Atari on Pole Position with the Release of Grand Prix Challenge
BEVERLY, Mass.--March 7, 2003--Enter a Universe Born of Speed, Power and Excitement with Grand
Prix Challenge on PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system
Leading interactive games publisher Infogrames, Inc. has announced today that it has shipped Grand Prix Challenge, the most exciting Formula One game to date. Developed by Infogrames' Melbourne House for Atari, Grand Prix Challenge hits stores this week for the Sony Playstation 2 computer entertainment system (MSRP: $29.99).
Officially licensed by the Formula One Administration Limited and based on the 2002 FIA Formula One World Championship, Grand Prix Challenge is designed to conquer the hearts of all F1 followers. Developed by Infogrames Melbourne House, Grand Prix Challenge brings a level of realism to the physics, handling and racing strategy never before achieved in a console game. Feel the adrenaline rush of being behind the wheel of an F1 powerhouse as you race against 21 other cars at 60 frames-per-second.
"Grand Prix Challenge offers the ideal balance between accessibility and depth," commented Nancy MacIntyre, Vice President of Marketing for Infogrames' Beverly, MA studio. "With this game, our aim is to fully entertain not only the F1 fans but all the gamers, seeking the perfect combination between graphic quality and addictive gameplay within the fantastic F1 universe. Grand Prix Challenge on PS2 complements the already successful F1 Grand Prix series perfectly."
Indeed, while Grand Prix Challenge is heavily based on real world driving physics and constraints, it has been tuned to allow instant enjoyment to the new racer. But Grand Prix Challenge, with its 3 different level of handling and 4 different level of artificial intelligence will also provide huge depth and compelling challenges for the most experienced race player.
Melbourne House has modeled the 22 cars and 17 tracks to an unprecedented level of detail. Even the many drivers' personal styles have been simulated. Pit Stops are now interactive; you can affect the performance of your pit crew to gain those valuable seconds.
Grand Prix Challenge offers 5 addictive game modes that will keep you coming back for more, from championship mode where you can live all the thrill of a full championship season to frenzy multiplayer races up to 2 players in split screen. Formula One gaming has never been so much fun.
For more information, please visit www.us.infogrames.com.
About Melbourne House
Melbourne House, a subsidiary of Infogrames, is one of the oldest development houses of the games industry. In business since 1980 as Melbourne House and as Beam Software, the company developed many titles for multiple platforms over the past 22 years. Melbourne House is Australia's leading developer of video games for personal computers and game consoles. Melbourne House games such as KKND and GP 500 on PC and LeMans 24 Hours on Dreamcast are acknowledged as being milestones in games development. Today Melbourne House is part of the internal development force of Infogrames and as such is focused on developing for PlayStation2.
About Infogrames
New York-based Infogrames, Inc. develops interactive games for all platforms and is one of the largest third-party publishers of interactive entertainment software in the U.S. The Company's 1,000+ titles are distributed under two brand lines: ATARI, hard-core, genre-defining games such as Driver(TM), Enter the Matrix(TM), Neverwinter Nights(TM), Stuntman(TM), Test Drive(R), Unreal(R) Tournament 2003, and Unreal(R) Championship; and INFOGRAMES, mass-market and children's games such as Backyard Sports(TM), Nickelodeon's Blue's Clues(TM) and Dora the Explorer(TM), Civilization(R), Dragon Ball Z(R) and RollerCoaster Tycoon(R). Infogrames, Inc. is a majority-owned subsidiary of France-based Infogrames Entertainment SA (Euronext 5257), the largest interactive games publisher in Europe. For more information, visit www.infogrames.com.
(C) 2003 Infogrames, Inc. All rights reserved.
An official product of the 2002 FIA Formula One World Championship licensed by Formula One Administration Ltd.
"Formula One", "Formula 1", "F1" and "FIA Formula One World Championship" are trademarks of Formula One Licensing BV, a Formula One Group Company. Licensed by Formula One Administration Limited, a Formula One Group Company. All rights reserved.
(C) 2003 Infogrames, Inc. All rights reserved. Developed by Infogrames Melbourne House. Published by Infogrames Europe SA. ATARI is a registered trademark of Atari Interactive Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Infogrames Interactive Inc.
"PlayStation" and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
