Atari’s TRANSFORMERS Video Game Hits Cross-Promotional Road with ReAlign/Universal New Band, DROPBOXBEVERLY, 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 PlayStation(r)2 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.”
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Atari / Universal Motown Records /Page 2
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
o 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;
o 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
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Atari / Universal Motown Records Partnership /Page 3
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(tm), Enter the Matrix(tm), Neverwinter Nights(tm), Stuntman(tm), Test Drive(r), Unreal(r) Tournament 2003, and Unreal(r) Championship; and mass-market and children’s games such as Backyard Sports(tm), Nickelodeon’s Blue’s Clues(tm) and Dora the Explorer(tm), Civilization(r), Dragon Ball Z(r) and RollerCoaster Tycoon(r). 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.# # #
(c) 2004 Atari, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
TRANSFORMERS is a trademark of Hasbro, Inc. Used with permission. (c)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.
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Atari PS2 Transformers Game Website
The official Flash web site of the Atari PS2 Transformers game is now up. But be warned, the designers seem to believe 56K owners are a mythical creature that no longer exists. It takes an extraordinary amount of time to load each page without broadband, but is pretty snazzy non the less, just keep an eye on the pre-loader and turn your speakers on. Click here to view.
FREE Transformers PS2 Demo for UK fans
We Transformers experts at Atari are looking to whizz out playable demos of the Transformers videogame on Sony’s ‘PlayStation 2’ to all Transformers fans to give you the chance to play it before the official release in May. We have 1000 demos to send out to the first 1000 UK fans. All we want to know is if you live in the UK and what you love about Transformers… You’ll then receive a copy of the playable demo no later than 20th April 2004, before its May 14th release date.
Transformers’ features some of the most cutting-edge quality graphics you’ll ever witness in a videogame! You will be amazed! The demo level is huge and gives you the chance to play as the quickest of the three Transformers ‘Red Alert’ under Optimus Prime’s instructions.
What we need from you! Tell us who you are. Your full name and address and we’ll get the game out to you to play.
Enjoy!!! Give us some feedback on www.TheTransformers.Net
Optimus Kirton
Atari UK in association with www.TheTransformers.Net
To claim your FREE demo, enter your details here www.thetransformers.net/atari.asp
General BotCon 2007 News
Lots of BotCon 2007 events have occurred in the last 2 days and here is a nice long summary of info from it. There has been many panels from a range of different companies involved in Transformers, including Hasbro, Activision, IDW and Collector’s Club, award presentations and lots of new products unveiled.
IDW Panel – [1],
Activision Panel – [1],
Peter Cullen Q & A – [1]
Hasbro is also releasing a Podcast for poeple not at the event on Transformers.com.
Interview with Producer Callum Godfrey
QJ.net have managed to get an exclusive interview with Transformers The Game producer Callum Godfrey, who works for publsher Activision. Some questions have been answered before but some challenge Mr Godfrey.
“The next gen graphics are really something. The robots are incredibly detailed, full of inner workings and moving parts. The environments are large, and have to cope with all of the games destruction and interactive elements. I think we have pushed parts of the hardware pretty hard and on the graphics side when you think how many moving parts go in to making up a Transformation sequence then you can see how we might be getting close to that potential you mention.”
Based on early reviews, the Playstation 3, especially, has not been pushed graphically.
The full interview can be found here.
Transformers The Game Reviews
After the release of Transformers The Game yesterday in North America for all major consoles, the reviews have started pouring in. To put it simply, it doesn’t look good.
Despite success with the Lego Star Wars series, Traveller’s Tales seems to have developed a game that is too short and repetitive. Generally, it seems Activision has had another disappointing Movie based game release, after Spider-Man 3 back in May.
Playstation 3
Xbox 360
Wii
Gamespot
IGN
Transformers The Game Released Today
We just received this press release from Activision.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THE BATTLE FOR EARTH BEGINS AS TRANSFORMERS THE GAME ROLLS OUT TO RETAIL STORES TODAY
Gamers Control the Outcome of the Planet as They Choose to Protect it as AUTOBOTS or Destroy it as DECEPTICONS
Santa Monica, CA � June 26, 2007 � The fate of the world is in gamers� hands with the announcement that TRANSFORMERS The Game from Activision, Inc. (Nasdaq ATVI), under license from HPG, the licensing division of Hasbro, Inc. has shipped to retail stores nationwide. Timed to the highly anticipated theatrical release of the �TRANSFORMERS� live-action feature film from DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures, the game allows players to experience the unstoppable power and massive scale of the AUTOBOTS and DECEPTICONS in an epic battle for Earth.
�TRANSFORMERS The Game lets you choose your side � Autobots or Decepticons � to either protect or destroy Earth,� said Will Kassoy, senior vice president of global brand management, Activision, Inc. �The game features fully destructible environments, an army of playable characters, split second changes from robot to vehicle form and a storyline that goes beyond the film to include some elements from the property�s long history that will also appeal to Generation 1 fans.�
�The Activision team has done an outstanding job of replicating the live-action movie scale and realism into TRANSFORMERS The Game,� said Jeff Burdeen, Vice President of Digital Media for HPG. �Across the current and next-generation platforms, gamers will have an awesome TRANSFORMERS experience from the amazing vehicle-to-robot changes to the heart-pounding action.�
In TRANSFORMERS The Game for the consoles and PC, players are presented with dual campaigns as they choose from an unprecedented line-up of characters including OPTIMUS PRIME, MEGATRON, IRONHIDE, STARSCREAM, BUMBLEBEE and more. Gamers must master each character�s unique weapons,
moves and instantaneous conversions from robot to vehicle mode as they rampage through fully interactive and destructible environments in their quest to protect or destroy Earth.
