CODEMASTERS ANNOUNCES
DOWNLOADABLE CONTENT FOR OVERLORD

Company Reveals Plans for One Free and Two Premium Downloadable Content Packs Coming Soon for Overlord™

Burbank, CA - Thursday, November 1, 2007 - Unleashing the wondrously evil Overlord and his army of lethal minions for a fresh round of malicious mayhem, Codemasters today announced the forthcoming release of three downloadable content packs for Overlord™, the summer's hit action/adventure video game from Triumph Studios. The all-new content will be available this November from Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for the Xbox™ 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft®, and will be comprised of one free and two premium download packs.

The premium downloadable content is led by Overlord™: Raising Hell, an expansion pack that adds all-new single-player levels to the original game. An additional premium pack, the Overlord™: Challenge Pack will deliver a set of all-new online multiplayer maps. Microsoft Points pricing for the two premium content packs will be confirmed at launch. A further downloadable content update will also be available free of charge, and will add split-screen play to all the original game's multiplayer maps as well as introduce an all-new multiplayer Survival map.

Downloadable Content Details:

Overlord: Raising Hell - Prepare to go deeper into the Overlord's twisted world as this premium, single-player expansion pack opens up a series of hellish new levels. Complete with new enemies and objectives, each level is a supernatural abyss - a hell for each of the game's five kingdoms: Mellow Hills, Evernight, Heaven's Peak, the Golden Halls and the Ruborian Desert.

Access to each abyss is via a portal, which opens once a kingdom has been successfully conquered and the previous ruler banished to a personal hell within. However, it's not just the fallen heroes that have been dragged into the abyss; the Overlord's newly loyal peasants have also been taken down into hell too.

With the undead denizens of each abyss on the attack and threatening the Overlord's reign above ground, there's only one thing to do about it: assemble a minion army, descend into each abyss and embark on a fresh wave of tyranny in order to return the serfs to their homelands, defeat the fallen heroes once and for all, and claim the throne of each kingdom's underworld.

Overlord: Challenge Pack - This additional premium content pack is ideal for Overlords who really have something to prove. There's pillaging fun with seven new online multiplayer maps, including the competitive 'Capture the Maiden' map and 'Protect Your Power', where players must defend the Overlord's tower against waves of enemy attacks.

Putting minions through their toughest workout, the Overlord: Challenge Pack also introduces a "Legendary" difficulty mode, which challenges players to achieve Legendary status by using their most aggressive minion managing skills to complete the game under exceptional bad-ass circumstances.

Overlord: Split-Screen Multiplayer Pack - This free Overlord update will be available alongside the premium packs and will enable players to go head-to-head in an all-new split screen multiplayer mode. In addition to providing split screen play on all of the game's original multiplayer maps, the update will also introduce a new multiplayer map, Rocky Race, which sees a pair of Overlords working cooperatively to survive the onslaught of an arch rock giant on the rampage.

All three Overlord downloadable content packs require players to have the full version of the game for Xbox 360. PC Downloadable content is expected to be made available in the New Year. A special edition PC version of the original Overlord is being published as a boxed product exclusively for the German market, and will include all three downloadable content packs.

Overlord is available at retail outlets nationwide and is rated "T" (Teen - Blood and Gore, Crude Humor, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence - content that may be suitable for persons ages 13 and older) by the ESRB. For all the latest information and videos, be sure to visit the official website at www.codemasters.com/overlord.

Labels: codemasters, Overlord

CODEMASTERS UNLEASHES MINION MAYHEM IN THE U.S. - OVERLORD SHIPS TO RETAIL OUTLETS NATIONWIDE


Burbank, CA - Tuesday, June 26, 2007 - Over 750,000 gamers have already turned evil, and that's just from the demos. Now, unleash a full, uninhibited reign of terror as Codemasters today announced that Overlord™, the highly anticipated, twisted, fantasy Action/Adventure game has shipped to retail outlets nationwide. Overlord is available for the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and the PC, and is rated "T" (Teen - Blood and Gore, Crude Humor, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence - content suitable for persons ages 13 and older) by the ESRB.

The creation of Dutch developer Triumph Studios, Overlord is all about being ruthless, determined, and even a little despotic, as players pillage lands, conquer kingdoms and rise to be proclaimed the new, all-powerful Overlord. At the heart of the game lies an array of impish, gremlin-like creatures known as the Minions, and their presence provides Overlord with its deliciously dark comedic touches.

In Overlord, players will amass armies of up to 50 Minions from all four Minion types as they explore and conquer the rest of the fantasy world's twisted domains, with seven corrupt heroes to defeat, a Dark Tower to rebuild, and the Legion of Terror and other destructive spells to unleash. Whether Brown fighter Minions, Red fire throwing Minions, Green assassin Minions or Blue healer Minions, these little buggers will always be there for their master, ready to sacrifice themselves and their lives in servitude of the Overlord.

With the ability to be directly controlled by players, the Overlord's Minion horde will obey every command, no matter how devastating or depraved it may be. Indeed, Minion loyalty knows no limits and their bravery borders on stupidity, but they are the perfect slavish little demons to send on sheep killing, farm razing, village pillaging, house burning, beer guzzling, axe-wielding missions.

For more information on Overlord, be sure to visit the official game website at: www.codemasters.com/overlord. There gamers can sample Minion mayhem by downloading the Overlord playable demo for the PC, also available from Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for the Xbox 360 videogame and entertainment system. Additionally, be sure to check out the Desktop Minion e-toy and the "Rate My Evil" interactive leader board.

