Capcom® Reaches the Souls of Gamers with a National marketing campaign to Support the Release of Onimusha 3 Demon Siege

Campaign Generates Massive Consumer Awareness for Final Chapter in Onimusha Epic Saga

SUNNYVALE, Calif.  April 22, 2004  Capcom®, a leading worldwide developer and publisher of video games, today announced details of a national marketing campaign to support the upcoming release of  Onimusha™ 3 Demon Siege for the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system.  Highlighting the campaign tagline “Two Heroes. One Destiny.” an extensive television and in-theater marketing program will begin to run on April 23 and continue throughout May, generating more than 61 million consumer impressions.  These ads will support the overall marketing initiative which also includes national print advertising and online vehicles, key promotional and retail support along with a strategic viral marketing campaign.

The concluding chapter of the critically acclaimed Onimusha epic saga, Onimusha 3 Demon Siege introduces newly designed 3D polygonal environments, more expansive settings to explore, a new dual hero fighting system, enhanced gameplay and motion picture quality cinematics that the series is known to deliver. Onimusha 3 Demon Siege intertwines two different stories that transcend four centuries from ancient feudal Japan to modern day France.  Set to star in the last chapter of the award-winning series is Takeshi Kaneshiro, who reprises his role as Samanosuke Akechi from the original title in the series.  Joining him is Jean Reno the world-renowned movie star who is best known for his roles in ‘The Professional’, ‘Mission Impossible’, ‘Big Blue’ and ‘La Femme Nikita,’ starring as French military officer Jacques Blanc. To date, the entire Onimusha series has sold more than five million units world wide.

“Onimusha 3 Demon Siege is the concluding chapter to an epic samurai trilogy, and we have readied a marketing campaign that will send off this franchise in style,” said Todd Thorson, director of marketing, Capcom Entertainment.  “With Hollywood level production values, a compelling storyline and a gripping gameplay experience, Onimusha 3 Demon Siege will appeal to the early-adopter, hardcore gamers and the broader casual audience as well.”

To support a cinematic game that rivals even the biggest blockbuster movies, :60 second cinema spots will run nationwide in the top 20 U.S. markets alongside “R” rated movies including the upcoming Trojan War epic “Troy,” and the noir action film “Kill Bill Vol. 2.” :30 and :15 second television spots are aimed at the adult markets, ages 18 to 34 years old, will run in various time slots on syndicated and cable programming in the U.S. and Canada.  Targeted cable programming on shows such as “The Shield,” “The Daily Show,” “American Chopper,” and “WWE,” will also be utilized with spots running on Comedy Central, E!, FX, G4 and additional networks.  Further initiatives include a print campaign which features high profile ads that will run in all major video game magazines and dedicated men’s lifestyle publications including Game Informer, Electronic Gaming Monthly and GamePro just to name a few.  Online efforts include web site advertising as well as an 800+ member online street team whose goal is to evangelize the game.  National retail support will consist of programs such as pre-order and point of sale purchase campaigns at major retail outlets. 

In Onimusha 3 Demon Siege the year is 1582 and 10 years have passed since the events that unfolded in Onimusha 2 Samurai’s Destiny.  The stage is set at the burning Honnoji Temple, as the famous Onimusha warrior Samanosuke Akechi continues to fight the demons in his path. The moment has finally arrived for Samanosuke to confront the true enemy that has eluded him until now, the undying Nobunaga Oda.  Unfortunately before the long-awaited final battle begins, Samanosuke is suddenly engulfed in a whirlpool of light and disappears.
 
The year is 2004. A peaceful French metropolis is suddenly attacked by demons. In the blink of an eye, the city is transformed into a hellish sea of blood as Genma demons slaughter civilians and soldiers one by one. Within this pit of darkness appears one man who stands up against the Genma demons, Jacques Blanc (Jean Reno). As a member of the French army, Jacques is deployed to the nightmarish scene only to discover himself amid a plague of horrific enemies that are beyond anyone’s imagination. An ancient samurai warrior unexpectedly appears to help him defend the helpless city.  As they cooperatively fight off the demons, Jacques is caught in a mysterious vortex and vanishes to feudal Japan, leaving the warrior behind in modern day France.

Why has Samanosuke appeared in present Paris and Jacques in feudal Japan? What fate awaits these two men?  The fierce and bloody battle is unfurled as the beginning of the final Onimusha chapter unfolds when the game is released on April 27.

Capcom is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment.  Founded in 1979, the company has created world renowned franchises including Resident Evil, Street Fighter, Mega Man, Breath of Fire, Devil May Cry and the Onimusha series. Headquartered in Osaka, Japan, the company maintains operations in the U.S., United Kingdom, Germany, Tokyo and Hong Kong.  More information about Capcom and its products can be found on the company’s web site at www.capcom.com.

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Capcom, Street Fighter, Mega Man and Resident Evil are registered trademarks of Capcom Co., Ltd.  Onimusha, Devil May Cry and Breath of Fire are trademarks of Capcom Co., Ltd.  “PlayStation” and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. All rights reserved. All other marks are the property of their respective holders.

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