CHICAGO, Feb. 5 -- Racing Champions announced today that it is entering into a licensing agreement with Sega of America Inc. to produce collectible figures and vehicles based on certain games and properties such as "Sonic The Hedgehog," "Virtua Fighter(TM) 4," "Super Monkey Ball(TM)," and "Crazy Taxi(TM)." Racing Champions' newly formed JoyRide Studios group, in conjunction with GamePro magazine, is developing these products, which are planned for release in July 2002, and will be marketed under the "GamePro Presents" line. These JoyRide Studios' branded products are primarily targeted to video game players and will be packaged with special "codes, strategies and cheats" from the experts at GamePro magazine, the largest multi-platform gaming magazine and the most popular publication for gamers.
According to Peter Henseler, President of JoyRide Studios and of Racing Champions, "Over the years, Sega has constantly pushed the game industry to new heights. We are thrilled about the opportunity to create collectible figures and vehicles based on some of Sega's most popular new and existing game titles. With Racing Champions reputation for quality and Sega's reputation for cutting edge, we believe this licensing agreement will help expand our new Joyride Studios' product category into the multi-billion dollar video game market."
"Sega has become one of the most recognized video game characters and franchises in the world," said Mike Fischer, Vice President of Entertainment Marketing, Sega of America. "Working together with Racing Champions and Joyride Studios, we can deliver high quality collectible figures and vehicles to game fans everywhere."
JoyRide Studios ( www.joyridestudios.com ) is focused on developing collectible and toy products for the tween, teen, and post-teen market segments. Its parent, Racing Champions ( www.rcertl.com ) is a leading producer and marketer of innovative collectibles and toys sold in multiple channels of distribution and available at more than 20,000 retail outlets. The company sells Racing Champions NASCAR and NHRA die-cast racing replicas, souvenirs and apparel; American Muscle(TM) collectible die-cast vehicle replicas; officially licensed die-cast and preschool products based on automobiles, trucks, agricultural, heavy equipment, and powered recreational and sport vehicles under the Ertl brand; AMT model kits; Press Pass trading cards; and, under the direction of its JoyRide Studios(TM) group, video game figures and vehicles. High-profile licensing partners include NASCAR, NHRA, John Deere, Case IH, Polaris, Honda, Caterpillar, Ford, GM, Chrysler, Texaco, and Warner Brothers.
SEGA of America is the American arm of Tokyo, Japan-based SEGA Corporation, a $3.5 billion corporation by market capitalization, recognized as a worldwide leader in interactive entertainment both inside and outside the home. The company develops, publishes and distributes interactive entertainment software products for a variety of hardware platforms including PC, wireless devices, and those manufactured by Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. SEGA of America's Web site is located at www.sega.com.
