|
TOMB RAIDER LEGEND
EXCEEDING TARGET
Copyright 2006 SCi Entertainment Group
[ May 19th 2006 ]
SCi
Entertainment Group Plc ('SCi'), one of the
world's leading publishers of computer and video
games, today announces a trading update following
the recent release of Tomb
Raider Legend.
Tomb
Raider Legend was launched on 7 April 2006 in
Europe and 11 April 2006 in North America. The
product was launched simultaneously on Sony PlayStation
2, PC, Microsoft Xbox and Microsoft Xbox 360.
The title reached the number one chart position
in all key territories and, five weeks after its
first release, is still at the number two position
in most territories.
The release
of Tomb Raider Legend has been extremely successful.
Since its release five weeks ago the Group has
sold over 2.6 million units of Tomb Raider Legend
on all formats. These first five weeks' sales
exceed the internally budgeted number of units
for Tomb Raider Legend for the financial year
to 30 June 2006 as a whole. We anticipate continued
strong sales throughout the year. Tomb Raider
Legend will be launched on the Sony PSP in June
2006 and on the Nintendo DS, Gameboy Advance and
Gamecube platforms later this year.
In the
UK Tomb Raider Legend is the fastest selling computer
game of 2006 so far, and the fastest selling Tomb
Raider game in the entire Tomb Raider series (this
being the seventh game in the series). The product
has received very strong reviews, all stressing
that Tomb Raider Legend has re-established Tomb
Raider as one of the leading franchises in the
industry. Total Tomb Raider sales have now exceeded
30 million units.
Over
the next few weeks the Group will release Championship
Manager 2006/07 on Sony PlayStation 2 and Microsoft
Xbox, Urban Chaos
on Sony PlayStation 2 and Microsoft Xbox and Hitman
Blood Money on Sony PlayStation 2, PC, Microsoft
Xbox and Microsoft Xbox 360. Pre-orders for Hitman
Blood Money are particularly strong. This combined
with good reviews, for example 9 out of 10 in
Official Playstation Magazine, indicate that this
title has a strong likelihood of success.
With
the success of Tomb Raider, plus the planned launches
for the remainder of the financial year, the Group
remains on track to achieve its target profitability
for the year to 30 June 2006.
The Group
continues to build its future pipeline of products
for the 2007 and 2008 financial years. We currently
have nineteen new product launches planned for
2007 compared to nine new releases in 2006. In
addition, our revenues will be supported by a
number of distribution titles, including our recently
announced arrangements with Warner Brothers Interactive
to distribute Justice League Heroes, Tom and Jerry
and 300 March to Glory.
Our New
Media division, which includes mobile and on-line
entertainment, is growing very profitably and
we anticipate that it will make an increasingly
important contribution to the Group's performance.
Commenting
on the statement Jane Cavanagh, CEO of SCi Entertainment
Group plc, said, 'We are delighted with the success
of Tomb Raider Legend and look forward to the
imminent release of Hitman: Blood Money. The product
portfolio for the 2007 financial year is very
strong and provides a base for continued profitable
growth.'
|
