Heatwave Interactive Brings Swagger of Multi-Platinum Recording Artist, T.I. to New...

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Thu Jul 30, 2009 11:00am EDT

Heatwave Interactive Brings Swagger of Multi-Platinum Recording Artist, T.I.
to New Hip-Hop Inspired Online Game

 




AUSTIN, Texas, July 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Heatwave Interactive, game studio and
online publisher, announced today that Grammy Award-winning artist, T.I. and
his company, Grand Hustle Records have signed on to appear in Platinum Life. 
A new online game set in the world of music and hip-hop, Platinum Life will
provide the ultimate interactive entertainment platform for artists to connect
with their fans.  

Platinum Life allows players to enter the music world where they start as an
unsigned musician and ultimately reach superstar celebrity status.  Users
start with little more than talent and a dream. But the dream is enough -
players work their way up, perform tasks for iconic hip-hop stars, do shows at
local dive bars and clubs, clawing their way up in the music industry by being
around the best and the brightest artists, allowing them to upgrade every
aspect of their life.  In Platinum Life, T.I. will guide players in their
adventure from struggling musician to successful artist.

Platinum Life represents a new business model for artists that empowers them
to truly engage their fans that is equally beneficial as an entertainment
experience and sustainable revenue generator.  

"Our online game experience allows top-level artists to share their music,
video and lifestyle with their huge fan bases in a personal and innovative
way," said Anthony Castoro, co-founder and chief creative officer, Heatwave
Interactive.  "We feel that T.I.'s music, message and deeply engaged fan base
make him ideal as an icon within the game."

"Heatwave Interactive understood the love T.I. has for his millions of fans
and his need to establish a stronger connection with them in a way that is
interactive and real," said Jason Geter, CEO of Grand Hustle, LLC.

T.I., co-CEO and founder of Grand Hustle Records, is a successful recording
artist, producer and actor.  Once called "the Jay Z of the South," T.I. has
gained notoriety for his #1 albums, T.I. vs. T.I.P. and Paper Trail and
chart-topping singles, "Live Your Life" featuring Rihanna, "My Love" with
Justin Timberlake and "Whatever You Like."  In 2006, T.I. broke into the
acting world with his debut in ATL, later staring in blockbuster film,
American Gangster.  He will also be featured in the upcoming movie, Takers,
alongside Zoe Saldana and Matt Dillion.

The game is currently in the early stages of development with Heatwave
Interactive exploring relationships with some of today's iconic artists in
hip-hop, R&B and pop music to be part of the Platinum Life experience.  The
company has designed a business model that provides a revenue stream for
artists while also creating a new way for gamers who love music to express
themselves, develop and deepen their relationship with their favorite artists.

About Heatwave Interactive:
Founded in 2007 by games industry professional Anthony Castoro (EA, Sony
Online Entertainment) and successful entrepreneur Donn Clendenon (World Gaming
Corporation, I-Sun Networks), Heatwave Interactive is an entertainment
production company responsible for developing original and licensed IP for
video games.  Their vision to create, develop and finance IP in a manner that
is relatively unique to the traditional video game financing model. Heatwave
Interactive's model provides investors a vehicle for direct investment in
original IP. All Heatwave Interactive generated IP is online-enabled and has
extensive crossover into film and television.  










SOURCE  Heatwave Interactive

Wendy Zaas, +1-310-854-8148, wzaas@rogersandcowan.com, Ivy Mollenkamp,
+1-310-854-8131, imollenkamp@rogersandcowan.com, both of Rogers & Cowan, for
Heatwave Interactive
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