Press
Release
CALL OF DUTY
2 STORMS RETAIL SHELVES
Infinity Ward’s Sequel to 2003 Game of the Year Now Available
Santa Monica – Oct. 25, 2005 –
Soldiers…strap up those boots, tighten that buckle and grab your
helmet, it’s time to return to battle as Activision, Inc. (Nasdaq:
ATVI) has shipped Call of Duty® 2 to retail outlets nationwide.
Powered by Infinity Ward’s proprietary new engine, the sequel
delivers an unparalleled portrayal of the chaos and intensity of war
with life-like authenticity, amazing special effects, advanced A.I.
technology, the most realistic squad combat and explosive action.
Call of Duty 2 for Windows® PC is rated “T” (TEEN – blood, mild
language and violence) by the ESRB and carries a suggested retail
price of $49.99.
“The original Call of Duty set a new benchmark for epic intensity.
Our team was committed to raising the bar once again with Call of
Duty 2 by delivering an experience that immerses players in the
action and takes them on a journey that’s as close to war as they
will ever want to get,” states Grant Collier, president, Infinity
Ward. “We’ve brought the action to life by creating a
context-sensitive dynamic battle chatter system, unparalleled smoke
effects, adding non-linear gameplay, open mission objectives and the
most alert A.I. ever. Gamers will feel like they’re playing their
own epic war movie.”
Set across three Allied campaigns: Russian, British and American,
Call of Duty 2 offers the ultimate character-driven experience, as
gamers can play through each storyline to its completion, or choose
to engage the enemy in historic battles chronologically from 1941
through 1945. Players have the freedom to take on mission objectives
in any order as they see fit, yet must utilize actual combat tactics
like outflanking and fire and maneuver to succeed.
Call of Duty 2 delivers more explosive action with bigger battles,
more weapons, more troops and unprecedented special effects set in a
wide range of locations and environments. Players, for example, can
fight “The Desert Fox” across the sands of North Africa as waves of
tanks clash in the desert; join an Army Ranger squad using
rocket-propelled grappling hooks to storm the cliffs of Pointe du
Hoc; or slog through the urban chaos of Stalingrad and Moscow in
blizzard conditions as a tank hunter in war-torn Russia.
For intense multiplayer action, Call of Duty 2 players can go online
for Axis vs. Allies team-based gameplay featuring five modes of
play: Headquarters, Capture the Flag, Search and Destroy, Deathmatch
and Team Deathmatch for up to 32 players.
“Call of Duty 2 is a heart-pounding thrill ride from the first shot
to the last explosion,” said Dusty Welch, vice president of global
brand management, Activision, Inc. “Infinity Ward has once again
delivered the epic intensity and chaos of battle in the most
adrenaline-filled way possible. And, we’re heeding the call by
teaming with leading partners to develop co-marketing programs in
order to ensure fans everywhere are ready for their return to
glory.”
Activision has enlisted its own top notch fighting squad of key
partners, including a worldwide promotional program with Intel
surrounding Call of Duty 2 and Intel® Pentium® Extreme Edition
systems, NVIDIA®, who has been selected by Activision as the
preferred graphics processing unit (GPU) for Call of Duty 2, and
Brady Games, whose Call of Duty 2 Official Strategy Guide is
available at electronics, book, and software retailers nationwide,
and online at bradygames.com.
A limited Collector’s Edition of Call of Duty 2 is also now
available on DVD for $59.99. Offered in a specially-designed premium
metallic package, the Collector’s Edition features a bonus DVD
loaded with historic interviews and commentaries, a special making
of the game feature, mission walkthroughs from the developers at
Infinity Ward and more. Call of Duty 2 is also in development for
the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and
is slated for release on Nov. 15.
About Activision, Inc.
Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision, Inc. is a
leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of
interactive entertainment and leisure products. Founded in 1979,
Activision posted net revenues of $1.4 billion for the fiscal year
ended March 31, 2005.
Activision maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, the United
Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Australia, Scandinavia,
Spain and the Netherlands. More information about Activision and its
products can be found on the company's World Wide Web site, which is
located at www.activision.com.
The statements made in this press release that are not historical
facts are “forward-looking statements.” These forward-looking
statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that
are subject to risks and uncertainties. The Company cautions readers
of this press release that a number of important factors could cause
Activision's actual future results to differ materially from those
expressed in any such forward-looking statements. Such factors
include, without limitation, product delays, retail acceptance of
our products, industry competition, rapid changes in technology and
industry standards, protection of proprietary rights, maintenance of
relationships with key personnel, vendors and third-party
developers, international economic and political conditions,
integration of recently acquired subsidiaries and identification of
suitable future acquisition opportunities. These important factors
and other factors that potentially could affect the Company’s
financial results are described in our filings with the Securities
and Exchange Commission, including the Company’s most recent Annual
report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Readers of
this press release are referred to such filings. The Company may
change its intention, belief or expectation, at any time and without
notice, based upon any changes in such factors, in the Company’s
assumptions or otherwise. The Company undertakes no obligation to
release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements to
reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect
the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Intel and Pentium are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel
Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and other
countries.
Xbox 360 is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the
United States and/or other countries.
(c) 2005 Activision Publishing, Inc. Activision and Call of Duty are
registered trademarks of Activision Publishing, Inc. All rights
reserved.