February 27, 2007
SEGA Reveals Details of the Golden Compass
Video Game
Leading Interactive Entertainment Company to
Publish Game Based on Highly Anticipated Theatrical Release from New Line Cinema
SEGA® of America Inc. and SEGA® Europe Ltd. today
revealed details regarding the development of the video game adaptation of the
highly anticipated theatrical release, The Golden Compass, based on the first
book in the award-winning trilogy, His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman. The
game is being developed for multiple platforms and will ship in fall 2007, just
prior to the opening of the New Line Cinema motion picture on December 7, 2007.
Featuring pivotal environments from the movie, the vivid characters are brought
to interactive life, featuring the likenesses of the movie’s impressive cast,
which includes Daniel Craig as Lord Asriel and newcomer Dakota Blue Richards as
Lyra Belacqua.
Produced by New Line Cinema and Scholastic Media,
The Golden Compass follows the screenplay adaptation of the first book in the
acclaimed trilogy, capturing the exciting fantasy adventure set in a parallel
world where giant armored bears rule a kingdom, beautiful witches fly through
the frozen skies, and human beings’ deepest essence is manifest as talking
animals that remain their faithful companion for life – their daemon. Players
can assume the role of Lyra, a young girl, along with her daemon Pantalaimon
(Pan), as she journeys through the frozen wastes of the North to rescue a friend
kidnapped by a mysterious organization known as The Gobblers and winds up on an
epic quest to save not only her world, but ours as well. Gamers can also take on
the character of Iorek Byrnison, a great armored polar bear who joins the quest.
As Lyra, players will use their daemon and
collaborate with in-game characters, collecting special items in order to
explore, evade, and deceive their way through confrontations with the Gobblers,
the Magisterium, and the horribly dangerous spy fly to find her friend. They can
also do battle as Iorek with special attacks and a riding mechanic as he
protects Lyra during the journey. Gamers will be able to unlock secrets and
mini-games using a mysterious, truth-telling golden compass device called an
alethiometer. Players can explore 13 vast locations, including all-new
breath-taking environments not seen in the film, on this massive journey of
collaboration, exploration and the eternal struggle between good and evil.
This epic tale will be brought to the Xbox 360
video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PlayStation 3 computer
entertainment system, the Wii video game system, the PlayStation 2 computer
entertainment system, the PSP, the Nintendo DS, and the PC for holiday 2007.
The Golden Compass video game is being developed
by Shiny Entertainment, best known for developing games based on the blockbuster
The Matrix film franchise. Shiny was acquired by Foundation 9 Entertainment in
October 2006. The Nintendo DS version is being developed by A2M. For more
information on The Golden Compass, please visit the official movie site at
http://www.goldencompassmovie.com/.
