Movies News
Majesco Secures Rights to Game Based on Jaws
By James Wray
Aug 20, 2004, 6:22 GMT

Interest in Open Water confirms our obsession with sharks

Majesco has secured the interactive entertainment rights to one of the most enduring action-suspense films of all time, Universal Pictures’ and Steven Spielberg’s Jaws . Developed by Appaloosa, the video game is scheduled to ship in summer 2005 to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the film’s theatrical release.

“Without a doubt, Jaws is one of the most revered classics of all time. The film’s mixture of action, adventure and suspense terrified the masses,” said Jesse Sutton, chief executive officer of Majesco. “The game will capture that same action and excitement as the movie, but this time, the shark enjoys some pay-back.”

“Jaws was an instant hit, a phenomenon, acclaimed by critics and audiences alike,” said Bill Kispert, vice president of Interactive at Universal Studios Consumer Products Group. “It was an adrenaline-charged experience. With Jaws, the game, we want to give players that same adrenaline rush as they control the power and the fury of a Great White.”

There have been a number of games previously but none allowed you to play the actual shark, plus with game technology now fully capable of rendering a realistic 3D underwater world it sounds quite a promising project.

In Majesco’s Jaws, players assume the role of a Great White shark driven to a predacious frenzy by the sonic emanations of underwater oil drilling equipment. To defend their underwater territory, players undertake a campaign to drive the raiders away while simultaneously solving a series of action-based puzzles designed to thwart the player.

Taking the game to realistic heights is Appaloosa’s advanced game engine that produces stunning underwater visuals and realistic physics that enable the Great White to perform a variety of leaping, twisting assaults, thus rendering havens such as dive platforms and boats vulnerable to attack.

With our seemingly endless fascination with sharks, as witnessed by the interest around Lions Gate's "Open Water", the game is bound to attract a lot of interest.

Jaws is scheduled for release in 2005 for the PlayStation ® 2 computer entertainment system, Xbox ® video game system from Microsoft and personal computers.

About Jaws
Based on the popular bestseller by Peter Benchley, directed by Steven Spielberg and produced by Richard Zanuck and David Brown, Jawsboth fascinated and terrified audiences, breaking box office records upon its release in 1975. Filled with heart-stopping tension and stunning power, the powerful film launched director Steven Spielberg’s phenomenal commercial success and won three Academy Awards®: Best Sound, Best Original Score and Best Film Editing. In addition, the memorable score by John Williams won a Golden Globe Award for ‘Best Score’ and was named one of the Top 100 Films by the American Film Institute.

Jaws also introduced the predatory shark as a new cinematic icon and struck a primal chord with audiences who connected overwhelmingly with the film’s mixture of action adventure, terror, and moments of hilarity. The impact was so enduring that audiences never looked at the water the same way again in this suspenseful story of an eastern seaboard community terrorized by a giant white shark.

Source: Majesco