Vivendi Universal Games Joins Blu-ray Disc Association; Blu-Ray Disc's Superior Capacity and Performance Attract Support from Leading Game Company

Business Wire, Jan 7, 2005

HOLLYWOOD -- The Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA) today announced that Vivendi Universal Games (VU Games), a global leader in multi-platform interactive entertainment, joins the association. VU Games' membership further strengthens the already overwhelming support for the Blu-ray Disc high-definition optical-disc format among the world's leading gaming, consumer electronics, PC and entertainment companies.

"The technical requirements for game development today demands more advanced optical-disc technologies," said Michael Heilemann, Chief Technology Officer, VU Games. "Blu-ray Disc offers the capacity, performance and high-speed Internet connectivity to take us into the future of gaming."

"VU Games' decision to join the Blu-ray Disc Association is another example of the widespread support for Blu-ray Disc by content developers and owners who recognize it's the only optical-disc format that provides the capacity and functionality they need to meet the future needs of their businesses," said Maureen Weber, chief BDA spokesperson and general manager of HP's Optical Storage Solutions Business. "We've gotten a lot of support from companies like Vivendi who require the superior capacity and interactivity that Blu-ray Disc delivers."

VU Games is one of two leading game publishers committed to Blu-ray Disc, and Sony has announced that its next generation gaming platform will be built on Blu-ray.

About Blu-ray Disc

Blu-ray Disc is a next-generation optical disc format being developed for high-definition video and high-capacity software applications. A single-layer Blu-ray Disc will hold up to 25 gigabytes of data and a double-layer Blu-ray Disc will hold up to 50 gigabytes of data.

About the Blu-ray Disc Association

The Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA) is responsible for establishing format standards and promoting and further developing business opportunities for Blu-ray Disc -- the next-generation optical disc for storing high-definition movies, photos and other digital content. The BDA has nearly 100 members. Its Board of Directors consists of Dell Inc.; Hewlett Packard Company; Hitachi, Ltd.; LG Electronics Inc.; Mitsubishi Electric Corporation; Panasonic (Matsushita Electric); Pioneer Corporation; Royal Philips Electronics; Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.; Sharp Corporation; Sony Corporation; TDK Corporation; Thomson; Twentieth Century Fox; and Walt Disney Pictures and Television.