IMF Agent Ethan Hunt Infiltrates PlayStation®2, Xbox® and
Game Boy® Advance

Dec. 9, 2003 – Infiltrating stores nationwide today, Atari’s Mission:
Impossible® – Operation Surma brings all the action and intrigue of the
Mission: Impossible movie franchise to the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment
system, the Xbox® video game system from Microsoft and the Game Boy®
Advance. Developed by Atari’s Paradigm Entertainment, Mission: Impossible
– Operation Surma presents players with a true mission impossible as they
become IMF agent Ethan Hunt in an effort to stop the diabolical plans of the
Surma Corporation.

“With Mission: Impossible – Operation Surma, players will be thrust
into an authentic Mission: Impossible experience, complete with the latest spy
gadgets, stealth action, incredible combat and plot-twisting suspense fans have
come to expect from the franchise,” said Steve Allison, vice president
of marketing, Atari Inc.’s Los Angeles studio. “The stealth action
category continues to surprise gamers with new and innovative game play experiences
and Operation Surma is no exception. Our unique connection to one of today’s
strongest Hollywood movie franchises, will complement our focus on delivering
incredible game play with all of the powerful lead characters, fascinating villains,
elaborate double-crosses and cunning treachery of a real Mission: Impossible.”

In Mission: Impossible – Operation Surma, players step into the role
of Ethan Hunt as he traverses the globe uncovering the insidious mysteries behind
the malevolent Surma Corporation and its newly developed virus, the Ice Worm,
which allows Surma to break into any computer system in the world. Armed with
the hyper-cool, super spy technology and weaponry inspired by the Mission: Impossible
movies, such as miniature remote-controlled devices, micro cameras, tranquilizing
darts and character disguises, Hunt must lead his elite team in preventing Surma
Corp. from taking over the world.

Mission: Impossible – Operation Surma features groundbreaking gameplay
that empowers players to choose the tactics and game play style they wish to
use in tackling mission objectives. For example, as Hunt, a player can forge
an uneasy alliance with questionable characters in order to gain the upper hand
against an overwhelming enemy force; or, the player can charge in, blasting
away with the latest top secret IMF weapon; or, the player can slide silently
in and out of the shadows, penetrating enemy lairs unnoticed. Ultimately, the
nature of the adventure lies in the player’s hands. Ving Rhames, who played
Luther Stickell in both Mission: Impossible feature films, reprises his role
by lending his voice and likeness in the game. As part of the IMF team assigned
to assist Ethan Hunt in his efforts, Luther will provide critical mission intelligence,
hack security systems and generally sweep target areas clear of enemy detection
devices, thus allowing Hunt to penetrate more effectively.

Mission: Impossible – Operation Surma Features:

  • Open-Ended Gameplay: Players will be empowered to play the game the way
    they like. Take out a guard and dispose of his body, sneak behind the guard
    and slip by unnoticed, distract the guard to another area, tranquilize the
    guard remotely or even take him prisoner are just a few options at the players
    disposal for nearly every situation.
  • Super Spy Gadgets: As with any Mission: Impossible, the gadgets are where
    it’s at. Operation Surma will put dozens of super-cool gadgets at players
    fingertips, including: The Wasp, a miniature remote-controlled “bug”
    with a devastating “sting”; a directional microphone used to overhear
    distant conversations; binoculars featuring a digital camera for evidence
    gathering; Electronic Warfare darts for disabling critical electronic devices;
    and, much more.
  • Agent Moves and Abilities: As Ethan Hunt, players will have at their disposal
    all the moves that any respectable super agent has spent years perfecting,
    including: vaulting and mantling of objects; hand walking on ledges; wall
    hugging through tight spaces; crouching and creeping to keep a low profile;
    hand-over-hand maneuvering on pipes and girders. In addition, players will
    be able to execute numerous stealth disabling, restraining and finishing maneuvers
    on enemy characters.
  • Gameplay Locations: Led by Mission Commander Swanbeck, players will follow
    clues and undertake missions in exotic locations around the world, including:
    the Los Muertos research facility in the southwestern United States; Sansara
    Prison in Northern Africa; and, Yugaria, a fictional eastern European country.

Mission: Impossible – Operation Surma 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 Mission: Impossible – Operation
Surma can be found online at www.mi-game.com.

About Atari, Inc.
New York-based Atari, Inc. develops interactive games for all platforms and
is one of the largest third-party publishers of interactive entertainment software
in the U.S. The Company’s 1,000+ titles include hard-core, genre-defining
games such as Driverâ„¢, Enter the Matrixâ„¢, Neverwinter Nightsâ„¢,
Stuntman™, Test Drive®, Unreal® Tournament 2003, and Unreal®
Championship; and mass-market and children’s games such as Backyard Sports™,
Nickelodeon’s Blue’s Clues™ and Dora the Explorer™,
Civilization®, Dragon Ball Z® and RollerCoaster Tycoon®. Atari,
Inc. is a majority-owned subsidiary of France-based Infogrames Entertainment
SA (Euronext 5257), the largest interactive games publisher in Europe. For more
information, visit www.atari.com.

About Viacom Consumer Products, Inc.
Viacom Consumer Products, Inc. merchandises properties on behalf of Paramount
Pictures, Paramount Television, Viacom Productions, and Spelling Television,
as well as third-party properties. Viacom Consumer Products, a unit of Viacom
Entertainment Group, is a subsidiary of Viacom Inc.

Filed under: Release Dates

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