Showcasing a diverse array of games that feature some very well known brands in interactive entertainment, as well as timeless classics, Atari has announced its 2004 Holiday Line-up. Atari's slate targets the mass market gaming audience with highly anticipated sequels to best-selling games and franchises, including Dragon Ball Z (DBZ), RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 and Sid Meier's Pirates!, as well as releases that pay tribute to the games and consoles that launched the video game industry: the Atari Flashback Classic Game Console and Atari Anthology.
Strategy Games:
Atari's strategy line-up includes some of the most recognized brands and game designers in the industry. RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 (PC; available now), the highly-anticipated sequel to the No.1 Tycoon brand, is a complete update for the franchise with stunning 3D graphics, the ability to ride all the rides, a Fireworks feature, and much more; Sid Meier's Pirates! (PC; November 22nd), lets players live the life of a 17th Century Pirate captain in this sequel to the legendary game from Hall of Fame game designer Sid Meier and Firaxis Games; and Axis & Allies (PC; available now) recreates World War II in its entirety in an epic real-time strategy game.
Retro Games:
Atari goes old school for the holidays with two releases that pay homage to the games that started a revolution. The Atari Flashback Classic Game Console, a hybrid of the classic Atari 2600 and 7800 consoles, is a stand-alone, plug-and-play unit loaded with 20 classic Atari games, including Asteroids, Centipede, Breakout and the never-before-released Saboteur. Atari Anthology (for the PlayStation 2 and the Xbox, features 85 vintage arcade, cart and bonus games, making it Atari's largest classic collection to date. Both Atari Flashback and Atari Anthology will be available in mid-November.
The Best in Anime:
The top-selling anime brands all bear the name Atari. Dragon Ball Z : Budokai 3 (PlayStation 2; November 16th) features a Hall of Fame cast, a new Saiyan Overdrive Fighting System and an all-new single-player mode, making it the best Budokai game to date. The Dragon Ball Z : Budokai 3 Limited Edition (PlayStation 2, November 16th) will satisfy the hardcore DBZ fan with never-before-seen exclusive making of content and a sneak peak at what's to come from Atari and DBZ. And for Game Boy Advance (GBA) fans, Atari's line-up also boasts Dragon Ball Z : Buu's Fury and Dragon Ball Z : Supersonic Warriors, both available now. Duel Masters, the hit trading card series and TV show, comes to life with Duel Masters: Kaijudo Showdown (GBA; available now) and Duel Masters (PlayStation 2; available now), both of which will also be offered as Limited Editions that include bonus booster packs and collectible packaging; and Duel Masters : Sempai Legends (GBA; available now). Completing Atari's anime collection are Yu Yu Hakusho : Dark Tournament (PlayStation 2; available now) and Yu Yu Hakusho : Tournament Tactics (GBA; November 16th), featuring high impact anime adventures based on the enormously successful animated series by the same name which airs weekly on Cartoon Network's top-rated Toonami block, as well as Beyblade G-Revolution) (GBA; November 16th).
Action:
Atari's got action of every kind. Godzilla : Save the Earth (PlayStation 2, available now; Xbox, November 22nd) faithfully recreates the gargantuan film legend and his one-of-a-kind destruction with intense online multiplayer fighting and 15 different monsters vying for ultimate control. Experience a high-intensity, arcade-style thrill ride that goes beyond the blockbuster films in Terminator 3: The Redemption (PlayStation 2, Xbox, Nintendo GameCube; available now), featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger's voice and likeness. And if driving's your thing, Test Drive : Eve of Destruction (PlayStation 2, Xbox; available now) is an over-the-top racing game featuring more than 25 death-defying events, a star-studded soundtrack, and pedal-to-the-metal extreme racing action.
Backyard Sports:
Backyard Sports, the interactive sports series for kids, breaks out an all-new sport for Holiday 2004: Backyard Skateboarding starring professional skater Andy Macdonald (PC; available now). Other new recruits to the Backyard Sports line-up include Backyard Basketball (GBA; available now) featuring Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs, and Backyard Hockey 2005 (PC; available now) featuring the Boston Bruins' Joe Thornton on U.S. packaging and Mats Sundin from the Toronto Maple Leafs on Canadian packaging.
Kids Brands:
Atari's successful children's PC slate grows to include more games based on best-selling and award-winning children's franchises. Three new Play Packs -- Dora the Explorer : Fairytale Adventure, MY LITTLE PONY and TONKA Construction PC -- feature exclusive collectible toy figures. (All kids' products available now.)
