Hollywood Stars Heat Up Cold War During ``Red Alert 2'' Movie Shoot; Filming Wraps, Post-Production Continues on Westwood's Latest Strategy Game.Entertainment Editors/Multimedia Writers LAS VEGAS--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--July 31, 2000 Hollywood stars worked in Las Vegas' summer sun for two weeks while filming one the year's most highly anticipated sequels. However, don't look for this action-packed thriller in theaters; look for Westwood Studios'(TM) "Command & Conquer Red Alert(TM) 2" in software stores. Electronics Arts(R) (NASDAQ NASDAQ in full National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations U.S. market for over-the-counter securities. Established in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), NASDAQ is an automated quotation system that reports on :ERTS ERTS Electronic Arts, Inc. (stock symbol) ERTS Earth Resources Technology Satellite (US NASA) ERTS Embedded Real Time Systems ERTS Enhanced Remote Transit Shed ), Westwood's parent company, will ship the game to stores around the world in mid-October. The CD-ROM CD-ROM: see compact disc. CD-ROM in full compact disc read-only memory Type of computer storage medium that is read optically (e.g., by a laser). game is the sequel to "Command & Conquer Red Alert," one of the best selling PC games in history with more than 3 million sold. The talented cast includes Kari Wurher ("Sliders sliders a species of tortoise kept as pets. They have a black shell and a red stripe behind the eye. Called also Chrysemys scripta elegans, red-eared sliders. ," "Beverly Hills Beverly Hills, city (1990 pop. 31,971), Los Angeles co., S Calif., completely surrounded by the city of Los Angeles; inc. 1914. The largely residential city is home to many motion-picture and television personalities. 90210"), Ray Wise ("Twin Peaks"), Barry Corbin ("Northern Exposure," "WarGames"), and Udo Kier n. 1. (Bleaching) A large tub or vat in which goods are subjected to the action of hot lye or bleaching liquor; - also called keeve ltname>. ("Blade," "Armageddon"). "I kicked in doors, played with guns, punched guys in the face and had more fun than really should be legal," says Wurher, who plays Tanya, a beautiful-yet-deadly commando. "I don't get many roles where I get to, literally, kick ass." The film production was more elaborate than many movies, with a cast of more than 20, a crew of more than 30, extensive special effects special effects, in motion pictures, cinematographic techniques that create illusions in the audience's minds as well as the illusions created using these techniques. make up, and 17 full sets (including the Oval Office, Einstein's laboratory, and the Pentagon). Filming took place earlier this summer, with editing and post-production happening over the next two months. Emmy winner Ron Wild, a special effects make-up genius who worked on "Godzilla," "Battlefield Earth" and "Babylon 5," performed his magic on everything from Einstein's bushy bush·y adj. bush·i·er, bush·i·est 1. Overgrown with bushes. 2. Thick and shaggy: a bushy head of hair. hair and wizened wiz·ened adj. Withered; wizen. wizened Adjective shrivelled, wrinkled, or dried up with age Adj. 1. face to Yuri the Psychic's elongated e·lon·gate tr. & intr.v. e·lon·gat·ed, e·lon·gat·ing, e·lon·gates To make or grow longer. adj. or elongated 1. Made longer; extended. 2. Having more length than width; slender. skull, tastefully accented with flashing red diodes. "I love working on games because you get to create a huge variety of unusual characters," Wild says. "After five different Westwood games, I've done everything from demonic witches to cyborgs to full-body space suits. On every project, I'm always impressed with how high the production values Production values is a media term for "production cost." It refers to the professional look, or "polish," of a production. Factors that affect perceived production value may include video and audio quality, lighting, number of errors, and amount and quality of special effects. are." The real-time strategy game has a plot ready for the silver screen. The Russians, still smarting after a Cold War defeat, invade America using old favorites (Nuclear bombs, throngs of tanks) and a few new friends like Yuri the Psychic Warrior and giant mind-controlled squids. The Americans fight back, with a little help from Einstein, time travel devices and trained dolphins. The war rages across American cities, including Washington, D.C., Chicago, New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. , Key West, and Pearl Harbor. The war then spreads to Mexico, Germany, France and Siberia. The "Red Alert 2" film sequences serve as motivation for "Red Alert 2" players who will command vast armies over large battlefields. With each successful mission, the player sees the results of his good work, a film clip that tells another chapter in the story. "The story is definitely fun, but at the same time, we're taking creative liberties with some sensitive areas: patriotism, communist aggression, and the invasion of your home," says Donny Miele, executive director of dramatic assets for Westwood Studios. "The idea that America can be invaded, and would have to plea with the rest of the world for help, makes the blood boil just a little, which is why it makes for a great story." The gameplay of "Command & Conquer Red Alert 2" gives players an onslaught of new units, tactics and strategies. As in the original, gamers can choose to lead Soviet or Allied forces. Soviet commanders will invade North America and try to claim it for mother Russia. Allied commanders will fight to push back the invaders and save liberty. Both sides are well-armed with conventional weapons and experimental technology. The Soviets can engage in psychic warfare, wield nuclear weapons and fry all they survey with Tesla technology. Allied forces can teleport with chrono technology, conduct covert operations with the help of gap generators, and rain down lightening bolts through weather control. Supporting these high-powered, advanced weapons are massive conventional forces, including armies, air power and navies. "Red Alert 2" will feature enhanced Local Area Network and Internet play. Players can engage in fierce combat over a LAN (Local Area Network) A communications network that serves users within a confined geographical area. The "clients" are the user's workstations typically running Windows, although Mac and Linux clients are also used. and battle via the Internet and Westwood Online. A built-in worldwide ranking system allows players to track their victories and defeats against other Internet gamers. The Worldwide Domination mode let's players compete in an ongoing war for global control. More information about "Red Alert 2" can be found at www.westwood.com. Westwood Studios is a prominent publisher of best-selling PC, and next-generation console games. Formed in 1985, Westwood Studios has released several popular titles including: "Dune(TM) 2000," the "Lands of Lore Lands of Lore or LoL is a classical computer role-playing game series by Westwood Studios and published by Virgin Interactive. Lands of Lore follows the tradition of Dungeon Master (TM)" series, the "Kyrandia(TM)" adventure trilogy, "Monopoly(R)" for the Internet, "Blade Runner(TM)" and the "Command & Conquer" product line. Westwood is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Electronic Arts Inc. Electronic Arts, headquartered in Redwood City, Calif., is the world's leading interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, Electronic Arts posted revenues of more than $1.4 billion for fiscal 2000. The company develops, publishes and distributes software worldwide for personal computers and video game systems. Electronic Arts markets its products under eight brand names: Electronic Arts(TM), EA SPORTS(TM), Maxis(TM), ORIGIN(TM), Bullfrog bullfrog, common name of the largest North American frog, Rana catesbeiana. Native to the E United States, this species has been successfully introduced in the West and in other parts of the world. The body length is 4 to 8 in. (TM) Productions, Westwood Studios(TM), Jane's(R) Combat Simulations, and Gonzo Games(TM). More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://www.ea.com. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Electronic Arts, EA SPORTS, Maxis, ORIGIN, Bullfrog, Westwood Studios, Westwood Online, "Lands of Lore," "Kyrandia," "Command & Conquer" and "Red Alert" are trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks of Electronic Arts, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Jane's is a registered trademark of Jane's Information Group, Ltd. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. (Note to editors: There are several photos from the film shoot that we can email you. If you would like them, please send your request to aaron@westwood.com) |
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