June 5^th, 2003 (12:00am) - For ages, Metallica (Lars) has claimed to be one of those one-of-a-kind bands that would never sell out. Well, today the infamous band has signed a multi-year agreement with Vivendi Universal Games that grants the Vivendi to publish and distribute videogames based on Metallica. The first game to be released under this agreement will be a multi-platform Twisted Metal clone featuring music, voice-overs and inspiration from the band. Scheduled for release in 2005, the game will be produced in collaboration with Segnana, Inc., a company that partners with Metallica on interactive and online endeavors.

The new title -- a high action, third person vehicle combat game packed with fully customized vehicles and weaponry, endless terrain and desperate, murderous opponents -- will include voice-overs from band members, incidental background music and other exclusive content from Metallica. Under terms of the contract, Metallica will also record an original song exclusively for the game along with a music video featuring elements from the interactive experience. A sneak-peek trailer of the title will appear on Metallica’s new album, St. Anger, which hits store shelves on June 5, 2003, and will also be featured during the band’s "Summer Sanitarium Tour" kicking-off July 4th in Detroit, Michigan.

"We are excited to bring game fans an interactive entertainment experience that delivers intense vehicular combat action along with the powerful music and energy of Metallica," said Luc Vanhal, Vivendi Universal Games’ President and COO, North America. "Today’s announcement further underscores Vivendi Universal Games’ commitment to work with leading artists in the entertainment industry to create engaging interactive products that appeal to the expanding games audience."