Atari Launches ’Arthur And The Minimoys’ For Game Boy Advance And DS

- Video Game of Luc Besson’s Animated Feature Film Available Now -

LYON, FRANCE – 15 December 2006 – Atari today announced the launch of Arthur and the Minimoys for Nintendo® DS™ and Game Boy Advance™. The game of world famous film director and writer Luc Besson’s animated feature film Arthur and the Minimoys has already been released for PlayStation®2, the Windows platform and mobile phones, with the game scheduled for release on PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) in the coming weeks.

In the GBA version of Arthur and the Minimoys, players relive the fantastic adventure of young Arthur and his two pals, Sélénia and Bétamèche, in their mission to save the Minimoys’ world from destruction. The game incorporates Besson’s entire Minimoys universe and its tiny inhabitants (just a couple of millimetres tall) and is infused with all the richness and extraordinary visuals of the film. The unique and innovative game concept revolves around the teamwork of the trio (Arthur, Sélénia and Bétamèche): players can only progress by cleverly combining the three characters’ skills. In solving mysteries and overcoming obstacles, players will realize that anything is possible when you work together.

By taking a very unique approach to its presentation of the Arthur universe and utilising the unique features of the DS hardware, the Nintendo DS version of Arthur and the Minimoys is a different kind of game to the versions for other consoles and PC. Arthur and the Minimoys for DS gleefully portrays the magical world of Arthur through a series of original and entertaining micro games and with an absorbing ‘virtual pet simulator’ where players are responsible for caring for and breeding ‘Mul mul’, small, fluffy, flying creatures found in abundance in the world of Arthur.

The PS2, PSP and PC games are developed by Lyon- and Paris-based Etranges Libellules, creator of several successful animated games including Asterix XXL and Kirikou. The DS game is developed by Etranges Libellules and Necko Entertainment, and the GBA game by Etranges Libellules and Mistic.

For more information about the game and the Arthur universe visit www.atari.com/arthur.

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About Luc Besson:
Writer, director and producer Luc Besson was seduced by the inner workings of the French cinema industry at the age of 17. Following a steady climb through the ranks, during which time he continued to write, he eventually directed his first film “Le Dernier Combat”. The film was lauded at the Avoriaz Festival in 1983 winning the jury Grand Prize and critics prize, proving to be the start of a major career. A string of hit films followed, with Besson taking the role of writer, director, and sometimes producer, on movies including “Subway” (1985), “The Big Blue” (1988), “Nikita” (1990), “Leon/The Professional” (1995), “The Fifth Element” (1997), “Taxi” (1998), and “Joan of Arc” (1999) amongst numerous others. In 2000, Luc Besson co-founded a new independent European film studio, EuropaCorp, with an impressive remit. In 2002 he completed and published the first book in the ‘Arthur and the Minimoys’ series in France generating sales in excess of 950,000. Successful sequels followed, with the books now available across the globe. The animated feature film of the same name is currently in production and represents the first European-made 3D animated feature film produced with a Hollywood budget for global release.

About EuropaCorp:
EuropaCorp develops, produces and co-produces movies in France and internationally. It handles all forms of distribution (theatres, dvd, licensing...) and international sales, according to a unique vertical model. With more than 40 movie productions and co-productions since 2000, EuropaCorp posted consolidated sales of approximately €100 million in the financial year ended 31 March 2005.

About Etranges Libellules:
Established in 1994 and based in Lyon, France, video game development studio Etranges Libellules specialises in the adaptation of existing characters to the world of video games. The high quality of its engineers and the exceptional creativity of its designers and graphic artists has led to the development of successful games based on the universes of Kirikou, Pink Panther and Asterix.
By proposing fun, intuitive and innovative gameplay, enhanced by a production process which allows for extreme fine tuning of the products, Etranges Libellules is creating games that have all the ingredients to reach the top of the sales charts.
The company recently completed the latest Asterix game, Asterix & Obelix XXL2, which is based on captivating gameplay and a highly original scenario.
Etranges Libellules has been chosen to produce the video game based on ‘Arthur and the Minimoys’. The team has been installed within the film studio where the Film is being shot in order to work hand in hand with the movie team. Never before have a game and a movie been developed in such close collaboration.

About Infogrames Entertainment and Atari:
Infogrames Entertainment (IESA), the parent company of the Atari Group, is listed on the Paris Euronext stock exchange (ISIN code: FR-0000052573) and has two principal subsidiaries: Atari Europe, a privately-held company, and Atari, Inc., a United States corporation listed on NASDAQ (ATAR).
The Atari Group is a major international producer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment software for all market segments and in all existing game formats (Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony) and on CD-ROM for PC. Its games are sold in more than 60 countries.
The Atari Group’s extensive catalogue of popular games is based on original franchises (Alone in the Dark, V-Rally, Test Drive, Roller Coaster Tycoon, etc.) and international licenses (Dragon Ball Z, Dungeons & Dragons, etc.).
For more information: http://www.atari.com

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© 2006 Atari Europe SASU. All rights reserved.

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Cécile SORNAY

Atari Group

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