BEVERLY, Mass. -- May 12, 2004 -- The classic war between the heroic AUTOBOTS and the evil DECEPTICONS has begun! Atari, Inc. announced that the highly anticipated TRANSFORMERS(TM) video game, developed exclusively for the PlayStation�2 computer entertainment system, is available at retail stores worldwide today. Under license from Hasbro, Inc., Atari's TRANSFORMERS video game allows players to control AUTOBOT legends - OPTIMUS PRIME, HOT SHOT or RED ALERT - as they battle to destroy the mighty forces of the DECEPTICONS.
"The TRANSFORMERS brand has established itself as an evergreen property whose immense popularity spans generations. This powerful brand combined with innovative gameplay and amazing graphics, is sure to make our game a favorite with fans and gamers alike," said Nancy MacIntyre, vice president of marketing for Atari, Inc. "We are thrilled to bring this game to market in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the TRANSFORMERS brand this year."
"We feel that have developed the most authentic TRANSFORMERS video game experience to date," said Andrew Carter, vice president of product development for Atari's Melbourne House. "As TRANSFORMERS fans ourselves, we really wanted to bring the brand to life in a fashion that hasn't been achieved thus far and we believe we've done so in every aspect of the game - from the precise models to the classic items featured in the extras section."
Atari's TRANSFORMERS video game takes place during one of the AUTOBOTS darkest moments. Back on the TRANSFORMERS home planet, Cybertron, the evil DECEPTICON leader, MEGATRON has unleashed his massive DECEPTICLONE army whose sole purpose is the destruction of the AUTOBOTS.
Led by OPTIMUS PRIME, the AUTOBOTS only hope for survival is to locate and rescue the long-lost third race of TRANSFORMERS, the MINI-CON, that are stranded on Earth and possess a unique ability to make ordinary TRANSFORMERS characters extremely powerful. The ultimate goal is to free the MINI-CON race, defeat the MEGATRON warrior and his evil arm, and save the Earth.
Atari's TRANSFORMERS game is a fast-paced, single-player, third-person shooter with countless enemies, immense battles and intense boss fights against the DECEPTICON leaders. Players control a single AUTOBOT character as you battle against some of the most infamous DECEPTICONS, including MEGATRON, UNICRON, STARSCREAM, TIDAL WAVE and CYCLONUS. Special MINI-CON partners including SPARKPLUG, JOLT and LONGARM will assist the player in combat.
With an arsenal of weapons available, combat spans eight colossal environments, each incredibly detailed and open to exploration. There are specific objectives and numerous secondary objectives that need to be accomplished on each level, as well as many hidden power-ups and un-lockable extras.
Developed by Atari's Melbourne House, the TRANSFORMERS video game is rated "T" for Teen and has a suggested retail price of $49.99.
About the TRANSFORMERS Brand
The year marks the 20th anniversary of Hasbro's TRANSFORMERS brand. With a best-selling Dreamwave comic book series, a hit TV series on Cartoon Network, and a wide array of licensed merchandise, the TRANSFORMERS saga continues to inspire the imagination of its numerous fans.
Additional information about Atari's TRANSFORMERS video game, including artwork, videos, game information, character bios, press reactions and TRANSFORMERS forums can be found online at Atari's TRANSFORMERS dedicated website www.atari.com/transformers.
About Hasbro, Inc.
Hasbro (NYSE:HAS) is a worldwide leader in children's and family leisure time entertainment products and services, including the design, manufacture and marketing of games and toys ranging from traditional to high-tech. Both internationally and in the U.S., its PLAYSKOOL, TONKA, MILTON BRADLEY, PARKER BROTHERS, TIGER and WIZARDS OF THE COAST brands and products provide the highest quality and most recognizable play experiences in the world.
About Atari
New York-based Atari, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATAR) develops interactive games for all platforms and is one of the largest third-party publishers of interactive entertainment software in the U.S. The Company's 1,000+ titles include hardcore, genre-defining games such as Driver(TM), Enter the Matrix(TM), Neverwinter Nights(TM), Stuntman(TM), Test Drive®, Unreal® Tournament 2003, and Unreal® Championship; and mass-market and children's games such as Backyard Sports(TM), Nickelodeon's Blue's Clues(TM) and Dora the Explorer(TM), Civilization®, Dragon Ball Z® and RollerCoaster Tycoon®.
Atari, Inc. is a majority-owned subsidiary of France-based Infogrames
Entertainment SA (Euronext 5257), the largest interactive games publisher in Europe. For more information, visit www.atari.com.
(C) 2004 Atari, Inc. All Rights Reserved. TRANSFORMERS is a trademark of Hasbro, Inc. Used with permission. (C)2004 Hasbro. All Rights Reserved. "PlayStation" and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
