s four postcards, and boy-howdy, do they beat the pants off of Lee Sullivan’s. Wildman is *rocking it* since he started doing Dreamwave-style, rather than his usual “people in boxes” Transformers, and the spiffy backgrounds on the cards liven them up to no end. The cards are of Prime, Megatron, Blaster and Superion.
Now, the most interesting insert – “The Beast Within,” a fan comic written by theTF.Net’s own Darren Jamieson, and illustrated by Dylan Gibson. And I will be frank. My first instinct in writing this was to not say much, but I don’t think Daz would want me to sugar coat my feelings about it, and just to be honest with what I think, so I will be.
The cover is a wraparound of metal tendrils bursting out of Grimlock, and Prime, Megs and Starscream and Soundwave looking on. The inside cover is an intro to the story (essentially – a big arse fight has gone on, and it don’t look good for Prime’s boys), followed by an intro by Dylan Gibson, which probably should be read after, as it spoils a bit about what’s in the story. To quickly summarie the story – as battle rages around him, Grimlock seems to be holding back, afraid of something within himself. But he is eventually forced to act by the deseperation of the situation, and, shockingly… the Dinobots combine! The unnamed monstrosity that is formed from their combination is pure, uncontrollable rage, that quickly rips through Predaking, Devastator, Bruticus and Menasor. And then, with the Decepticons defeated, it turns on the Autobots… to be continued, presumably in the Season 3 DVD set.
Now, my thoughts. It’s an interesting concept – I thought that “the beast within” would just be Grimlock’s own berserker drive, so I was surprised by the revelation, and thought it was a good idea. However, I find it’s implimentation to be a bit… well… fanwanky. It comes off as… “Look, look, this is REALLY awesome!” As a reader of comics who is now, frankly, bloody tired of Grimlock thanks to Simon Furman’s overkill use of the character, I wasn’t loving the concept of *another* story about him. I think he’s one of the most overrated TFs there is. But that’s personal preferences, and that’s all I can REALLY complain about, story wise.
Art-wise, Gibson does a nice job, a little affected by the small amount of space his work has been compressed to. Also, unfortunately for him, he seems to have made an effort to ape the style of Pat Lee, particularly in his drawnings of Optimus Prime (white stripes on arms, chunky window frames), a particularly overrated artist who people shouldn’t strive to emulate.
But the biggest gripe about this comic is the lettering and dialogue. It’s apalling. The text is all over the place, poorly formatted in some ill-shaped word balloons, and there’s not a SINGLE FULL STOP in the entire comic! Three dots don’t count!
Anyway, enough ranting. It’s a neat, intruiging extra that just needs a bit of fine tuning.
And now, the main event!
The twenty-five episodes of the set are split up nine to volume 4, nine to volume 5, and seven to volume 6 (as opposed to the 10-10-4 split of Part 1). The main menus are VASTLY superior to Part 1’s decidedly underwhelming offerings, with more use of the energy grid from the season 2 opening and nifty 3D faction symbols. These ones are NICE to look at. However, I don’t know if it’s my player or not, but the transititions between menus are a bit jerky and iffy.
Again, we have 5.1 or 2.0 audio options, with 5.1 being the default, unlike Part 1. Now, most people will remember the rantings that have gone on in the past of how Rhino, the American company who remastered these episodes, added extra noises to the 5.1 track (jet fly-bys, big explosions, and the primary truly annoying one, a demonically irritating WHCSSH!! to nearly every laser impact). For their season 1 box set, Maverick used only this 5.1 audio. Metrodome, for S2, Pt2, gave us both 5.1 and 2.0, although an error by Rhino on their set carried over, which saw the extra noises applied to the 2.0 tracks of “Changing Gears,” “City of Steel,” “Attack of the Autobots” and “Traitor.” Furthermore, on the American Season 2, Part 2 set a technical error resulted in the 2.0 track of EVERY episode getting the added noises, driving many US fans up the wall.
The good news?
This error HASN’T carried over! I haven’t watched EVERY episode yet, but after a good chunk of disc one, and a sampling of some episodes from the others, flicking back and forth between tracks and rewinding to examine specific instances, I can find no evidence that the 2.0 tracks contain the added noises! TAKE THAT, YANKEES! If I find evidence to the contrary, of course, I’ll take this back.
