movie and game details have been released by Nintendo in a press release. Full press release below:

REDMOND, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 1, 2002--

Short Films Bring NINTENDO GAMECUBE Video Game, Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem, To Life

A lonely figure enters a dark, icy room. As she looks around, blurry shadows race past her and the only sound she hears is the pounding of her heart. Suddenly a muffled scream erupts, and she quickly turns around, only to be staring face to face with... Scary enough for you?

This summer, video game publisher Nintendo of America and film entertainment company Hypnotic combine efforts to promote the upcoming NINTENDO GAMECUBE(TM) title, Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem(TM), via a pioneering online filmmaking competition, Eternaldarknessfilms.com. Nintendo is searching for a short film that perfectly embodies the haunting themes of its new video game thriller launching this summer.

Originally unveiled last fall, this unique video game promotion spurred an overwhelming response from the film community, as more than 500 movie treatments were received from around the country. The entries were narrowed to 10 finalists in January, based on use of themes from the video game, such as hallucinations, Black Magic and insanity. Currently each of the 10 budding filmmakers is developing a five-minute short film that will be posted on Eternaldarknessfilms.com beginning May 23rd. The films will be judged by a panel of top-tier entertainment industry executives to ultimately pick the grand-prize winner. Consumers can view the entries online May 23 - July 4 and cast their vote for their favorite short film.

The winning filmmaker will receive $20,000 and a chance for his / her short film to be shown at a Hypnotic venue at the same time as a major film festival. Other finalists will receive prizes, including NINTENDO GAMECUBE systems and video games. Winners will be announced in mid-July. Additional contest details and a complete list of rules are posted on Eternaldarknessfilms.com.

"Nintendo has built its business on innovation and creativity," says Peter MacDougall, executive vice president at Nintendo of America, Inc. "By taking the game to emerging filmmakers, we're tapping into those same traits to introduce Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem to older audiences beyond our typical marketing avenues."

Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem is supported by a multi-million dollar marketing campaign, including the Eternaldarknessfilms.com promotion, as well as traditional print and television advertising.

ABOUT THE GAME: Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem

Long before humanity graced the Universe, the Earth belonged to another species, an ancient species unbound by physics or nature, purpose or ethic. Through the shifting of time, this species was driven into the recesses of the world to lie dormant until conditions were right for its return. Across history 12 chosen people come together to decide the destiny of the human race. As game play progresses, these 12 souls find their lives torn apart by the unseen evil, thrusting them to face their most suppressed fears with the promise of neither reward nor glory. The extreme sacrifice they eventually make is the cost of saving humanity. Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem is set for launch on June 24, 2002, for an MSRP of $49.95 and a mature (M) rating.

ABOUT NINTENDO:

As the worldwide leader and innovator in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co. Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its popular home video game systems. The systems include Game Boy(R), Nintendo(R) 64, Game Boy Advance and NINTENDO GAMECUBE. Since the release of its first home video game system in 1983, Nintendo has sold more than 1.4 billion video games worldwide, creating enduring industry icons such as Mario(TM) and Donkey Kong(R)and launching such franchises as Zelda(TM)and Pokemon(R). As a wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo's operations in the Western Hemisphere.

For more information about NINTENDO GAMECUBE or any other Nintendo product visit the company's Web sites, www.nintendo.com or www.nintendogamecube.com.

ABOUT HYPNOTIC:

Hypnotic is an entertainment production company that leverages its relationships with emerging filmmakers to acquire, develop, produce and distribute independent films, episodic content and television properties as well as commercials, sponsored productions and events for advertisers and brands. The Company has developed relationships with thousands of emerging filmmakers and manages one of the world's largest libraries of short films and animations, which it distributes to domestic and international television, movie theaters, airlines, hotels, pay-per-view and broadband channels. The Company's major investors include Vivendi Universal, Knowledge Universe, Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein, Windsor Media and Entertainment Media Ventures. Hypnotic maintains offices in New York and Los Angeles and is a division of Enigma Media, Inc. Hypnotic's website is www.hypnotic.com.