SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Dec. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Atronic, a leading provider of casino games and services, announced today a new agreement with Universal Studios Consumer Products Group to develop slot machines based on the Universal Pictures' December 14th film, King Kong, from three-time Academy Award(R)-winner Peter Jackson (The Lord of the Rings trilogy).

"We are thrilled to have the chance to create slot machines based on the King Kong film by Peter Jackson," said Jason Stage, Market Research Manager, Games and Brands. "The story of King Kong is rich with elements that will translate into an engaging and powerful game. Peter Jackson's take on the classic story will provide additional strength to an exciting brand."

"The King Kong license is result of our strategic decision to bring the excitement of Hollywood to our distinctive slot machines," said Ken Bossingham, VP of Sales and Marketing for Atronic. "We look forward to launching King Kong games that are as thrilling as the movie."

Atronic plans to launch the new slots in 2006. About King Kong

Triple Academy Award(R)-winner Peter Jackson (The Lord of the Rings trilogy) directs the dramatic adventure King Kong, bringing his sweeping cinematic vision to the iconic story of the gigantic ape captured in the wild and brought to civilization where he meets his tragic fate. Jackson assumes directing, producing and co-screenwriting duties and surrounds himself with a list of superlative filmmaking and acting talents.

Jackson re-teams with longtime collaborators Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, co-writing the screenplay with three-time Oscar(R)-winning partner Walsh and their The Lord of the Rings co-writer, Academy Award(R) winner Boyens. Jan Blenkin, Carolynne Cunningham, Fran Walsh and Jackson produce the film under their WingNut Films banner.

Academy Award(R) nominee Naomi Watts (21 Grams) portrays Ann Darrow, an actress from the world of vaudeville who finds herself out of a job in Depression-era New York. Her luck changes when she meets Carl Denham, played by Jack Black (School of Rock). Denham is an entrepreneur, raconteur, adventurer and filmmaker who is struggling to make a name for himself in the entertainment industry. Bold, ebullient and charismatic, Denham has a natural sense of showmanship and an appetite for greatness, which ultimately leads to catastrophe. Academy Award(R) winner Adrien Brody (The Pianist) steps into the role of Jack Driscoll, a New York playwright, who becomes an unlikely hero in a romantic adventure story which will test his physical courage and his heart.

Andy Serkis (who performed the role of the CGI character Gollum in the Lord of the Rings trilogy) provided both on-set performance reference and motion capture performance for the title character of King Kong. Serkis also appears onscreen playing Lumpy the Cook, in service aboard the tramp steamer S.S. Venture, bound for Skull Island, under the command of Captain Englehorn, played by Thomas Kretschmann (U-571). Colin Hanks (Orange County) portrays a production assistant to filmmaker Carl Denham and Kyle Chandler (television's Early Edition), taking on the role of Bruce Baxter, a 1930s movie star cast opposite Ann Darrow in the film Denham is shooting.

Visual effects are again accomplished by New Zealand-based companies Weta Digital, under the direction of Oscar(R) winner Joe Letteri and Weta Workshop, under the direction of Oscar(R) winner Richard Taylor. Visual effects will supplement practical locations in creating the primordial jungles of Skull Island, while digital effects recreate the bustling metropolis of 1933 Manhattan. James Newton Howard (Batman Begins) composes the original score for the film.

King Kong has been rated PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned - Some Material May Be Inappropriate For Children Under 13) for frightening adventure violence and some disturbing images.

About Universal Studios Consumer Products Group

Universal Studios Consumer Products Group is responsible for global licensing and retail strategies as well as building brand recognition of the extensive catalogue of NBC Universal properties. Universal Studios Consumer Products Group is a unit of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80%-owned by General Electric, with 20% controlled by Vivendi Universal.

About ATRONIC

The ATRONIC Group of companies, a leading global provider of casino games and services, is headquartered in Germany. The group companies Atronic International, Atronic Americas and Atronic Systems maintain offices in the USA, Europe, Russia, Latin America, South Africa and Australia. ATRONIC is dedicated to producing only the highest quality of entertaining games and products, including dynamic casino management and linked gaming solutions which are being operated in 84 countries worldwide. ATRONIC holds a total of 190 worldwide gaming licenses including the United States of America, where it is licensed to sell machines in 24 states and to 140 tribes.

ATRONIC is a member of the Gaming Standards Association and supports open industry standards such as Best of Breed (BOB) and System to System (S2S).

ATRONIC is part of the family-owned and operated GAUSELMANN Group which entered into an alliance with GTECH Holdings Corporation, a NYSE listed American company who acquired a 50 percent controlling equity interest in ATRONIC on December 6th 2004. The transaction, which is contingent upon regulatory and gaming license approvals, is expected to be completed on December 31, 2006. The family-owned and operated GAUSELMANN Group, which has sold 2 million gaming devices since inception, is the second largest manufacturer of gaming devices worldwide. To find out more information about ATRONIC please visit the website at http://www.atronic.com/.

CONTACT: Katie Stage, +1-480-609-5867, kstage@atronic.com, or Carol
Skjaerris, +1-480-609-5988, cskjaerris@atronic.com, both of Atronic Americas

Web site: http://www.atronic.com/