SAN FRANCISCO -- GameSpot Trax "Holiday Hot List" Provides Insight into This Year's Most Popular Games Based on Movies

GameSpot, a leading online source for gaming information, today announced the most anticipated movie-based video games launching in time for the 2004 holiday shopping season. With more than 30 new movie games on the market this year, and with retail prices approaching $50 apiece, it pays to know which games are top of mind with today's discriminating gaming audience. This list is supported by statistics from GameSpot Trax, the company's market intelligence tool, which is used by marketers, analysts and retailers to analyze current and future trends in gaming.

According to GameSpot Trax, the most anticipated movie-based video games include: Lord of The Rings: Battle for Middle Earth, Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II, Spider-Man 2, and SpongeBob SquarePants: The Movie.

"Game publishers are smart to market new movie-based games during the holiday shopping season, because they can leverage recognized and proven movie brands as a quick and easy way to capture retail dollars," said Joshua Larson, director of GameSpot Trax. "The problem is, behind the trusted movie packaging, game play quality varies significantly. Our list of the most anticipated movie-based video games points buyers to the titles that are not only popular, but in most cases are also highly recommended by the gamers who have already played them. It is hard to go wrong with these titles, and each has an ESRB rating of E -Everyone or T-Teen, enhancing their appeal to a broader audience."

GameSpot Trax is widely considered the game industry's scorecard. By following the activities from over one million gamers every day across the GameSpot family of Web sites, GameSpot Trax is the industry's most advanced tool for analyzing the buying cycle for games. It tracks and analyzes game data ranging from consumer awareness, interest and purchase intent to competitive mindshare, campaign effectiveness, audience profiles and editorial coverage.

GameSpot Trax selected the five most anticipated movie-inspired games based on their leadership across the following metrics:

--Unique gamers measures the overall awareness for the game title

--Average review score is powered by GameRankings.com and reflects the critical reception for the title across 350 online and offline editorial outlets

Josh Larson has reviewed GameSpot Trax data for the following highlights of what made each of the five selected games winners this year:

The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth (PC), Release Date: Dec. 6th - Even though the movie trilogy is completed, Electronic Arts is offering new perspectives on the Lord of the Rings setting. This is a real-time strategy game, and ranked number one among the holiday games in the strategy category based on unique gamer interest on the GameSpot Network. This game gained in interest due to the upcoming launch of the Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Extended Edition DVD releasing in mid-December.

Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords (Xbox), Release Date: Dec. 6th - The original Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic game was the most highly-reviewed Xbox game of 2003 with an average review score of 95 percent. The upcoming sequel, again offers a role-playing take on the Star Wars universe many years before the events of the movies. Expectations for this game have been high with its number one ranking among December Xbox releases based on unique gamer interest.

Spider-Man 2 (Multiple Platforms), Release Date: June 28th - This game based on the blockbuster Spider-Man 2 movie first released back in June, but continues to build momentum to be a top title for the holiday season. Spider-Man 2 (PS2) already stands as a top 5 US seller through the first 10 months of the year (1). In addition, Spider-Man 2 appears as a launch title for the recently released Nintendo DS, and has been a top 5 DS title based on unique gamer interest over the past 60 days. The Spider-Man 2 DVD launched in late November, which has helped create buzz around the video game.

SpongeBob SquarePants: The Movie (Multiple Platforms), Release Date: Oct. 27th - The SpongeBob SquarePants brand is already an established, successful one in games with past releases based upon the hit TV cartoon. The attention from the movie can contribute to buzz for the game, especially with the solid review scores for this kid-focused title (average score of 76% on PS2).

About GameSpot

GameSpot (www.gamespot.com) is a leading online source for gaming information. The GameSpot family includes GameFAQs, Game Rankings, Wireless Gaming Review, GameSpot DLX, and GameSpot Trax, its real-time market intelligence tool. GameSpot's Websites offer free access to tens of thousands of PC and video game reviews from expert editors, previews of the hottest upcoming games, game downloads, video streams, guides, breaking news, and hints. GameSpot also has one of the most active online gaming communities which is a free, innovative social network service that makes it fun and easy for gamers to meet and interact with others that share their specific gaming interests.

About CNET Networks, Inc.

CNET Networks, Inc. (www.cnetnetworks.com) is a premier global interactive content company that informs, entertains, and connects large, engaged audiences around topics of high information need or personal passion. The company focuses on three categories--personal technology, games and entertainment, and business technology--and includes such leading brands as CNET, ZDNet, TechRepublic, MP3.com, GameSpot, CNET Download.com, CNET News.com, Webshots, Computer Shopper magazine, and CNET Channel. With a strong presence in the US, Asia and Europe, CNET Networks has operations in 12 countries.

(1) NPD Funworld.

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