New Line, game duo out to slay Dragon

By John Gaudiosi -- Video Business, 5/30/2001

MAY 30 | New Line Home Entertainment is promoting the DVD release of Dungeons & Dragons (available now, $24.98) with D&D game brethren Interplay Entertainment and Wizards of the Coast.

Interplay is the videogame company that has turned the D&D Baldur's Gate PC games into a $65 million worldwide hit. Wizards of the Coast owns the pen-and-paper role-playing game.

The Dungeons & Dragons Online Sweepstakes (www.seednd.com/contest), which runs through Dec 31, includes a trip to Prague, the Czech Republic for four plus $1,000 cash as a grand prize; a DVD player; New Line DVDs; Baldur's Gate II PC games; and books from Wizards of the Coast. There will also be contest links at Interplay's and Wizards of the Coast's Web sites.

Consumers who purchase the Dungeons &Dragons DVD and either one of Interplay's PC games, Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn ($49.95) or its expansion pack, Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal (June 5; $29.95), will receive a $10 mail-in rebate.

The Dungeons & Dragons DVD offers a playable PC demo of Baldur's Gate II.

"The inclusion of the game demo on the Dungeons & Dragons DVD provides extra entertainment for both the existing gamers and those who enjoyed the movie that are now curious about fantasy-adventure gaming," said Laura Abele, marketing manager at New Line Home Entertainment.

"We're looking at the same core fan base with both the games and the DVD," said Craig Relyea, VP of marketing at Interplay. "This is a natural tie-in, since many retailers carry both the games and movie DVDs. If consumers are new to the D&D license, the free game trial is a great opportunity to introduce them to the best-selling franchise."

Interplay will take its D&D franchise to PlayStation 2 in September with the release of Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance ($49.95).

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