UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. -- Universal Studios here and Konami Co., Tokyo, last month formed a global strategic alliance to develop, market and distribute current and next-generation interactive games. Konami will market and distribute games produced and developed by Universal Interactive Studios based on Universal Studios franchises.
"The alliance with Konami provides UIS with unparalleled global marketing and distribution," said Jim Wilson, senior vice president and general manager of Universal Interactive Studios.
"We are excited about matching Konami's strong international marketing and distribution with Universal's premier mass-market properties. This partnership will give Konami an incredibly strong and diverse product portfolio for many years to come," said Kazumi Kitaue, managing director of Konami.
UIS is best known for game characters like Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon for the Sony PlayStation. It has recently expanded development to encompass Universal Studios franchises and new original games properties. UIS also has expanded development to encompass multiple platforms including PlayStation, personal computers and Sega's Dreamcast. Konami best-selling games include "Metal Gear Solid," "Silent Hill," "Castlevania" and "Dance Dance Revolution."
"The power of this strategic alliance lies in Universal's development of exciting interactive games, which appeal to customers globally, and Konami's expertise in marketing and distribution," said Hellene Runtagh, executive vice president of Universal Studios. "Our partnership with Universal is unprecedented for Konami and very rare in our industry. It truly leverages the strength of both companies to create a major impact on both our global businesses," added Kitaue.