LPWire: Narnia's The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe Video Game Announced by Disney Interactive

Disney Interactive Reveals New Details on The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe Video Games
Top Creative Talent on Board to Develop Games for PlayStation(R)2, PSP, Xbox(R), Nintendo GameCube(TM), Game Boy(R) Advance, Nintendo DS(TM) and PC

Disney Interactive, a publishing label of Buena Vista Games, Inc., today announced new details about its upcoming action/adventure title, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, PSP (TM) handheld entertainment system, Xbox® video game system from Microsoft, Nintendo GameCube(TM), Game Boy® Advance, Nintendo DS(TM) and PC. Inspired by the upcoming highly anticipated motion picture from Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media, the games will launch this Holiday season, in conjunction with film's release.

Prominent UK software developer Traveller's Tales is currently creating the console and PSP titles, while Griptonite Games, the handheld entertainment division of Seattle-based Amaze Entertainment, is developing the titles for Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS. These two distinguished game development studios will bring Narnia to life for video gamers. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, a spectacular live action/CGI motion picture adaptation of C.S. Lewis' beloved literary classic is currently in post-production.

"We have enlisted some of the top creative talent in the games industry to work on The Chronicles of Narnia video games," said Graham Hopper, senior vice president and general manager of Buena Vista Games. "Building on the fantastical worlds and amazing creatures portrayed in the film, the teams are developing an action/adventure epic video game where players will be captivated by remarkable characters, heart pumping combat and rich environments that could only exist in the land of Narnia."

In the game, players enter the world of Narnia, a land frozen in a 100 year winter by the evil powers of the malevolent White Witch. In order to end this frigid captivity and free his people, the mighty lion Aslan invokes an ancient prophecy. It will become the destiny of four siblings from our world: Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy Pevensie to work together and use their unique combat skills, weaponry and abilities to defeat the Witch and her armies to save Narnia. These four heroes must battle the evil forces of the White Witch by waging war against a vast variety of creatures, including, Minotaurs, Minoboars, Cyclops, Werewolves, Wraiths, Ankleslicers, Wolves, Boggles and more.

These ferocious creatures are modeled in the game after the characters being created for the motion picture, by the digital and visual effects geniuses at New Zealand-based Weta Workshop, whose credits include "Lord of the Rings: Return of the King," "Van Helsing," and "I, Robot." Additional game features include intricate puzzle solving, two-player action featuring all four characters, and seamless game play integration with real film footage.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe is a spectacular live action/CGI motion picture adaptation of C.S. Lewis' beloved literary classic. The film marks the first live action directorial effort for Andrew Adamson (Academy Award®-winner for "Shrek," "Shrek 2"), who also co-wrote the film's screenplay adaptation with Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely. The film is produced by Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Mark Johnson ("Rain Man"). The film will be released December 9, 2005.

About Disney Interactive

Disney Interactive is an award-winning publishing label of Buena Vista Games, Inc., the interactive entertainment arm of The Walt Disney Company. The label publishes, markets and distributes interactive entertainment based on Disney branded properties. The company also licenses properties and works directly with third-party interactive game publishers to bring products for all ages to market.

--Posted March 8, 2005
Source: Disney Interactive