NewKidCo and CineGroupe Announce Long-term Strategic Alliance
NEW YORK and MONTREAL--(BUSINESS WIRE)--January 9, 2002--NewKidCo International Inc. (OTC BB: NKCIF - news; TSE: NKC - news) a leading publisher of interactive video games for young gamers based on well-known licensed characters with global appeal and CineGroupe, an internationally acclaimed leader in kids and family programming, announced today the signing of a long-term strategic alliance.
The agreement will provide for the development of a minimum of three Game Boy® Advance titles per year for three years.
``This is a very significant step for NewKidCo,'' said Arthur Levine, President and COO. ``CineGroupe's depth of experience in the creation of non-violent family entertainment products, coupled with a business arrangement that greatly enhances NewKidCo's opportunities for profitable and sustainable growth, made the arguments for a close collaboration very compelling. Over the next few years, we plan to launch a series of internationally branded titles, ensuring a constant supply of quality games for the global kids marketplace.''
The alliance represents a major leap forward for NewKidCo, resulting in significant cost reductions, very high product standards, improved quality control, better cash management, and greater momentum in both the domestic and international marketplaces. The Game Boy Advance titles will be a starting point that will likely lead to a more inclusive relationship with respect to development on other platforms.
``CineGroupe Interactive has developed an expertise in the creation of high-quality interactive games at very competitive prices, '' remarked Pierre Bernatchez, CineGroupe President and COO. ``We are delighted to be working with NewKidCo to create the next generation of hit games for kids. While the first titles we will be producing in 2002 will be for Game Boy Advance, we fully expect that the relationship will expand to include development on Game Cube, PlayStation 2, and Xbox,'' concluded Bernatchez.
This strategic alliance, targeted to the rapidly expanding interactive global market place, provides a timely platform to CineGroupe's current leadership in the production of quality interactive and conventional entertainment products for kids and families. CineGroupe's most recent convergent product includes Sagwa, The Chinese Siamese Cat, in association with Sesame Workshop, on PBS with interactive activities on PBS.org.
CineGroupe, one of Canada's dominant production companies, is a leading integrated entertainment company dedicated to the development and production of hit animation, live-action and family programming, as well as interactive products for the Canadian and worldwide markets. Current productions include: Galidor: Defenders of the Outer Dimension, Sagwa, The Chinese Siamese Cat, The Ripping Friends, What's with Andy? and Big Wolf on Campus. CineGroupe's high quality, award-winning productions are seen in 125 countries. Headquartered in Montreal, with offices in Los Angeles, CineGroupe currently has over 400 creative and dedicated employees. CineGroupe is a partner of Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. Find CineGroupe online at cinegroupe.com.
NewKidCo International Inc. (OTC BB: NKCIF - news; TSE: NKC - news) publishes children's video games based on popular licensed characters and brands, such as E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, Tom and Jerry, Little League Baseball, Dragon Tales, Winnie the Pooh and Sesame Street, for interactive entertainment game systems from Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft. The company publishes and distributes its product directly in North America, in Europe through its distribution partner, Ubi Soft Entertainment SA, and in Japan through Success Corp. NewKidCo titles have garnered critical acclaim and distinguished honors, including the PlayStation Choice and Nintendo Power Awards. Most recently, six NewKidCo games received the esteemed ``approval'' rating from the Parents' Choice Association.
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Contact:
NewKidCo, New York
Alissa Pinck, 212/581-1555 ext.229
Alissa@newkidco.com
or
CineGroupe, Montreal
Marie-Christine Dufour, 514/849-5008 ext. 3240
info@cinegroupe.ca
or
Hanson and Shwam, Los Angeles
Gene Shwam, 310/248-4488 |