So, with that joyous discovery made, I was really settling down to watch some awesome robot action. There’s little point in actually going into episodes in that much detail, but I reccommend-
– the refreshingly mature change of pace that is “The God Gambit”
– “The Secret of Omega Supreme,” which gets the “Contradicting the Conustructions’ Origin, but Giving A Reason For At Least ONE of the Season’s New Characters” award
– the hoots that are “Prime Target” and “Triple Take Over”
– The really quite spiffy “Key to Vector Sigma”
– the continuity-chewy-tasty “War Dawn”
– and the absolutely CRACKIN’ “Starscream’s Brigade” and “Revenge of Bruticus.”
The worst ep on the set is, without question, the utterly nonsenscial, brain-itching “B.O.T.,” one of the worst episodes of Transformers ever.
Now, as I did in the past, let’s take a deep look at the extras. Before I get into them individually, I just have to say that they are presented *sooooo* much better than the previous set’s. More work has gone in here, and even though there are less individual extras than Part 1, what we do get is simply much more pleasing to experience.
The first extra is the quiz – same format as part 1, multiple choice, only with 20 questions, instead of 10. And these ones are ones that you DO have to REALLY be a Transfan to answer. When you complete the quiz, it’s apparent that nothing is unlocked, but….
…when the quiz is over, and “Special Features” is highlighted, press “up,” and Megatron’s eyes will light up. Hit enter to play the set’s vaunted Easter Egg… and then be disappointed to discover that it’s “Four Soliders From the Sky,” the first episodes of the Japanese “Headmasters” series… again. Forget the fact that it’s the lip-jabberingly poor English dub, and focus instead on the fact that this is now the THIRD time this episode has been on DVD, first on Maverick’s release of the movie, then again on it’s own disc with five more Headmasters episodes, and now this time. It’s hard to know what to feel here – I mean, I am annoyed that it’s this episode AGAIN, but I also applaud Metrodome for using some Japanese episodes (boding well for their use in the future), and although it would have been NICE to start where Maverick left off, that seems silly, even though Metrodome has done it with their box sets. Ah well.
Next up is the game, just identified as “Transformers Game” on the Menu, but called “Guess the Autopart” in the booklet and “Scrambled Transformers” on the sleeve and box. From any screenshots you may have seen of it, you may think it’s played by selecting individual parts and combining them to make a Transformers, but in actuality, it’s just a randomised process – you just repeatedly hit “play” until a whole Transformer appears on screen. You can build either Starscream, Soundwave, Jazz or Bumblebee, and once you have successfully done so, you can play a slideshow of the character’s highlights from the set. Unfortunately, like the menu transititions, these are a bit choppy – though as before, I’m not sure if this is just my player or not. A nice idea for an extra, though the way I *thought* it could be played would have been a better way to play it.
Next are the staple character profiles, presented a bit better than Part 1’s with a preferable use of screen captures, rather than artwork. Profiles are for Menasor, Superion, Bruticus, Defensor and Blaster. Better written all around. Nice work.
Next up is a familiar sight – the Fan Art gallery. Wisely changed from the scrolling movie of Part 1 to a user-controlled page-by-page presentation, this thing is bloody MASSIVE. Art ranges from great to average to copied (bad boys, dirty boys, in your bed, etc).
Next on the list are the Episode Scripts – once again, wisely changed from Part 1’s on-screen presentation to PDF files opened on your computers. They’re the original dialogue of the episodes, lacking the stage directions between speech. All twenty five episodes have their scripts here – that’s a lot of reading!
Finally, there is the Atari game trailer, a preview of the Armada PS2 which rocks my socks. Seeing Tidal Wave transform and land in that water just gave me a joygasm.
And that, my lads and lassies, is your lot. A huge improvement over the already-great Part 1, with a much more professional, polished finish, a better handling of content, some spiffy inserts, and with superior audio to the US set. Roll on season 3/4 – if the quality climbs as much as it did from S2 Pt 1 to Pt 2, I may very well explode.
