"Black Label Games will target the rapidly growing audience for 'Teen-to- Mature-rated' games," said Ken Cron, CEO of VU Games. "Through Black Label, we will focus on delivering innovative, high-quality titles to satisfy the growing consumer appetite for increasingly sophisticated content."

The first titles due under Black Label Games include The Thing, the highly anticipated action and horror survival game that is a sequel to John Carpenter's 1982 film of the same name; The Lord of The Rings: Fellowship of the Ring based on J.R.R. Tolkien's worldwide best-selling literary saga; and Enclave, a third-person action RPG from Conspiracy Entertainment for the Xbox(TM) video game system from Microsoft.

Torrie Dorrell, formerly Vice President of Marketing for Universal Interactive, has been named General Manager of Black Label Games. Dorrell will report to Jim Wilson, President of Universal Interactive, who will oversee the new studio in addition to his current responsibilities. Wilson reports to VU Games' North American President & COO, Luc Vanhal.

About Vivendi Universal Publishing

Vivendi Universal Publishing, a division of the world's second largest communications group (Vivendi Universal), publishes content in four major languages and has strong local brands. As the world's third largest publisher, the Company's key content areas include literature, reference, school, college, kids, games and consumer press. Vivendi Universal Publishing is a global leader in multi-platform interactive entertainment. A leading publisher of PC, console and online-based interactive content, its portfolio of development studios includes Blizzard Entertainment, NDA Productions, Sierra Entertainment and Universal Interactive. Through its subsidiary VU Games, it distributes worldwide its interactive contents and co-publishes and/or distributes products for a number of strategic partners. VUP's digitization policy provides its content with a doorway to multi-platform international distribution giving the group a competitive edge in a changing market.