Vivendi Universal Games (VU Games) today announced the next installments in the best-selling Crash Bandicoot(r) and Spyro(tm) the Dragon videogame franchises. Crash Bandicoot Purple: Ripto's Rampage and Spyro Orange: The Cortex Conspiracy are scheduled to ship on the Game Boy(r) Advance video game system in second quarter 2004. For the first time, the two renowned characters will meet up in each other's respective adventures in these upcoming action platformers. Albany, New York based studio, Vicarious Visions, is developing the games.

In these single-player side-scrolling adventures, gamers can also link up with as many as three friends for numerous multi-player modes, including Party Games, Wager Games and Card Trading. Players can compete and win in mini-games galore, found throughout the environments, which reward with trading cards -- a new feature for both franchises. Connecting both titles gives gamers the option of unlocking special content and allows them to trade and/or wager the cards with their friends.

"We're extremely excited about putting a compelling new spin on these two immensely popular franchises by joining them together in such a creative way," said Michael Pole, SVP, Worldwide Development, VU Games. "Both titles are completely immersive stand-alone games that maximize the current technology of GBA linking - delivering the deepest Crash and Spyro GBA experiences yet."

In Crash Bandicoot Purple: Ripto's Rampage and Spyro Orange: The Cortex Conspiracy, Dr. Neo Cortex (Crash's nemesis) and Ripto (Spyro's nemesis) have accidentally met up through underground portals and are set on taking over the entire universe. In an attempt to share resources and expand their territories, Cortex and Ripto are using portals to flood their two worlds with their evil minions. Crash and Spyro must team up with each other to discover the identity of the new menace and save the universe from this evil plot!

The Crash Bandicoot franchise made its debut in 1996 and has sold more than 30 million copies worldwide. The Spyro the Dragon franchise premiered in 1998 and has sold more than 12 million units worldwide.

About Nintendo
As the worldwide leader and innovator in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co. Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its popular home video game systems. The systems include Game Boy(r), Nintendo(r) 64, Game Boy(r) Advance and Nintendo GameCube(tm). Since the release of its first home video game system in 1983, Nintendo has sold more than 1.6 billion video games worldwide, creating enduring industry icons such as Mario(tm) and Donkey Kong(r) and launching such franchises as Zelda(tm) and Pokemon(r). As a wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Washington, serves as headquarters for Nintendo's operations in the Western Hemisphere.

About Vicarious Visions
Vicarious Visions is an independent game development studio that has created hit titles with top brands such as Tony Hawk's Pro Skater(tm), Spider-Man(r), Crash Bandicoot(r), Star Wars(r), SpongeBob Square Pants(r) and Finding Nemo(r). The company's success is based on innovative technology, compelling game designs and a rigorous development process. Vicarious Visions is also the developer of the innovative Intrinsic Alchemy(r) middleware platform for PC, PlayStation(r)2, Microsoft Xbox(tm), and Nintendo Gamecube(tm), which is being used to power hit titles in development at Activision, Konami, Sega and other studios worldwide.

About Vivendi Universal Games
Headquartered in Los Angeles, Vivendi Universal Games (www.vugames.com) is a global leader in multi-platform interactive entertainment. The company develops, publishes and distributes interactive products across all major platforms including PCs, video game consoles and the Internet. Vivendi Universal Games' portfolio of development studios and publishing labels includes Blizzard Entertainment, Coktel, Fox Interactive, Knowledge Adventure, Massive Entertainment and Sierra Entertainment. Additionally, Vivendi Universal Games co-publishes and/or distributes titles for a number of strategic partners, including Interplay, inXile entertainment, Majesco and Mythic Entertainment, among others.

Posted By: Adam Paoli - 362 Reads

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February 16, 2005