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ROCKY™ MARKETING BLITZ OFFERS ONE-TWO-THREE PUNCH

 

Multi-Million Dollar Marketing Campaign Features Knockout Combination of Adverting, Online and PR  

 

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – November 14, 2002 – Ubi Soft Entertainment, one of the world’s largest video game publishers, today announced an aggressive marketing plan in support of its highly-anticipated boxing game, Rocky -- officially licensed  by MGM Interactive and based on the series of Academy Award winning Rocky movies.  Rocky’s “Red, White and Bruised” marketing campaign features a

multi-million dollar combination of innovative grass roots marketing, highly visible online, print, radio and TV advertising and PR leading up to its November launch and continuing through January 2003.  Rocky will launch for the Xbox video game system from Microsoft, PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, Nintendo GameCube, and Nintendo GameBoy Advance in November. 

·         Xbox -- Tuesday, November 12th

·         GameCube and GBA – Thursday, November 14th

·         PS2 – Tuesday, November 19th

 

“Rocky is one of the most recognizable brands in the world, and we felt supporting such a huge brand required a multi-tiered marketing approach,” said Tony Kee, vice president of marketing for Ubi Soft Entertainment.  “The combination of advertising, PR and grass roots marketing are the one-two-three combination that will compliment Rocky’s built-in brand awareness and the fun, adrenaline-pumping gameplay of the Rocky game itself.”

 

Rocky Mania Thanksgiving Day Weekend

The highlight of the Rocky marketing blitz is the million dollar television advertising campaign that kicks off Thanksgiving Day weekend.  The comedic :15 second spots will air in all major markets naionwide through November and December.  The television visibility will coincide with a radio advertising and promotional campaign, together potentially reaching more than 100 million consumers.  Rocky’s marketing blitz also features new, innovative programs utilizing viral and online mediums.  In November, Ubi Soft will sponsor an Editor FIGHT NIGHT with one of the most visited online gaming Web sites, IGN.com.  The FIGHT NIGHT will feature a Rocky knockout tournament against IGN’s editorial staff when the game launches in November.

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Grass Roots

The strength of Rocky’s brand lies in its popularity with the men, women and children who grew up watching the movies and building the Rocky legend.  Naturally, a strong grass roots marketing push was a perfect opportunity to reach out to those same fans across the country, and introduce them to the Rocky videogames.  Ubi Soft launched an innovative, online grass roots campaign in November targeting more than 500 different boxing enthusiast and boxing video game sites.  Additionally, Rocky was part of two nationwide mall tours -- Summer and Winter -- hitting top markets across the country.  People from San Francisco to New York were able to experience the fun and excitement of the Rocky games months before launch. 

 

Media Critics Praise Rocky

Additionally, since Ubi Soft announced its deal with developer, Rage Games, LTD, at E3 2002, it has executed an aggressive PR and print enthusiast advertising campaign.  The tremendous positive reactions from editorial influencers have fuelled building excitement for the title.  Official Xbox Magazine hailed Rocky’s “graphics look astonishing, with some of the best movie-to-polygon translations yet seen.”  Additionally, Official PlayStation Magazine exclaimed, "We love this game because the boxing more closely resembles the sport than anything before it!"  IGN’s PS2 editor exclaimed Rocky is “among the best boxing games I've ever played, and while it's all a matter of personal opinion I would easily rank it alongside titles like Greatest Heavyweights, Super Punch-Out, and Muhammed Ali's Heavyweight Boxing.”

 

“In the UK, our reviews have received tremendous scores of 9 and 10 out of 10 from gaming publications, and consistently sold out in many store locations -- creating an instant success and boxing phenomenon in Europe,” said Glen O’Connell , director of communications for Rage Games, LTD.  “We know Rocky will experience similar spectacular success with American gamers.”


About Ubi Soft Entertainment:

Ubi Soft Entertainment is a global producer, publisher and international distributor of interactive entertainment products. A leading company in the industry, Ubi Soft's strong and diversified lineup has grown considerably. As well as developing original properties, Ubi Soft has also steadfastly partnered with several high-profile companies and is dedicated to delivering consumers with quality videogame titles while offering blockbuster franchises. Founded in 1986, the company has offices in 22 countries including the United States, Canada, France, Germany and China and sells its products in over 50 countries. For more information about Ubi Soft, visit http://www.ubi.com .

 

About Rage:

Rage Software plc, based in Liverpool, UK and established in 1992, is a publisher and developer of interactive entertainment software. Rage publishes and develops games on the Sony PlayStation®2, Microsoft Xbox™, Nintendo® GameCube™, Game Boy® Advance™ and PC CD platforms and is also working on gaming content for new and emerging platforms including mobile phones and interactive digital television. Rage has the exclusive worldwide licenses rights to produce a series of officially licensed games featuring the Manchester United and England soccer star, David Beckham, the MGM Rocky movie anthology featuring Sylvester Stallone, world champion aggressive inline skaters Cesar Mora, Fabiola da Silva and Jon Julio and former SAS soldier and best selling author, Andy McNab. Rage has relationships with Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo, Nokia, Orange and BSkyB and is listed on the London Stock Exchange (FTSE: RGE).  http://www.rage.com

 

About MGM Interactive:
MGM Interactive, a unit of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. (NYSE: MGM), manages business development and production of interactive products for a variety of multimedia platforms, as well as talent and developer relationships.  MGM Interactive's upcoming games include this fall's latest installment to the James Bond videogame franchise, James Bond 007: NightFire, from Electronic Arts; Rocky, from U.K.-based Rage, based on the unforgettable Academy Award® -winning film; The Great Escape, from SCi, derived from the action-packed cult classic; and Robocop from France-based Titus Software.  For more information about MGM, visit MGM Online at http://www.mgm.com.

 

©2002 Ubi Soft, Inc. All rights reserved.  Ubi Soft Entertainment and the Ubi Soft logo are registered trademarks of Ubi Soft, Inc.  Splinter Cell is a trademark of Ubi Soft Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

"Rocky" - "Rocky V" TM & © 1976-2002 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.  "Rocky" - "Rocky V" TM & © 1976-2002 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.  All rights reserved.

Xbox is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.

Nintendo, Game Boy Advance and the Nintendo GameCube are trademarks of Nintendo. ©2002Nintendo

“PlayStation” and the “PS” Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc.



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