Midway Signs Deal to Publish Games Based on ADULT SWIM Programs

Midway Games
Inc. (NYSE: MWY), a leading interactive entertainment software publisher and developer,
today announced that it has signed a multi-territory agreement with Cartoon Network,
licensed by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, to publish video games based
on five of the network’s ADULT SWIM programs: Aqua Teen Hunger
Force, The Brak Show, Harvey Birdman, Attorney At Law, Sealab 2021, and Space
Ghost Coast to Coast. Under the terms of the agreement, Midway has the rights
to develop and publish games for the console, handheld and PC platforms. The first
ADULT SWIM product is scheduled to ship in late 2006.

Adult Swim is Cartoon Network’s late-night programming block of cartoons that
appeal to a grown-up sense of humor and adult sensibilities such as superhero
lawyers, talking food items and cranky talk show hosts.

“Cartoon Network is known for creating programming that is cutting-edge
in its presentation and content, and thus perfectly suited for video games,”
said David F. Zucker, Midway president and chief executive officer. “The
built-in fan base and popularity of ADULT SWIM affords us a critical stepping
stone towards success.”

“ADULT SWIM is a phenomenon with young adult viewers who identify with
the edgy, irreverent tone of the shows and the block,” said John Friend,
senior vice president, Cartoon Network Enterprises. “Clearly, lots of ADULT
SWIM fans are avid gamers, and we look forward to working with Midway to make
games the fans will love.” . . .

Young adults are flocking to Cartoon Network in record numbers, thanks primarily
to ADULT SWIM, which in 2004 set new network records for total delivery of adults
(18-34 and adults 18-49). Research indicates that Cartoon Network is watched
by more adults (18-34) than E Entertainment, USA, Discovery, TV Land, CNBC,
A&E and VH1, among others.

The ADULT SWIM properties include:

• Aqua Teen Hunger Force — Aqua Teen Hunger Force is an
  animated comedy about human-sized food products that live together in a rental
  house in New Jersey. Master Shake, the self-appointed leader is a miserable
  crank. Frylock, the most reasonable member of the group, happens to be a box
  of french-fried potatoes. Meatwad rounds out the squad, with his – you guessed
  it – round mound of meat. Together they are Aqua Teen Hunger Force. Sometimes
  they solve the mysteries of New Jersey. More often, they hang out in their
  neighbor Carl’s above-ground swimming pool.
• The Brak Show — The Brak Show is set somewhere in outer
  space, but it looks an awful lot like any American suburb, circa 1965. The
  show follows the formative years of Brak and his best pal Zorak, both of whom
  attend Learnmore High. Brak’s Dad, a small human man with a vaguely Latin
  accent, loves reading the paper and giving nonsensical advice. Brak’s mother
  is supportive and quite a dish, in a June Cleaver as a space monster kind
  of way. Zorak leads Brak into all kinds of trouble like stealing the mascot
  of Learnmore High’s rival just before the big game, overfeeding a neighbor’s
  fish or stealing a magic candy bar. In the end, everything always turns out
  just fine and there’s even usually time for a song.
• Harvey Birdman, Attorney At Law — once a third-rate superhero,
  Harvey Birdman is now a third-rate lawyer trying like hell to get by in a
  fancy law firm. It’s not clear whether Harvey actually went to law school,
  but he definitely knows the things to say to sound like a lawyer. And he has
  a suit now, that’s for sure.
• Sealab 2021 — The year is 2021, and deep below the ocean’s
  surface lies a vast, high-tech compound: Sealab. This multinational effort
  has been designed to explore the viability of underwater colonization and
  uncover the mysteries of the sea. Unfortunately, it’s run by a bunch of idiots.
• Space Ghost Coast to Coast — Space Ghost Coast to Coast
  is the planet’s only late-night talk show hosted by a cartoon superhero. Days
  when mere men in coats and ties ruled the late-night universe have gone the
  way of The Chevy Chase Theater, but Space Ghost is fully costumed and on the
  scene with an array of superpowers. Space Ghost Coast to Coast combines celebrity
  interviews and assorted nonsense for the weirdest talk show in the universe.
  Space Ghost is joined by archenemies Moltar and Zorak, whom he has enslaved
  as unwilling members of his late-night crew. Guests on Space Ghost Coast to
  Coast have been an eclectic mix, including Tenacious D, Bjork, Donny Osmond,
  Charlton Heston, The Ramones, Lassie and Fran Drescher. But not Don Rickles.

About Midway

Headquartered in Chicago, IL with offices in San Diego, CA, Seattle, WA, Austin,
TX , Los Angeles, CA, Munich, Germany and London, UK, Midway Games Inc. (NYSE:
MWY) is a leading developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software
for all major video game systems. More information about Midway can be obtained
at www.midway.com.

About Cartoon Network

Cartoon Network, currently seen in 87.3 million U.S. homes and 160 countries
around the world, is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.’s 24-hour, ad-supported
cable service offering the best in animated entertainment. Drawing from the
world’s largest cartoon library, Cartoon Network showcases unique original ventures
such as Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends, Codename: Kids Next Door, Ed Edd
n Eddy, Teen Titans, The Grim Adventures of Billy And Mandy, The Powerpuff Girls,
Samurai Jack, and other Cartoon Cartoons. Cartoon Network also features Adult
Swim, its signature late night block of animation for grownups. Since its launch
in 1992, Cartoon Network has remained one of ad-supported cable’s highest-rated
networks. Cartoon Network’s web site is located at www.CartoonNetwork.com.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, is a major producer
of news and entertainment products around the world and the leading provider
of programming for the basic cable industry.

About Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment Inc., a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company,
is a premier licensor and a developer of entertainment content for the interactive
space across all current and future platforms, including consoles, PC-based
gaming and wireless applications.

Filed under: Games

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