SANTA MONICA, Calif.,
Sept. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Hot on
the (w)heels of NASCAR The Game™ 2011, Activision
Publishing, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) announced today NASCAR®
Unleashed, the newest entry in the NASCAR branded racing
series that delivers the fastest and most exciting gameplay yet.
Available this fall for Xbox 360® video game and entertainment
system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system,
the Wii™ from Nintendo and the Nintendo 3DS™, NASCAR
Unleashed will allow players to take their racer "to the
streets" by driving on AND off some of NASCAR's most famous
tracks in this stylistically souped-up arcade racing
competition.
After picking a turbo-charged race machine from 15 of NASCAR's
biggest names, including NASCAR Sprint Cup series drivers
Kyle Busch, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Jeff Gordon, and Joey
Logano, players are transported into a fast-paced, special
effect laden thrill ride. In game NASCAR tracks include: Daytona
International Speedway®, Chicagoland Speedway®, Homestead-Miami
Speedway(SM), Martinsville Speedway® and Talladega Superspeedway®.
Best of all, racers can break free from the oval as they explode
onto the pavements, beaches and off-roads of the surrounding
cities. For NASCAR fanatics and those new to the sport, the thrill
is in discovering the joys of a completely unchained stock car
experience. See the sights, feel the salty ocean breeze and blast
past the lofty skyscrapers.
"NASCAR has been tremendous in that they've given us the
flexibility to design different kinds of racing games for their
vast audience," said David Oxford,
Executive Vice President of Activision Publishing. "We really
wanted to make something electrifying for all NASCAR fans, not just
the hardcore. NASCAR Unleashed gives players a new
style of speed and excitement, without sacrificing
accessibility."
NASCAR Unleashed was made possible through an
agreement between Activision and NASCAR Team Properties, which was
formed in 2010 and is an industry-managed organization representing
the sanctioning body and nearly all NASCAR teams for the sport's
licensed merchandise business. In June of 2011, NASCAR Team
Properties was recognized as "Best Sports Program of the Year" by
the International Licensing Industry and Merchandisers'
Association, edging out some of the biggest brands in all of
sports.
"NASCAR Unleashed is a wild and imaginative
experience with few real world boundaries," said Blake Davidson, vice president of licensing
& consumer products at NASCAR and board member of NASCAR Team
Properties. "By integrating NASCAR into a high octane, blindingly
fast, home racing experience, we can deliver an entirely unique
style of racing that will captivate players and help introduce our
sport to new fans."
The gameplay has no limits and lax physics rules, as the key is
bumping and grinding opponents out of the lead to seize the top
spot. Mastering popular NASCAR techniques like drafting and
sling-shotting earn drivers 'Boost' power-ups to pull out in front
and pass the checkered flag first. Throughout, an easy to read,
arcade style Heads-Up-Display will inform gearheads of their race
position, current speed, achievements and unlocks. Slick
audio and visuals keep the game a pick up and play affair that is
perfectly suited for young gamers. The end result is a
breathtaking, arcade racer experience like no other.
NASCAR Unleashed will be available this holiday
season on Xbox 360, PlayStation®3 system, Wii and the Nintendo 3DS.
The game is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB. For more information,
please visit www.Activision.com.
About NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc.
(NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for one of North America's premier sports. NASCAR
races are broadcast in more than 150 countries and in 20 languages.
In the U.S., races are broadcast on FOX, TNT, ABC/ESPN/ESPN2, SPEED
and SiriusXM Satellite Radio. NASCAR fans are among the most
brand-loyal in all of sports, and as a result more Fortune 100
companies participate in NASCAR than any other sport. NASCAR
consists of three national series (the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series,
NASCAR Nationwide Series, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series),
four regional series, and one local grassroots series, as well as
two international series. Also part of NASCAR is Grand-Am Road
Racing, known for its competition on road courses with multiple
classes of cars. NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races at 100
tracks in more than 30 U.S. states, Canada and Mexico. Based in Daytona Beach, Fla., NASCAR has offices in
eight cities across North America.
The next NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, the Irwin Tools Night Race
in Bristol, Tenn., will air Aug.,
27 on ABC at 7:00 p.m. ET. For more
information and a complete schedule, visit www.nascar.com. Follow
NASCAR on www.facebook.com/NASCAR or on Twitter: @NASCAR.
About Activision Publishing, Inc.
Headquartered in Santa Monica,
California, Activision Publishing, Inc. is a leading
worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive
entertainment and leisure products.
Activision maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, the United
Kingdom, France,
Germany, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Spain, Norway, Denmark, the
Netherlands, Australia,
South Korea, China and the region of Taiwan. More information about Activision and
its products can be found on the company's website,
www.activision.com.
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©2011 Activision Publishing, Inc. Activision is a registered
trademark of Activision Publishing, Inc. "PlayStation" is a
registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. © 2010
Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox
360, Xbox LIVE and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft
group of companies and are used under license from Microsoft. Wii
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For Information, Contact:
Activision Publishing:
Rob Fleischer
rob@sandboxstrat.com
Tel: 212-213-2451 x 222
NASCAR:
Brad Klein
bklein@nascar.com
Tel: 212-326-1874
SOURCE Activision Publishing, Inc.