News

FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER PLAY BARBIE™ AS TWO CHARACTERS IN THE ADVENTURE OF

BARBIE™ AS THE PRINCESS AND THE PAUPER Newly released Game Boy® Advance title ships to retailers nationwide

LOS ANGELES (September 9, 2004)— Girls join Barbie™ as two characters, Erika™ and Princess Anneliese™, in Barbie™ as the Princess and the Pauper from Vivendi Universal Games (VU Games), which is now available in retail stores nationwide. In this action-filled adventure, girls ages 5 and up help Barbie™ and her friends defend the royal kingdom from the evil villain Preminger™.

Barbie™ as the Princess and the Pauper is based on Mattel’s entertainment initiative which includes a national television premiere and a VHS/DVD release this Fall. Erika™ and Princess Anneliese™ bring the small screen to the Game Boy® Advance and allow girls to play through exciting mini-games, solve puzzles and defeat the evildoers who threaten the kingdom with mischief and mayhem.

Along the way girls must also play as the royal cats Serafina™ and Wolfie™, and even enjoy two-player fun—available in the game’s fast-paced mini-games. Jump, climb and tunnel through five amazing locations and more than 20 compelling levels, all while collecting clues which will lead to the villain and restore peace in the midst of chaos.

Barbie™ needs help! Girls must help Erika™ and Princess Anneliese™ defeat Preminger™ and banish him from the kingdom forever!

Key product features include:

  • Play as Erika™, Princess Anneliese™ and even their cats, Wolfie™ and Serafina™.

  • Jump, climb and tunnel your way through five amazing locations – Royal Orchards, Evergreen Forest, Crystal Mines, the Village and Secret Hideout.

  • Play through more than 20 exciting levels and special challenges. Use magical songs, a Royal Shield and even the cats’ digging and climbing abilities.

  • Solve puzzles and collect clues to catch the villain and save the kingdom. Find the golden apples in the orchard; catch and release rare butterflies in the forest, and much more.

  • Two-player fun. Play the mini-games alone or with a friend.

Availability and Pricing

Barbie™ Princess and the Pauper is currently available on the Game Boy® Advance for a suggested retail price of $29.99, with an ESRB “E” rating. For sales and ordering information, customers can visit www.vugames.com .

About Mattel

Mattel, Inc., (NYSE: MAT, www.mattel.com) is the worldwide leader in design, manufacture and marketing of toys and family products, including Barbie®, the most popular fashion doll ever created. Leading the toy and game market, the Mattel family is comprised of such best-selling brands as Hot Wheels®, Matchbox®, American Girl®, Tyco® R/C and Scrabble®, as well as Fisher-Price® brands (www.fisherprice.com), including Little People®, Rescue Heroes™, Power Wheels® and a wide array of entertainment-inspired toy lines. With worldwide headquarters in El Segundo, Calif., Mattel employs more than 27,000 people in 36 countries and sells products in more than 150 nations throughout the world. The Mattel vision is to be the world’s premier toy brands --- today and tomorrow.

About Vivendi Universal Games

Headquartered in Los Angeles, VU Games is a leading global developer, publisher and distributor of multi-platform interactive entertainment. Its development studios and publishing labels include Blizzard Entertainment, Sierra Entertainment, Fox Interactive and Massive Entertainment. VU Games’ library of over 700 titles features multi-million unit selling properties such as Warcraft, StarCraft and Diablo from Blizzard; Crash Bandicoot, Spyro The Dragon, Ground Control, Tribes and Leisure Suit Larry.

BARBIE and associated trademarks and trade dress are owned by, and used under license from, Mattel, Inc. ©2004 Mattel, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Vivendi Universal Games- http://www.vugames.com: The information transmitted is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged material of Vivendi Universal Games which is for the exclusive use of the individual designated above as the recipient. Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this in error, please contact immediately the sender by returning e-mail and delete the material from any computer. If you are not the specified recipient, you are hereby notified that all disclosure, reproduction, distribution or action taken on the basis of this message is prohibited.



For More Product Information
Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper (GBA)