Hip-Hop Luminaries, such as The Roots, Common, and Aceyalone, Provide Exclusive Original Songs, In-Game Appearances and National Tour to Promote Soundtrack
August 12, 2005
[This unedited press release is made available courtesy of Game Developer and its partnership with notable game PR-related resource Games Press]
Author: 2K Games
New York, NY - August 11, 2005 - 2K Sports, the sports publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (Nasdaq: TTWO), today announced that NBA 2K6 will incorporate the deepest integration of music and sports video games to date by featuring a soundtrack of all original and exclusive music by hip-hop's hippest acts, many of whom will tour to promote NBA 2K6 and also appear in The Entertainer's Basketball Classic (EBC) at Rucker Park mode, which allows gamers to play as their favorite rappers in this seminal street-ball tournament. By working with influential artists in the urban community, such as The Roots and Common, NBA 2K6 - which launches this fall for the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, Xbox video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, and the Xbox 360TM video game and entertainment system from Microsoft - will hit close to home with gamers who understand the relationship between hip-hop and hoops.
"Basketball and hip-hop culture have always been connected at the street level, so we wanted to ensure that NBA 2K6's vibe is as authentic as the gameplay," said Tim Rosa, director of marketing and promotions for 2K Sports. "By featuring exclusive original tracks, accompanied by both a tour and the ability to play as select musicians in the game, our pioneering approach to music integration marks a turning point in what is possible in the video game industry."
One of NBA 2K6's most distinctive features is the soundtrack. While having a custom song in a game is nothing new, NBA 2K6's soundtrack boasts 14 original tracks created exclusively for the game by luminaries of hip-hop culture, such as The Roots, Common, RJD2, Jean Grae, Aceyalone, Aesop Rock, Lyrics Born, Zion I, Hieroglyphics and more. In addition to appearing in the game, these songs will be released by Decon Records on a compilation CD entitled "The Tracks."
Taking the music integration element up a notch beyond the soundtrack is having select-featured artists, in tandem with other renowned hip-hop groups, playable in the first ever video game simulation of The Entertainer's Basketball Classic (EBC) at Rucker Park. Celebrity hip-hop talent are Method Man, Redman, Flava Flav, ?uestlove from The Roots, Common, and Aesop Rock, among others will contribute to this dynamic feature.
Rounding out the music integration campaign, will be the nationwide "2K Sports Bounce Tour" in promotional support of the game and its soundtrack. The tour, which is being headlined by The Roots and underground icons such as RJD2 and Aceyalone, is traveling to more than 30 top markets this fall. This is the first in a series of annual live events that bridge hip-hop, sports and video game culture by featuring renowned music artists, sports gaming kiosks, projection vignettes and celebrity and professional athlete appearances.
The 2K series of simulated sports games are produced by Visual Concepts, a Take-Two studio.
For more information, log onto http://www.2KSports.com
About Take-Two Interactive Software
Headquartered in New York City, Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO) is an integrated global developer, marketer, distributor and publisher of interactive entertainment software games and accessories for the PC, PlayStation game console, PlayStation2 computer entertainment system, PSPTM (PlayStationPortable) system, the Xbox video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the Xbox 360TM video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, Nintendo GameCubeTM, Nintendo DSTM and Game Boy Advance. The Company publishes and develops products through its wholly owned labels Rockstar Games, 2K Games, 2K Sports and Global Star Software; and distributes products in North America through its Jack of All Games subsidiary. Take-Two also manufactures and markets video game accessories in Europe, North America and the Asia Pacific region through its Joytech subsidiary. The Company maintains sales and marketing offices in Cincinnati, New York, Toronto, London, Paris, Munich, Madrid, Vienna, Milan, Sydney, Breda (Netherlands) and Auckland. Take-Two's common stock is publicly traded on NASDAQ under the symbol TTWO. For more corporate and product information please visit our website at www.take2games.com.
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About Sony Computer Entertainment America
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Safe Harbor Statement
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Reform Act of 1995: This press release contains forward-looking statements made in reliance upon the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The statements contained herein which are not historical facts are considered forward-looking statements under federal securities laws. Such forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs of our management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to them. The Company has no obligation to update such forward-looking statements. Actual results may vary significantly from these forward-looking statements based on a variety of factors. These important factors are described in the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 30, 2005 in the section entitled "Cautionary Statement and Risk Factors".
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