DIGITAL DOWNLOAD OF UNREAL TOURNAMENT 3 AVAILABLE WORLDWIDE EXCLUSIVELY AT IGN ENTERTAINMENT’S DIRECT2DRIVE
Famous First-Person Shooter Franchise Available Today for Preload via Digital Download
BRISBANE, Calif. – November XX, 2007 – Direct2Drive, IGN Entertainment’s digital retail store, today announced that Unreal Tournament 3 for PC, developed by Epic Games and published by Midway, is now available digitally for preload on Direct2Drive (http://www.direct2drive.com). Starting today, consumers can download the encrypted version of the game days before its release to retail outlets. Preloading Unreal Tournament 3 provides gamers instant access to unlock the game the minute it is released on Direct2Drive, scheduled at 12:01am EST on November 21 and start playing immediately. Unreal Tournament 3 is expected to be available in North America for digital download via Direct2Drive on November 21 and worldwide on November 23.
Unreal Tournament 3 marks the return of the industry's premiere online first-person shooter franchise. In the latest installment of the award-winning Unreal franchise, players assume the role of a futuristic warrior engaged in contests of intense warfare against dedicated and skilled opponents, controlled either by human contestants online or by A.I. These brutal contests are fought with the most powerful military weapons and vehicles known to man. In Unreal Tournament 3, players can go face-to-face with devastating close quarters weapons like the flak cannon and rocket launcher, or pick off their enemies from a distance with a high-caliber sniper rifle. Players will also be able to fully access the universe's most capable and advanced set of vehicles in their quest to dominate and overwhelm opponents.
“Unreal Tournament 3 is one of the most anticipated games of the year, and Unreal Tournament is surely one of the greatest PC game franchises of all time,” said Jamie Berger, SVP consumer products and technology for IGN Entertainment. “By offering the immediate preload of Unreal Tournament 3 today we can satisfy the many thousands of Unreal Tournament fans who want to be the first online to play this incredible game. Direct2Drive offers the broadest selection of AAA games for download anywhere, and adding the worldwide exclusive to preload Unreal Tournament 3 is a big win for our loyal customers.”
“We are pleased to add the latest AAA video game, Unreal Tournament 3, to Direct2Drive’s download lineup,” said Steve Allison, chief marketing officer, Midway. “Our working with Direct2Drive allows consumers the ability to pre-load the game via digital download and be ready to get online on day one, which is crucial to the core Unreal Tournament fan base.”
“When people see all the great mods that are going to be available for Unreal Tournament 3, they are going to want to get a copy of the game immediately,” said Mark Rein, vice president of Epic Games. “Offering instant access to our content through Direct2Drive is the perfect way to meet our customers’ needs.”
Since launching in October 2004, Direct2Drive has allowed gamers to conveniently purchase and download the latest premium games from the world’s top publishers. Consumers can download Unreal Tournament 3 today at http://www.direct2drive.com. Unreal Tournament 3 for Windows PC is rated “M” by the ESRB and carries a suggested U.S. retail price of $49.95.
About Direct2Drive
Direct2Drive (D2D) is IGN Entertainment's digital download store (http://www.direct2drive.com). Launched in October 2004, D2D allows consumers to conveniently purchase and download the latest premium video games, feature films, popular TV shows and anime titles directly from the Web to their desktops. D2D's AAA roster of leading game publishers includes Atari, Activision, Blizzard Entertainment, Eidos, Electronic Arts, Namco, NCsoft, SEGA, Sony Online Entertainment, 2K Games, Ubisoft and Vivendi Universal Games. In addition, Twentieth Century Fox, Lionsgate and Starz Media are making blockbuster movies, TV shows, comics and top anime titles available to users directly via the D2D platform.
About IGN Entertainment
IGN Entertainment, a unit of Fox Interactive Media, Inc., is a leading Internet media and services provider focused on the videogame and entertainment enthusiast markets. Collectively, IGN's properties reached more than 30 million unique users worldwide in the month of September 2007, according to Internet audience measurement firm comScore Media Metrix. IGN's network of videogame-related properties (IGN.com, GameSpy, FilePlanet, TeamXbox, Direct2Drive and others), is the Web's number one videogame information destination and attracts one of the largest concentrated audiences of young males on the Internet. IGN also owns and operates the popular movie-related website, Rotten Tomatoes and one of the leading male lifestyle Websites, AskMen.com. In addition, IGN provides technology for online game play in videogames. IGN is headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, with offices throughout the U.S. and in Montreal.
About Unreal Tournament 3
Unreal Tournament 3 marks the return of the world’s premiere first-person shooter to the PC. Unreal Tournament 3 unleashes the full power of Unreal Engine 3, taking graphics, gameplay, and challenge to a whole new level. Players engage in intense battles with other human players online, or against Unreal artificial intelligence that sets the industry standard. With the most powerful futuristic weapons and vehicles available, this is FPS action at its best!
More information about Unreal Tournament 3 can be found online at www.unrealtournament3.com
About Epic Games
Epic Games, Inc., based in Cary, NC and established in 1991, develops cutting-edge games and game engine technology for PC and console. The company has created multiple million-selling, award-winning titles in their Unreal series and their latest game, Gears of War, broke sales records on Xbox 360 selling more than 3 million copies worldwide in the first ten weeks and awarded overall Game of the Year for 2006 by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences, Game Developers Choice Awards, GameSpot, GamePro and many others. Epic is also responsible for the Unreal Engine, which is the underlying technology for a wide range of games including Console Game of the Year winner "Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell" by Ubisoft; PC Gamer's Game of the Year "Deus Ex" from Ion Storm/Eidos; "America's Army: Special Forces" by the United States Army; and "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" (PC) by Electronic Arts. Epic's Unreal Engine 3 is the current holder, and three-time consecutive winner, of Game Developer magazine's Front Line award for Best Game Engine. Epic Games was also awarded Studio of the Year at the 2006 Spike TV Video Game Awards and Developer of the Year by Official Xbox Magazine. Additional information about Epic can be obtained through Epic's Web site at www.epicgames.com
About Midway
Midway Games Inc. (NYSE:MWY), headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with offices throughout the world, is a leading developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software for major videogame systems and personal computers. More information about Midway and its products can be found at www.midway.com.
Epic, Epic Games, Unreal, Unreal Tournament and Gears of War are trademarks or registered trademarks of Epic Games, Inc. in the United States of America and elsewhere. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Midway does not monitor, endorse or accept responsibility for the content on any sites mentioned other than www.midway.com and www.unrealtournament3.com.
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 concerning future business conditions and the outlook for Midway Games Inc. (the "Company") based on currently available information that involves risks and uncertainties. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, the financial strength of the interactive entertainment industry, dependence on new product introductions and the ability to maintain the scheduling of such introductions, the current console platform transition and other technological changes, dependence on major platform manufacturers and other risks more fully described under "Item 1. Business - Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, and in any more recent filings made by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Each forward-looking statement, including, without limitation, financial guidance, speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and Midway undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which it is made or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances, except as required by law.
