Brave and Adventurous Mouse Despereaux Embarks on Videogame Quest

Atari ships The Tale of Despereaux: The Game, featuring the voice of Emma Watson and other cast members, to retailers to tie in with big screen release from Universal Pictures

NEW YORK, Dec. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Atari, Inc. announced today the release of The Tale of Despereaux: The Game, adapted from the beloved Newbery Medal-winning novel by Kate DiCamillo and the Universal Pictures animated adventure, which debuts in theaters December 19. Emma Watson, Robbie Coltrane, Tony Hale and other voice talent from the film reprise their roles for this engaging adventure game. The game will be available on PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system, Wii(TM), and PC, with an originally designed game also available for Nintendo DS(TM).

The Tale of Despereaux: The Game lets children of all ages play as the world’s most courageous mouse as he sets out on his heroic quest to save Princess Pea and the kingdom of Dor. Following the storyline from the film and introducing new adventures, the game allows kids to interact with a cast of familiar characters on their way to a magical world filled with exciting battles, fun-filled adventures, and unique puzzles. The console game features fifteen unique levels, upgradeable skills and tools, as well as multiple difficulty settings, so children of all ages and abilities can have a rewarding experience. The Nintendo DS(TM) game features action-packed grappling, swinging, and scurrying, as well as clever puzzles and whimsical unlockable costumes.

The Tale of Despereaux: The Game for the Console and PC is rated E10. The Nintendo DS version is rated E for Everyone. All platforms are available in retailers across North America for Wii(TM) ($39.99), Nintendo DS(TM) ($29.99), PlayStation(R)2 system ($29.99), and PC ($19.99).

About The Tale of Despereaux Film

Once upon a time, in the faraway kingdom of Dor, there was magic in the air, laughter aplenty, and gallons of mouthwatering soup. But an accident left the King broken-hearted, the Princess filled with longing, and the townsfolk without their soup. Sunlight disappeared. The world became gray. All hope was lost in this land … until Despereaux Tilling was born.

A modern fairy tale, The Tale of Despereaux tells the story of several unlikely heroes: Despereaux ( Matthew Broderick), a brave mouse banished to the dungeon for speaking with a human; Roscuro ( Dustin Hoffman), a good-hearted rat who loves light and soup, but is exiled to darkness; Pea ( Emma Watson), a Princess in a gloomy castle who is prisoner to her father’s grief; and Mig ( Tracey Ullman), a servant girl who longs to be a Princess, but is forced to serve the jailer ( Robbie Coltrane).

Tiny and graced with oversized ears, Despereaux was born too big for his little world. Refusing to live his life cowering, he befriends a Princess named Pea and learns to read (rather than eat) books — reveling in stories of knights, dragons and fair maidens. Banished from Mouseworld for being more man than mouse, Despereaux is rescued by another outcast, Roscuro, who also wants to hear the tales. But when the Princess dismisses Roscuro’s friendship, he becomes the ultimate rat and plots revenge with fellow outsider Mig.

After Pea is kidnapped, Despereaux discovers he is the only one who can rescue her … and that even the tiniest mouse can find the courage of a knight in shining armor. In this tale of bravery, forgiveness and redemption, one small creature will teach a kingdom that it takes only a little light to show the truth: what you look like doesn’t equal who you are.

About Infogrames Entertainment and Atari

The Infogrames group, including Atari, Inc., is a global producer, publisher, and distributor of interactive entertainment software for all market segments and all interactive game platforms including consoles from Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony Computer Entertainment, advanced smartphones, Personal Computers, web, and online. Its games are sold in more than 60 countries through an international distribution network and direct to consumers via www.atari.com.

The Infogrames group’s extensive catalogue of popular games is marketed under the Atari brand and based on original franchises (Alone in the Dark, Test Drive, V-Rally, My Horse & Me, Backyard Sports franchise, Total Annihilation, Outcast etc.), publishing properties (The Witcher, Legendary, Race Pro etc.), international licenses (Dragon Ball Z, Dungeons & Dragons, Jamie Oliver etc.), and classic games covering the entire history of the video game industry (Pong, Missile Command, Asteroids etc).

About Humongous, Inc.

Humongous, Inc. produces the award-winning Backyard Sports videogames series — the best selling sports gaming franchise for kids. Founded in 1992, Humongous (formerly Humongous Entertainment) is part of Atari, Inc. Along with Backyard Sports, Humongous is recognized for high-quality, animated CD-ROMs starring original characters. For more information: www.backyardsports.com.

About Universal Pictures Digital Platforms Group

Universal Pictures Digital Platforms Group (UPDPG) is responsible for global digital product development, production, licensing, distribution, and growth strategy for the extensive catalogue of Universal’s properties across new and emerging digital platforms, including mobile, video game consoles, personal computers, and other portable devices. With a worldwide mandate to help shape the digital future of Universal Pictures, the Group has offices in Universal City, California; London, England; and Tokyo, Japan.

Universal Pictures Digital Platforms Group is a unit of Universal Studios Home Entertainment and Universal Pictures. Universal Pictures is a division of NBC Universal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80% owned by General Electric and 20% owned by Vivendi.

Safe Harbor Statement

With the exception of the historical information contained in this release, the matters described herein contain certain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this release are not promises or guarantees and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions and are naturally subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. We caution you not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements. Actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied by the statements herein. Some of the factors which could cause our results to differ materially include the following: the loss of key customers; delays in product development and related product release schedules; inability to secure capital; loss of our credit facilities, adapting to the rapidly changing industry technology, including new console technology; maintaining relationships with leading independent videogame software developers; maintaining or acquiring licenses to intellectual property; fluctuations in quarterly net revenues and results of operations based on the seasonality of our industry; the termination or modification of our agreements with hardware manufacturers; and other factors.

The Company undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statements to conform the statement to actual results or changes in the Company’s expectations.

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SOURCE Atari, Inc.