Empire, the leading AIM listed computer games developer and publisher, announced today it has signed an exclusive licensing agreement with Sony Pictures Consumer Products to develop a sequel to the Starsky & Hutch™ video game.

The new game will include new city locations, enhanced graphics and classic music tracks from the 70's and a key new game play feature, which will allow villains to be chased on foot together with new spectacular car chases. It will be published for all current video game consoles and PCs.

Ian Higgins, CEO of Empire said about the licensing deal: "After the recent success of Starsky & HutchTM we are delighted to have acquired these sequel game rights. This is an important franchise for the company and with the new Hollywood movie due next spring the awareness and interest will increase significantly. We look forward to building this into an even bigger hit than the original game."

"We're very pleased to be continuing our licensing deal with Empire Interactive for the Starsky & Hutch property," said Al Ovadia, Executive Vice President, Sony Pictures Consumer Products. "Empire really captured the essence of the Starsky & Hutch property in the first instalment of the video game and we're confident that the new game will further the property's global appeal."

About Empire
Empire is a leading publisher of interactive entertainment software that has been established for 16 years. The company floated on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) of the London Stock Exchange in July 2000. Headquartered in the UK, Empire also has offices in the US, France, Germany, Italy and Spain. The company develops and publishes a varied range of titles for the Sony Playstation , Sony Playstation 2, Microsoft XboxTM, NintendoTM Gamecube, NintendoTM GBA and multimedia PC markets in the US, Europe and Asia. Further information about Empire and its products can be found at: www.empireinteractive.com

About Sony Pictures Consumer Products
Sony Pictures Consumer Products (SPCP), a division of Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE), is based in Los Angeles and London. SPCP handles the merchandising and branding efforts for some of the most recognized properties in film and television and, through Spider-Man Merchandising, L.P., a limited partnership with Marvel Enterprises, the upcoming motion picture Spider-Man 2™ and the "Spider-Man™" animated series. Additionally, SPCP properties include such theatrical titles as the highly anticipated Underworld and Ultraviolet, the Academy Award winning short, The ChubbChubbs™, television properties such as "Astro Boy™", "Stuart Little™" animated, and "Jackie Chan Adventures™." SPE is a division of Sony Corporation of America (SCA), a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution; television production and distribution; digital content creation and distribution; worldwide channel investments; home entertainment acquisition and distribution; operation of studio facilities; development of new entertainment products, services and technologies; and distribution of filmed entertainment in 67 countries. Sony Pictures Entertainment can be found on the World Wide Web at www.sonypictures.com.

Posted By: Adam Paoli - 186 Reads

Go Back | News Archive | Post a Comment

::Hot News::

· New Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Trailer from Rockstar Games

· Biggest First Week in Franchise History for Madden NFL 2005

· Ben Wallace Announces as ESPN NBA 2K5 Cover Athlete

· An Impressive Lineup Demonstrates Appeal of Nintendo DS

· id Software's Doom 3 for PC Ships to Retail

::Sponsored Links::

DS - GBA - GC - NGE - PC - PS2 - PSP - XBX

August 23, 2004