National Geographic and Mindscape Announce Worldwide Partnership
Multimillion Dollar Agreement Will Take the Two Companies into the 21st Century
Washington, DC, September 25, 1996 -- National Geographic Interactive and Mindscape, a leading publisher of consumer software, today announced an exclusive $40 million partnership that will launch a new line of software in at least four languages. Effective immediately, the worldwide agreement will partner the two companies through the year 2000."National Geographic is an internationally renowned organization known to families in millions of homes around the world," said John Moore, CEO of Mindscape. "The Geographic's wealth of content and images, paired with the combined resources of Mindscape and its Pearson sister companies, positions this partnership for worldwide success. This agreement is a key component of Mindscape's long-term plans for our home/education software division."
Partnership to Target Multiple Sales Channels
Mindscape, a unit of the London-based international media group Pearson plc, will market and distribute National Geographic Interactive titles to the retail and education markets, both in the United States and internationally. The products will also be sold by Mindscape through the OEM and direct marketing channels. The two companies plan localized releases of products in Japanese, French and German.
New Titles Combine Quality Content and Cutting-Edge Technology
National Geographic Inetarctive and Mindscape will work with a group of award-winning developers to design five new titles for release in 1997. Marketed to consumers under the National Geographic Interactive label, all of the products will include multimedia and Internet features, combined with content from the Geographic's extensive archives.The first title, The National Geographic Society's First 108 Years, will deliver all of National Geographic magazine's legendary images and stories, plus nostalgic period advertising from the past century, decade by decade. Currently being developed by Dataware Technologies, Inc., The National Geographic Society's First 108 Years is scheduled for release in summer 1997.
"National Geographic has been the premier provider of compelling photography and reporting on human adventure and natural history for over a century," said Larry Lux, Vice President of National Geographic Interactive. "By partnering with Mindscape, we are able to expand our content into multiple technology platforms and extend our products into new markets, within the United States and abroad."
Targeted Education Effort
Mindscape and National Geographic Interactive plan an extensive worldwide effort to create and distribute classroom versions of upcoming titles. The two companies will combine their areas of expertise in education to develop teacher's guides, network versions, and lab packs. Designed to engage children in the learning process, these materials will include lesson plans that assist teachers in integrating the software into daily teaching activities. The classroom versions will be available through the Mindscape Innovation educational catalog and Web site, as well as through Mindscape's educational software dealers.
The National Geographic Society is the world's largest nonprofit scientific
and educational organization, with 9 million members worldwide. Its flagship
magazine, National Geographic, reaches every country in the world. The
Society also publishes National Geographic Traveler and World
magazine for children, books, maps, and atlases. National Geographic Interactive
is a wholly-owned taxable subsidiary of the Society. Through National Geographic
Television and National Geographic Online,
the world's culture, places, and wildlife are brought to millions more people.
Mindscape, Inc. is a leading
developer and publisher of consumer software for personal computers and video
console systems. An industry pioneer with over fifteen years of experience,
Mindscape provides award-winning software for the entertainment, education,
and reference markets.
Mindscape is headquartered in Novato, CA, with offices in North America, Europe,
and Australia. The company's development subsidiaries include Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI) of Sunnyvale,
CA, and Micrologic of Emeryville, CA. Mindscape is part of Pearson, plc, the
international media group based in London which focuses on the information,
education, and entertainment markets.
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