– One Step Closer To Becoming The Galaxy\u2019s Most Notorious Criminal with Development Complete on Anticipated New Game \u2013\u00a0<\/p>\n
– \u2018Assault On Dark Athena\u2019 Brings Riddick into Multiplayer Realm for First Time with Six Intense Online Combat Modes –<\/p>\n
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– Xbox LIVE Demo Available Now, PlayStation 3 Demo Coming Soon –<\/p>\n
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\u2013 23 March 2009 \u2013 Atari, one of the world\u2019s most recognized video game publishers, today announced that development is complete on the exciting new installment from the Riddick franchise, The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Developed by the acclaimed team at Starbreeze Studios in conjunction with Tigon Studios and Universal Pictures, The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena features a brand new 11 hour chapter in the Riddick saga with six intense online multiplayer game modes including the unique and thrilling Pitch Black mode.\u00a0 In addition to the full Assault on Dark Athena campaign, the disc includes a stunning HD remastering of celebrated title The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay.<\/p>\n
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The game is scheduled for launch on the Xbox 360\u00ae video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION\u00ae3 computer entertainment system and Windows PC, April 24th worldwide.<\/p>\n
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Comments about The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena from gaming media include:<\/p>\n
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\u201cOne of the best stealth games ever seen.\u201d \u2013 The Games Machine, Italy<\/p>\n
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\u201cThe flow and the variation of the game is perfect.\u201d \u2013 Level magazine, Sweden<\/p>\n
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\u201cIf you\u2019re thinking this is just a rehash of an old game you couldn\u2019t be more wrong.\u201d \u2013 Official PlayStation Magazine, Australia<\/p>\n
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\u201cThe ingenious mix of stealth and uncompromising action is what blows us away.\u201d \u2013 GamePro, Germany<\/p>\n
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\u201cRiddick keeps you on the edge of your seat from the beginning\u00a0 to the end.\u201d \u2013 Power Unlimited, Benelux<\/p>\n
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\u00a0\u201cFuturistic fighting has never looked this good.\u201d \u2013 Official Xbox Magazine, Australia<\/p>\n
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\u201cAn amazing adventure.\u201d \u2013 Micromania, Spain<\/p>\n
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“Some of the best scripting, character animation and voice acting you will ever see in a videogame.” \u2013 Total Film magazine, UK<\/p>\n
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\u201cA wonderful blend of genres.\u201d \u2013 Gamereactor, Denmark<\/p>\n
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\u201cI can\u2019t stop playing it! Fun and entertainingly mean.\u201d \u2013 PC Action magazine, Germany<\/p>\n
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“A worthy follow up that builds upon the strong foundations of the original in every conceivable way.” \u2013 IGN, UK<\/p>\n
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\u201cIs it a remake, new campaign or multiplayer extension? Answer: all three!\u201d \u2013 PC Gameplay, Benelux<\/p>\n
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\u201cIt looks like this game will be the first big game of 2009.\u201d \u2013 Gunk, Benelux<\/p>\n
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\u201cOffers all of the elements that made the first game so great, and the voice acting, set pieces, and new combat elements added even more.\u201d \u2013 Gamespot, UK<\/p>\n
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\u201cWe\u2019ve never seen a game where the fighting and changing weapons was so natural and so intuitive.\u201d \u2013 Games Guide, Benelux<\/p>\n
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\u201cTwo great brutal games in one package.” \u2013 PSM3 Magazine, UK<\/p>\n
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In The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena the player takes the role of Riddick, as played by Vin Diesel, using stealth and action to overcome the merciless crew of the predatory Merc-ship Dark Athena which awaits its prey in the dark reaches of space.\u00a0 Cheating death through a series of spectacular battles and events, Riddick will fight for his life amid a storm of malevolence and horror.\u00a0 The Chronicles of Riddick series of games takes the player deeper into the universe of Universal Pictures’ films The Chronicles of Riddick and cult classic Pitch Black, which first introduced Vin Diesel as enigmatic anti-hero Riddick.<\/p>\n
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Starbreeze Studios has created an exciting and original multiplayer component in The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena.\u00a0 The game features six multiplayer modes, including the original and inventive Pitch Black mode and intense Butcher Bay Riot.\u00a0 Unlike traditional MP modes, Pitch Black features a nerve-wracking stealth hunt through the darkness.\u00a0 A six player mode on all maps, five players take the role of Mercenaries trying to hunt down and kill Riddick across levels swathed in darkness, with only weapon-mounted flashlights to see by.\u00a0 Butcher Bay Riot presents a fast paced three team mode, in which 12 players split into teams of Guards, Prisoners and Mercenaries fight over a power cell.<\/p>\n
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The Xbox 360 playable demo of The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena is available now for download worldwide, with the PLAYSTATION\u00ae3 demo available now in North America and coming soon to Europe.\u00a0 Featuring the Athena Main Decks level, the demo showcases the evocative art style and breadth of the gameplay contained in the game, including brutal melee combat, nerve-rattling stealth, and high-powered gunplay.\u00a0 Among other gameplay elements, the demo also lets players try one of the game\u2019s unique features, controlling a Drone, while classic Riddick cut-scenes bring the harsh Riddick universe into sharp focus.<\/p>\n
