LONDON -- May 17, 2002 -- Three new titles from LEGO® Interactive herald the start of a dramatic evolution in the company's approach to video games. The games will be showcased at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) next week in Los Angeles and will appeal to a new generation of savvy young gamers who demand one thing above all else -- quality gameplay.
Grabbing gamers' attention with a sleek new look, LEGO Interactive will deliver on the promise with unforgettably immersive gameplay. Joining forces with the world's leading game publisher, Electronic Arts (EA), the three titles; Drome Racers, GALIDOR(TM): Defenders of the Outer Dimension and BIONICLE(TM): Matoran Adventures will bring world-class racing, action and adventure gaming experiences to the PlayStation® 2 computer entertainment system, Nintendo GameCube(TM), Game Boy Advance(TM) and PC platforms.
Tom Stone, global vice president, LEGO Interactive: "With EA concentrating on the sales and marketing end of the business, we have been able to refocus all our efforts on creating world-class gameplay around the LEGO brand and its intellectual properties (IP). The evidence of this new strategy is manifested in Drome Racers, BIONICLE(TM) and GALIDOR(TM), each major pieces of wholly owned LEGO IP in their own right. In the long-term, we fully intend to deliver on our goal of establishing LEGO Interactive as a credible industry gaming brand for 6-12 year olds."
Frank Sagnier, vice president of strategic partner relationships, Electronic Arts: "EA is very pleased to be championing the marketing and sales for the new line up of LEGO Interactive games. These first three games prove that LEGO Interactive has a solid, long-term plan for delivering an exciting new line of interactive titles that will expand their relationships with young people."
About the Games:
In Drome Racers, players get behind the wheel as Max Axel, lead driver of the Nitro team and newest rising star vying for the Championship throne. The Drome is an unfathomably huge, purpose built race world where life is racing and nothing else matters. The title focuses on three environments -- city, mountain & canyon -- and realistically reproduces each to stunning effect. Drome Racers' most unique feature is the Multi-Challenge Races (MCRs). From start to finish, the race is a seamless set of different stages, each stage requiring a skilled pitstop change to have the right car for the next terrain. Racers can choose from 18 dragster, on- and off-road cars, all based on the wildly popular 2002 LEGO Racers Construction Toy Range. Drome Racers will be available on the PC and PlayStation 2 console in fall 2002 with the Nintendo GameCube version slated for spring 2003.
GALIDOR(TM): Defenders of the Outer Dimension, based on the FOX Kids hit TV series, puts players in the shoes of Nick Bluetooth who is faced with the daunting task of freeing friends who have fallen into the clutches of the evil tyrant named Gorm. Nick's friends are being held in four realms of the Outer Dimension, each packed with multiple levels of arcade-style gameplay action. A unique "glinching" feature allows Nick to absorb defeated enemies' attributes granting him special powers such as the ability to execute a "super jump" over a large obstacle or "glide" across long distances. In addition to defeating evil bosses at every turn, players must also collect and combine special key fragments that allow Nick to progress through the game's various levels and eventually to the final battle with Gorm. GALIDOR(TM): Defenders of the Outer Dimension for the Game Boy Advance will be available in fall 2002. The PC, PlayStation 2 console, and Nintendo GameCube versions will be released in spring 2003.
BIONICLE(TM): Matoran Adventures brings the most successful toy range in LEGO company history, BIONICLE(TM), to life as an exciting, interactive experience on the Game Boy Advance. Set around the elementally themed regions of the island of Mata Nui -- a tropical paradise -- players of this fun hand-held platform game will guide Matoran and Turaga characters (the brave villagers and elders of Mata Nui) on an incredible adventure. Players will face many obstacles and enemies and finally defeat the Bahrag -- the great enemy of Mata Nui and its inhabitants. Players must also use the character switching feature to advance through each of the six levels found in the game as they solve puzzles, avoid traps, open doors and activate switches to reveal hidden chambers in each of the environments. Bionicle: Matoran Adventures for the Game Boy Advance is scheduled to ship in fall 2002 followed by an all-new, expanded adventure on the PlayStation 2 console, Nintendo GameCube and PC in fall 2003.
All three titles will be on display at E3 in the EA Annex located in Room 308B/South Hall.
About LEGO
The interactive division was established in 1996 and has its worldwide headquarters near London. Our mission is to create world-class interactive entertainment for young gamers aged 6-12, based on LEGO intellectual property and brand values. As part of the LEGO Group, we have access to unique brand recognition as well as formidable marketing power within our target market. The interactive division is led by a strong senior management team of talented interactive media industry professionals. For more information, please visit www.LEGO.com/software.
About Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts, headquartered in Redwood City, Calif., is the world's leading interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, Electronic Arts (EA) posted revenues of more than $1.7 billion for fiscal 2002. The company develops, publishes and distributes software worldwide for the Internet, personal computers and video game systems. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA SPORTS(TM), EA SPORTS BIG(TM), EA GAMES(TM) and EA.COM(SM). More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://www.ea.com.
LEGO and BIONICLE are trademarks of The LEGO Group. GALIDOR is a trademark. of CineGroupe. Electronic Arts, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS BIG and EA GAMES are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. EA.COM is a service mark of EA.com Inc. PlayStation is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Nintendo GameCube and Game Boy Advance are trademarks of Nintendo.