Hasbro, Inc. (ticker: HAS, exchange: American Stock Exchange) News Release -
Wednesday, June 16, 1999
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Hasbro Interactive Expands Motorsports Portfolio With Five-Year Formula 1 Deal
Business/Technology Editors
BEVERLY, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 16, 1999--Leading interactive games
publisher Hasbro Interactive today announced a new five-year, multi-title,
multi-platform deal with Formula 1 to take motorsports *** roaring into the
next millennium. Earlier this year, the company announced it will develop
interactive games based on the NASCAR(R) and Grand Prix 500 licenses. Combined
with the new Formula 1 relationship, these partnerships propel Hasbro
Interactive to the forefront of the worldwide motorsports *** market.
"Our relationship with Formula 1 is a key component of our global motorsports
business strategy," commented Hasbro Interactive President Tom Dusenberry. "We
now have a stable of partners and the right development team to create the
world's best racing games."
In a related move, Hasbro Interactive announced it has signed an agreement with
premier racing sim game developer Geoff Crammond. Crammond, who has
collaborated with Hasbro Interactive's MicroProse development team on previous
Grand Prix titles, has committed himself to a long-term development licensing
deal with Hasbro Interactive. Crammond commented, "Hasbro's absolute commitment
to quality was the key factor which persuaded me to choose them as a publishing
partner for F1 products. I'm very much looking forward to continuing my
successful relationship with the MicroProse team."
Hasbro Interactive is now set to build on MicroProse's heritage and reputation
for the highest quality racing sims. Grand Prix 1 and 2 are widely recognized
as the greatest driving games of all time, with sales of the latter topping 1.5
million units. The first titles to come out of this partnership will be Grand
Prix 3 and Grand Prix World, the latter building on the success of the Grand
Prix Manager 1 and 2 series.
Formula 1 is one of the world's largest spectator sports and is headed back to
the U.S. in 2000, with an event to be held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Hasbro Interactive, Inc. is a leading all-family interactive games publisher,
formed in 1995 to bring to life on the computer the deep library of toy and
board games of parent company Hasbro, Inc. (AMEX:HAS). Hasbro Interactive has
expanded its charter to include original and licensed games for the PC,
PlayStation(R), Nintendo 64(R) and for multi-player *** over the Internet.
Headquartered in Beverly, Massachusetts, Hasbro Interactive has offices in the
U.K., France, Germany, Japan and Canada, and development studios in Alameda,
California and Hunt Valley, Maryland. For additional information, visit Hasbro
Interactive's Web site at: www.hasbro-interactive.com.
Hasbro is a worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of toys,
games, interactive software, puzzles and infant products. Both internationally
and in the U.S., its Playskool(R), Kenner(R), Tonka(R), Oddzon(R), Super
Soaker(R), Milton Bradley(R), Parker Brothers(R), Tiger(TM), Hasbro
Interactive(TM) and Galoob(R) products provide children and families with the
highest quality and most recognizable toys and games in the world.
(c) Hasbro Interactive, Inc.
--30--kc/bos*
CONTACT: Agnew, Carter, McCarthy
Laura Tomasetti, 617-437-7722
or
Stacey Clement, 617-437-7722
KEYWORD: MASSACHUSETTS
INDUSTRY KEYWORD: COMED COMPUTERS/ELECTRONICS
INTERACTIVE/MULTIMEDIA/INTERNET ENTERTAINMENT
"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995: Statements in this press release regarding Hasbro, Inc.'s business which
are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks
and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which
could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the
forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report
or Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal year.
?1999 Hasbro, Inc. All Rights Reserved