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Featuring a tense and brutal new adventure, a high-definition re-work of the classic Escape from Butcher Bay campaign and exhilarating multiplayer gameplay, The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena launches worldwide in April 2009.<\/p>\n
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For more information visit the game\u2019s official website at http:\/\/atari.com\/riddick\/<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n About The Chronicles of Riddick In the film\u2019s storyline, Riddick has spent the last five years on the move among the forgotten worlds on the outskirts of the galaxy, eluding mercenaries bent on collecting the price on his head. Now, the fugitive finds himself on planet Helion, home to a progressive multicultural society that has been invaded by the Lord Marshal, a despot who targets humans for subjugation with his army of warriors known as Necromongers.<\/p>\n Exiled to a subterranean prison where extremes of temperature range from arctic nights to volcanic days, Riddick encounters Kyra, the lone survivor from an earlier chapter in his life. His efforts to free himself and Kyra lead him to the Necromonger command ship, where he is pitted against the Lord Marshal in an apocalyptic battle with possibly the fate of all beings-both living and dead-hanging in the balance.<\/p>\n Written and directed by David Twohy, The Chronicles of Riddick was produced by Scott Kroopf and Vin Diesel. Ted Field, George Zakk and David Womark served as executive producers.<\/p>\n About Universal Pictures Digital Platforms Group<\/p>\n Universal Pictures Digital Platforms Group (UPDPG) is responsible for global digital product development, production, licensing, distribution, and growth strategy for the extensive catalogue of Universal\u2019s properties across new and emerging digital platforms, including mobile, video game consoles, personal computers, and other portable devices.\u00a0 With a worldwide mandate to help shape the digital future of Universal Pictures, the Group has offices in Universal City, California; London, England; and Tokyo, Japan.<\/p>\n Universal Pictures Digital Platforms Group is a unit of Universal Studios Home Entertainment and Universal Pictures. Universal Pictures is a division of NBC Universal, one of the world\u2019s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience.\u00a0 Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks.\u00a0 NBC Universal is 80% owned by General Electric and 20% owned by Vivendi..<\/p>\n About Tigon Studios About Starbreeze Studios \u00a0<\/p>\n About Infogrames Entertainment and Atari<\/p>\n The Infogrames group, including the Atari brand and the massively multiplayer online game company Cryptic Studios, is a global producer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment software for all market segments and all interactive game platforms including consoles from Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony, advanced smartphones, Personal Computers, web and online. Its games are sold in more than 60 countries through an international distribution network and direct to consumers via www.atari.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n Atari\u2019s extensive catalogue of popular games is based on original franchises (Test Drive, Alone in the Dark, V-Rally, My Horse & Me, Backyard Sports franchise, Total Annihilation, Outcast etc.), Cryptic Studios titles (StarTrek Online, Champions Online), publishing properties (Ghostbusters, The Chronicles of Riddick, The Witcher, Race Pro etc.), international licenses (Dragon Ball Z, Dungeons & Dragons, Jamie Oliver etc.) and classic games covering the entire history of the video game industry (Pong, Missile Command, Asteroids etc).<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a9 2009 Atari Europe SASU. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n Atari word mark and logo are trademarks owned by Atari Interactive, Inc.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox Live, the Xbox logos, and the Xbox Live logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S. and\/or other countries.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cPlaystation\u201d, \u201cPLAYSTATION\u201d and \u201cPS\u201d Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The Chronicles of Riddick TM & \u00a9 Universal Studios. Licensed by Universal Studios Licensing LLLP. All Rights Reserved.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" – One Step Closer To Becoming The Galaxy\u2019s Most Notorious Criminal with Development Complete on Anticipated New Game \u2013\u00a0 – \u2018Assault On Dark Athena\u2019 Brings Riddick into Multiplayer Realm for First Time with Six Intense Online Combat Modes – \u00a0 – Xbox LIVE Demo Available Now, PlayStation 3 Demo Coming Soon – \u00a0 \u2013 23<\/p>\n
\nThe Chronicles of Riddick was released in 2004 by Universal Pictures, in association with Radar Pictures and One Race Films, Vin Diesel reprised his star-making Pitch Black role of enigmatic anti-hero Richard B. Riddick in this science fiction action-adventure epic,. The Chronicles of Riddick also starred Colm Feore, Alexa Davalos, Karl Urban, Linus Roache, Thandie Newton and Dame Judi Dench.<\/p>\n
\nFounded by Vin Diesel in 2002, Tigon Studios is a game and film production company that strives to break new ground in interactive entertainment by combining key film components with unique game play, cutting-edge technology and high production values. Tigon Studios focuses on creating entertainment franchises with strong story and character that work fluidly as both games and films, designing and producing properties simultaneously.<\/p>\n
\nBased in Uppsala, Sweden, Starbreeze Studios is an award winning developer of bleeding edge technical, artistic, and gameplay experiences. Founded in 1998, the company today employs more than 90 people from all over the world. Assault on Dark Athena will be the 6th game from Starbreeze, after their much anticipated release of “The Darkness” which hit shelves in June of 2007 for both the PLAYSTATION 3 and the Xbox 360.<\/p>\n