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Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. Is Granted Software Publishing And Development Rights For Various Nintendo Gaming Platforms - Announces First Scheduled N64 Release, In-Fisherman's Bass Hunter 64
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 23, 1998--Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTWO, TTWOW) announced today that it has been granted both software publishing and software development rights under license from Nintendo of America Inc. for the video game industry leading Nintendo gaming systems, including: the Nintendo 64 and Nintendo Game Boy for the North and South American marketplaces. This announcement follows on the heels of Take-Two Interactive Software Europe, Ltd., Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.'s European publishing subsidiary, being granted a similar set of rights from Nintendo Company, Ltd. of Japan in December of 1997. By acquiring this license Take-Two has become one of only fourteen companies in the world with the ability to publish entertainment software both in Europe and the Americas for Nintendo 64 console gaming system.
Additionally, Take-Two announced today its first planned release, under its own publishing label, for the Nintendo 64, which has received concept approval from Nintendo of America - In-Fisherman's Bass Hunter 64.
In-Fisherman's Bass Hunter 64, which is planned for initial commercial release for Christmas 1998, is expected to be the first product released in the historically highly lucrative sport fishing genre for the Nintendo 64. In-Fisherman's Bass Hunter 64 is being produced and developed internally by Take-Two, and is being developed in co-operation with leading sport fishing publication In-Fisherman Magazine which maintains a domestic monthly paid circulation in excess of 400,000 copies. In-Fisherman, Inc., publisher of In-Fisherman Magazine, also markets a popular line of video cassettes and produces the highest rated weekly cable television program dedicated to fishing, In-Fisherman, which airs weekly on the TNN Outdoors channel.
Ryan Brant, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Take-Two, stated, "Being granted publishing and development rights for the Nintendo gaming systems is a great honor for Take-Two. Historically, Nintendo has been a pioneer within the video gaming community from both a hardware and software standpoint, and all of the management of Take-Two are thrilled to be afforded the tremendous opportunity to be a part of their vision and success in both the Americas and Europe." Take-Two successfully entered the Nintendo 64 and Nintendo Game Boy markets recently through the acquisition of the distribution rights to various Game Boy products and Wheel of Fortune 64 and Jeopardy! 64 for the Nintendo 64 from Gametek, Inc.
Howard Lincoln, President of Nintendo of America, Inc., said, "We are pleased to be working with a young and aggressive company such as Take-Two. We are hopeful that software releases from Take-Two will further contribute to the incredible success of the Nintendo 64 in the United States and Europe, as well as the ongoing success of the Nintendo Game Boy."
Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc., which commenced operations in early 1994, develops markets, distributes and publishes high quality interactive entertainment software games for the PC, Macintosh, Sony PlayStation, Nintendo 64, and Nintendo Game Boy. Upcoming releases include, Jeopardy! 64 for the Nintendo 64, JetFighter: Full Burn for the PC, Black Dahlia for the PC, Avalanche, In-Fisherman's Bass Hunter 64 for the Nintendo 64, Montezuma's Return for the PC, and Montezuma's Revenge, In Fisherman's Bass Hunter, Wheel of Fortune, and Jeopardy! for the Nintendo Game Boy. Award winning titles include: Wheel of Fortune for the Nintendo 64, Ripper for the PC, Dark Colony for the PC, JetFighter 3 for the PC, and Monty Python's Meaning of Life for the PC. Take-Two is headquartered in New York City, with development offices in Latrobe, PA. Corporate subsidiaries include: Alliance Inventory Management, a wholesale distributor of video games and software products with offices in Midlothian, VA and College Point, NY; Take-Two Interactive Software Europe, Ltd., the Company's European sales, marketing, publishing and distribution arm, with offices in Windsor, UK; Mission Studios Corp., developers of the JetFighter series of advanced flight simulation games, with offices in Inverness, IL; and Alternative Reality Technologies, Inc., developers of Dark Colony, with offices in Ontario, Canada.
All trademarks and copyrights herein are the property of their respective owners. -0- The statements which are not historical facts contained herein are forward looking statements that involve certain risks and uncertainties including changes in market conditions and other factors which could adversely affect the Company's future operating results.
CONTACT:
Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.
Anthony Williams (Financial)
212/941-2988
or
Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.
Jennifer Kolbe (Press)
212/941-2988
or
Rubenstein Investor Relations
Clint Cantwell
212/843-8051 |
