[December 23, 2004] InterActual's DVDKey Unlocks Hidden Online Content for The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Special Extended DVD Edition Tweet BURBANK, Calif. --(Business Wire)-- Dec. 23, 2004 -- InterActual, a subsidiary of Sonic Solutions(R) (Nasdaq:SNIC) and the leading provider of ROM and bonus feature technology for DVD, announced today that New Line Home Entertainment's The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Special Extended DVD Edition is shipping with an embedded virtual key that unlocks a special website filled with exclusive online features. Called DVDKey(TM), the technology from InterActual grants viewers access to content online when the DVD is placed in a PC and played back using an InterActual-compatible DVD player. The exciting online bonus features unlocked with The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Special Extended DVD Edition include: -- A Journal for the Ages -- Create your own journal, The Lord of the Rings style. Also includes personalized stationery, bookmarks, calendars, desktop images and more. -- Constructing Middle Earth -- See and zoom in on the detailed plans for sets constructed for The Lord of the Rings movies. The plans are linked to video clips of the scenes that take place in these sets. -- The Murals of Rivendell -- View the artwork that adorns the walls of Rivendell and read comments by their artist. -- Saruman's Book -- Explore Saruman's book, and view comments by its artist/creator. -- Character Palantir -- View graphically represented information about the characters and how they relate to each other. Includes video clips and printable portraits. -- Cast and Crew Palantir -- Study the discography of the cast and crew and how they relate to each other. Uses an interactive Venn diagram format. "Fans of Tolkien's work are sure to enjoy the additional depth and interactivity that these online features deliver," said Jean-Paul Leonard, creative director of Company Wide Shut and developer of the online features. "This release represents the culmination of the entire trilogy's online bonus content." "InterActual's DVDKey allows for compelling bonus feature content that delivers the vision and detail that is expected of any derivative work based on The Lord of the Rings motion picture trilogy," said Gunthar Hartwig, program director and producer for InterActual. "Because viewers access these bonus features online, content can be updated and refreshed even after the DVD has been released." InterActual-compatible players for Windows PCs include InterVideo WinDVD 6 with the InterActual Pack option, and the free InterActual Player included on the Extended Edition DVDs. WinDVD 6 users with the InterActual Pack can enjoy The Return of the King enhanced features in the WinDVD interface with no additional software installation required. New Line Home Entertainment's The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Special Extended DVD Edition is available in stores now. The Extended Edition is also available in a three-title box set of The Lord of the Rings Extended Editions and in a special Collector's Gift Set. About New Line Home Entertainment New Line Home Entertainment distributes New Line Cinema and Fine Line Features theatrical films on DVD and VHS, including the premium DVD brand infinifilm(TM). The Company also distributes feature films and non-theatrical programs acquired or produced by New Line Home Entertainment and New Line Television. Founded in 1967, New Line Cinema is the leading independent producer and distributor of theatrical films. It licenses its programming to ancillary markets, including cable and broadcast television, as well as in all international markets. New Line Cinema is a Time Warner Company. About Company Wide Shut Company Wide Shut (http://www.companywideshut.com) offers creative direction and design services with a focus on interactive media. The company has been recognized for award-winning DVD menu design, motion graphics, supplemental material, and DVD-ROM development. Recent notable work includes The Lord of the Rings trilogy DVD menus and collaboration with illustrator and conceptual designer Alan Lee on the design of the theatrical closing credits for the film The Return of the King. About InterActual InterActual (http://www.interactual.com), a subsidiary of Sonic Solutions, is the leading provider of software and services that enable cutting-edge DVD interactivity in computers and next-generation home entertainment platforms. InterActual's products empower advanced interactivity and the seamless integration of DVD with the power and immediacy of the Internet. The company's customers are the major Hollywood studios, record labels, and other content owners, along with technology companies that license the InterActual platform. Over 1,500 major DVD titles are enhanced with InterActual's DVD-ROM content creation and web integration software. Sonic Solutions, InterActual's corporate parent, is the world's leading developer of DVD creation software solutions. InterActual, InterActual Technologies, the InterActual spotlight logo and DVDKey are either trademarks or registered trademarks of InterActual Technologies, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Sonic and Sonic Solutions are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sonic Solutions in the United States and/or other countries.. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners. InterActual is a Sonic Solutions company. Forward Looking Statements The above paragraphs of this press release may contain forward looking statements that are based upon current expectations. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward looking statements as a result of various risks and uncertainties including, among others, the timely introduction and acceptance of new products, costs associated with new product introductions, the transition of products to new hardware configurations and platforms and other factors, including those discussed in the Company's annual and quarterly reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This press release should be read in conjunction with the Company's most recent annual report on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Registration Statement on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which contain a more detailed discussion of the Company's business including risks and uncertainties that may affect future results. The Company does not undertake to update any forward looking statements. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]