The Nintendo DS� offers two completely different games, TRANSFORMERS AUTOBOTS and TRANSFORMERS DECEPTICONS. Both titles enable players to engage in the �AllSpark Wars� through Nintendo� Wi-Fi Connection where they must help their side win the global conflict between AUTOBOTS and DECEPTICONS via daily challenge missions and global player stats comparisons. Each Nintendo DS game features 20 unique story missions plus more than 20 challenge missions as well as local wireless multiplayer modes for up to four players.
The PSP� (PlayStation� Portable) system version of TRANSFORMERS The Game features more than 20 playable TRANSFORMERS characters with three combat modes and 19 story-based missions that have players playing both AUTOBOTS and DECEPTICONS as they progress through the game. In addition, gamers can battle in four-player Ad Hoc wireless competitions including Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Ascension Rites (king of the hill) and Secure the Energon (capture the flag), in more than 10 multiplayer arenas.
TRANSFORMERS The Game was developed by Traveller�s Tales for the Xbox 360� video game system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION�3 computer entertainment system, Wii� home video game system from Nintendo, PlayStation�2 computer entertainment system and PC, and is rated �T� (Teen) by the ESRB. The PSP system version was developed by Savage Entertainment and is currently rated �E 10+� (Everyone 10 and older � Violence) by the ESRB. Two unique games for Nintendo DS, TRANSFORMERS AUTOBOTS and TRANSFORMERS DECEPTICONS, were developed by Vicarious Visions and are rated �E 10+� (Everyone 10 and older – Violence) by the ESRB. For more information about the game, visit http://www.transformersgame.com/.
TRANSFORMERS The Game press kit assets are available at http://pressroom.activision.com where media can download press materials and art assets.
BradyGames’ TRANSFORMERS The Game Official Strategy Guide is available at electronics, book, and software retailers nationwide, and online at www.bradygames.com.
About HPG
HPG, the licensing division of Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE HAS), translates one of the industry�s richest portfolios of brands into a world of fun and excitement for children and adults globally. Through a host of publishing, digital media, lifestyle and entertainment platforms, HPG is able to surround fans worldwide with consumer products that expand Hasbro�s core brands, such as TRANSFORMERS, LITTLEST PET SHOP, MY LITTLE PONY, MONOPOLY, G.I. JOE, TONKA and PLAYSKOOL.
About HASBRO
Hasbro (NYSE HAS) is a worldwide leader in children�s and family leisure time entertainment products and services, including the design, manufacture and marketing of games and toys ranging from traditional to high-tech. Both internationally and in the U.S., its PLAYSKOOL, TONKA, MILTON BRADLEY, PARKER BROTHERS, TIGER and WIZARDS OF THE COAST brands and products provide the highest quality and most recognizable play experiences in the world.
About Activision, Inc.
Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision, Inc. is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products. Founded in 1979, Activision posted net revenues of $1.5 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007.
Activision maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Scandinavia, Spain, the Netherlands, Australia, Japan and South Korea. More information about Activision and its products can be found on the company’s World Wide Web site, which is located at www.activision.com.
TRANSFORMERS and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro and are used with permission. � 2007 Hasbro. All Rights Reserved.
Transformers The Game – PSP, DS Autobots & Decepticons Released This Week
Good news for North American gamers. Transformers The game on PSP and Transformers Autobots and Transformers Decepticons for Nintendo DS have been released. Expect reviews to be up soon. This is also good news for the rest of the world as well as these portable games are region free.
Transformers The Game Xbox 360 Achievements
We know some of you are bonkers about unlocking Xbox 360 achievements, so here are the first details of what will be on offer from Transformers The Game.
There will be a total of 1000 points spread over 42 achievements. 26 of these achievements will be secret but the 16 that are know include
- 1. Pride of Bumblebee � 60 pts You’ve scouted the world thoroughly. All the secret icons have been collected.
- 2. Pride of Megatron � 20 pts
200 Autobot Drones have fallen before you. - 3. Pride of Optimus Prime � 20 pts
200 Decepticon Drones have met their match. - 4. Transform and Roll Out � 10 pts
You’ve transformed for the first time. - 5. Robots in Disguise � 25 pts
You’ve transformed 500 times. - 6. Keeper of the AllSpark � 75 pts
There is no Transformer that stands greater than you. You have achieved 100% completion.
The full list can be found here.
Transformers Game footage on TV Sunday
We just received this email from Step 3, PR company promoting Transformers The Game.
Just a quick TRANSFORMERS The Game update we thought you would be interested in. This Sunday at 11 p.m. EDT Cartoon Network�s �Adult Swim� will feature a special night of �Robot Chicken� programming with �Robot Chicken Star Wars� airing at the top of every hour and each airing (11 pm � 3 am) will feature an exclusive 60 second behind-the-scenes look at the making of TRANSFORMERS The Game as well as a TRANSFORMERS The Game 60 second exclusive CGI trailer.