HASBRO INTERACTIVE INKS DEAL WITH SONY SIGNATURES TO LICENSE WORLDWIDE RIGHTS FOR ARCADE CLASSIC Q*BERT
BEVERLY, Mass. (May 10, 1999) Ð Hasbro Interactive announced today a license agreement with Sony Signatures, a consumer products division of Sony Pictures Entertainment, to bring back the arcade classic Q*Bertª to the PC and video game console platforms. Q*Bert will join Hasbro InteractiveÕs all-star Õ99 line-up of action arcade favorites including Frogger¨, Centipede¨, Pong¨, Missile Command¨ and The Next Tetris¨.
ÒQ*Bert is one of my all-time favorite games, and I am delighted it will join our growing line of action arcade classics,Ó said Tom Dusenberry, president of Hasbro Interactive. ÒAs we have learned with FroggerÕs success, a lovable character with quick, approachable gameplay is truly a winning combination.Ó
ÒHasbro Interactive is an ideal partner to bring Q*Bert into the new millennium,Ó said Peter Dang, executive vice president of licensing, Sony Signatures. ÒThey understand how to capture the essence of classic game play while enhancing it for todayÕs gaming hardware. They also know how to create a mass market sensation.Ó
Q*Bert, the big-nosed, fuzzy ball of orange fun, bounced into gamersÕ hearts in 1982 as the star of the quick-paced, puzzle-solving arcade game. Q*BertÕs broad-based appeal and addictive gameplay made the game a huge success with a loyal fan following.
Hasbro Interactive will bring Q*Bert back to life in 3D with the original game where players complete a solid-colored pyramid by jumping from cube to cube, as well as new 3D worlds loaded with new puzzle challenges and game play enhancements, bright 3D graphics and numerous gameplay levels.
It wonÕt be easy because Q*BertÕs old enemies are back, too Ð Coily, Uggs, Wrong-Way, Slick and Sam are ready to change block colors, wreak havoc and crush Q*Bert at every opportunity.
Hasbro InteractiveÕs success with publishing 3D-enhanced versions of classic arcade games began in 1997, when the company licensed Frogger from KONAMI Co., Ltd. of Tokyo. The blockbuster arcade hit from the Ô80s proved he had legs in the Ô90s and Hasbro Interactive has sold more than 2.5 million copies of Frogger for the PC and PlayStation game console. In March, the two-year-old title hopped its way to #2 on the PC games sales chart, according to PC Data. In 1998, Hasbro Interactive made another bold move and acquired the rights to over 75 Atari game properties including Pong, Missile Command, Centipede, Tempest, Breakout, and Asteroids. Most recently the company announced a license agreement with Namco for the rights to 11 arcade classics including the legendary Pac-Man¨.
ÒWith Q*Bert we now have access to all of the greatest arcade properties,Ó added Dusenberry. ÒThese classic titles are truly magical because their play patterns are fun for people of all ages, and once you start playing you just canÕt stop.Ó
New versions of Q*Bert will begin shipping this fall for the PlayStation¨ game console and Windows 95/98 CD-ROM.
Hasbro Interactive, Inc. is a global interactive entertainment industry leader, innovating new ways to play and developing, publishing and distributing the highest quality interactive games, toys and lifestyle products for a full range of genres and platforms. Its premier brands include Hasbro Interactive ChildrenÕs and Family Entertainment, Atari¨, MicroProse¨, Avalon Hill¨, Hasbro Sports and Europress. Among the many award-winning titles published by Hasbro Interactive are: Frogger¨, Monopoly¨, Wheel of Fortune¨, Jeopardy¨, Tonka¨ Construction, Tonka¨ Workshop, Risk¨, Roller Coaster Tycoon¨, MechWarrior 3¨ and Falcon 4.0¨. A subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE: HAS), Hasbro Interactive has offices in the U.S., U.K., Australia, Canada and Germany and internal development studios in the U.S. and U.K. For further information, visit Hasbro InteractiveÕs Web site at http://www.hasbro-interactive.com.
Sony Signatures is the consumer products division of Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE), whose global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution, television programming and syndication, home video acquisition and distribution, operation of studio facilities, development of new entertainment technologies and distribution of filmed entertainment in 67 countries. Sony SignaturesÕ Los Angeles-based Film and Television Licensing division manages merchandising and branding efforts for some of the most recognized properties in film and television.
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© 1999 Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
Frogger is a registered trademark of Konami Co., Ltd. 1981 KONAMI. All rights reserved.
Tetris is a registered trademark of Elorg and has been licensed to The Tetris Company.
PlayStation and the PlayStation logos are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
Centipede, Pong, Missile Command, Tempest, Breakout and Asteroids are trademarks of Atari Interactive, Inc., a Hasbro affiliate
