News

New York— July 8, in the year of our Lord 2010— Go long!  Atari, one of the world’s most recognized publishers and producers of interactive entertainment, charges onto the field with the all-new football videogame Backyard Sports®: Rookie Rush shipping October 26, 2010 for Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, Wii™, Nintendo DS™, as well as a downloadable version for Windows PC.  Backyard Sports: Rookie Rush marks the second title released featuring the new look and feel of the Backyard Sports franchise – which represents the best-selling kids sports videogame series of all time.  With hard hitting power-ups, imaginative new fields, stylized graphics, exciting new array of super-charged gameplay options and a compelling story mode, Rookie Rush is well trained and ready to take down the competition this October. 

Backyard Sports: Rookie Rush comes on the heels of Backyard Sports: Sandlot Sluggers which launched a whole new ball game for the Backyard Sports franchise. The fresh new look and gameplay experience for the brand introduced in Backyard Sports: Sandlot Sluggers has been met with triumphant critical acclaim including 4 out of 4 stars from USA Today and 5 out of 5 stars from top children’s technology review site, Common Sense Media.  Consumers were equally excited as Sandlot Sluggers hit it out of the park at retail.

Backyard Sports: Rookie Rush offers kids the opportunity to get in the huddle with fan-favorite characters Pablo, Dmitri, and Joey as they block and tackle their way through energetic, kid-friendly football games on 12 interactive, neighborhood fields many representing each character’s home turf and also a "My Backyard" field mode in which players can unlock items and populate their unique backyard.  Kids can play pick-up football games with their Backyard Sports neighborhood friends in both single game and tournament options, or play the game in Backyard Sports’ inventive new story mode. The Backyard Sports: Rookie Rush storyline centers on the Backyard kids who must come to terms with the new kid on the block, combine their unique talents, overcome egos and the odds in order to win a tournament and a big grand prize.

To pump up the action even further, Backyard Sports: Rookie Rush featuressuper-charged power-ups such as Banana Peels, Deep Freeze and Leap Frog, 5 new mini games including Sack Attack and Target Practice, unique character customization options, and a family mode, making this an exciting gameplay experience for all ages.  The updated graphics and striking visuals create a stunning re-imagination of Backyard Sports: Rookie Rush which issure to impress kids and parents alike.

“The re-imagined vision for Sandlot Sluggers has proven to be a hit for critics, parents, and kids seeking a fun, dynamic and action packed videogame,” said Jim Wilson, President of Atari.  “Backyard Sports: Rookie Rush continues the successful evolution of our Backyard Sports series, offering a truly enriching sports videogame for kids of all ages.”

Allowing kids to learn and follow traditional football rules in a wholesome gaming environment, Backyard Sports: Rookie Rush will carry a suggested retail price of $29.99 and is developed by HB Studios for Xbox 360 and Wii™ and developed by Powerhead Games for Nintendo DS™.

For more information, please log onto www.atari.com. Click here for a video of this upcoming game.