IHRA Drag Racing Comes to Mobile Phones

All the drag racing action you can handle in the palm of your hand!

May 14, 2003 (Rockville, MD) -- Vir2L Studios, the online and mobile games provider for Bethesda Softworks, today announced that it will release its fast-paced IHRA Drag Racing game for wireless devices on June 1, 2003. IHRA Drag Racing for mobile phones will feature realistic drag-racing simulation, several classes of cars, and is playable in both single-player and multiplayer modes.

For over three decades, the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) has been a world-class pioneer and trendsetter in drag racing. Under a licensing agreement with IHRA, Bethesda Softworks, a premier publisher of interactive entertainment computer software, has sold more than 750,000 copies of the IHRA Drag Racing game for the PC, PlayStation® and PlayStation®2 console entertainment systems. Now, drag racing fans and newcomers alike can experience the excitement of drag racing and head-to-head competition in the palm of their hands.

"The IHRA is thrilled to bring our highly successful form of motor sport entertainment to the wireless world," said Aaron Polburn, Vice President of IHRA. “Over 60% of our spectator fan base is currently using wireless handsets, so don't be surprised to see exciting IHRA Drag Racing in places you never imagined."

For select handsets, IHRA Drag Racing will include an upgrade shop, 32 vehicles, and 6 levels of racing: Classic, Stock, Pro-Mod, Pro-Stock, Funny Car, and Top Fuel. In multiplayer, friends can run a three-minute race against friends or challengers across the carrier network and advance their rank on the game’s leader boards. Whether you have a couple minutes, or a couple of hours, IHRA Drag Racing’s addictive action will keep you coming back for more.

IHRA Drag Racing will initially be available on the following devices:

Java (June 1)
Color:
Motorola T720, Nokia 7210, Nokia 3650 & 7650, Samsung A500 & N400, Sanyo 4900, 5300, 8100, Sharp GX10, Nokia 3510i

Black & white:
Siemens M50, Nokia 6310i

Brew (June 30):
Color: Motorola T720, Audiovox 9500, LG VX4400

"By taking Bethesda's successful franchise to this new medium, we have been able to refine and tune the best parts of a great series and make it really stand out for mobile gamers," said Douglas Frederick, president of Vir2L Studios. "The mobile game is rewarding and fun, and is sure to blow away fans of IHRA Drag Racing."

IHRA Drag Racing is being distributed worldwide by Mforma Group, Inc., a leading provider of mobile content to wireless operators.

"We are pleased to distribute games by Vir2L and Bethesda Softworks, one of the most respected video game publishers in the world,” said Christophe Watkins, vice president of media and content for Mforma. "IHRA Drag Racing is a very high quality game that wireless users will thoroughly enjoy playing."