D3Publisher to Bring Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment’s Despicable Me to Wii™, Nintendo DS™, PlayStation®2 System, and PSP® System

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--D3Publisher, a publisher and developer of interactive entertainment software, today announced that it will bring Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment’s inaugural 3-D CGI feature film, Despicable Me, to Wii™, Nintendo DS™, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, and PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system. Developed in partnership with Universal Partnerships & Licensing and based on the upcoming feature film, Despicable Me: The Game lets players of all ages experience the thrill of being downright despicable, as they become Gru, one of the world’s greatest supervillains, and plan the biggest heist in history. Despicable Me: The Game is slated to ship worldwide to coincide with the North American and international release of the movie in July 2010.

“The Despicable Me video games feature all of the favorite characters and locations from the film and will immerse players in the Despicable Me universe by allowing them to relive their favorite movie moments and play in original adventures not seen in the film”

“The Despicable Me video games feature all of the favorite characters and locations from the film and will immerse players in the Despicable Me universe by allowing them to relive their favorite movie moments and play in original adventures not seen in the film,” said Alison Quirion, vice president of marketing, D3Publisher. “Despicable Me: The Game for Wii, PlayStation 2 and PSP follows the movie storyline and expands the movie universe, while Despicable Me: The Game – Minion Mayhem for Nintendo DS is a unique storyline and an all new adventure for players to enjoy.”

“Putting players in the shoes of Gru and his army of minions offers hilarious gameplay opportunities,” said Bill Kispert, vice president and general manager, Digital Platforms, Universal Partnerships & Licensing. “The Despicable Me video games arm players with an arsenal of fun-filled weapons and gadgets – and loads of laughs – as they help Gru pull off his most ambitious heist yet.”

In Despicable Me: The Game, players become the mastermind Gru, planning and plotting to build a rocket ship and steal the moon. Players will command an army of tireless, little yellow minions to complete puzzles and missions and use an arsenal of despicable weapons and gadgets such as magnet guns, freeze rays and battle-ready vehicles to vanquish all who stand in their way. Players will fly Gru’s aircraft in daring missions against his rival, Vector, and play as Gru or Vector in a variety of multiplayer air combat modes! Despicable Me: The Game – Minion Mayhem offers Nintendo DS players an all-new adventure with a unique storyline and exclusive minions to command for hours of entertainment.

Despicable Me: The Game for Wii, PlayStation 2 system and PSP system is under development by Monkey Bar Games, a division of Vicious Cycle Software, and is currently rated “E10+” (Everyone 10 and up – Mild Cartoon Violence) by the ESRB. Despicable Me: The Game – Minion Mayhem for Nintendo DS is under development by Way Forward and is currently rated “E” (Everyone – Comic Mischief) by the ESRB.

For more information on Despicable Me: The Game, please visit www.D3Publisher.us.

About Despicable Me (The Movie)

In a happy suburban neighborhood surrounded by white picket fences with flowering rose bushes, sits a black house with a dead lawn. Unbeknownst to the neighbors, hidden deep beneath this home is a vast secret hideout. Surrounded by an army of tireless, little yellow minions, we discover Gru (Steve Carell), planning the biggest heist in the history of the world. He is going to steal the moon (Yes, the moon!) in Universal’s new 3-D CGI feature, Despicable Me.

Gru delights in all things wicked. Armed with his arsenal of shrink rays, freeze rays and battle-ready vehicles for land and air, he vanquishes all who stand in his way. Until the day he encounters the immense will of three little orphaned girls who look at him and see something that no one else has ever seen: a potential Dad.

One of the world’s greatest super-villains has just met his greatest challenge: three little girls named Margo, Edith and Agnes. www.despicable.me

About WayForward

WayForward is a game development company based in Valencia, California. Founded in 1990 by technology entrepreneur Voldi Way, WayForward develops games for the Nintendo DS, Wii, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, and the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, as well as other gaming platforms. The company has created a variety of original game properties including Shantae, LIT, and Mighty Flip Champs and is responsible for the recent critically acclaimed A Boy and his Blob and Contra 4.

About Vicious Cycle Software

Founded in 2000 by industry veterans Eric Peterson, Wayne Harvey, and Dave Ellis, Vicious Cycle Software, Inc. is a premier developer of interactive entertainment software. The Morrisville, NC, based studio is dedicated to creating compelling content for all ages across all platforms, including Ben 10 ALIEN FORCE The Game for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, and Wii™; Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords® for the PlayStation®2 system, PSP system, and Wii; and PSP system exclusive and original title Dead Head Fred®, winner of the Writers Guild of America’s first inaugural Videogame Writing Award.

Since 2005, Vicious Cycle has also developed and licensed the Vicious Engine®, a comprehensive and fully portable middleware solution for PC, console, and handheld game development. Vicious Engine 2™ (V^e2), released in early 2009, offers a suite of new and improved features for cross-platform, next generation game development on the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system. Starting in early 2010, V^e2 will also support the PlayStation®2, PlayStation®Portable, and Wii™ platforms, making it the most complete game development solution available today.

For more information, please visit the company's web sites at www.viciouscycleinc.com and www.viciousengine.com. Vicious Cycle is a D3Publisher development studio.

About Universal Partnerships & Licensing

UP&L oversees Universal’s consumer product licensing, film and home entertainment promotions, and all corporate alliances for Universal’s theatrical, home entertainment, theme parks, and stage productions. This dedicated division is also responsible for monetizing the studio’s vast library of films and characters through licensing, branding, and marketing opportunities. UP&L is part of NBC Universal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. 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. NBC Universal is 80%-owned by General Electric, with 20% owned by Vivendi.

About D3Publisher

D3Publisher, is a video game publisher for Wii™, Nintendo DS™, the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, and the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. D3Publisher has operations in the U.S., and Japan. The company also owns development studio Vicious Cycle Software, Inc., and its technology platform, Vicious Engine®. For more information about D3Publisher, please visit: www.d3publisher.us.

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