Publishing Highlights - Third Quarter
In its third quarter of fiscal 2003, Take-Two's Rockstar Games introduced additional extensions to its blockbuster Grand Theft Auto franchise, which has sold over 25 million units worldwide since the introduction of the brand. Rockstar shipped Grand Theft Auto: Vice City for the PC and the PlayStation®2 Greatest Hits version of Grand Theft Auto 3. Rockstar also released the highly anticipated Midnight Club 2 for the Xbox(TM) and PC, a sequel to the multi-million unit selling franchise. Strong sales of Midnight Club 2 for PlayStation®2, released late in the second quarter, continued into the third quarter.
Gathering released the sequels Age of Wonders: Shadow Magic and Stronghold Warchest, both for the PC. Gotham Games launched the new title The Great Escape in North America on PlayStation®2, PC and Xbox(TM) and shipped Motocross Mania 2 and ATV Mania for the PlayStation®.
Future Publishing Highlights
Rockstar Games' products planned for release in the fourth quarter include the launch of Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne, the sequel to the hit franchise that has sold over 4 million units since its debut in 2001. The title will launch on PC, and will be in stores in North America on October 15th, with PlayStation®2 and Xbox(TM) versions planned for release in the first quarter.
As announced today, Rockstar is introducing a double pack of Grand Theft Auto 3 and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City for both the Xbox(TM) and PlayStation®2. The Grand Theft Auto double pack will be in stores in North America on October 22nd for PlayStation®2 and on November 4th for Xbox(TM). Rockstar also looks forward to the late September release of Grand Theft Auto 3 for PlayStation®2 and PC in Japan, under a license agreement with Capcom Co., Ltd.
Gathering's lineup of titles for the fourth quarter includes Railroad Tycoon 3 and Hidden & Dangerous 2, sequels to the popular franchises which have each sold over 1 million units, and Space Colony, a new title, all for the PC. Gotham Games expects to ship Conflict: Desert Storm II and Starsky & Hutch, both in North America only, for PlayStation®2, PC and Xbox(TM). Gotham is also launching MTV's Celebrity Deathmatch for PlayStation®2, PC, Xbox(TM), GameCube and PlayStation®.
Rockstar's extensive first quarter lineup includes the North American release of the Grand Theft Auto double pack for Xbox(TM) and the launch of the new title Manhunt for PlayStation®2. Manhunt was developed internally by Rockstar North, the creators of the global blockbuster Grand Theft Auto series and is scheduled to be in stores in North America on November 19th. Rockstar will also ship the PlayStation®2 and Xbox(TM) versions of Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne in the first quarter.
Also planned for a first quarter release is Gathering's Mafia for PlayStation®2 and Xbox(TM), the sequel to the popular franchise introduced last fall.
Additional products planned for fiscal 2004 from Rockstar Games include the next installment in the Grand Theft Auto franchise, extensions of other proprietary intellectual properties from Rockstar's internal studios, as well as the launch of The Warriors(TM), a new title based on the Paramount Pictures feature film. Gathering's lineup includes both sequels to the popular Hidden & Dangerous and Vietcong franchises, and the introduction of other new properties.
The Company's success in distributing mid and value-priced software has demonstrated the increasing demand for this type of product as the console cycle progresses and the installed base of hardware and software expands. Take-Two plans to capitalize on this trend by expanding its product offerings of attractively priced mass-market titles in its publishing business. The Company's product pipeline for fiscal 2004 includes a variety of mass-market and children's licensed properties from TDK.