Pirates of the Caribbean is currently the #1 selling Xbox game at EB!

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN GAME SETS SAIL TO STORES NATIONWIDE

Swashbuckling RPG Set to Bow on Xbox™ and PC CD-ROM

July 8, 2003 (Rockville, MD) – Bethesda Softworks announced today that the Pirates of the Caribbean video and computer game has shipped to retailers nationwide.  The game, inspired by Disney's highly-anticipated summer blockbuster movie, "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl," is now available for Xbox™ and PC CD-ROM. Initial copies of Pirates of the Caribbean for Xbox and PC will include a free coupon to see the movie, which opens in theaters nationwide on July 9th.

Pirates of the Caribbean is an exhilarating blend of role-playing and action, taking place in a large group of Caribbean islands during the golden age of piracy and high seas adventure.  Packed with exciting missions both on land and at sea, the game is the most complete pirating adventure to date.

“From lush, exotic environments to breathtaking, real time battles at sea, gamers will experience life as a true buccaneer,” said executive producer Todd Vaughn. “Players can decide to create their own adventure or follow the game’s main storyline in which they will find themselves thrust into an intense power struggle between European powers, merchants and other fortune-seekers.”

Playing as a peaceful and profitable merchant, as a mercenary for hire or as a ruthless pirate, gamers will have the opportunity to command a ship and its crew, swordfight with other captains as well as accept and complete daring quests as they chase rumors of dangers and treasures. Through skill and experience, players will gain the ability to sail the most impressive vessels, hire loyal crewman and have the opportunity to search for riches beyond imagination!

Narrated by Keira Knightley, the movie’s female lead actor, the game features advanced AI, unparalleled graphics and highly detailed environments and characters.  Adding to the game’s realism, players will experience wind and water conditions that affect how their ships sail and fight.  Incredible day and night lighting and spectacular sound effects bring the game to life. 

The game has been rated T for Teen by the ESRB.  For further information on the game, please visit http://pirates.bethsoft.com.

About the Film: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

From producer Jerry Bruckheimer comes the rollicking live-action adventure "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl," starring Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, and Orlando Bloom, directed by Gore Verbinski.  For the roguish yet charming Captain Jack Sparrow (JOHNNY DEPP), the crystalline waters of the Caribbean, like the high seas the world over, present a vast playground where adventure and mystery abound.  But Jack's idyllic life capsizes after his nemesis, the wily Captain Barbossa (GEOFFREY RUSH), steals his ship, the Black Pearl, and later attacks the town of Port Royal, kidnapping the Governor's (JONATHAN PRYCE) beautiful daughter, Elizabeth Swann (KEIRA KNIGHTLEY). 

Elizabeth's childhood friend, Will Turner (ORLANDO BLOOM), joins forces with Jack to commandeer the fastest ship in the British fleet, the HMS Interceptor, in a gallant attempt to rescue her and recapture the Black Pearl.  The duo and their motley crew are pursued by Elizabeth's betrothed, the debonair, ambitious Commodore Norrington (JACK DAVENPORT), aboard the HMS Dauntless.  Unbeknownst to Will, there is a curse that has doomed Barbossa and his crew to live forever as the undead, where each moonlight, they are transformed into living skeletons.  The curse they carry can be broken only if a once-plundered treasure is restored.  Stunning visual effects bring these formidable foes to life as our valiant heroes clash mightily with Barbossa and his invincible pirates of the Caribbean.

For more information on the film, visit www.pirates.movies.com.

About Bethesda Softworks®

Headquartered in Rockville, MD, Bethesda Softworks LLC is a developer and publisher of entertainment software and has produced numerous award-winning titles, most recently with the 2002 PC and Xbox Game of the Year and RPG of the Year, The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind. Among Bethesda's more popular franchises are The Elder Scrolls® series, The Terminator series, and the IHRA Drag Racing series. Its product line spans the sports, racing, RPG, strategy and action genres. For more information on Bethesda Softworks' products, visit www.bethsoft.com.

About Disney Interactive

Disney Interactive is the award-winning publishing label of Buena Vista Games, Inc. The label produces high quality children’s and family-oriented interactive video games and CD-ROMs based on Disney properties.   Buena Vista Games, Inc. is the interactive entertainment arm of The Walt Disney Company’s Consumer Products business unit. For more information on Disney Interactive's products, visit www.disneyinteractive.com

About Xbox

Xbox ( http://www.xbox.com/ ) is Microsoft's future-generation video game system that delivers the most powerful games experiences ever. Xbox empowers game artists by giving them the technology to fulfill their creative visions as never before, creating games that blur the lines between fantasy and reality. Xbox is now available in the continents of North America, Europe, Asia and Australia.

© 2003 Bethesda Softworks LLC, a ZeniMax Media company. Bethesda Softworks and ZeniMax are registered trademarks or trademarks of ZeniMax Media Inc. Microsoft, Xbox and the Xbox Logos are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S. and/or in other countries and are used under license from Microsoft. Audio/Visual elements © Disney. Other product and company names referenced herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. All Rights Reserved.