| Vivendi Universal Games (VU Games) is a global developer, publisher and distributor of multi-platform interactive entertainment. The company is a leader in the subscription-based massively multi-player online (MMO) games category, and also holds leading positions in the PC, console and handheld games markets.
VU Games? portfolio of development studios and publishing labels includes Blizzard Entertainment, Sierra Entertainment, Radical Entertainment, Massive Entertainment, and Swordfish Studios. VU Games? library of over 700 titles features owned intellectual properties including Warcraft, StarCraft, Diablo, and World of Warcraft from Blizzard, Crash Bandicoot, Spyro the Dragon, Empire Earth, Leisure Suit Larry, Ground Control, and Tribes.
In 2004, VU Games became a leader in the MMO market with Blizzard Entertainment?s World of Warcraft. The game launched in North America in late November 2004, and in Korea and Europe in early 2005. As of March 2005, World of Warcraft boasts more than 1.5 million subscribers worldwide.
VU Games is the second-largest publisher of PC game software in North America and Europe. 2004 performance was led by Half-Life 2, Counter-Strike: Condition Zero, The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay, Men of Valor and Tribes: Vengeance.
VU Games? console and handheld titles are available for major platforms including the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, Xbox® video game system from Microsoft, and Nintendo GameCube™. VU Games? best performing games in this segment in 2004 included Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay, Spyro: A Hero?s Tail and Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude, as well as The Simpsons: Hit & Run, originally released in 2003.
In 2005, VU Games plans to release console and PC titles such as Scarface, 50 Cent: Bulletproof, Robots, and The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction, as well as new installments of Empire Earth, Crash Bandicoot, and SWAT franchises. |