Press Release Details

Activision Hits the Gritty Streets of Manhattan With the Debut of True Crime(R): New York City

November 16, 2005 at 8:15 AM EST

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Nov 16, 2005 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ -- Gamers can now wield the ultimate power on New York's city streets with the release of Activision, Inc.'s (Nasdaq: ATVI) True Crime(R): New York City. The game puts players into the role of Marcus Reed, a former gang member turned cop who confronts four of New York's most deadly crime syndicates as he hunts down the murderer of his mentor, all while cleaning up neighborhoods from Chinatown to Harlem to Times Square. Mastering five fighting styles, advanced weaponry, special driving maneuvers and all-new interrogation tactics, gamers choose to walk the straight line and move up the police ranks or cross the limits of their authority.

"True Crime: New York City is the first game to deliver the ultimate urban drama set against a realistic version of Manhattan," said Will Kassoy, vice president of global brand management for Activision Publishing. "The game's deep and diverse gameplay takes players into the city's neighborhoods, buildings and subways and lets them virtually experience the city in a way that has never been possible in a videogame."

In True Crime: New York City players turn in or take out shady informants, cold-blooded killers and ruthless criminals as they navigate an authentic recreation of a dynamic, free-roaming present-day Manhattan, which includes landmarks, subways, interiors, GPS-accurate streets and real neighborhoods. If players allow crime to go unchecked in any of Manhattan's dynamically changing neighborhoods, the crime rate will soar, the streets will fill with trash, potholes and unsavory characters, and buildings and foliage will visibly deteriorate. Alternately, if players clamp down on crime in a neighborhood, crime rates fall and visual improvements will indicate their progress as well.

The game features a voiceover cast of seasoned actors who lent their distinct voice talents to the game's main characters. The cast includes Christopher Walken as FBI field agent Gabriel Whitting; Laurence Fishburne as drug kingpin Isaiah "The King" Reed; Mariska Hargitay as New York Police Lieutenant Deena Dixon; Mickey Rourke as New York Police Detective Terrence Higgins; Esai Morales as New York Police Organized Crime Unit Chief Victor Navarro; Traci Lords as madam Cassandra Hartz; Beetlejuice as himself; and up and coming actor Avery Waddell as former gangster turned cop Marcus Reed, the game's main character and Isaiah Reed's son.

Also appearing in the game is hip hop artist Redman as a secret character in his own unlockable level called "Red Gone Wild." Redman created two original tracks for the True Crime: New York City in-game soundtrack which features over 80 eclectic songs from NYC raised or transplanted bands, spanning such diverse genres as punk, hip hop, hardcore and rock, bringing a true East Coast sound to the game.

True Crime: New York City was developed by Luxoflux for the PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system, Xbox(R) video game system from Microsoft and Nintendo GameCube(TM) for a suggested retail price of $49.99. A Collector's Edition is also available for the Xbox for a suggested retail price of $59.99 and includes a behind the scenes feature, level walkthroughs, voiceover talent featurette, Redman level overview, gameplay trailer, crime families dossier and city guide trailers. The game is rated "M" ("Mature" -- Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, and Use of Drugs) by the ESRB.

Brady Games' True Crime: New York City official strategy guide is available at electronics, book, and software retailers nationwide, and online at bradygames.com.

About Luxoflux

Located in Santa Monica, CA, Luxoflux is a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision, Inc. The company is comprised of 90 of the industry's most talented programmers, designers and artists and is responsible for creating several successful videogame titles, among them True Crime(R): Streets of L.A.(R) the number one best-selling new intellectual property of 2003.

About Activision, Inc.

Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision, Inc. is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products. Founded in 1979, Activision posted net revenues of $1.4 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2005.

Activision maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Australia, Scandinavia, Spain and the Netherlands. More information about Activision and its products can be found on the company's World Wide Web site, which is located at www.activision.com.

The statements made in this press release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements". These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties. The Company cautions readers of this press release that a number of important factors could cause Activision's actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in any such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, without limitation, product delays, retail acceptance of our products, industry competition, rapid changes in technology and industry standards, protection of proprietary rights, maintenance of relationships with key personnel, vendors and third-party developers, international economic and political conditions, integration of recently acquired subsidiaries and identification of suitable future acquisition opportunities. These important factors and other factors that potentially could affect the Company's financial results are described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's most recent Annual report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Readers of this press release are referred to such filings. The Company may change its intention, belief or expectation, at any time and without notice, based upon any changes in such factors, in the Company's assumptions or otherwise. The Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

SOURCE Activision, Inc.

Blake Hennon, Publicist, Activision Games of Activision, Inc., +1-310-255-2760,
ennon@activision.com
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