SCEE and Ninja Theory Sign Exclusive Publishing Agreement, Heavenly Sword to Appear Exclusively on PLAYSTATION 3
E3, LOS ANGELES, 17 May 2005 - Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) and Ninja Theory today announced an exclusive development and publishing agreement that will bring Ninja Theory's eagerly anticipated title, Heavenly SwordTM, to PLAYSTATION®3.
A stunningly beautiful martial arts drama set in a mythical time and place in the Far East, Heavenly Sword uses state-of-the-art technology and gameplay made possible by PLAYSTATION 3. It takes players on a roller coaster of emotion and action that truly exploits the potential of gaming as the new artistic entertainment medium.
"We are committed to inspiring the best creative talent in the industry to create software for the PLAYSTATION 3 platform", said Phil Harrison, Executive Vice President, Development, SCEE. "Ninja Theory has demonstrated world-class creativity, unrestricted ambition and technical ability with their early work on Heavenly Sword. We are delighted to be working with a developer and creator who wants to challenge conventions and deliver the impossible."
"With SCEE as our publisher, we are well positioned to craft Heavenly Sword into an uncompromising next-generation experience", said Nina Kristensen, Co-Founder and Chief Development Ninja at Ninja Theory, "The game is already beautiful, the combat is unlike anything out there, having been refined over two years, and the storyline is gut-wrenchingly powerful. I can't wait for people to experience what we have created."
Heavenly Sword adopts the visceral action and visuals of the best martial arts action movies with a ground-breaking, free-style combat system. Players can freely switch between multiple sword types and a wide range of weapons on-the-fly. The latest physics technology has been integrated into the combat, resulting in destruction on an epic scale as players destroy opponents and the environment alike.
The emotionally charged, non-linear storyline follows a girl with only a few days left to live who embarks on one final act of redemption against a king and his invading army. Players can battle through lush environments with operatic grace and style taking their fight to the clouds, over water, through tree-tops and more. Enemies employ complex squad-based fight choreography and can attack one-on-one, in groups of several dozen, or even in battalions of several thousands, pushing real-time AI to levels unseen before.
For more information contact:
SCEE Press Centre
Email: scee_presscentre@scee.net
Tel:+44 (0)20 7859 5000
About Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd. As at end March 2005
Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE), based in London, is responsible for the distribution, marketing and sales of PS one®, PlayStation®2 and PlayStation Portable® software and hardware in 102 territories across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Oceania. SCEE also develops, publishes, markets and distributes games software for the three formats, and manages the third party licensing programs for these platforms in the PAL territories. At the end of March 2005, over 40 million PlayStation® units had been shipped across these PAL territories, over 102 million worldwide. Between its European debut on 24 November 2000 and the end of March 2005, over 31 million PlayStation®2 units have been shipped across the PAL territories, over 87 million world-wide, making it one of the most successful consumer electronic products in history.