Contact Information: Contact: Matt Dianella Formula PR (310) 578-7050 Josh Cramer-Montes Warner Music Group (212) 275-1375
Abandon Interactive Entertainment Announces Distribution Deal With WEA Corp.
Partnership Commences With "Freaky Creatures" Collectible and Interactive Game Package
| Source: Warner Music Group
NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - September 20, 2007) - Abandon Interactive Entertainment, a worldwide
leader in original video game content, today announced an exclusive
agreement with WEA Corp., Warner Music Group Corp.'s (NYSE : WMG ) U.S. sales
and retail distribution company, to market and distribute "Freaky
Creatures," one of the world's first player-customized, cross-platform,
multi-player game universes for the tween demographic. "Freaky Creatures"
comes packaged with one of 10 collectible toys and an accompanying USB key,
which gives players access to download the game to their personal computer
and mobile devices.
As part of the agreement, WEA will distribute "Freaky Creatures" products
in the United States through traditional game retail channels as well as
online and mobile outlets.
"We are excited to partner with WEA, a company with the experience and
distribution muscle necessary to bring this unique product to market," said
Jamie Ottilie, President and COO of Abandon Interactive Entertainment.
"'Freaky Creatures' speaks directly to the 8-to-13-year-old tween audience
in a new way and thanks to WEA's ability to target non-traditional and
digital retail channels, as well as their enormous reach within traditional
music distribution outlets, they can better help us connect with this
important target audience."
John Esposito, President and CEO, WEA Corp., said, "As our company
continues to grow and seek out new opportunities across a number of
platforms, WEA is delighted to work with the team at Abandon Interactive
Entertainment in the marketing and promotion of this innovative,
multi-player, cross-platform game."
Scheduled to launch in Spring 2008, the "Freaky Creatures" collectibles and
game offer a unique physical and digital gaming experience. "Freaky
Creatures" puts the gamer into a futuristic setting as a "Freaky Creature
Trainer." To succeed, the user must create, raise, train and customize his
or her "Freaky Creatures" and compete in battles against other players. The
cross-platform game play allows players to access their creatures from both
their PC and mobile phone.
The "Freaky Creatures" web site (www.myfreakycreatures.com) provides
content introducing the gamers to this virtual universe. It is designed to
encourage social networking by allowing players to invite friends to join
and utilizes sign-up incentives to drive the growth of the user community.
With a wide variety of engaging content such as customizable individual
user and team pages, challenge boards, forums, store and mini-games,
players are encouraged to immerse themselves in an imaginary world of
galactic battles between good and evil.
About Abandon Interactive Entertainment
Abandon Interactive Entertainment, formerly Abandon Mobile, develops and
publishes entertainment content for multiple distribution channels. The
Company and its principals have a longstanding record in the game segment
including investing in Mythic Entertainment and co-publishing the hit
online game, "Dark Age of Camelot," which was recently sold to Electronic
Arts (ERTS). In late 2005 after entering into an exclusive worldwide
partnership with NBC sports to market mobile games, Abandon Mobile acquired
Lucky Chicken Games, an established game developer. Abandon Interactive
Entertainment is a subsidiary of Abandon Entertainment.
About WEA Corp.
WEA Corp. was the first major music distribution company in the U.S. and
has continued to set the standard for sales and marketing in the music
industry for more than 35 years. WEA Corp. distributes audio and video
content for all Warner Music Group labels, including Atlantic, Warner Bros.
and Rhino Entertainment, as well as for third-party film, television and
video game companies across an array of physical and digital platforms
including online, mobile and wireless networks. Since 2004, WEA Corp. has
been recognized by a number of national conservation and advocacy
organizations for its industry-leading environmental efforts.
Headquartered in New York, WEA Corp. has regional offices in Atlanta, Los
Angeles and Minneapolis.