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Contacts:
Business
Press:
Tom
Richardson
Infogrames
408-985-3132
[email protected]
Consumer/Trade
Press:
Shawna
Lynch
Bender/Helper
Impact
310/473-4147
[email protected]
Helene
Gordon
United
Media
212-293-8565
[email protected]
UNITED
MEDIA GRANTS INFOGRAMES, INC. RIGHTS TO INTRODUCE GOOD OL’ CHARLIE BROWN AND
FRIENDS TO ALL VIDEO GAME PLATFORMS
Five
Year Licensing Agreement Brings Most Popular Comic Strip In History To Life
SAN
JOSE, CA, February 5, 2001 – Snoopy, Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Woodstock
and the rest of the cast of characters will continue the 50th anniversary of
PEANUTS™ with an interactive celebration. Worldwide interactive
entertainment publisher, Infogrames Inc. (Nasdaq: IFGM) announced today that
United Media has awarded the company the rights to bring the most popular
comic strip in history to all gaming platforms. The exclusive deal is
guaranteed through 2006.
The
terms of the agreement include the rights for Infogrames to develop PEANUTS
video games for Sony PlayStation and PlayStation 2, Sega Dreamcast, Microsoft
Xbox, Nintendo GameCube and Game Boy Advance, PC and Macintosh. Snoopy and the
entire PEANUTS gang will serve up their first video game with Snoopy Tennis
for Game Boy Color™, available March 2001.
“We
are very excited that United Media has entrusted Infogrames with one of the
most renowned properties of all time. This deal brings us to the next level
with our library of phenomenal licenses,” said Robert Miles Watson, Senior
Vice President of Worldwide Licensing for Infogrames, Inc. “We are combining
the beloved Peanuts characters and more than 50 years of history to create a
fun gaming experience for kids of any age through several upcoming titles.”
‘Infogrames
is the perfect partner to team up with United Media for PEANUTS,” said
Joshua Kislevitz, Senior Vice President, Licensing for United Media. “They
understand content and character integrity while making sure each game is
unique and fun.”
PEANUTS
Property The power and success of PEANUTS is unparalleled with over $1 billion
in worldwide retail sales yearly. The most widely syndicated comic strip in
history, PEANUTS is a global multi-media brand with best-selling books,
highly-rated television specials, 5 ‘Camp Snoopy’ theme parks, and blue-chip
partners that include ABC, Nickelodeon, Hallmark, and Pillsbury.
About
United Media United Media (UM) is a fully-integrated, worldwide licensing and
syndication company that focuses on building brand equity around a wide range
of creative content through its two syndicates: United Feature Syndicate (UFS)
and Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA), and licensing: United Media
Licensing (UML). UM licenses and/or syndicates a variety of properties
including PEANUTS (www.snoopy.com), DILBERT (www.dilbert.com), Raggedy Ann
& Andy, Rainbow Fish, MIFFY, Nancy & Sluggo, Get Fuzzy, Fido Dido,
Snoopy By Everhart, Precious Moments and Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit. United
Media (www.comics.com) is an E.W. Scripps Company.
About
Infogrames
Based
in New York, NY, Infogrames, Inc. (Nasdaq: IFGM) is a majority-owned
subsidiary of Infogrames Entertainment SA (Euronext 5257) and serves as the
headquarters for the company’s operations in North America.
Founded
in 1983 and headquartered in France, Infogrames Entertainment SA is a global
publisher and distributor of video games for consoles (Sony, Sega, Nintendo,
and Microsoft), personal computers and Macintosh systems, as well as
interactive digital television platforms, mobile smart devices (WAP, HDML) and
in-flight entertainment systems. The company’s award-winning franchises
include Alone In The Dark, Driver, Deer Hunter, Roller Coaster Tycoon, Test
Drive, and Unreal. Infogrames’ Humongous Entertainment division is a leader
in children’s entertainment software and its Macintosh publishing label,
Macsoft, is the number one publisher of Macintosh entertainment software. With
the company’s recent acquisition of Hasbro Interactive, Infogrames now
boasts a line of software based on well-known licenses such as Monopoly,
Jeopardy, Tonka, and Atari. For more information, visit Infogrames’ US Web
site at www.us.infogrames.com.
SAFE
HARBOR STATEMENT
Certain
statements contained in this release are forward-looking statements (rather
than historical facts) that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those described. With respect
to such forward-looking statements, the company seeks the protection afforded
by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other enabling
legislation. Statements contained herein with regard to the company’s
business outlook and prospective operating and financial results are based
upon management’s expectations regarding various factors, which may be
beyond the company’s control. This statement is not intended to identify
each and every risk and uncertainty inherent in the company’s business, and
should be read in conjunction with the company’s cautionary statements
contained in its most recent filings with U.S. and foreign regulatory
authorities.
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