A cartoon character -- Sony uses it to produce a game for its Playstation, and then it's released as a movie to HBO, and released on DVD and Videotape.......
Spawn Rises from the Dead; Premier Comic Book
Character Comes to Life in New PlayStation Videogame
FOSTER CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 9, 1997--Sony Computer Entertainment
America today announced that video gamers will have a chance to "go to" Hell through the
personification of the comic book "hero" Spawn(R), in their new PlayStation(TM) video game,
Spawn(R): The Eternal(TM).
Spawn: The Eternal, an action-adventure fighting game, unites videogame players and comic book
fans in the world of Spawn - a world that could only be created on the PlayStation game console's
CD format. The huge levels and eerie soundtrack immerse players in the first videogame to faithfully
capture the look and feel of the highly successful comic book, Spawn, by Todd McFarlane.
Spawn: The Eternal has a total of 18 levels divided between three distinct time periods, and eight
levels in the Tower of Hell. Each time period has its own unique Spawn character and theme.
In the game, the player guides Spawn through a graphic adventure and along the way fights various
characters from the comic book - including Violator(R), Vandalizer(TM), Vaporizor(TM),
Tiffany(TM) and others as well as many new, original characters created in association with Todd
McFarlane - in an effort to make their way to defeat Spawn's nemesis, Malebolgia(R).
"My goal in working with the PlayStation folks was to bring Spawn to life in a cool video game," said
Todd McFarlane, creator of Spawn. "When you play the videogame, you feel like you're Spawn.
You feel like you're trapped in his world moving through this visually rich and interactive
environment. You beat the hell out of the bad guys as you search out your ultimate foe to try and
regain what he has taken away from you. What's cool about this videogame is that it gives Spawn
fans an opportunity to become Spawn."
Initially, Spawn finds himself in Hell's Orchard, the entry point in Hell. From the orchard, Spawn will
find four paths leading to the Savage Level, the Medieval Level, the Street Level and finally to the
Tower of Hell. The path leading to the Tower will be inaccessible until Spawn travels through time to
the other three levels and collects the pieces necessary to unlock the seal on the Tower. Once
opened, Spawn may move forward into the second phase of the game where he must ascend the
Tower. The Tower itself is a winding spiral staircase that has landings at each of the eight levels of
Hell. Spawn must successfully complete each level before advancing to the next. Once he makes it
to the Eighth Level he will face his soul's keeper, Malebolgia(R), for the game's final fight.
The comic book and the toy line based on the comic books characters are the most successful in
their respective categories. Accordingly, these hot licenses have been highly sought after and have
exploded in a frenzy this past year. HBO broadcast a 30-minute animated series; New Line Cinema
released its feature film nationwide this summer and the home video and DVD will release in time for
the holidays; Todd McFarlane Toys released a new toy line based on the movie; and, Sony
Computer Entertainment America has released Spawn: The Eternal, available exclusively for the
PlayStation game console.
Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. distributes and markets the PlayStation game console
for North America, develops and publishes software for the PlayStation game console, and manages
the U.S. third party licensing program. Based in Foster City, Calif., Sony Computer Entertainment
America Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
Visit us on the Web at playstation.com
CONTACT: For Sony Computer Entertainment:
P. Kevin Horn, 650/655-5513
kevin_horn@interactive.sony.com
or
Samantha Sackin, 213/489-8250
sackins@fleishman.com |
