Vodafone and Square EnixTM (Square Enix Co., Ltd and Square Enix Ltd.) today announce their joint collaboration for the launch of new mobile content on Vodafone live!TM. Best known for the world-renowned FINAL FANTASY(R) video game series, and marking its entry into the mobile gaming market in Europe, Square Enix is committedto bringing new and exciting games to the growing mobile gaming audience and is doing so first with Vodafone. The initial titles available for download on Vodafone live!TM will be AlesteTM and ActraiserTM, both of which will debut in Vodafone Germany in July. The games will then be rolled out across other Vodafone live!TM European regions over the Summer, including UK, Spain, and Italy. A mobile version of DrakengardTM, released this May on PlayStation(R) 2, is also planned for release during the summer.
"The addition of Square Enix's quality games titles to the Vodafone live!TM portfolio is a real win for our European customers. This agreement marks just the start of an exciting new relationship with Square Enix, with more classic titles to come," said Tim Harrison, Head of Games, Vodafone Group Services Limited.
"Our relationship with Vodafone in Europe allows us to offer mobile gamers the highest-quality original content Square Enix is famous for," said Yoichi Wada, president of Square Enix Co., Ltd. "Going forward, we will work hard to continue releasing ground-breaking entertainment through the industry-leading Vodafone live! multimedia offering."
In Aleste, the mobile version of the 80s home console classic, you become the pilot of an ultra-advanced attack craft, codenamed Aleste. Your mission sees you fearlessly flying through enemy-packed stages, collecting weapon power-ups on your way to the explosive end-of-level boss battles. Each level ramps up the challenge and will keep you coming back for more adrenaline-soaked arcade action!
Actraiser challenges you to fight your way past centaurs, goblins, trolls and a menagerie of other mythical creatures in this side-scrolling action game. Armed with your mighty blade and plenty of determination, you must cleanse the landscape of hordes of evil monsters! Based on the classic Super Nintendo game of the same name, Actraiser brings classic console gaming to your mobile phone. Drakengard, Square Enix's new Action-RPG, was launched In Europe on the PlayStation(R)2 on May 21st, 2004. The mobile version of this brilliant console game sees you battling across four different locations, fighting Empire forces on the ground and in the air! Each level combines fantastic sword-slashing action and dragon-riding combat; the fight-back against the Empire starts here!
For further information, please contact:
Aileen Thompson/Emma Conlon
Vodafone Group
+44 (0) 1635 673310
Emma.conlon@vodafone.com
Aileen.thompson@vodafone.com
About Vodafone
Vodafone is the world's largest mobile community, with equity interests in 26 countries and Partner Networks in a further 13 countries, serving over 133 million proportionate customers.
Vodafone's global consumer service offering, Vodafone live!, opens up a world of mobile colour communication, bringing news, information, e-mail, chat, location-based services, games and shopping to customers'mobile devices.
About Square Enix Co. Ltd. and Square Enix Ltd.
Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Square Enix Co., Ltd. (Square Enix) develops, publishes and distributes entertainment content including interactive entertainment software and publications in Japan, North America, Europe and Asia. Square Enix brings two of Japan's best-selling franchises - FINAL FANTASY(R), which has sold over 60 million units worldwide and DRAGON QUEST (DRAGON WARRIORTM in Europe) which has sold over 35 million units worldwide - under one roof. Square Enix is one of the most influential providers of digital entertainment content in the world and continues to push the boundaries of creativity and innovation. More information on Square Enix can be found on the Internet at www.square-enix.co.jp.
Square Enix Ltd., located in London, U.K., handles operations in Europe and other PAL territories including sales, marketing and publishing of Square Enix titles. More information on Square Enix Ltd. can be found on the Internet at www.square-enix-europe.co.
Aleste: (c) 1988, 2003 AIKY / (c) 2003 SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. All Rights Reserved. Actraiser: (c) 1990, 2003 Quintet / SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. All Rights Reserved. Drakengard: (c) 2003, 2004 cavia inc. / SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. All Rights Reserved. FINAL FANTASY is a registered trademark of Square Enix Co., Ltd. SQUARE ENIX is a trademark of Square Enix Co., Ltd. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. "PlayStation" and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
(c) Vodafone Group 2004. Vodafone and Vodafone live! are trade marks of the Vodafone Group. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be the trade marks of their respective owners.
