Computer Game -- Arrives in the United States --- Wonder if it includes overnight repos by Fed?
France's Monte Cristo Multimedia to Distribute Game Through U.S.-Based Interplay Entertainment Corp.
Updated 10:23 PM ET December 17, 1999
PARIS (BUSINESS WIRE) - Europe's best-selling, award-winning business simulation CD-ROM computer game is finally being distributed in the country that gave it its name.
"Wall Street Trader 2000" -- the first computer game to replicate stock exchange dealings, and much more -- ships to U.S. retail stores Dec. 20. The creators of the game, France-based Monte Cristo Multimedia, named one of the top five start-up companies last year and a leading global publisher of business simulation games, has signed a distribution deal with Interplay Entertainment Corp. (NASDAQ:IPLY) for North American distribution of "Wall Street Trader 2000," already a success story with Europe's Internet-savvy public.
Interplay Chairman/CEO Brian Fargo said: "This is the only game of its kind, and we think the time is perfect since people are more interested in Wall Street than ever before. `Wall Street Trader 2000' will surely rock the game world."
Among the finalists for Europe's prestigious EuroPrix and Milia d'Or '99 awards as the best education game, "Wall Street Trader 2000" combines genuine stock market scenarios with video clips that CD-ROM game players compare to "Mortal Kombat" and "Tomb Raider." Also included is genuine television footage of news events for historical accuracy, and 35 minutes of streaming video news coverage that advances the game's storyline. More than 500 newspaper, radio and TV reports keep the game player(s) informed.
The package also involves spies, international incidents, backstabbing, crumbling Asian economies, illegal activities, oil price hikes and the underlying premise that "Greed is Good." "Make Money" is the mantra of "Wall Street Trader 2000."
"It's a lot of fun," said co-creator Jean-Marc de Fety, chairman of Monte Cristo Multimedia. "But it is grounded in reality. A player can go from young financial prodigy to a position of global responsibility, amass the most wealth, eliminate competition and defend currencies against economic terrorism."
Added partner Jean-Cristophe Marquis, "It is very challenging, and the topics covered range widely, from everyday situations like federal bank decisions, to the unique -- Al Gore elected president!"
"Wall Street Trader 2000" focuses on buying and selling on the securities market. Players are guided through "Wall Street Trader 2000" by Lord Basil Fleming, billionaire and investment wizard, who has just purchased Learing Bank, which is on the verge of collapse. "Wall Street Trader 2000" players are members of the new board of directors
under the tutelage of Lord Fleming.
For a simulated two-year period, players buy and sell 70 international shares in 16 sectors
(which range from oil and currency, to video games and cigarette markets), uncover a
company's history, learn about key issue and market movers, and complete missions given
by Lord Fleming -- all designed to make players more competent investors in the real
world.
Preparing for "Wall Street Trader 2000," Monte Cristo Multimedia analyzed 55 of the
world's biggest stocks and the impact of currencies, the oil market and the price of gold.
To this, more than 400 stock market-moving stories from the past several years were
added with a stimulating effect.
When Monte Cristo first launched the game, which can be played solo over the Internet or
with up to four people in real-time, it touched off a "Wall Street Trader" craze in France.
"Wall Street Trader" tournaments were played in universities and business schools, with
students, teachers and financial market professionals all taking part. It also received the
seal of approval from the French Ministry of Education.
Sales this year reached upwards of $2.3 million, and "Wall Street Trader 2000" is now
available, with appropriate translations, in the United Kingdom, Belgium, Germany,
Switzerland, the Netherlands, Canada, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Norway, Sweden and
Austria.
Greed is good ... and fun! And also profitable for Monte Cristo Multimedia, the company
started by two 33-year-old entrepreneurs, de Fety and partner Marquis. They established
the company in 1995 with the aim of helping the general public better understand business
and economic issues through games. In the beginning, de Fety and Marquis conducted six
months of market research, created the original business plan and formed the company.
At the time, de Fety was a vice president of Credit Suisse First Boston, and Marquis a
senior consultant for Mars & Co., a strategy consultancy. Today, Monte Cristo
Multimedia, based in Paris, has a staff of 23 committed to the production of business
simulation games and has experienced an average increase in revenues of 100 per cent
annually.
Upcoming Monte Cristo Multimedia products for the U.S. market -- through Interplay
Entertainment Corp. -- will include "Start Up 2000" (first quarter 2000 launch date),
"Economic Wars" (fall 2000) and "Business Strategy" (early 2001). All these have been
successful throughout Europe, and all games are sequel driven. In addition, all products
are based on real-world facts -- staying current via updates and sequels, and involve
education, as well as entertainment, humor and parody.
"We started out selling `Wall Street Trader' to college students eager to get to work in
finance," said de Fety. "But then we began getting buyers who simply wanted to learn how
to manage their own investments. The public does not want to read a heavy book of mathematical formulas. Our goal is to give people entertainment, while showing them that inflation has an influence on policy, all of which impacts the stock market."
"Wall Street Trader 2000" is a PC CD-ROM, has an estimated retail price of $29.99 and will be available in U.S. retail stores including Electronic Boutique, Babbage's, CompUSA, Fry's and Amazon.com. |