DVD: Transformers Collection 2 – (Series 2.1) (R4 Australia)
INFO PAGE | REVIEW
Release Date: 21st April 2004
Distributor: Madman Entertainment
Country: Australia
Region: 4 PAL
Number of Discs: 3
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audio: English Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: None
Catalogue Number: MMB070
G
The first half of season 2, containing 24 episodes
Episodes
17. Autobot Spike
18. Changing Gears
19. City of Steel
20. Attack of the Autobots
21. Traitor
22. The Immobilizer
23. The Autobot Run
24. Atlantis Arise
25. Day of the Machines
26. Enter the Nightbird
27. A Prime Problem
28. The Core
29. The Insecticon Syndrome
30. Dinobot Island: Part 1
31. Dinobot Island: Part 2
32. The Master Builders
33. Auto Berserk
34. Microbots
35. Megatron’s Master Plan Part: 1
36. Megatron’s Master Plan Part: 2
37. Desertion of the Dinobots Part: 1
38. Desertion of the Dinobots Part: 2
39. Blaster Blues
40. A Decepticon Raider in King Arthur’s Court
Extra Features
None
Images
Press Release: Atari & Universal Motown Records Group Announce Joint Marketing Relationship
BEVERLY, MA – April 12, 2004 – Highlighting the entertainment industry relationships that have become its hallmark, Atari, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATAR) today announced an ongoing cross promotional collaboration with Universal Motown Records Group, which will tie-in ReAlign/Universal’s hot new band, DROPBOX, with Atari’s highly anticipated TRANSFORMERS video game for the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system, based on Hasbro, Inc.’s popular TRANSFORMERS brand.
T his marketing relationship will utilize both traditional and non-traditional marketing vehicles to support both the May 11 launch of the TRANSFORMERS game and the DROPBOX album release on April 13. The campaign will include the utilization of DROPBOX performance footage and the TRANSFORMERS game footage in the band’s forthcoming new video and Atari’s TV advertising spot; radio advertising, in addition to TV; online street teams; and live performances.
“The high level of collaboration between Atari and Universal Motown Records Group enables both companies to significantly extend the effectiveness and reach of their marketing efforts,” said Nancy MacIntyre, vice president of marketing for Atari. “DROPBOX and the TRANSFORMERS game are already generating significant buzz with their respective core audiences, and this partnership should serve to attract new fans to both.”
Elements expected to be included in this joint campaign include:
- DROPBOX’s debut single, “Wishbone,” as well as the band’s recording of its version of the TRANSFORMERS theme song will be available in the game as un-lockable bonus tracks;
- DROPBOX’s new music video for “Wishbone,” shot by award-winning director, Nigel Dick, and produced by Quentin Tarantino’s production company, A Band Apart, will feature TRANSFORMERS game footage;
- A TRANSFORMERS brochure will be included in 1 million Universal Records music CDs;
- Atari’s TRANSFORMERS TV commercial will highlight the “Wishbone” sound track and portions of the band’s music video;
- DROPBOX will be included in Atari’s national print advertising campaign for the TRANSFORMERS game;
- The DROPBOX multi-city promotional radio tour will include mention of its tie-in with Atari’s TRANSFORMERS video game;
- Atari’s in-store TRANSFORMERS videos will feature DROPBOX’s “Wishbone” single and its version of the TRANSFORMERS theme song;
- Universal will develop and produce key account radio commercials which will include a TRANSFORMERS tag;
- A fully integrated on-air and online promotion with the FUSE music video network will include:
- A live appearance by DROPBOX on the live daily show “IMX” that will also feature behind-the-scenes footage from the filming of the music video;
- An online campaign including the IMX “Daily Download” and a promotional contest;
- Atari will include DROPBOX content on its TRANSFORMERS website located at www.atari.com/transformers and Universal will utilize online street teams and other online vehicles in support of the Transformers game and DROPBOX;
To kick off this relationship, DROPBOX celebrated with video game media at Atari’s TRANSFORMERS preview event in February. In anticipation of the formal agreement, public relations and promotional initiatives for the making of the DROPBOX music video featuring Transformers video game footage are moving forward as well as additional retail and consumer outreach.
“Atari and Universal Motown Records Group are respected industry leaders and it is fitting that such a collaborative effort comes from two such vanguards,” said Kojo Bentel, SVP of Strategic Marketing and Business Development, Universal Motown Records Group. “Music has become a crucial element of the video game experience and DROPBOX’s raw, rock sound is a perfect fit for Atari’s TRANSFORMERS game.”
Developed by Atari’s Melbourne House studio, the TRANSFORMERS game will be available worldwide on May 11, 2004. More information can be found online at www.atari.com/transformers.
About Universal Motown Records Group
Universal Motown Records Group is a division of Universal Music Group, the world’s leading music company with wholly-owned record operations or licensees in 71 countries. Its businesses also include Universal Music Publishing Group, one of the industry’s largest global music publishing operations.
