Take-Two Interactive's Rockstar Games Announce Soundtrack to Midnight Club, the Highly Anticipated Playstation 2 Computer Entertainment System Launch Title

Business Wire, Oct 11, 2000

Business & Technology Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 11, 2000

Derrick May, Dom & Roland and Surgeon Help Create Explosive

Video Game Soundtrack For Rockstar Games

Rockstar Games, Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:TTWO) high end video game publishing division, is pleased to announce the soundtrack for Midnight Club, the highly anticipated illegal street racing game for the PlayStation(R)2. The Midnight Club soundtrack is a gripping mix of techno from legendary artists Derrick May and Surgeon, as well as drum and bass excellence from Dom & Roland. Midnight Club is set for release on PlayStation 2 on October 26th.

"We are honored to have such musical visionaries such as Derrick May, Dom & Roland and Surgeon creating the soundtrack for Midnight Club," states Terry Donovan, COO of Rockstar Games. "Their passion for creating superior music versus conforming to the industry standard are what makes them and their music truly unique. Although their styles are obviously completely different, they share an important common thread - the musical expression of disenfranchised inner city life which is obviously a perfect soundscape to represent the dark motivation of the members of the Midnight Club."

When Derrick May released "Nude Photo" in 1987 on his own Transmat Records, little did he know that the seminal "Strings of Life" was to become one of house music's classic anthems and helped 'kickstart' a musical revolution. He was unaware of the effect that this music was to have on the European house and techno scene. May's popularity ran so rampant that he took a brief break from 1990-93. Techno purists breathed a collective sigh of relief when May returned with "Icon" in late 1993, which many called a masterful return to form full of trademark Mayisms. May changed the way electronic music was interpreted, grasping hold of the rudiments and laying plans that bared its possibilities, plans which will always remain as fundamental reference.

"Rockstar really understands the value of Transmat's musical legacy - working with them was a pleasure," stated Derrick May.

Autumn 1998 saw the long awaited release of Dom & Roland's first album, "Industry" to unanimous public and critical acclaim. Drawing on his wide background of musical influences, Dom & Roland's album presented the listener with a variety of textures and styles fused together with his unique style of hard, dark sounds. Dom regularly plays on radio, including guest slots on including Radio 1, Radio Nova (Paris), as well as hosting a weekly radio show in Belgium. Dom has also kept up the pressure with a string of superb releases including "Parasite", "Killa Bullet" and the reworking of "Kaotic Kemistry" cementing his reputation as one of the UK's most talented producers. His subsequent release, `Can't Punish Me' caused major disruption on dance floors all over the UK, with almost blanket radio coverage from specialist radio shows and the pirates. However, his remix of the classic Renegade track `Terrorist', released this year blew everyone away by selling out in one day.

"I had a great time at Angel Studios seeing Midnight Club actually being made," commented Dom & Roland. "Racing through the streets of London in Midnight Club is an incredible feeling - to have the opportunity to put music to this experience is inspiring."

Surgeon rose to immediate worldwide acclaim in 1994 with his first releases on Downwards Records, "Magneze" and "Electronically Tested". The explosive reaction brought immediate focus back into British Techno and the electronic underground took immediate note of his flagship talent. Tony's sounds changed with his landscape: chaos born sounds from his rural environment evolved into disciplined, structural work affected by architecture, geometry, and time. The influence spread deeper when in 1993 he was involved in setting up the House of God Techno club in Birmingham (which is still running today). Surgeon has completed his latest offering, a double-pack entitled "Body Request" to be released on his independently owned label, Dynamic Tension Records in October, and is currently brainstorming new bodies of work for Counterbalance Records. As a world-renowned club DJ, a full DJ schedule has Surgeon booked throughout Europe and tour Japan and North America extensively to supplement the heavy production flow over the next several months.

When asked about the musical creation process for Midnight Club, Surgeon said, "Music for a game like Midnight Club is a real challenge, I had to create five 3-minute tracks, but I wanted to avoid some of the linearity that is more suitable for dancefloors. These are probably the busiest tracks I have ever created - they feel like mini-DJ mixes to me."

Midnight Club: Street Racing is a game based around illegal street racing. Players drive performance enhanced cars around busy city streets until they are challenged by another member of the illusive Midnight Club, and race at breakneck speeds through the city. Set in realistic, incredibly detailed, three-dimensional models of the world's greatest cities, Midnight Club: Street Racing will feature single and multiplayer modes, many different vehicles and some of the greatest car tuning shops in the world. Midnight Club is due for release on October 26th on PlayStation 2.