|
March 23, 2005
Vivendi Universal announces VU Games’ acquisition of Radical
Entertainment
PARIS and LOS ANGELES – Vivendi Universal (Paris Bourse: EX FP, NYSE: V)
today announced that VU Games has completed the purchase of leading independent
console developer, Radical Entertainment. Under the agreement, VU Games will
retain Radical’s team of more than 200 development professionals, as well as
acquire the studio’s exclusive game development technologies. Radical’s founder
Ian Wilkinson has been named President, Radical Entertainment, and the studio
will remain in Vancouver, Canada. Financial terms of the transaction were not
disclosed.
“The purchase of Radical Entertainment reinforces our
commitment to strengthening VU Games’ creative talent and internal console
development capabilities,” said Bruce Hack, CEO of VU Games. “Radical’s focus
will remain on entertainment-based console games for current and next generation
platforms.”
Radical is best known for developing critically acclaimed and
commercially successful releases such as: The Simpsons: Hit & Run,
which sold more than 3.5 million retail units worldwide; The Hulk,
which sold more than 2 million retail units worldwide; and The Simpsons Road
Rage, which sold 3 million retail units worldwide. Currently, the studio is
developing several multi-platform titles for VU Games launching in 2005,
including Scarface, Crash Tag Team Racing and The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate
Destruction.
“We’ve had tremendous success working with VU Games over
the past few years, and we believe our integration will be extremely positive
for the future of Radical,” said Ian Wilkinson, President, Radical
Entertainment. “VU Games recognizes and values our unique and creative work
environment, as well as our commitment to developing top-selling entertainment
products. We are excited to be part of VU Games’ global development team.”
Radical Entertainment
Radical Entertainment is
one of North America’s largest game developers. With more than a decade of hit
titles like The Simpsons: Hit & Run, The Hulk, and soon to
be released Scarface, the studio’s commitment to partners and players
continues to set Radical apart. The studio treats each property with the
reverence it deserves and gamers demand. Radical brings the talent, tools and
technology together to create entertainment that captures the world’s
imagination.
Vivendi Universal Games (VU
Games)
Vivendi Universal Games (www.vugames.com) is a global developer,
publisher and distributor of multi-platform interactive entertainment. The
company is a leader in the subscription-based massively multi-player online
(MMO) games category, and also holds leading positions in the PC, console and
handheld games markets. Its development studios and publishing labels include
Blizzard Entertainment, Radical Entertainment, Sierra Entertainment and Massive
Entertainment. VU Games’ library of over 700 titles features owned intellectual
properties including Warcraft, StarCraft, Diablo and World
of Warcraft from Blizzard; Crash Bandicoot, Spyro The
Dragon, Empire Earth, Leisure Suit Larry, Ground Control
and Tribes. VU Games also maintains strategic relationships with
industry leading content partners, including NBC Universal and Twentieth Century
Fox.
Important disclaimer:
This document contains
'forward-looking statements' as that term is defined in the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are not
guarantees of future performance. Actual results may differ materially from the
forward-looking statements and business strategy as a result of a number of
risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside our control, including but
not limited to the risks that Vivendi Universal will not be able to obtain the
necessary approvals for the contemplated transaction, as well as the risks
described in the documents Vivendi Universal has filed with the U.S. Securities
and Exchange Commission and with the French Autorité des Marchés Financiers.
Investors and security holders may obtain a free copy of documents filed by
Vivendi Universal with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov or directly from Vivendi
Universal. Vivendi Universal does not undertake to provide, nor has any
obligation to provide, update or revise forward-looking
statements.
Media Contacts:
Vivendi Universal
Alain Delrieu
+331 71 71 10
86
alain.delrieu@groupvu.com
|
