PRESS RELEASE
‘QUICKSTRIKE™’ JOINS THE VS. SYSTEM™ IN UPPER DECK
ENTERTAINMENT’S LINE-UP OF AWARD-WINNING GAMING PLATFORMS
New Gaming Platform to Make Debut in Upcoming
‘Avatar Trading Card Game’ in January
CARLSBAD, Ca. – November 18, 2005 – Joining its current list
of highly-successful gaming systems and trading card games,
Upper Deck Entertainment (UDE) today announced plans to
create and release Quickstrike – UDE’s newest gaming
platform which allows multiple gaming properties to become
fully compatible with one another. Quickstrike will make its
debut in January with the launch of UDE’s new Avatar Trading
Card Game – UDE’s newest trading card game based on
Nickelodeon’s animated hit series, “Avatar: The Last
Airbender.”
Quickstrike now joins the list of the industry’s top-tier
gaming platforms such as the Vs. System – UDE’s unique
engine designed and developed specifically to support Super
HeroesÔ in one-on-one competition. The Vs. System retains
its excitement in multiplayer play and is designed to
support Sealed Pack and Booster Draft formats.
“The Quickstrike game engine has been praised for its
innovation, ground-breaking design, and its ability to
support many types of games," said Jeff Donais, Director of
Upper Deck Entertainment Organized Play, and Research and
Development. “The Organized Play team will heavily support
this new gaming platform with programs such as hobby store
leagues, tournaments, store prizes, judge support and
premier level events at conventions across the country.”
The Quickstrike gaming engine allows two players to engage
in lightning fast, one-on-one combat in a trading card game.
Players will utilize new card technologies such as UDE’s
unique slide-open Chamber Cards, which players can use to
reveal hidden strength, powers and moves. Development of the
game included testing by top professional TCG players from
around the world to ensure that Quickstrike is carefully
balanced for high-level competition, as well as casual play.
In May, UDE will release the new Pirates of the Caribbean
Trading Card Game, which utilizes the new Quickstrike gaming
engine. The 235-card set will launch with The Briny Deep
Starter Set and Booster Packs, which will be available at
participating mass retail and hobby outlets across North
America. The two-player starter set will be packaged in the
new UDECK carrying case, and will feature two 30-card
randomly assorted decks, two slide-open Chamber Cards, two
game mats, and one rule book. The Booster Packs will feature
nine randomly assorted game cards, and one Chamber Card in
each pack.
Based on the series created by Michael DiMartino (“King of
the Hill”) and Bryan Konietzko (“Invader Zim”), the Avatar
Trading Card Game combines the amazing world of Waterbenders,
Earthbenders, Firebenders, and Airbenders, while centering
on the adventures of Aang – a reluctant hero who must lead
the fight against the evil Fire Nation to restore balance in
his war-torn world. Avatar fans can execute all signature
bending moves of Aang and the entire cast with the
Quickstrike gaming engine, which allows players to reveal
hidden moves, and simulate all the action seen on the hit
television series.
PRESS RELEASE
Race Day Releases!
November 23, 2005 (SEATTLE) — WizKids Inc., creator of the
runaway hit games HeroClix® and Pirates of the Spanish
Main™, is proud to announce the release of Race Day™, the
Nextel Cup game of NASCAR® racing action!
“Race Day is the perfect game for NASCAR fans of all ages,”
said Mike Samora, vice president of Sales and Marketing at
WizKids®. “You construct a car from one of 28 Nextel Cup
drivers, plan your strategy and race all the way to victory
lane!” Zoom to victory with Jimmie Johnson™ and the No. 48®
Lowe’s Chevrolet®, or bump ahead with Mark Martin and the
No. 6 Pfizer® Ford®!
Everything new players need to race comes in one low-priced
(MSRP $3.99) Game Pack, including two cars and drivers, a
track play mat, complete rules and a miniature die. Race Day
is available wherever trading cards are sold. For a store
locator, game information and more, visit
www.racedaygame.com!
iANIME from Central Park Media for your video iPod
Central Park Media offers trailers as well as full-length
episodes of anime titles they distribute on their Web site.
FullStory
Hot for the holidays: Gift ideas for animation fans
For years, U.S. fans of Japanese animation, or anime, have
had a difficult time pursuing their hobby. However, thanks
to the popularity of the kid-friendly "Pokemon" and "Yu-Gi-Oh!"
series, you can now find anime at many retail outlets.
Here’s a selection of what's new for the holiday season:
FullStory
2005 Annual Game Guide: Games Galore
Whether you want to score touchdowns, raise Nintendogs, hunt
giant monkeys or shoot at Nazis, there's a game or two, or
three, for you
The eyes are bleary. The fingers are gnarled. The backs are
sore and hunched from the hours spent tapping on
controllers, steering analog sticks and clicking keyboards
in front of glowing screens.
FullStory
It'll be an Xbox 360 holiday
New console expected to dominate seasonal sales
Without premiere videogame franchises such as Halo 2 or
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas in the fourth-quarter release
pipeline this year, expect most of the commotion at retail
to be generated by the Nov. 22 launch of the Xbox 360.
Of course, there also is a strong list of titles expected to
ring up sales in line with last year’s holiday period.
FullStory
Nintendo offers DS rumble pack online
When Nintendo released Metroid Prime Pinball, it included a
Nintendo DS Rumble Pack, which essentially plugged into the
GBA port of the system and vibrated at key points in the
game.
FullStory
Target to offer $99 Nintendo DS
While there is no indication that this is a universal price
drop, the online Target catalog is marketing the Nintendo DS
(type in “DS” in the search catalog linked via the picture
to the right) as only $99 for the Electric Blue and
Titanium-colored models.
FullStory
Fall Out Boy makes a stop in Omaha with Nintendo
Fusion Tour
Nov. 11 brought five of pop punk's finest veterans and
newcomers to Sokol Auditorium. The Nintendo Fusion Tour made
a stop to a sold-out crowd with what proved to be a
fun-filled night of blood, sweat and tears. Well, not really
blood or tears, but there was a lot of sweat and booze for
the few people actually 21 or older.
FullStory
Dragon Ball Z: Supersonic Warriors 2 In Stores
Atari today announced the company has shipped Dragon Ball Z:
Supersonic Warriors 2 to retail outlets nationwide for the
Nintendo DS.
"The release of Dragon Ball Z: Supersonic Warriors 2
signifies the inaugural release of a Dragon Ball Z title for
the Nintendo DS," said Matt Collins, Director of Global
Brand Management, Atari. "We are pleased to partner with
FUNimation to deliver authentic DBZ content for Nintendo's
innovative handheld system, and we are certain that the
unique features and thrilling battles will excite both DBZ
and Nintendo fans alike."
FullStory
