'LION KING' GAME DUE IN 4TH QUARTER

DAN ALAIMO

CHICAGO -- The 16-bit video game version of "The Lion King" will be released to stores in time for the Christmas selling season, said Jeffrey Katzenberg, chairman of Walt Disney Studios, Burbank, Calif., at the Summer Consumer Electronics Show in June.

The game, based on the hit movie now playing in theaters, was developed by Disney Software and Virgin Interactive Entertainment, Irvine, Calif. Disney collaborated with Virgin last year to develop the "Aladdin" game, which has sold 2 million units. "The Lion King" game will be available initially for Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo Entertainment System, with versions for other platforms to follow, said Katzenberg. Martin Alper, president and chief executive officer of Virgin Interactive Entertainment, said the worldwide release will be backed by an $8 million promotional budget.

" 'The Lion King' is positioned to become the must-have game for Christmas," said Alper. "Just as the game sets a new standard in innovation, our market efforts will sound as loudly as the drums of Africa," he said.

"The Lion King" game will arrive in stores within five months of its theatrical release, compared with the "Aladdin" game's yearlong wait, noted Katzenberg.

This means that retailers will have the "Lion King" game well in advance of the video release -- the "Aladdin" game was released at about the same time as the video. If Disney follows its past release pattern with "The Lion King," it will probably be out on video late in 1995. " 'The Lion King' game may be a different form of entertainment from the movie, but in its heart, it is still the same animal. The story, the animation, the characters, the music, the humor and the exotic setting will all be there. But this time the audience gets to take part," said Katzenberg. The game will have 50% more animation and backgrounds than the "Aladdin" game, he noted.

"Over 2,000 original cells are being created expressly for the game. A new rendering process is being used that gives the characters a three-dimensional quality that makes them come to life in the interactive environment," he said. Hans Zimmer, who composed the film score, is reorchestrating the score and composing additional music for the game, said Katzenberg. "This is one video game where the players won't just see the difference. They will hear the difference," he said. " 'The Lion King" film and 'The Lion King' game are two brilliant examples of how advanced technology enables and enhances the creativity and showmanship of artists," said Michael Eisner, chairman of Walt Disney Co. Eisner also spoke at the Summer CES. "The successful collaboration of art and technology is not new to Disney," he said. "It was established by Walt himself and continues to grow and flourish." "The marriage of creativity, showmanship and technology continues at Disney as we move toward an exciting new century in which technology, the enabler, will provide even greater opportunities for those who create and entertain," he said.