TDK MEDIACTIVE IS MAD
ABOUT SPY vs. SPY
MAD Magazine’s Popular
Feature to Hit Next Generation Gaming Consoles
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. –
October 1, 2002 – TDK Mediactive, Inc. (OTC: TDKM.OB),
a global publisher of interactive entertainment software, announced today a
worldwide licensing agreement with E.C. Publications, Inc., the publishers of
MAD Magazine, to bring the mischievous and iconic Spy vs. Spy cartoon
strip to next generation gaming console systems.
“With over three-quarters of a billion MAD Magazines sold since its inception,
we are very pleased to be adding this classic license of madcap espionage at its
finest,” said Dan Kletzky, executive vice president of business development, TDK
Mediactive. “Spy vs. Spy is an entrenched part of our pop culture that we
are proud to be bringing to the gaming community.”
“We are excited to have TDK bringing one of MAD Magazine’s best known features
into the rapidly growing video game arena,” stated Paul Levitz, President
and Publisher, E.C. Publications, Inc. “With their proven track record,
Spy vs. Spy fans will have plenty of hilarious hi-jinx to look forward
to.” The Black Spy and White Spy were not immediately available for comment.
About Spy vs. Spy
Spy vs. Spy is one of MAD Magazine’s longest-running
and best-known features. For nearly four decades, the Black Spy and White Spy
have been building their bizarre, elaborate contraptions in an endless parry of
“Joke and Dagger.” Award-winning cartoonist Antonio Prohias fled Cuba one step
ahead of Castro’s authorities at the height of the Cold War. He ended up in New
York, where he began working for MAD. Since 1961, his Spies have been
silently turning tables on each other in crazier and ever-more bizarre schemes
of one-upmanship.
About MAD Magazine
MAD Magazine is America’s longest running humor publication.
Founded by Bill Gaines in 1952, MAD has inspired generations of
irreverent fans with its ridiculing of politicians, movies, television, and
modern life, and with popular characters such as Alfred E. Neuman and “Spy vs.
Spy.” Whether in print, on television, film, or on the web, MAD remains
one of America’s favorite icons. MAD Magazine is owned by E.C.
Publications, Inc. and can be found online at
www.madmag.com. E.C. Publications, Inc. is a division of Warner
Bros., an AOL Time Warner company.
About TDK Mediactive, Inc.
Southern California based TDK Mediactive, Inc. is a global publisher of
high quality interactive entertainment software for the PlayStation®2 computer
entertainment system, PS one game console, Xbox‘ video game system from
Microsoft, and the Nintendo GameCube , Game Boy® Advance and Game Boy® Color
systems. The company also publishes titles for personal computers via a
co-publishing agreement with Activision Value, a subsidiary of Activision, Inc.
The company’s games are based on licensed and original content derived from
major motion pictures, video franchises, popular literature and popular culture.
TDK Mediactive has exclusive technology and content licenses with Sony Computer
Entertainment America Inc., Microsoft Corporation, Nintendo of America Inc.,
DreamWorks SKG, Disney Interactive, Vivendi Universal Studios, Mattel, Inc.,
Classic Media, BKN International, DC Comics, Hallmark Entertainment Distribution
LLC, BDSP Inc., The Jim Henson Company, General Motors Corporation, Infogrames
Interactive, Inc., and others.
TDK Mediactive is 73% owned by TDK USA Corp., and is part of TDK Corporation’s
(NYSE: TDK) global effort to expand its offerings to consumers of
entertainment-oriented products. More information about TDK Mediactive and its
products is available at www.tdk-mediactive.com.
This release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are subject
to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. Readers
should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect
management’s view only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no
obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect
subsequent events or circumstance. Readers should carefully review the risk
factors described in the documents the Company files from time to time with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
MAD, “Spy vs. Spy,” and all related indicia ® and 2002 E.C. Publications, Inc.
