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Sammy
Studios Announces The Shield
(Press
Release)
Company Working Closely with Fox Television Studios, Enlisting Creators
for Console Game Based on Gritty Cop Show
Carlsbad, CA - March 3, 2004 - Sammy Studios, Inc., a developer,
publisher and global distributor of interactive entertainment content,
today announced the upcoming video game based on the award-winning Fox
Television Studios police show THE SHIELD. The Emmy® and Golden
Globe® winning series has become one of the most talked about shows on
television. The always gritty, often trailblazing series follows
hard-nosed police detective Vic Mackey and his special unit Strike Team.
Assigned to the toughest criminal syndicates, Vic and the Strike Team
define a new form of policing on THE SHIELD, forming a virtual bulwark
against what they perceive as civil degradation in Farmington. To
create an authentic video game experience based on the show, Sammy
Studios is working closely with Fox Television Studios and the show's
creators. THE SHIELD video game is being developed by Point Of
View, Inc., and is slated for release on home consoles in Spring 2005.
This game is not yet rated.
"The Shield is that rare television show that doesn't just break
boundaries, it creates new ones," said Tim Pivnicny, senior VP of
sales and marketing, Sammy Studios, Inc. "We intend to do the
same with the game, bringing new gameplay mechanics to create the first
truly gritty police action game, and enlisting the show's creators for
production value on par with that of the award-winning series."
For the video game, Sammy Studios and Point Of View are capturing the
look, feel, and authenticity of THE SHIELD television series in a
3rd-person action game. Never-before-seen gameplay elements will
create the first true-to-life police action game, and moments taken
directly from the series will immerse players in the disturbing
Farmington underworld now recognized by millions as Vic Mackey's
universe. Players will control Vic in a living, breathing
Farmington, engaging in perilous assignments ranging from busting crack
dens to thwarting bank robberies. Much like the series, Vic and
the Strike Team will delve into the grayest areas of the law, fighting a
war on crime where the ends justify the means. In addition to the
raw action that undergirds the gameplay, players will be able to employ
tactics used by Vic on the show, including intimidating suspects,
employing brute force, accepting and offering bribes and planting
incriminating evidence. The game will also let players choose
between the right and wrong side of the law, with Vic walking a thin
line while trying to accomplish missions, maintain the respect of his
men, keep his politically ambitious police captain happy, pad his
retirement fund and, above all, avoid Internal Affairs.
Sammy Studios is working in cooperation with the show's creators to
ensure that the game recreates the same action and visceral emotional
impact as the show. THE SHIELD has grown tremendously in
popularity in just two seasons, enjoying a 24% growth in average viewers
in the male 18-34 demographic between season one and two. With an
average of 3.3 million viewers Tuesdays at 10 PM for season two, THE
SHIELD maintained its position as the most watched original drama series
in basic cable. THE SHIELD returns to FX for its third season
beginning on Tuesday, March 9 at 10 PM ET/PT.
About THE SHIELD
THE SHIELD, FX's first original drama series, made history by becoming
the first ad-supported cable series to win the 2003 Golden Globe® Award
for Best Drama Series. In its first season, Shawn Ryan (Writing) and
Clark Johnson (Directing) received Emmy® nominations, which were also
firsts for basic cable in those categories. THE SHIELD has received two
TCA nominations for Outstanding Achievement in Drama as well as a 2003
Diversity Award for Outstanding Television Ensemble Award.
Series star, Michael Chiklis received the 2003 Golden Globe® Award,
2002 Emmy® Award and 2002 Television Critics Association Award for
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, also basic cable firsts.
Michael Chiklis received his second consecutive Emmy and Golden Globe
nominations for his work on season two, as well as a SAG nomination.
Executive Producers of THE SHIELD are Shawn Ryan and Scott Brazil. It is
produced by Fox Television Studios in association with Sony Pictures
Television.
About Sammy Studios, Inc.
Sammy Studios was founded in 2002 as the global videogame development
and publishing subsidiary of Sammy Corporation. Sammy Studios is
responsible for internal and external videogame development and
publishing business in North America and Europe. The company's
headquarters is a state-of-the-art development complex in Carlsbad,
California, with an office in Los Angeles handling licensing and
business development. Later this year Sammy Studios will release
its first internally developed videogame, along with the biggest
portfolio of externally developed games ever to be published under its
brand. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sammy
Corporation of Tokyo, Japan, an entertainment and amusement conglomerate
that is one of the top-rated companies traded on the First Section of
the Tokyo Stock Exchange. For more information, please visit www.sammystudios.com.
About Fox Interactive
A recognized industry leader, Fox Interactive, a division of Twentieth
Century Fox Licensing and Merchandising, licenses video and computer
game software for a variety of Fox entertainment properties worldwide on
behalf of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, Twentieth Television
and Fox Broadcasting Company. Fox Interactive hit releases
include: The Simpsons Hit & Run, Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Chaos
Bleeds, and Aliens versus Predator 1 & 2.
About Fox Television Studios
Fox Television Studios is an independent unit of the Fox Entertainment
Group that produces a broad range of television programming for the U.S.
and global markets. Its five divisions consist of: (1) Network
Primetime Series through its partnership with Regency Television
("Malcolm in the Middle;" "The Bernie Mac
Show"); (2) Alternative and Unscripted Programs ("The
Shield") ; (3) International/local production and formats through
Fox World ("Temptation Island" and "My Big Fat
Obnoxious Fiancée); (4) Non-Fiction ("Biography and "The Most
Extreme"); and (5) Original Movies ("44 Minutes;"
"Twelve Mile Road"). In recent years, its
cutting-edge programs have won multiple Emmy, Golden Globe, Peabody,
Humanitas and other awards.
