Tecmo and Resource Interactive Announce Launch of Dead or Alive Ultimate Web Site |
November 2, 2004Columbus, OhioVideo game and content leader Tecmo and leading interactive agency Resource Interactive today announced the launch of the Dead or Alive Ultimate web site promoting the immensely popular fighting game series' latest edition, made exclusively for the Xbox video game system from Microsoft and online for the first time via Xbox Live. Using only days-old assets created by Tecmo's esteemed game development group Team Ninja, as well as preexisting Dead Or Alive content and sound, Resource Interactive designed and developed a deeply immersive and kinetic multimedia experience for fans and novices alike. The new promotional site is an appropriate kickoff for the IP-based generation of Dead or Alive fighting, as players flock to the 'Virtual Arcade' where eight can participate in a fighting session simultaneously from anywhere in the world. The promotional web site will ultimately evolve into the brand hub for all Dead or Alive games, events, and activities.
Consistent with one of the chief appeals of the game, the Dead Or Alive characters are given top billing on the new site (http://www.deadoralivegame.com) and profiles include their stories and statistics. Character sounds or utterances are delivered in staccato bursts once a character box is illuminated through a rollover interaction and the profile appears.
Several features were designed to further maximize adrenalized interactivity and information for the Dead or Alive crowd. These include:
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an interactive gallery with speed control for viewing sixty in-game screen shots |
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a downloadable trailer with fighting highlights from the Dead or Alive Ultimate series |
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twelve exclusive downloadable wallpapers |
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Tecmos 30-second TV spot which is currently airing on national television networks |
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a mouse-activated, bi-directional bar of miniature stages that can be clicked for full-screen viewing |
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a press section with links to third-party media reviews and insights |
The project was a labor of love for Resource Interactive Senior Interaction Designer Jason Oleszczuk, whose own Dead or Alive fan web site fuelled the creative design and ensured the information hierarchy, sound, and even navigational characteristics were wholly true to the brand.
"My greatest challenge was to include as many of the Dead or Alive assets as we possibly could in a fashion that would mimic the multi-layered intensity and gameplay of the Dead Or Alive experience. When you have a group of game developers as talented as Team Ninja with an unequaled eye for detailfrom the electric interiors of a reactor core; to the ice, stone, and snow of The White Storm; and the delicately falling cherry blossoms of The Yozakura, you work very hard to find the interactive marketing equivalent of this world."
"We are very proud and excited about this new online home for the Dead or Alive franchise. The team at Resource Interactive put their heart and soul into the design, and we hope that DOA fans will find the site lives up to the excellence of the brand," said Andrea Frechette, Marketing Manager for Tecmo, Inc.
About Resource Interactive
Resource Interactive is a top-ranked interactive marketing and technology firm that helps the world's leading companies plan, create, build, assess, and optimize the digital experience of their customers and other constituencies. We've helped companies such as Victoria's Secret, Hewlett-Packard, Reebok, Bath & Bodyworks, Nationwide, Target, Apple, Burton Snowboards, Limited Brands, and Restoration Hardware use their online channels to drive sales, reduce costs, create community, and deepen brand loyalty.
About Tecmo, Inc.
Tecmo, Inc., located in Torrance, California, is a whole subsidiary of Tecmo, LTD in Tokyo and is a leader in the interactive entertainment industry, and now the wireless entertainment industry with its newest division Tecmo Mobile. Tecmo recently kicked off its new portable prowess with the launch of its classic football game, Tecmo Bowl, available to download on select mobile phones for some hard-hitting action on the go! Tecmo develops and publishes video games and content on wireless platforms and next generation consoles. Tecmo has gained worldwide recognition with product lines such as the brand new Tecmo Bowl for mobile carriers, and award-winning franchises including Ninja Garden, Dead or Alive, Fatal Frame, Monster Rancher, and Gallop Racer.
About Xbox
Xbox (http://www.xbox.com/) is the video game system from Microsoft that brings people together for the most exhilarating game and entertainment experiences. Xbox delivers an expansive collection of breakthrough games, powerful hardware and the unified Xbox Live online service. The tagline, "it's good to play together," captures the spirit of Xbox as the social hub of the new digital entertainment lifestyle. Xbox is now available in North America, Asia, Europe and Australia.
About Xbox Live
A new frontier in imagination and extraordinary interaction, no one else offers the richness of online gameplay found on Xbox Live. The world's only global online console games service, Xbox Live is continuously innovating to provide members with unparalleled experiences. This unique service unites gamers together in a dynamic community where they can experience the best online games, exclusive programming and continuous downloadable content. Xbox Live launched in the United States in November 2002 and is available in 24 countries. Please visit http://www.xbox.com/live for more information.
Xbox is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.
CONTACT:
Dr. Nita Rollins
Executive Director, Marketing
nrollins@resource.com
CONTACT:
Melody Pfeiffer
Public Relations Specialist
mpfeiffer@tecmoinc.com