Ford Mustang Races into New Video Game

[gacSTclass]

Ford Mustang Races into New Video Game
media.ford.com


DEARBORN, April 18, 2005 -- If the creators of the new Ford Mustang video game are correct, some parents may find themselves competing with their children to play it. Unlike sophisticated racing simulators like Gran Turismo 4, the Ford Mustang game, released this week by Take 2 Interactive, is targeted for all ages.

"It's more of an arcade game that's just fun to play," said Scott Brovsky, product manager for Take Two Interactive. "We think the Mustang game is going to be huge, and the big box retailers like Wal-Mart agree."

The Ford Mustang game, which can be played on PlayStation 2 and Xbox format, allows players to drive 40 different Mustangs -- from the original 1963 concept to the '69 Mach I, as well as the SVT Cobra and 2005 Ford Mustang GT Coupe. Points are given for good driving technique in addition to how quickly one completes the course.

The popularity of the Mustang is driving demand for just about anything connected to it, according to Mark Bentley, Ford's manager of Product Licensing.

"Right now the hottest product out there is the Mustang and everyone wants a piece of it, from kids' toys to the interactive game industry," said Bentley.

Ford is projecting to sell 165,000 Mustangs in 2005 -- an important piece of the company's overall sales. The Mustang video game, which is expected to attract a young audience, could potentially put millions of youthful "interactive" Mustang drivers behind the wheel as they replicate the driving experience, according to Killol Bhuta, Mustang marketing manager.

"Mustang customers are getting younger," said Bhuta. "With the previous Mustang, one in four customers was under the age of 35, now it is closer to one in three. To market to this younger consumer we have to take off in a non-traditional direction, and video games are a no-brainer really."

Unlike movie or television placements, video games draw the user inside the entertainment medium. Instead of just seeing a brand or product, video game players can interact with it again and again.

The through-the-ceiling growth of the video game industry has companies like Ford looking for ways to use games as a way to attract younger consumers. Interactive games generated $24.5 billion in revenues in 2004, according to DFC Intelligence, According to a market research firm focused on video, PC, online games and other forms of interactive entertainment Armed with research showing the average male between 18 years and 32 years of age spends more time playing video games than watching TV, Bentley said Ford is eager to put its brand on more high-quality video games.

"You would think its just kids, but we're seeing a whole generation of young adults from ages 20 to 35 who grew up playing video games and are now carrying it forward into adulthood," he said.

But video games aren't just the domain of males. According to the DFC Intelligence report, 40 percent of all video gamers are female.

http://media.ford.com/newsroom/featu...?release=20485

[FordMan]

Awesome!

[logansowner]

Originally Posted by FordMan

Awesome!

Not really, there is a good chance this is going to be like that Corvette game. All the different Vette's from overthe years, but the games sucked balls and this one probably willl too. That and the graphics are not up to par.

[jwrebholz]

Sounds like fun. (Take 2 is a decent publisher. I think we can reasonably expect that the game won't be crap)

[FordMan]

Originally Posted by logansowner

Not really, there is a good chance this is going to be like that Corvette game. All the different Vette's from overthe years, but the games sucked balls and this one probably willl too. That and the graphics are not up to par.

Just cause the Vette sucks doesn't mean the Mustang does. I mean the game, of course.

[Redvette]

Originally Posted by FordMan

Just cause the Vette sucks doesn't mean the Mustang does. I mean the game, of course.

fordman have you played the Corvette Game not vette game so will you please get it straight because if you haven't played the game how do you know the Corvette Game sucked and I bet you that the stupid rustang game will really suck even more

[FordMan]

Originally Posted by logansowner

Not really, there is a good chance this is going to be like that Corvette game. All the different Vette's from overthe years, but the games sucked balls and this one probably willl too. That and the graphics are not up to par.

REDVETTE,This guy said it did. I was responding to him. Just because (in his opinion) the CORVETTE game sucked doesn't mean the Mustang game will. There is no need to get mad over a "stupid mustang game", right?

[MN12Fan]

Well if it isn't Redvette, a "pro-GM" version of our old pal laserwizard but just as unsavory. And more than one post in a day? I didn't expect to see you back for...two months at least!

[MN12Fan]

Originally Posted by FordMan

REDVETTE,This guy said it did. I was responding to him. Just because (in his opinion) the CORVETTE game sucked doesn't mean the Mustang game will. There is no need to get mad over a "stupid mustang game", right?

Don't waste you're time, FM. Redvette's nothing more than a troll who likes to pretend he's "serving the cause" by attacking any pro-Ford comment that he sees. He makes no real contributions to any of the discussions in these forums.

[ACross32]

Originally Posted by MN12Fan

Well if it isn't Redvette, a "pro-GM" version of our old pal laserwizard but just as unsavory. And more than one post in a day? I didn't expect to see you back for...two months at least!

ahhh, laserwizard...I almost forgot about that guy.

[Ming]

I'm not a big fan of this specific concept of game. Racing different years of Mustangs (or Corvettes, for that matter) against one another seems kinda pointless - if that is what this game is about. I'd rather race the Mustang against Firebirds, Camaros and GTOs. Kind of a "Ford vs. GM" type game.

[[Corporal Dan]]

Originally Posted by MN12Fan

Well if it isn't Redvette, a "pro-GM" version of our old pal laserwizard but just as unsavory. And more than one post in a day? I didn't expect to see you back for...two months at least!

Lazerwizard retired after the theatrical release of his last great movie...

"LazerWizard III: Ret's Toyohondassan"

However, one thing must be known.

Apparently, Lazerwizard lost his fiance to the deathdrap known as the j-body. And his complaints about GM were usually relevant. (Except when bitching about the buick 231. DON'T **************** WITH THE 231.)

[dawtcalm]

It's made by Eutechnyx which has been making racing games for quite a while so it's probably just a port of one of their past games with only Mustangs. I don't see the point of 1-car type games, it's a small demographic, but if car companies are asking for it of course the development studio will do it for them. They should give away the game with each 'stang sold.

[powervette]

it seems that it will be the only opportunity for me to test-drive the new Stang

[dawtcalm]

Originally Posted by powervette

it seems that it will be the only opportunity for me to test-drive the new Stang

The '05 Mustang is also in GT4, you can go head to head with a pal in the '04 GTO..