Atari Ships Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines

Arnold Schwarzenegger likeness and voice make first ever videogame appearance; exclusive film footage available.

Posted by Staff
Atari Ships Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
Atari today announced that it has shipped Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, for the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, the Xbox videogame system from Microsoft and Game Boy Advance, to retail stores nationwide. Based on this summer’s blockbuster motion picture from Intermedia, IMF and C2 Pictures, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines is a first-person action game that allows players to become Arnold Schwarzenegger as the Terminator. Developed by Black Ops, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines marks the first time Arnold Schwarzenegger’s voice and likeness has ever appeared in a videogame -- the involvement of Claire Danes, Nick Stahl and Kristanna Lokken rounds out the stellar videogame cast.

“With both the Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines movie DVD and videogame releasing today, fans can watch the Terminator in action on their home theaters and one minute later become the Terminator on their favorite game system,” said Steve Allison, vice president of marketing, Atari, Inc.’s Los Angeles studio. “The Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines videogame takes the movie to an entirely new level. Not only do players get to play through the plot of the feature film nearly line for line, but they’ll also be able to experience first-hand everything that happened just prior to the feature film’s start. How was the Terminator sent back this time? How did he kill John Connor? And, what does SkyNet really look like? All of these questions, and more, are answered in the game.”

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines continues Atari’s trend of bringing outstanding film properties to life in the interactive realm complete with Hollywood talent, feature film footage, dramatic plots that interweave with the movie, authentic sound tracks and much more. Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines features 15 minutes of footage taken straight from the blockbuster film that helps set up key situations and story-related game elements. An additional five-minute segment, filmed by director Jonathan Mostow, exclusive to the DVD and videogame features Arnold Schwarzenegger and sheds new light on the mythology behind the origins of the Terminator. Players will also be treated to extensive behind-the-scenes footage from both the videogame and feature film, including an eight-minute segment detailing the entire making of the game.

The Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines videogame storyline will weave in and out of the movie script as players encounter scenarios similar to those faced by the Terminator where John Connor must be protected from the threat of the T-X and the initial rise of the machines, to the apocalyptic future where the War of the Machines is waged on all fronts. While following the feature film’s plot closely, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines will go one step further by providing fans of the Terminator series with a deeper look into the movie’s universe and the role of the Terminator, a futuristic fighting machine reprogrammed to save humanity from the SkyNet Armageddon.

As the Terminator, players will face swarms of enemies in first-person action from the wastelands of the future to present-day Los Angeles. Military bases, laboratories and downtown Los Angeles are just a few of the more than 20 unique locations found in the game, which have been taken straight from the current Terminator timeline of events. In addition, more than 20 futuristic and modern-day weapons will be at the player’s disposal for use in terminating any enemy in the most efficient manner possible, including the SkyNet Arc-Laser, Tech-Com Micro Rocket Launcher and the SkyNet Assault Cannon.

Much like the feature film, when Terminators clash in Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines all hell is sure to break loose. Terminators are designed to utilize the most readily and efficient means available to eliminate any particular foe -- when that enemy is a Terminator this leads to absolutely brutal hand-to-hand combat. Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines will allow player’s to engage in true movie-like Terminator combat as they repeatedly face the ultimate killing machine, the T-X, throughout the single-player game. Smashing opponents into walls, massive two-handed chops and crushing kicks are just a few of the dozens of moves in the Terminator’s arsenal.

A unique twist in the Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines story will also allow players to operate the Terminator before it was reprogrammed in the future to save John Connor. As a result, players will be able to test their terminating skills against battle-hardened Tech Com special forces from the future as they fight alongside and utilize SkyNet’s advanced weaponry, including Future Killer tanks and flyers, fixed gun emplacements as well as other Terminators in an effort to crush the last remnants of mankind.

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines is now available at retail stores nationwide with an estimated retail price of $49.95 and an ESRB rating of “T” for Teen. Additional information about Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines can be found online at www.t3game.com.