Vivendi Universal Games Signs Agreement With Legendary Rock Band Metallica

Yahoo Finance/Vivendi Universal Games ^ | 6/4/03 | Press Release

[Pro-Bush]

Press Release Source: Vivendi Universal Games

Vivendi Universal Games Signs Exclusive Worldwide Development Agreement With Legendary Rock Band Metallica

Wednesday June 4, 12:10 pm ET

Deal Includes Publishing Rights for Multi-Platform Action Game Featuring Band's Music and Voice-overs

LOS ANGELES, June 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Vivendi Universal Games (VU Games) today announced that it has signed an exclusive multi-year agreement with renowned rock band Metallica. The contract grants VU Games the worldwide rights to publish and distribute a multi-platform vehicle combat action game featuring music, voice-overs and inspiration from the band. Scheduled for release in 2005, the game will be produced in collaboration with Segnana, Inc. ( www.segnana.com ), a company that partners with Metallica on interactive and online endeavors. The new title -- a high action, third person vehicle combat game packed with fully customized vehicles and weaponry, endless terrain and desperate, murderous opponents -- will include voice-overs from band members, incidental background music and other exclusive content from Metallica. Under terms of the contract, Metallica will also record an original song exclusively for the game along with a music video featuring elements from the interactive experience. A sneak-peek trailer of the title will appear on Metallica's new album, St. Anger, which hits store shelves on June 5, 2003, and will also be featured during the band's "Summer Sanitarium Tour" kicking-off July 4th in Detroit, Michigan.

"We are excited to bring game fans an interactive entertainment experience that delivers intense vehicular combat action along with the powerful music and energy of Metallica," said Luc Vanhal, Vivendi Universal Games' President and COO, North America. "Today's announcement further underscores Vivendi Universal Games' commitment to work with leading artists in the entertainment industry to create engaging interactive products that appeal to the expanding games audience."

Additional product information -- including the title name, developer and platforms -- will be announced at a later date.

About Vivendi Universal Games

Headquartered in New York, Vivendi Universal Games ( www.vugames.com ) is a global leader in multi-platform interactive entertainment. A leading publisher of PC, console and online-based interactive content, Vivendi Universal Games' portfolio of development studios includes Black Label Games, Blizzard Entertainment, Coktel, Fox Interactive, Knowledge Adventure, NDA Productions, Sierra Entertainment and Universal Interactive. Through its Partner Publishing Group, Vivendi Universal Games also co-publishes and/or distributes interactive products for a number of strategic partners, including Crave Entertainment, Interplay, Majesco, Mythic Entertainment and Simon & Schuster, among others.

[Pro-Bush]

[thegreatbeast]

I think they are behind the curve by a number of years. They are striking while the iron is cold.

[Pro-Bush]

Oh really. We'll see.

[thegreatbeast]

Yes, really. Metallica is a great, great band but they reached their zenith some time ago. Certainly they'll generate some sales but nothing like they might have a couple of years ago. And their high dudgeon over file-trading on the 'net cost them a great many fans of a certain age that would be likely to buy computer games.

[Pro-Bush]

The new CD will enter the charts at #1 guaranteed. I think their prime was Master of Puppets, but my favorite release of all time is Ride the Lightning.

[Slings and Arrows]

Can I download it with Napster? :^)

[samuel_adams_us]

Metallica, Legendary? What? If this was Led Zepplin I might agree, or the Beatles, or the Stones, but compared to the groups I have named, Metallica sucks.

[dark_lord]

That's hardly a fair comparison, as those bands are much older. Metallica is also one of the few bands with "clean" sound such that you can clearly hear the lyrics through the instruments.

[samuel_adams_us]

If it were not for the likes of Led Zepplin and the stones, there would be no Metallica, they built the road, Metallica has merely traveled upon it.

[randog]

Metallica is a great, great band but they reached their zenith some time ago. Certainly they'll generate some sales but nothing like they might have a couple of years ago.

Yup. Van Halen's holding the 'EXIT' door open for them.

[King Nothing]

sick 'em, please.. i don't feel like ranting this morning..

[Rebelbase]

"compared to the groups I have named, Metallica sucks."

BUMP!

[Pro-Bush]

Metallica, Legendary? What? If this was Led Zepplin I might agree, or the Beatles, or the Stones, but compared to the groups I have named, Metallica sucks.

Since you are a big fan of the Stones and the Beatles, I understand why you don't like Metallica. Keep listening the the Oldies. The three chord guitar riffs and repetitive melodies keep the feet tappin!

[ChadGore]

Metallica sucks French a_ _ ?

Distainful.

[dead]

You score points when you knock an arm off a member of Def Leppard.

[Pro-Bush]

Headquartered in New York, Vivendi Universal Games ( www.vugames.com ) is a global leader in multi-platform interactive entertainment.

[eno_]

I happen to know some producers at VUGames studios. The a-holes from Paris run the business. Vivendi is French through and through.

[Pro-Bush]

Point Taken. But then again, should we not watch Fox news since Murdock is all warm and fuzzy with China to get programming access? You get my point. Sometimes in business, you have to deal with the devil.

[dennisw]

Right. Metallica are old farts themselves by now and no way will their lousy music ever approach Zep or the Stones. Not by a country mile.