`Buffy the Vampire Slayer' Stakes Out Gaming Platforms; Fox Interactive to Put Gamers in the Role of `The Chosen One' and Rid the World of Evil

Business Wire, March 15, 2000

Business/Entertainment Editors

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 15, 2000

Fox Interactive today announced its plans to publish "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," a game based on the popular television series, for Sega Dreamcast(TM), PlayStation(R) and the PC.

Scheduled for a fall 2000 release, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" is an interactive adventure game set to deliver all the action, fighting, humor, drama and characters from the show that fans have come to know and love.

"Fox Interactive is taking advantage of the vast number of `Slayer' fans who want more than just their usual Tuesday night Buffy fix," stated Karly Young, director, worldwide brand marketing. "Of all entertainment properties available today, `Buffy the Vampire Slayer' is THE franchise that gamers have been asking for. Now's our chance to give gamers the opportunity to live out their own Buffy adventures anytime they feel the need to kick some serious vampire butt."

About the "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" Game

"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" will be a third-person action adventure game where players take on the role of Buffy Summers, a typical high school cheerleader by day and a fierce, but savvy, destroyer of the undead by night.

With the help of her allies and featured characters from the TV series -- Angel, Xander, Cordelia, Willow, Oz and Giles -- Buffy must destroy the enemy by using her slaying powers, martial arts, slaying senses and quick healing ability. The game combines action, fighting, drama, humor, exploration and puzzle solving in rich interactive 3-D environments.

Players will have the opportunity to play this game in environments that are familiar to fans of the show such as Sunnydale High School, the cemetery, town square, the shopping mall, The Bronze nightclub and Buffy's home. "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" is a game that invites all Buffy fans to join her at her favorite haunts where it's up to action adventure-loving gamers to save the world from vampires, demons and the forces of darkness -- keeping the human race from being literally drained.

Developing the Game

To maintain the authentic look and feel from the popular TV series, the producers and creators of the shows, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Angel," will play an active role in the development of this title. Developed by The Collective, a Southern California-based game developer, the "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" design team will create detailed and extremely accurate character and environment depictions from the TV series and apply them to the interactive game.

Strengthening its leadership position in the interactive entertainment industry, Fox Interactive is leveraging its popular entertainment franchise by combining television, music and gaming into one complete package.

About the "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" Television Series

Now in its fourth season, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" is an Emmy Award-winning action-packed thriller by series creator Joss Whedon. Sarah Michelle Gellar stars as Buffy, a quick-witted heroine whose birthright as the Slayer, the Chosen One of her generation with the ability to hunt and destroy vampires, conflicts with her desire to lead a normal life.

Armed with a wooden stake, martial arts skills and the help of her friends, Willow (Alyson Hannigan), Xander (Nicholas Brendon), Oz (Seth Green) and her former watcher Giles (Anthony Stewart Head), Buffy battles against evil and protects the world from total destruction.

Airing Tuesdays (8-9 p.m. PT/ET) on The WB, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" is produced by Mutant Enemy Inc., Kuzui Enterprises, and Sandollar Productions, in association with Twentieth Century Fox Television.

About Fox Interactive

Recognized as an innovative industry leader, Fox Interactive, an operating unit of Fox Filmed Entertainment, a News Corporation company, is committed to developing a full range of bold and engaging interactive entertainment. The company creates computer and video game software based on Fox franchises as well as new and original properties.

Fox Interactive games currently released include the 3-D platform game "CROC 2," the top-selling PC hit "Aliens versus Predator," "The X-Files," "Die Hard Trilogy," "Die Hard Trilogy 2: Viva Las Vegas," "The Simpsons Cartoon Studio" and "Virtual Springfield," as well as the FOX Sports brand of video games. Upcoming releases include "Aliens versus Predator Gold Edition."

Check out Fox Interactive online at http://www.foxinteractive.com.