Crash Bandicoot Hits The Ground Running With Crash Tag Team Racing
Multiplatform Character Action/Racing Game Speeds onto Store Shelves in Autumn
LOS ANGELES (April 7, 2005) - Vivendi Universal Games (VU Games) today announced the development of CrashTM Tag Team Racing for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, the Xbox® video game system from Microsoft, Nintendo GameCubeTM and Nintendo DSTM. Developed by Radical EntertainmentTM, creators of the critically-acclaimed The Simpsons: Hit & RunTM, and Sensory Sweep (Nintendo DS version,) the newest addition to the best-selling video game franchise will give players a unique racing experience and allow them to continue the adventure on foot with out-of-car action. For the first time ever in a racing game, players will be able to fuse two cars together on the fly to form a super vehicle with the all-new "clashing" technology.
In Crash Tag Team Racing, players can combine their car with an opponent's mid-race to make a super-car equipped with a powerful turret gun. When clashed, players can either get behind the wheel and drive or fire an onboard weapon. Each character has his or her own uniquely deadly 360° rotating turret. Players can continue the action out of the car where they can explore the entire world on foot and collect upgrades for their cars and unlock bonus tracks.
Crash Tag Team Racing features split-screen multiplayer for up to eight players with system link on all consoles, and wirelessly supports up to four on the Nintendo DS.
"We're thrilled to give Crash Bandicoot® fans another hilarious adventure with the irrepressible marsupial," said Ian Wilkinson, President, Radical Entertainment. "The development team showed off its ability to create a break-out vehicle-based game with The Simpsons: Hit & Run and is set to deliver another innovative and wildly fun title in Crash Tag Team Racing."
Penned by Crash TwinsanityTM writer Jordan Reicheck, best known for his work on Ren & Stimpy, Crash Tag Team Racing brings the trademark Crash Bandicoot humor to new levels. After being humiliated yet again by Crash Bandicoot at the end of Twinsanity, Dr. Neo Cortex returns to his evil scheming in his dilapidated Iceberg Lair. He hatches a sinister plan to challenge Crash to a seemingly friendly race competition...with plans of crushing the hapless bandicoot under the ruins of the hazardous racetrack!
Crash Tag Team Racing will be available at retail in Autumn 2005.
About Xbox
Xbox (http://www.xbox.com) is the video game system from Microsoft that brings people together for the most exhilarating game and entertainment experiences. Xbox delivers an expansive collection of breakthrough games, powerful hardware and the unified Xbox Live online service. The new tagline, "it's good to play together," captures the spirit of Xbox as the social hub of the new digital entertainment lifestyle. Xbox is now available in North America, Asia, Europe and Australia.
Radical Entertainment
Radical Entertainment is one of North America's largest game developers. With more than a decade of hit titles like The Simpsons: Hit & Run, The HulkTM, and soon to be released ScarfaceTM, the studio's commitment to partners and players continues to set Radical apart. The studio treats each property with the reverence it deserves and gamers demand. Radical brings the talent, tools and technology together to create entertainment that captures the world's imagination.
Vivendi Universal Games (VU Games)
Vivendi Universal Games (www.vugames.com) is a global developer, publisher and distributor of multi-platform interactive entertainment. The company is a leader in the subscription-based massively multi-player online (MMO) games category, and also holds leading positions in the PC, console and handheld games markets. Its development studios and publishing labels include Blizzard Entertainment®, Radical Entertainment, Sierra® Entertainment and Massive EntertainmentTM. VU Games' library of over 700 titles features owned intellectual properties including Warcraft®, StarCraft®, Diablo® and World of WarcraftTM from Blizzard Entertainment; Crash Bandicoot®, Spyro The Dragon®, Empire Earth®, Leisure Suit LarryTM, Ground Control® and Tribes®. VU Games also maintains strategic relationships with industry leading content partners, including NBC Universal and Twentieth Century Fox.
Published and distributed by Vivendi Universal Games, Inc. Vivendi Universal Games and the Vivendi Universal Games Logo are trademarks of Vivendi Universal Games, Inc. The Simpsons TM and ® 2003 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Fox Interactive, The Simpsons, The Simpsons Hit and Run and their associated logos are registered trademarks or trademarks of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. "PlayStation" and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc Xbox is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. TM, ® and Nintendo GameCube and Nintendo DS are trademarks of Nintendo. ® 2004 Nintendo. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.