LPWire: Buena Vista Games to Build Treasured Video Game Franchise for 'Pirates of the Caribbean'
Buena Vista Games to Build
Treasured Video Game Franchise for 'Pirates of the Caribbean'
BVG Announces Development of 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest'
Next-Gen Handheld Games and Sets Course for Next Generation Console Titles
Buena Vista Games, Inc. (BVG), the interactive
entertainment arm of The Walt Disney Company announced today the development of
new video game titles based on the highly anticipated feature film, "Pirates of
the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest," scheduled for release in Summer 2006. Building
on the popularity of its successful portable games business, BVG will release
games for the PSP(TM) portable entertainment system and Nintendo DS(TM) in
conjunction with the movie launch. BVG has signed the critically acclaimed
UK-based game developer, Eurocom, to create future games for the upcoming next
generation consoles based on the hit movie franchise. Eurocom's development
credits include best-selling console games based on James Bond, Harry Potter,
and Crash Bandicoot among others.
"The 'Pirates of the Caribbean' franchise will develop over the next few years
as one of the most exciting and important initiatives BVG will spearhead," said
Graham Hopper, senior vice president and general manager, Buena Vista Games,
Inc. "Our upcoming games will expand the Pirates world and allow fans to take on
the roles of some of the most rousing characters ever created, and experience
firsthand their perilous adventures."
In BVG's upcoming "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" video games,
consumers will be able to play as Captain Jack Sparrow, Will Turner and
Elizabeth Swann as they explore and brawl across land and sea on a memorable
quest in search of the legendary Dead Man's Chest. The games will not only
feature thrilling moments from the movie, but will expand the fantasy of the
franchise by offering exciting new adventures and locations inspired by the rich
"Pirates of the Caribbean" universe. The handheld titles are being developed by
Seattle-based Amaze Entertainment and Griptonite Games.
About the film:
"Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest," produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and
directed by Gore Verbinski, once again stars Johnny Depp as Captain Jack
Sparrow, Orlando Bloom as Will Turner and Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Swann.
"Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest," the spectacular follow-up to the
international blockbuster released in 2003, is currently being filmed in Los
Angeles and the Caribbean and is due for release in July 2006.
About Buena Vista Games
Buena Vista Games, Inc. is the interactive entertainment arm of The Walt Disney
Company's Consumer Products business unit. The division publishes, markets and
distributes a broad portfolio of PC and multi-platform video games worldwide.
The company also licenses properties and works directly with third-party
interactive game publishers to bring products for all ages to market. Titles for
Buena Vista Games fall under two publishing labels: Buena Vista Interactive,
which publishes high-profile, multi-platform games based on creative content
from the numerous businesses within The Walt Disney Company as well as new
intellectual properties, and Disney Interactive, which publishes the company's
interactive entertainment based on Disney branded properties.
--Posted April 18, 2005
Source: Buena Vista Games