Video Game publisher Mastiff and Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. (AMEX/TSE: MCZ), the world's leading third party video game accessory provider, today announced that Mad Catz will be the exclusive distributor of Pump It Up: Exceed for North America. Pump It Up: Exceed is the hot dancing game storming through Latin America, the UK, France, and Korea, for the Sony PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system and the Xbox® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft.
Pump It Up features choreographed steps for each song and a five-button mat that lets the step designers reward players for not just where they put their feet, but how their feet got there. The game features approximately 100 songs, including new music for the console version from cutting edge artists such as Grammy nominees Crystal Method and Steriogram, as well as Earth, Wind & Fire, and Sugarhill Gang. Music familiar to fans of the arcade include top K-POP (Korean pop) acts like Sechs Kies, Honey Family, Clon and Novasonic, and songs like Beethoven Virus and Pump Me Amadeus by BanYa, the Pump It Up original band. The game releases this summer for a suggested retail price of US $59.99.
"Mad Catz is committed to exploring games that feature true interactivity," says Darren Richardson President and CEO of Mad Catz. "This is another opportunity to leverage our access to the distribution channel and drive additional revenue streams."
"We're delighted to be partnered with Mad Catz," says Bill Swartz, head woof of Mastiff. "We are confident that through Mad Catz's relationships with leading retailers and their current market leadership, that Pump It Up: Exceed will be a huge success."
About Pump It Up: Exceed
While other dance games have only four-button dance pads, Pump It Up features choreographed steps for each song and a five-button mat that lets the step-designers reward players for not just where they put their feet, but how their feet got there. In addition, Pump It Up also features a freestyle setting that forces you to hit three or more mat buttons simultaneously, which can only be accomplished by using more than just your feet. Skillful players will be able to enter their scores on an internet based score board.
The console version of Pump It Up: Exceed is based on the arcade game Pump It Up: Exceed but, in addition to the new music features a wealth of exclusive features including three entirely original modes: Home, Sudden Death, and Survival as well as a practice and tutorial mode. The game can be played by one or two players, and even offers a one player/two mat mode. The Xbox version of Pump It Up: Exceed features Xbox Live® support.