Labels: codemasters, Overlord, PC, Xbox 360

Burbank, CA - Monday, June 11, 2007 - Unleash a Minion on your hard drive as Codemasters announced today the release of the Overlord™ playable demo for the PC. Available for download now from www.codemasters.com/overlord, the Overlord demo gives PC gamers their first opportunity to see just how truly evil a ruler they can be. Overlord is planned to release June 26th for the PC and Xbox 360™ videogame and entertainment system from Microsoft, and is rated "T" (Teen - Blood and Gore, Crude Humor, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence - content suitable for persons ages 13 and older) by the ESRB.

In the demo, players don the Overlord's illustrious armor and assemble a team of Brown Minions (the brawlers) to head off on a session of serious destruction in the once tranquil area of The Mellow Hills. Descending upon the unsuspecting populace and wildlife, the Overlord must use his loyal minions to gather life-force from the somewhat unwilling sheep, grow the size of his minion horde, and let the Halflings-gone-wild know there's a new boss in town. Top that off with Minion upgrades, including better weapons and pumpkin helmets, throw in some peasant intimidation and a show-down with the Guard Troll at the Slave Camp, and players will have a taste of the havoc that a Minion horde can wreak.

In addition to the demo, PC gamers can now adopt their very own Minion thanks to the new Overlord Desktop Minion e-toy. Also available from www.codemasters.com/overlord, simply download and install this nasty little bugger for the ultimate in Minion companionship and random abuse.

Lastly, coming soon gamers will be able to 'Rate My Evil' as an interactive leader board of nastiness goes live on the website. Users will be able to rank a series of famous people and characters in order of unpleasantness, and also upload photos of evil friends to add into the miserable mix.

For more information on Overlord, or to download the new PC demo, or to get the new Desktop Minion, be sure to visit the official game website located at: http://www.codemasters.com/overlord

Labels: codemasters, Overlord

MINION MAYHEM SET FOR CODEMASTERS’ OVERLORD
COMING THIS SUMMER TO THE XBOX 360 AND PC

New Overlord Game Trailer Now Available Online

Burbank, CA – Friday, March 23, 2007 – Codemasters is bringing minion mayhem to gamers this summer in Overlord™, a game that gives players hordes of evil, gremlin-like critters and a peaceful land for them to reek havoc on. Additionally, Codemasters today released a new minion teaser video which is available for download now at www.codemasters.com/overlord. Created by Triumph Studios, Overlord is set to ship this summer for the Xbox 360™ videogame and entertainment system from Microsoft and the PC, and is currently rated “RP” (Rating Pending) by the ESRB.

In Overlord, the minions constitute the evil Overlord’s army and are the key gameplay mechanic. Completely and utterly loyal to him, minions will use their unique skills to fetch, fight and even die for their master. Their loyalty knows no limits and their bravery borders on stupidity, but with every bone in their odd little bodies, the minions will follow players’ commands no matter how despotic or life threatening they are.

The minions can be controlled generally in two different ways: either by moving the horde as a group, or by independently firing them off like some destruction-crazed, reusable missiles. Players will be able to send individual minions to take on smaller jobs, or they can select a posse from their horde to take on bigger tasks.

Once a minion has been dispatched on a job, its little minion brain kicks in to determine the best course of action. For instance, if the player sends a minion to kill a sheep, it will attack, then automatically pickup and return with the sheep’s life force, which can then be used later on to create more minions. Minions can also be used to carry objects (including much larger ones if they work together), operate mechanisms, and get to places where the Overlord can not.

As the Overlord grows more and more powerful and evil, the minions will grow as well, getting a bit more powerful and evil at the same time. Opportunists by nature, if they can rob an opponent of a mighty axe to wield themselves, or steal some armor to wear for protection, they will. Whether axes, knives, chef’s hats, pitchforks or even emptied out pumpkins, whatever the case is, minions aren’t fussy as long as it gives them the fighting edge.

Further to collecting weapons and armor for themselves, the minions will return to the Overlord with gold and other goodies. Unfortunately, minions have their weaknesses too though: the beautiful (yet fatal) succubus can lure them to their deaths, and they’re easily distracted from their missions by music and alcohol (which makes them increasingly more violent and out of control than normal).

As the Overlord, players can amass an army of up to 50 minions (with hundreds more in reserve) made up of four different breeds:


* Brown Minions – The Fighters. These are the strongest minions for combat. They will pick up dropped equipment from defeated foes and use it for themselves – pitchforks, severed unicorn horns and the like are some favorites.


* Red Minions – The Fire Throwers. These minions are like archers who hurl blazing fireballs to defeat opponents from a distance. Also, immune to fire, they can clear dangerous paths for the Overlord and the rest of the horde.


* Green Minions – The Assassins. These minions love their stealth attacks. They’ll try to get behind an enemy, jump on their back and then stab them viciously to death – great for ambushes. They’re also immune to poisoning and can turn rubbish left on the battlefield into upgrades.


* Blue Minions – The Healers. These are the smartest of the minions, and the only ones who have the ability to swim. Blue minions can also resurrect fallen minions, and get them ready to join the fight once again.


Minions – use them tactically and these evil little comrades will always be there for their master, ready to sacrifice themselves and their lives in servitude to the Overlord.

Labels: codemasters, Overlord, PC, Xbox 360