The Italian Job, based on the classic film starring Michael Caine, was released on Sony Playstation in October 2001. It was an immediate success, charting at number one in the Playstation charts for four weeks and remaining in the Top 20 ever since. The PC version of The Italian Job will be released to the retail market in the UK and in Europe on 12th April 2002. Take Two signed the US rights to the Playstation version of The Italian Job in February 2002.
The agreements grant exclusive North American publishing rights to Take Two in return for guaranteed income, further royalties depending on the success of the game and a substantial marketing commitment. In order to maximise the effectiveness of this marketing expenditure Conflict: Desert Storm will be simultaneously launched Worldwide on Sony Playstation 2, Microsoft X-Box and PC in early September 2002, and launched on Gamecube a few months later.
Take Two, which is one of North America’s leading games publishers, will be responsible for publishing and marketing the product in North America. Through its hugely successful titles, Grand Theft Auto 3 and State of Emergency, Take Two has held the number one position in the United States Playstation charts for every week of 2002. Grand Theft Auto 3 was the most successful Playstation 2 title in the United States in 2001 selling nearly 2 million units.