August 17^th, 2005 (3:26pm) - Groove Games today announced its agreement with Universal Studios Consumer Products Group to publish an interactive game based on Universal Pictures and Atmosphere Entertainment MM’s’ recently released horror film, George A. Romero’s Land of the Dead. The film, which critics have called "a compelling, striking vision," "a masterpiece" and "tour de force," hit theatres on June 24th, 2005.

The full-featured, first-person shooter video game sets players in the midst of a gruesome adventure in which they battle to save themselves – and a quickly-diminishing living population - from an army of the dead bent on spreading a zombie plague. Developed by Brainbox Games, a Digital Extremes Studio, and using the Unreal Engine, the game features terrifying zombies, frightening effects, an immersive storyline and key environments seen in the film. Gamers can also join intense, bone-chilling multiplayer battles against the dead on Xbox Live.

"George A. Romero’s Land of the Dead is a new classic in the zombie film genre and Groove Games is excited to bring games based on the film to the PC and Xbox," said Jon Walsh, CEO of Groove Games. "The game features intense action that horror fans will love, and the ability to play head to head against other players in zombie-infested levels is an absolute blast."

In the game, a horrific plague has broken out and mobs of zombies are roaming throughout the tri-state area, killing people at random. Gamers must quickly arm themselves and destroy these horrible creatures by any means necessary. Gamers will learn of a fortified city, Fiddler’s Green, which is the last bastion of safety for the living. They will need to survive a harrowing journey to the city, and if they do, will discover the frightening lengths to which the living will go in order to save themselves.

Gamers can wage war against the dead with a variety of melee weapons and ranged weapons, including Sniper Rifles, Baseball Bats, M16s, Fire Axes and even shovels. The unique multiplayer modes allow players to work with or against other humans while eradicating the Zombie-infested wasteland.

"We are thrilled with Groove Games’ ability to deliver a game that combines frenetic gameplay with true moments of fright, and to capture the adrenaline of the film from which it is inspired," said Bill Kispert, vice president of Interactive, Universal Studios Consumer Products Group. "Universal has a long heritage in the horror genre and we are excited to once again extend that heritage into the interactive gaming space."

The Land of the Dead: Road to Fiddler’s Green video game will be released in October 2005.