Capcom gets full MotoGP rights, new game for this year
Capcom's acquired the full rights to the MotoGP license, a deal spanning five years.
The publisher previously owned rights to only publish games based on the IP on PS2, with only THQ able to release MotoGP games on other platforms.
Capcom will release MotoGP titles for 360, PS3, Wii, PS2 and mobile platforms this year, according to the press release you can find after the link.
PRESS RELEASE
Capcom Obtains All Platform Rights For MotoGPTM Videogames
Jerez, Spain – March 30, 2008 - Capcom®, a leading developer and publisher of videogames today confirmed that it has secured exclusive worldwide rights to publish official videogames and create peripherals based on the World’s premier motorcycling championship, MotoGP™ across all hardware platforms.
This agreement will run for five years and supersedes the existing rights granted to publish titles on the PlayStation platforms which saw last year’s successful release of MotoGP 07 for the PlayStation® 2 entertainment system.
As part of this new agreement Capcom intends to initially publish titles based on the 2008 MotoGP season for the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, Sony Computer Entertainment’s PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™), the Wii™ video game system from Nintendo, PC platform and the PlayStation® 2 entertainment system, plus versions for mobile handsets.
MotoGP is the world’s premier motorcycling championship consisting of 18 Grands Prix hosted around the globe. It features the world’s top motorcycle manufacturers such as Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Ducati, Kawasaki, KTM and Aprilia, who provide machinery for the world’s best riders, including reigning World Champion Casey Stoner, Valentino Rossi, Nicky Hayden and Dani Pedrosa.
The 2008 grid also includes Japan’s Shinya Nakano, plus newcomers for the new season, such as 250cc World Champion Jorge Lorenzo and last year’s World Superbike Champion, James Toseland, from the UK.
Commenting on the announcement Mark Beaumont, executive vice president, officer and head of Capcom consumer software publishing in the Americas and Europe said: “We are very excited to have signed this long term agreement with Dorna Sports, which for the first time grants one publisher worldwide multi-platform rights to the adrenaline fuelled world of MotoGP. We feel this move to a single publisher will greatly benefit our ability to develop titles that deliver more authenticity and excitement to the consumer”.
Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports, the exclusive holder of all commercial and TV rights to MotoGP commented: “Capcom has already shown its ability to deliver a title that captures the essence of MotoGP and we look forward to working with them over the next five years”.
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ABOUT MotoGP
MotoGP is the world’s premier motorcycling championship, with a season of 18 Grands Prix in 15 countries, across four continents, bringing together the world’s top motorcycle manufacturers and an elite crop of riders from every corner of the globe. The sport is a spectacular show, featuring the most technologically advanced, high-speed racing machinery being ridden by the most fearless and skilful riders on the planet.
As a result of the growing interest in MotoGP in the United States, 2008 will see two Grands Prix in the U.S. for the first time in the history of the World Championship, with the introduction of the Red Bull Indianapolis GP at the legendary ‘Brickyard’ in September.
ABOUT DORNA
Dorna Sports was established in 1988 as an international sports management and marketing company. Headquarters are in Madrid, with offices in Barcelona, London and Tokyo and over 150 dedicated staff. The company is owned by Bridgepoint Capital and its management. Dorna has been the exclusive holder of the commercial and television rights relating to the FIM Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix (MotoGP) since 1992.
Dorna’s focus involves a 360° event management philosophy with direct involvement in all areas of the MotoGP World Championship: sporting (Relations with the FIM – the championship’s rights owners, local promoters, supervision of technical rules and relations with manufacturers and teams), media (TV production, TV coverage rights and all communications issues of the Championship) and commercial (commercial, licensing and corporate hospitality rights).
Dorna also has involvement in other top motorcycling events such as the Spanish National Championship (CEV)
MotoGP TM and © 2008 Dorna Sports, S.L. MotoGP and related logos, characters, names and distinctive likenesses thereof are the exclusive property of Dorna Sports S.L. and/or their respective owners. Used under license. All rights reserved.
For further information about MotoGP please click through to www.motogp.com