På baggrund af deres flotte præstationer med The Simpsons: Hit & Run, har Vivendi Universal nu sikret sig en aftale med Radical Entertainment, der vil udmønte sig i hele seks spil (multiplatform) mere i løbet af de næste par år. Det er store nyheder i branchen og glædeligt for Vivendi, som på det seneste ellers ikke haft alt for meget held i sprøjten. Både IGN og Gamespy har efterfølgende talt med Vivendi Universals ledelse omkring gårsdagens nyhed.

VIVENDI UNIVERSAL GAMES AND RADICAL ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCE EXCLUSIVE WORLDWIDE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT



Multi-Year Deal Grants VU Games Rights To Radical’s Development Talent and Technologies For Six Multi-platform Games, As Well As An Option To Purchase The Developer


Velizy – February 10, 2004 – Vivendi Universal Games (VU Games) and Radical Entertainment today announced a worldwide development agreement under which Radical will exclusively develop products for VU Games. The two companies will collaborate on the development of six multi-platform titles based on new and existing entertainment franchises. VU Games will also obtain a royalty-free license to Radical’s proprietary game development technologies, as well as an option to purchase the company during contract’s term. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.


VU Games and Radical Entertainment most recently collaborated on The Simpsons: Hit & Run, a critically acclaimed title that debuted on four platforms and has sold more than 1.8 million units worldwide since its September 2003 release. VU Games and Radical also worked together on The Hulk which has sold over 1.3 million units worldwide.


“Radical Entertainment is one of the preeminent game developers in North America and their track record speaks clearly as to why they are an attractive development partner for our company,” said Bruce Hack, Chief Executive Officer of Vivendi Universal Games. “Our agreement with Radical demonstrates VU Games’ commitment to strengthening our development capabilities.”



“We are looking forward to focusing our development efforts with VU Games, as we’ve had tremendous success working with them over the past few years,” said Ian Wilkinson, Chairman and CEO of Radical Entertainment. “Our team is very excited about today’s announcement and the new titles in development.”

Radical Entertainment’s team of more than 200 creative and development professionals is based in the company’s existing Vancouver, B.C. location. Information regarding current and future titles in development will be announced in coming months.


About Radical Entertainment


Radical Entertainment is one of North America’s leading developers of interactive entertainment. Founded in 1991 and headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, Radical creates top-selling entertainment products for the industry’s most powerful publishers, such as Fox Interactive, Microsoft and THQ. Recent high-grossing titles include Simpsons Hit and Run, Simpsons Road Rage, and the Hulk. Committed to bringing creativity, imagination and passion to every aspect of business, the company maintains an in-house Research and Development team run by industry leaders in 3D graphics and real time technology.


In 2001, Radical’s CEO was named Entrepreneur of the Year in the Media & Entertainment category and in 2000 Radical was recognized as one of Canada’s 50 Best Managed Private Companies. The company is a member of the BC Advanced Systems Institute, New Media BC, and the Association for Computer Machinery. For more information about Radical, visit the company’s web site at www.radical.ca.


About Vivendi Universal Games


VU Games is a global developer, publisher and distributor of interactive products for all major platforms including PCs, video game consoles and the Internet. VU Games development studios and publishing labels include Blizzard Entertainment, Coktel, Fox Interactive, Knowledge Adventure, Massive Entertainment and Sierra Entertainment. Additionally, VU Games co-publishes and/or distributes titles for a number of strategic partners, including Interplay, inXile entertainment, Majesco and Mythic Entertainment.