Chuck D to Provide In-Game Commentary for Next Installment of Midway's Popular Basketball Franchise.
Just Blaze Producing Theatrical-Style Score.
February 04, 2008
CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Midway Games Inc. (NYSE: MWY), a leading interactive entertainment software publisher and developer, today announced that music icon Chuck D and super-producer Just Blaze will both have prominent roles in NBA Ballers: Chosen One, the next installment in the popular NBA Ballers franchise that is scheduled to ship for the Xbox 360™ and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system in Spring 2008.
Chuck D, the famed front man and founder of Public Enemy, will serve as announcer and studio-host for the Chosen One tournament, and also provide play-by-play commentary throughout the game.
"The talents of Chuck D and Just Blaze will greatly enhance the NBA Ballers: Chosen One experience, as players live the fantasy lifestyle of an NBA Superstar," said George Gomez executive producer, Midway Amusement Games. "Chuck D is one of the most recognizable voices in music history, while Just Blaze has produced multiple chart-topping hits. Together they'll ensure that NBA Ballers: Chosen One will feature a sound to match the game's amazing graphics and gameplay."
Just Blaze, who has produced tracks for best-selling artists such as Jay-Z, Usher, Kanye West, Busta Rhymes, T.I. and many more, will produce the entire instrumental score for NBA Ballers: Chosen One.
The Just Blaze-produced score for NBA Ballers: Chosen One marks a bold departure from the current norm in sports video game soundtracks. Instead of a random compilation of tracks from various artists, the soundtrack will instead interact with the gameplay, much like a cinematic score, and will be a noticeable change from the typical use of licensed music in games.
About Chuck D
As leader and co-founder of legendary rap group Public Enemy, Chuck D redefined rap music and hip hop culture. At the close of 1999, The New York Times named Public Enemy's music to their list of the "25 Most Significant Albums of the Last Century" and Rolling Stone magazine named them as one of the "Immortals, 50 Greatest Artists of All Time" in April of 2004. Chuck D has hosted his own segment on the Fox News Channel, published a best-selling autobiography, "Fight The Power" and is a highly-sought after speaker on the college lecture circuit. He is also a regular guest on numerous television shows including those on CNN, MSNBC and Fox News and hosts his own Air America Radio program, On The Real. He most recently led the Sundance Channel special Chuck D's Musicians Studio and hosted the Emmy-nominated ESPN three-part television special, Ali Rap, writing and performing an original song that served as the overall theme song for the program.
About Just Blaze
Often imitated, never duplicated, Grammy-nominated super producer Just Blaze has contributed his unique production skills to over 20 Top 10 albums. The result of this prolific talents' work has been hit after hit, all the while making the process seem effortless. Just Blaze is largely responsible for influencing the rebirth of soulful, sped up samples as he adeptly demonstrated in the work he did on Jay-Z's Dynasty and Blueprint albums. His song credits boast the likes of Cam'Ron's "Oh Boy", Fabolous' "Can't Let You Go", Jay-Z's "PSA", Usher's "Throwback", Fat Joe's "Safe To Say" and Kanye West's "Touch The Sky". Recently Just Blaze formed Fort Knocks Entertainment and signed one of New York's most promising rappers, Saigon. The producer/artist tag team and crew are currently deep-rooted in the trenches of their camp working steadily towards the release of the highly anticipated album, "The Greatest Story Never Told".
When he is not busy producing records for today's biggest artists or for his own artist on Fort Knocks Entertainment, Just Blaze also manages to find a little time out of his busy schedule for his favorite hobby: Gaming. In 2005 he was an MTV correspondent for E3, the Electronic Entertainment Expo, where he covered the convention and reported on the debut of a number of next generation games. Just Blaze has also written numerous "Games People Play" columns for XXL magazine.
About NBA Ballers: Chosen One
NBA Ballers: Chosen One is a unique fantasy basketball entertainment experience featuring one-on-one and two-on-two action with the NBA's elite players. More than 65 of the NBA's top superstar athletes come to life as the NBA Ballers franchise continues its legacy as the graphical leader in the sports videogame industry. With an optimized next-gen graphics engine, NBA Ballers: Chosen One will continue to set the bar for graphic quality, with the most true-to-life athlete likenesses seen in a sports video game. NBA Ballers: Chosen One will put players up-close and into the action with new "action movie" style game cameras that highlight every move. Create-a-Baller and take on the challenge of the epic "Chosen One Tournament", brought to you live from the most exotic courts around the world. As you progress through the game, earn the right to use an NBA star's "Shut 'Em Down" Super Move or take your Baller online to test your playing skills against others.
For the latest game information, screenshots and more, please click on to www.nbaballers.com.
About Midway
Midway Games Inc. (NYSE:MWY), headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with offices throughout the world, is a leading developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software for major videogame systems and personal computers. More information about Midway and its products can be found at www.midway.com.
MIDWAY and the MIDWAY LOGO are trademarks or registered trademarks of Midway Amusement Games, LLC. Used by permission. The NBA and individual NBA member team identifications used on or in this product are trademarks, copyrighted designs and other forms of intellectual property of NBA Properties, Inc. and the respective NBA member teams and may not be used in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of NBA Properties, Inc. © 2008 NBA Properties, Inc. All rights reserved. Distributed under license by Midway Home Entertainment Inc. ""PlayStation" and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Xbox is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective companies.
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 concerning future business conditions and the outlook for Midway Games Inc. (the "Company") based on currently available information that involves risks and uncertainties. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, the financial strength of the interactive entertainment industry, dependence on new product introductions and the ability to maintain the scheduling of such introductions, the current console platform transition and other technological changes, dependence on major platform manufacturers and other risks more fully described under "Item 1. Business - Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, and in any more recent filings made by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Each forward-looking statement, including, without limitation, financial guidance, speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and Midway undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which it is made or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances, except as required by law.
Contacts
Midway - Media Relations
Johner Riehl
858-790-3749
jriehl@midway.com
or
Midway - Investor Relations
Geoffrey Mogilner
773-961-2222
gmogilner@midwaygames.com
