Vodafone Live Wireless Games Deal

Acclaim Entertainment and Vodafone, the world's largest mobile community, today announced an exclusive agreement to offer mobile game content in Vodafone countries through Vodafone live! based on Acclaim's forthcoming Urban Freestyle Soccer video game which premiers on Sony Playstation®, Microsoft XboxTM, Nintendo GamecubeTM and PC in October.

Inset how Urban freestyle Soccer looks on the Xbox.

Entitled Urban Freestyle and available on Vodafone live! from the end of July, it will be the first ever mobile game to be available prior to the retail release of the console game. In addition Vodafone live! customers will be able to reveal cheat codes on their handset game that will unlock exclusive areas in the console game.

Under the agreement, Urban Freestyle will be available in 12 countries from the end of July 2003, prior to the game launch at the end of September 2003. The game is being developed to support a range of Vodafone live! handsets, including the Sharp GX10, Sharp GX10i, Sharp GX20, Nokia 7650 and Nokia 3650.

Urban Freestyle Soccer is the first urban arcade-style street soccer game of its kind to take the world's most popular sport back to its street roots with gang-style teams competing against their rivals for the right to be crowned King of the Streets. The mobile version of the game will focus on ball skills, pitting the player's dexterity and timing against the clock in Urban Freestyle Soccer arcade and challenge games. The player will be able to maximize their score through expert timing and also learn key combinations to perform the ultimate tricks. As the tricks increase in difficulty and reflex skills are put to the test, so the player's score increases.

Larry Sparks, VP Marketing International for Acclaim Entertainment said: "This is the very first time that Acclaim have distributed their gaming content via a mobile phone network and also the first time that a version of a video game has ever been available on a mobile phone prior to the retail release. I am thrilled to be working with Vodafone as our exclusive mobile partner on Urban Freestyle Soccer and I am confident there is huge potential in this venture for both partners."

Guy Laurence, CEO at Vodafone Global Content Services, said: "The exclusive agreement with Acclaim to offer Urban Freestyle Soccer to Vodafone live! customers, before it is available on the high street, is yet another first in mobile gaming and clearly demonstrates Vodafone's commitment to providing its customers with the best mobile gaming experience available today."