GRAPEVINE, Texas, Jun 03, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) --

Jolt Online Gaming, part of the GameStop (NYSE: GME) network, today announced the launch of the latest installment of the Championship Manager^TM series, Championship Manager: Rivals^TM. Taking advantage of the framework provided by Facebook, this brand new game is a free-to-play version and, for the first time, lets players interact with friends, help their teams develop and progress throughout the leagues.

Rivals continues the Championship Manager tradition of combining deep managerial control while introducing new social and casual gaming mechanics, all with the tension and drama of game day. Gamers can take control of players' training regimes and organize their tactics before taking to the field to challenge the biggest names in soccer, making it as open and accessible to someone who's never tried soccer management as it is to any Championship Manager veteran.

"We're thrilled to be bringing Championship Manager to Facebook, and in partnering with Square Enix on Rivals we're giving passionate soccer fans the social soccer game they've been looking for," said Richard Barnwell, CEO of Jolt Online Gaming.

Launching today, Championship Manager: Rivals will continue to grow and evolve over the coming weeks and months, constantly striving to deliver gamers an authentic and social soccer management experience. With updates planned throughout the summer, gamers will start Rivals with teams from the 2010/11 season.

Championship Manager: Rivals is the third Facebook game to be released by social gaming veterans Jolt Online. For more details or to play for free, visit apps.facebook.com/cmrivals.

About Championship Manager: Rivals

The Championship Manager franchise is now available in a social-gaming format with Championship Manager: Rivals. Progress as quickly or as slowly as you like, with a league system that's open to casual gamers and hard-core fans alike. Fans can choose between nine of the biggest leagues in Europe including England, France, Spain and more.

Use scouts to hunt down the best talent and engage in Europe-wide transfers to build a team that can take on the best soccer has to offer. Set up training regimes for the team, and with the new Boost System earn special bonuses for attacking, defending, goalkeepers and other vital areas, depending on what training options you choose.

Watch matches unfold with detailed commentary and a graphical overview of the pitch as your team plays the beautiful game. Share your virtual winnings with your friends and send them gifts as you help each other progress through the most exciting soccer leagues the world has to offer.

Championship Manager: Rivals is now available on Facebook. For more details or to play for free, visit apps.facebook.com/cmrivals.

About Jolt Online Gaming

Jolt Online Gaming is one of the leading global browser game publishers, with a specific focus in North America and the UK. Jolt develops and publishes online games that are free-to-play and can be accessed from any Internet browser. More information is available at www.JoltOnline.com or you can follow the daily Jolt commentary at www.twitter.com/JoltOnline.

About GameStop

GameStop Corp. (NYSE: GME), a Fortune 500 and S&P 500 company headquartered in Grapevine, Texas, is the world's largest multichannel video game retailer. GameStop's retail network and family of brands include 6,573 company-operated stores in 17 countries worldwide and online at www.GameStop.com. Our network also includes: www.Kongregate.com, a leading browser-based game site; Game Informer(R) magazine, the leading multi-platform video game publication; Spawn Labs, a streaming technology company; and Impulse, Inc., a digital distribution platform available at www.impulsedriven.com.

General information on GameStop Corp. can be obtained at the company's corporate website. Follow GameStop on Twitter @ www.twitter.com/GameStop and find GameStop on Facebook @ www.facebook.com/GameStop.

About Beautiful Game Studios

Beautiful Game Studios is the developer behind the renowned Championship Manager series publishing across multiple platforms including PSP(R), iPhone, PC and more. Focused on bringing the most popular sport in the world to consumers across various platforms utilising new and innovative technology. More information on Beautiful Game Studios can be found at: www.championshipmanager.com or to get a behind the scenes look follow us on twitter @ www.twitter.com/champman or become a fan at http://www.facebook.com/championshipmanager

About Square Enix Ltd.

Square Enix Ltd., a part of the Square Enix Europe business unit, develops, publishes, distributes and licenses SQUARE ENIX(R), EIDOS^TM and TAITO(R) branded entertainment content in Europe and other PAL territories as part of the Square Enix Group. Square Enix Ltd. also has a global network of leading development studios such as IO Interactive(TM), Crystal Dynamics^TM and Eidos Montréal. The Square Enix Group boasts a valuable portfolio of intellectual property including: FINAL FANTASY(R), which has sold over 97 million units worldwide, DRAGON QUEST(R) which has sold over 57 million units worldwide and TOMB RAIDER^TM which has sold over 35 million units worldwide; and the legendary SPACE INVADERS(R). Square Enix Ltd. is a London-based, wholly-owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.

More information on Square Enix Ltd. can be found at http://www.square-enix.com/eu/en/.

CHAMPIONSHIP MANAGER: RIVALS, CHAMPIONSHIP MANAGER, DRAGON QUEST, EIDOS, FINAL FANTASY, SPACE INVADERS, SQUARE ENIX, the SQUARE ENIX logo, IO INTERACTIVE, CRYSTAL DYNAMICS, TAITO and TOMB RAIDER are registered trademarks or trademarks of the Square Enix Group. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE: GameStop

Jolt Online
Sheenagh Rogers, Press@joltonline.com
or
Square Enix
Tim Hodges, timho@bgstudios.co.uk
or
Gamestop
Beth Sharum, 817-722-7281
BethSharum@gamestop.com