Windsor, England – January 17, 2006 – 2K Sports, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), today announced that World Poker Tour® (WPT) for the PSP™ (PlayStation®Portable) system is slated for release this spring. World Poker Tour for PSP features real-life professional poker stars and venues featured in the popular World Poker Tour television series with enhanced A.I. players, customizable characters and online capabilities compatible with PlayStation®2 consoles.
“With the growing popularity of televised poker shows such as World Poker Tour, poker has become a mainstream sport,” said Greg Thomas, president of Visual Concepts, a 2K Sports studio. “By partnering with the trusted World Poker Tour brand, we are bringing both gamers and poker fans alike the most realistic poker experience available. And now that World Poker Tour will be available on the PSP, gamers can enjoy the game wherever they go.”
World Poker Tour for PSP allows gamers to take a seat at the world’s most prestigious poker tournaments and make their mark in the virtual poker arena. The game will feature the virtual equivalents of real pros such as Antonio “the Magician” Esfandiari, Erick Lindgren, Evelyn Ng, Lyle Berman, Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi and Phil “Unabomber” Laak.
Online connectivity is a major part of playing World Poker Tour on the PSP. Gamers will have the ability to connect wirelessly with other PSP systems or online to compete against players across the country on both the PSP and the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system. New enhancements to World Poker Tour for PSP include a completely new and innovative artificial intelligence system that allows gamers to challenge more than 1,200 different characters, all with their own unique playing styles and behaviors. Gamers who are able to bump up their career earnings can unlock custom clothes, accessories, and invitational events found only in the PSP version. Players can also create more than 4,000 custom variations of poker, and choose to play against computer opponents or take their custom poker game online to battle for poker supremacy.
“We are thrilled to be launching World Poker Tour on the PSP with 2K Sports,” says Andrea Green, VP of Global Consumer Products, WPT Enterprises, Inc. “2K has far exceeded our expectations for this game and recreated the thrill of our TV show with simulated casinos and events in the palm of your hand. We can’t wait to see where this takes us in the future."
World Poker Tour will also be available for the PlayStation 2, Xbox® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and Nintendo Game Boy® Advance from March.
For more information, log onto
http://www.2ksports.com