Hasbro's Popular Strategy Game Re-Imagined for Global Digital
Conquests
Featuring New Modes of Play, Distinctive
Art Style and Outlandish Humor
REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Jun 23, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The EA Play Label of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS) today launched RISK(TM):
Factions on Xbox LIVE(R) Arcade (XBLA), a digital re-invention
of Hasbro's iconic game of strategy and world domination. Featuring a
blend of traditional and new gameplay modes, RISK: Factions takes
global conquests to a new level with five-player online multiplayer
functionality, setting the stage for the ultimate strategy showdown. RISK:
Factions also presents a distinctive art style and offbeat humor
such as cat and zombie factions that adds a unique and compelling layer
of fun for both the new and veteran RISK fan.
"RISK: Factions has been designed to offer something for every
level of strategy player," said Chip Lange, General Manager and Senior
Vice President of the Hasbro Division at Electronic Arts. "We've taken a
pop culture favorite and injected doses of innovation and creativity
across all aspects of the game to deliver a RISK experience that can
only be achieved on a digital gaming platform such as XBLA. From
original Classic mode to new Factions mode, and online multiplayer to an
assortment of rule-set options, game-changing strategic weapons, quirky
factions and eye-grabbing graphics, the quest for world domination just
got more extreme and fun."
RISK: Factions pits five fanatical factions against one another
in an epic battle for global supremacy. Deployed as cats, robots,
zombies, yetis or humans, RISK strategists can start by playing through
single-player campaign mode to familiarize themselves with the factions
and Hasbro's 2008 RISK rule-set, upon which the video game is based.
Alternatively, players can jump directly into the action in one of the
game's three multiplayer modes including: Command Room mode, featuring
the fast moving objective-based 2008 rule-set; Classic mode, offering
traditional play where players conquer the world by eliminating all
other opponents; and World Conquest mode, a mix of Command Room and
Classic modes.
The XBLA game also features online multiplayer capabilities for
up to five players and local multiplayer options for up to four players.
New maps, unlockable avatar items, bonus "overkill" moments, and
strategic weapons also round out RISK: Factions' inventive twists
and turns, all created to test players' strategic mettle and execution.
"The RISK game brand has always been about strategizing to rule the
world, and now EA is offering players a chance to do so in a re-imagined
digital environment," said Mark Blecher, Senior Vice President and
General Manager of Digital Media and Gaming at Hasbro.
RISK: Factions was developed by UK-based Stainless Games with
cinematics produced by Powerhouse Animation. The game is rated E10+ by
the ESRB and is available now on Xbox LIVE Arcade for 800 Microsoft
points, or approximately $10.00.
Additional RISK-inspired digital games under development include RISK
for the iPhone(R) and iPod touch(R), both scheduled to launch on the App
Store later this summer from EA Mobile. An online version of RISK is
also currently available on Pogo.com.
About Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is
a leading global interactive entertainment software company. Founded in
1982, the Company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive
software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers, wireless
devices and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under
four brand names: EA SPORTS(TM), EA(TM), EA Mobile(TM) and POGO(TM). In fiscal 2010,
EA posted GAAP net revenue of $3.7 billion and had 27 titles that sold
more than one million units. EA's homepage and online game site is www.ea.com.
More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can
be found on the Internet at http://info.ea.com.
About Hasbro
Hasbro, Inc. is a worldwide leader in children's and family leisure time
products and services with a rich portfolio of brands and entertainment
properties that provides some of the highest quality and most
recognizable play and recreational experiences in the world. As a
brand-driven, consumer-focused global company, Hasbro brings to market a
range of toys, games and licensed products, from traditional to
high-tech and digital, under such powerful brand names as TRANSFORMERS,
PLAYSKOOL, TONKA, MILTON BRADLEY, PARKER BROTHERS, CRANIUM and WIZARDS
OF THE COAST. Come see how we inspire play through our brands at http://www.hasbro.com.
About Stainless Games
Stainless Games is a privately owned company based on the South Coast of
the UK. Although best known for the creation of the multi-million
selling Carmageddon franchise, the company has now become recognized as
one of the world's leading companies in the burgeoning Console Download
market, most recently developing the No1 XBLA title, Magic the
Gathering: Duels of the Planeswalkers. For more information visit
the Stainless Games website at www.stainlessgames.com.
About Powerhouse Animation
Austin, Texas based Powerhouse Animation Studios was founded by industry
veterans Frank Gabriel, Bruce Tinnin and Brad Graeber. The group
utilizes state-of-the-art technology to create novel, fresh traditional
animation. With over 30 years of experience in feature and television
animation, as well as commercial design, Powerhouse offers a range of
design and animation services, including traditional and Flash
animation, game cinematics, character design, storyboarding, viral
marketing and interactive games. Powerhouse created cinematics for the
cult favorite video game Penny Arcade: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of
Darkness, and is working currently with several of the tier 1
console game studios to produce cinematics, mini-games, and animation.
Powerhouse animated Kevin Smith's "10th Anniversary Clerks DVD."
Powerhouse's resume also boasts creating the first fully animated music
video for Country Music Television--Lonestar's "Mr. Mom." Our animators
have worked on films including Prince of Egypt, Mulan, Curious George,
Brother Bear, Lilo & Stitch, Mulan, Space Jam, Anastasia, Titan A.E.,
Thumbelina, and A Troll in Central Park. Members of Powerhouse's staff
have animated Bugs Bunny for Warner Bros. Classics, and Rocky and
Bullwinkle for television commercials. Powerhouse also had the
opportunity to create a series of customized arcade machines, including
one created for performers Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez. To learn more
about Powerhouse, please visit www.powerhouseanimation.com.
EA, EA SPORTS, EA Mobile and POGO are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc.
RISK is a trademark of Hasbro and is used with permission. Microsoft,
Xbox, Xbox LIVE Arcade and Xbox 360 are trademarks of the Microsoft
group of companies. All other trademarks are the property of their
respective owners.
SOURCE: Electronic Arts Inc.
EA
Lauren Svensson, 650-628-3138
lsvensson@ea.com
or
Foghorn PR (For EA)
Shelly Eckenroth, 717-852-7060
seckenroth@foghornpr.com
or
Hasbro
Pat Riso, 413-526-2307
priso@hasbro.com
Copyright Business Wire 2010