Xbox and PC Games to Serve as Interactive Sequels to Steven
Spielberg’s Summer Feature
LOS ANGELES — May 16, 2001 — Today in advance of the Electronic
Entertainment Expo (E3) 2001, Microsoft Corp. announced an exclusive licensing
agreement with Warner Bros. to develop and publish games for the Microsoft®
Xbox™ video game system and the PC based on Steven Spielberg’s highly
anticipated movie, "A.I." Considered to be interactive sequels to the
"A.I." movie, three action-packed adventure games will be published by Microsoft
for Xbox, two of which are slated for release this fall with the console’s launch in
North America on Nov. 8. "‘A.I.’ Puzzler" for the PC will be available
in summer 2001.
"I wanted the games that will be inspired by ‘A.I.’ to be creative and
groundbreaking," said Spielberg. "Microsoft really understands the
‘A.I.’ concept and presented me with a series of games scenarios that were out
of this world."
"It is an honor for Microsoft to work with the creative genius Steven Spielberg
and help bring his newest entertainment project to life," said Robbie Bach, senior
vice president and chief Xbox officer for Microsoft. "‘A.I.’ is a
futuristic story that pairs perfectly with the future-generation gaming experience of Xbox
and the continual innovation of the PC. We will create engaging gameplay experiences to
extend the compelling spirit and storyline of ‘A.I.’"
Slated for release on June 29, "A.I.," which stands for "artificial
intelligence," is written, directed and produced by Spielberg. Featuring an all-star
cast that includes Haley Joel Osment and Jude Law, "A.I." is a movie shrouded in
secrecy. To help preserve the film’s secrets, the titles and genres of the Xbox games
will not be unveiled until the movie is released. The games will be high-action
interactive sequels to the "A.I." movie with a new story that unifies all three
titles.
"‘A.I.’ Puzzler" for the PC translates the story of
"A.I." into a collection of more than 130 innovative puzzles designed by Alexei
Pajinov, the creator of "Tetris" and "Pandora’s Box." Players
journey through the "A.I." movie as behind-the-scenes extras are unveiled when
puzzles are conquered.
