Atari is one of the world's largest interactive entertainment publishers with hundreds of award-winning titles and industry-leading partnerships with Hollywood and other entertainment giants. E3, the video game industry's largest trade show and exhibition, will be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center from May 14-16.
"Atari has been reborn with a lineup of the most entertaining and wide reaching video games available on the market," said Bruno Bonnell, chairman and CEO of Atari. "By joining Hollywood and entertainment partnerships with the industry's best collection of developers, we have positioned Atari as a leader in our industry and an innovator among publishers. As our diverse AAA lineup clearly demonstrates, Atari is back, and in a big way!"
From its impressive catalog of Hollywood licensed properties, Atari will showcase two games based on the biggest blockbuster films of 2003. The hotly anticipated Enter the Matrix is a third-person action game featuring a storyline written by the Wachowski Brothers themselves that parallels the upcoming film and marks the most ambitious collaboration between Hollywood and a video game publisher to date. Atari will also trumpet Arnold Schwarzenegger's foray into video games with its preview of Terminator® 3: Rise of the Machines(TM), for PlayStation 2 and Xbox, which features both the actor's voice and likeness. In addition, Atari will unveil Terminator (R)3: War of the Machines(TM) for the PC. Both Terminator games are based on the summer blockbuster sequel, Terminator® 3: Rise of the Machines(TM), due in July. In addition, Mission: Impossible - Operation Surma, which follows all new high-risk adventures of famed IMF agent Ethan Hunt, will make its debut.
Under license from Hasbro Consumer Products Worldwide, the Dungeon & Dragons property will play a major role for Atari at E3. As the exclusive publisher of D&D video games for PC and console, Atari will showcase three games at the event. The Temple of Elemental Evil(TM), a classic Greyhawk® adventure for PC, features an exciting party-based single-player campaign, as well as a faithful translation of the latest third edition rules. Three-time winner of Best Roleplaying Game of E3, Neverwinter Nights(TM), grows even deeper with two expansion packs for PC that will be shown at E3 2003. The first, Shadows of Undrentide(TM), features a new, 20-hour, single-player campaign, as well as new skills, feats, classes, monsters and spells. The second expansion pack will also be revealed at the show.
On the action front, Atari continues to lead the pack with a fresh batch of groundbreaking adventures. The genre-defining Unreal franchise expands even further as Atari previews Unreal® Tournament 2004 for PC. Using the power of the Unreal technology and the Xbox, Dead Man's Hand, a fast-paced western style first person shooter, is in development at Human Head Studios and will be shown for the first time at the show. Taking real world combat to the next level will be Zombie Studios' Shadow Ops: Red Mercury, a first-person shooter featuring Hollywood quality production values for the Xbox. Developed by Atari's Eden Studios, Kya(TM): Dark Lineage(TM), an action-adventure game with platforming elements for PlayStation 2, will be showcased. For outdoor enthusiasts and tactical shooter fans, Deer Hunter(TM), the hottest selling PC hunting game journeys for the first time to PlayStation 2. Also being shown is a role-playing game sequel, Gothic II, developed by Piranha Bytes.
Atari's first venture into the realm of MMORPGs -- Horizons for PC -- will also be previewed. Developed by Artifact Entertainment, Horizons will allow players to experience online gaming like never before in a single massive online world primed for exploration, brimming with adventure and rife with danger.
Also in the Atari spotlight at E3 will be several of the company's premiere licensed projects, which represent some of the most successful franchises in the world. Magic: The Gathering® - Battlegrounds, a fighting game for Xbox, features all the spells and creatures from Wizards of the Coast's popular trading card game and is licensed from Hasbro Consumer Products. FUNimation's Dragon Ball Z® will be represented with Dragon Ball Z®: Legacy of Goku II(TM) for Game Boy Advance, releasing next month, as well as showcasing game footage from several other new Dragon Ball Z® titles scheduled for release this year. Risk(TM), licensed from Hasbro Consumer Products, makes its debut on the PlayStation 2, marking the first next-generation translation of this popular game of world domination.
The Atari Kids lineup will introduce several new titles releasing this year including two new adventure games from legendary kids' game developer, Humongous Entertainment, and four additions to the mega-popular Backyard Sports(TM) series including the debut on another next generation console. This fall the franchise will introduce Backyard Basketball(TM) for PlayStation 2, the first game in the series to come to the Sony console, two new PC games, Backyard Basketball(TM) 2004 and Backyard Football(TM) 2004, and Backyard Hockey(TM) for Nintendo GameBoy Advance. Marking the first new adventure games from Humongous Entertainment in two years, Putt-Putt®: Pep's Birthday Surprise and Pajama Sam®: Life is Rough When You Lose Your Stuff(TM), will continue in the history of the award-winning games by bringing enduring characters to life on the PC. The Atari kids' line will also feature titles based on the hottest Nick Jr. properties, Dora the Explorer(TM): Animal Adventures and Blue's Clues(TM): Blue Takes You to School(TM), along with another addition to its successful TONKA® Interactive line, TONKA TOWN(TM).