Midway Revolutionizes the Action Horror Genre With the Release of The Suffering

The Sufferingâ„¢ Creeps into Stores Backed By Multi-Million Dollar TV,
Print and Online Marketing Campaign.

Midway Games Inc., a leading software industry publisher and developer, announced
today that The Suffering, the all-new, action horror game today has shipped
for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system and the Xbox®
video game system from Microsoft.

“The Suffering captures the disturbing and terrifying nature of the horror
genre in a compelling third-person action/adventure game set in the mature and
gritty world of a maximum-security prison,” said Steve Allison, chief marketing
officer, Midway. “The Suffering has already generated massive awareness
and backed by a multi-million dollar marketing campaign, we are confident that
the game will be well received.”

By alternating periods of tense and terror-filled exploration with frenetic
combat sequences, The Suffering creates the ultimate experience of terror. In
the dark world of The Suffering, creatures jump out of shadows, fall out of
trees, and erupt out of the ground, attacking the player in the most frightening
ways possible. Along with a cast of uniquely hardened criminals and guards,
players must battle not only the ghoulish apparitions besieging the prison but
also the demons of their own forgotten past.

The player controls the prisoner Torque, a hardened inmate in his late 20s,
sentenced to die for a murder he may or may not have actually committed. Underneath
Torque’s tough exterior hides a man who is not quite psychologically balanced,
who fears far more than he would ever admit to. As a side effect of his mental
instability, Torque has flashbacks to the events from his past, throbbing images
that depict the events that lead up to the crime for which he was imprisoned.
Torque is also subject to black outs where he becomes extremely violent and
transforms into a massive monster hell-bent on destruction.

The Suffering has been receiving high praise from the media:

  • “…The Suffering is, hands down, the scariest and most unnerving video
    game I have ever played, out-horror-ing Silent Hill, Resident Evil and Fatal
    Frame combined.” – 94/100 – PSE2 Magazine
  • “The Suffering has made prison even scarier.” – Game of the Month
    – Stuff Magazine
  • “In a genre that’s overrun with sequels and lame attempts at horror,
    The Suffering is a breath of fresh death rattle.” – 8.5/10 – IGN.com
  • “Enter a prison haunted by executed inmates, and try to escape using
    what few wits a psychologically tortured prisoner can muster.” – 4/5
    stars – Maxim

The Suffering marketing highlights include:

  • National television advertising campaign on multiple mainstream broadcast
    and cable networks including FOX, UPN, MTV, Comedy Central, Cartoon Network,
    ESPN, and FUSE among others
  • Aggressive online campaign to top enthusiast Web sites including Gamespot.com,
    IGN.com, UGO.com,
    and Gamespy.com among others
  • Dedicated web presence at www.thesuffering.midway.com
  • Print advertising campaign across multiple major video game and consumer
    publications
  • National point of purchase programs at major game retailers including EB
    Games    , GameStop
    and Toys R’ Us.

The Suffering Key Features:

  • 9 gritty and terrifying levels–transverse indoor and outdoor terrain and
    horror lurking in every dark corner.
  • Amazing character morphing effect–fills your rage meter and transform
    into a hideous and powerful creature.
  • Over 10 deadly weapons from the shiv to the flamethrower to help you survive
    this nightmare.
  • A dozen horrific monsters–each representing the means of execution that
    befell them–stalk your every move.
  • Blood and gore galore, dripping, pooling and splattering every level of
    your frightening journey.
  • Interact with hardened criminals featuring advanced AI; garner their assistance
    or end their life on your path to freedom–it’s your choice.
  • 3 distinct endings depending on how you play the game. Are you a cold-blooded
    killer, a man wrongfully accused or something else?
  • Intricate levels featuring moveable and destructible environments.

Midway Games Inc. is a leading developer, publisher and marketer of interactive
entertainment software. Midway videogames are available for play on all major
videogame platforms including the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system,
Xbox, Nintendo GameCube™ and Game Boy® Advance.

About Xbox
Xbox (http://www.xbox.com)
is the video game system from Microsoft that brings people together for the
most exhilarating game and entertainment experiences. Xbox delivers an expansive
collection of breakthrough games, powerful hardware and the unified Xbox Live
online service. The new tagline, “it’s good to play together,” captures
the spirit of Xbox as the social hub of the new digital entertainment lifestyle.
Xbox is now available in North America, Asia, Europe and Australia.

Filed under: Release Dates

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