Universal Music Group consists of record labels Decca Record Company, Deutsche Grammophon, DreamWorks Records, Interscope Geffen A&M Records, Island Def Jam Music Group, Lost Highway Records, MCA Nashville, Mercury Nashville, Mercury Records, Philips, Polydor, Universal Music Latino, Universal Motown Records Group, and Verve Music Group as well as a multitude of record labels owned or distributed by its record company subsidiaries around the world. The Universal Music Group owns the most extensive catalog of music in the industry, which is marketed through two distinct divisions, Universal Music Enterprises (in the U.S.) and Strategic Marketing and Commercial Affairs (outside the U.S.). Universal Music Group also includes eLabs, a new media and technology division.
Universal Music Group is a unit of Vivendi Universal, a global media and communications company.
About Atari
New York-based Atari, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATAR) develops interactive games for all platforms and is one of the largest third-party publishers of interactive entertainment software in the U.S. The Company’s 1,000+ titles include hardcore, genre-defining games such as Driver, Enter the Matrix, Neverwinter Nights, Stuntman, Test Drive, Unreal Tournament 2003, and Unreal Championship; and mass-market and children’s games such as Backyard Sports, Nickelodeon’s Blue’s Clues and Dora the Explorer, Civilization, Dragon Ball Z and RollerCoaster Tycoon. Atari, Inc. is a majority-owned subsidiary of France-based Infogrames Entertainment SA (Euronext 5257), the largest interactive games publisher in Europe. For more information, visit www.atari.com.
# # #
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DVD: Transformers Armada Flashbacks (R1 USA)
INFO PAGE | REVIEW
Release Date: 30th March 2004
Distributor: Rhino Home Video
Country: USA
Region: 1 NTSC
Number of Discs: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audio: English Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Subtitles: None
Catalogue Number:
NOT RATED
The first of two compilations, with episodes that focus on flashbacks.
Episodes
18. Trust
12. Prehistory
31. Past, Part 1
32. Past, Part 2
Extra Features
None
Images
DVD: Transformers Armada Best Battles (R1 USA)
INFO PAGE | REVIEW
Release Date: 30th March 2004
Distributor: Rhino Home Video
Country: USA
Region: 1 NTSC
Number of Discs: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audio: English Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Subtitles: None
Catalogue Number:
NOT RATED
Another compilation of Armada episodes, this time with the “best battles” from the series.
Episodes
02. Metamorphosis
03. Base
09. Confrontation
21. Decisive Battle
Extra Features
None
Images
DVD: Transformers Season 3 Part 2 & Season 4 (R1 USA)
INFO PAGE | GALLERY | REVIEW
Release Date: 9th March 2004
Distributor: Rhino Home Video
Country: USA
Region: 1 NTSC
Number of Discs: 4
Audio: English
Subtitles: None
Rating: –
Catalogue Number:
Rhino are releasing the three Season 4 episodes together with the second part of Season 3 in this DVD boxset.
Episodes
Ghost in the Machine
The Dweller in the Depths
The Nightmare Planet
The Ultimate Weapon
The Quintesson Journal
The Big Broadcast of 2006
Only Human
Grimlock’s New Brain
Money is Everything
Call of the Primitives
Burden Hardest to Bear
The Face of the Nijika
The Return of Optimus Prime: Part 1
The Return of Optimus Prime: Part 2
The Rebirth Part 1
The Rebirth Part 2
The Rebirth Part 3
Extra Features
Toy: Energon – Ultra – Landmine
INFO PAGE | GALLERY | REVIEW
Company: Hasbro
Release Date: October 2004 (UK), February 2004 (USA)
Class: Ultra
Wave: 2
Product Code: 80233
Assortment Number: 80290
RRP: £24.99, $24.99
Ages: 5 & Up
Bio
Name: Landmine
Faction: Autobots
Motto: “My fists are deadlier than your guns.”
“Landmine is one of the most powerful soldiers under the leadership of Optimus Prime. His giant fists award him the strongest punch of all the Autobots. Many Decepticons have learned never to challenge him to one-on-one combat. In vehicle mode, he is a powerful construction vehicle with an enormous crane platform capable of lifting ten times his weight. Landmine’s crane platform can attach to his cab in robot mode to form a super combination Brute Mode. This Brute Mode is the secret behind his powerful punch.”
Strength: 10
Intelligence: 7
Speed: 6
Endurance: 7
Rank: 8
Courage: 9
Firepower: 9
Skill: 9
Product Info
Powerlinx Landmine changes from powerful robot to construction vehicle with a working crane and winch! Rear station converts to a gunnery station! Aim and fire rockets – cool battle sounds! Includes comic book and collector card.
Accessories: Missile.
Images
