XSEED has announced that they have partnered with AQ Interactive to secure the rights to bring JU-ON: The Grudge to North America. The game is inspired by the horror movie The Grudge. Billed as a “haunted house simulator” due to its focus on scaring players, it also tries to keep the game accessible so that anyone can play. The director of the movie, Takashi Shimizu, is serving as creative director for the game.

JU-ON: The Grudge lets players use the Wii Remote as a flashlight to explore haunted areas such as an abandoned warehouse, a hospital, and a mannequin factory. When the player's character gets scared, they are forced to run away from the source of the terror. If another player has a Wii Remote, that player can press buttons to trigger various in-game events to attempt to scare the main player even more.

JU-ON: The Grudge is set to be released in October exclusively for Wii.

XSEED Games Announces JU-ON: The Grudge for Wii

New “Haunted House Simulator” To Offer Quick and Plentiful Scares

Torrance, Calif., (May 22, 2009) –XSEED Games today announced that

JU-ON: The Grudge is in development for Wii and scheduled for release

in North America in October, 2009. The title is inspired by the

Japanese classic horror movie, “JU-ON”, on which the American release

of the hit horror film “The Grudge” was based upon. JU-ON: The Grudge

for Wii is a “Haunted House Simulator” where accessibility and instant

scares are given priority over all other game aspects, with the

original creator of the movie, Takashi Shimizu, serving as a creative

consultant to game development.

It is said that when a person dies with a deep and burning grudge, a

curse is born. When an average housewife in Nerima, Japan, was

murdered in a grisly fashion, it gave rise to a curse so powerful that

it threatens to kill at a pace thought unimaginable before.

The curse manifests on those who encounter the curse by any means,

such as entering the house or being in contact with somebody who was

already cursed. Once Erika Yamada is exposed to the curse while

searching for her dog in an abandoned warehouse, the entire Yamada

family is put in grave danger as soon as she reunites with them at

home. They must now face their individual challenges alone, and only

by overcoming the curse together will their family truly be free

again.

”Ever since I first heard about this unique concept, this is a game

that I’ve been looking forward to,” said Jun Iwasaki, President of

XSEED Games. “JU-ON: The Grudge makes quick scares accessible to

anyone with a Wii, players can even hand the Wii Remote to their

mother and enjoy watching her play and get scared.”

Using the Wii Remote as a flashlight, JU-ON: The Grudge has players

move forward with the touch of a button and explore haunted areas such

as an abandoned warehouse, a dimly-lit hospital, and a mannequin

factory. Much like a haunted house, the player must proceed forward

even after being frightened and running away from the initial threat.

As much fun as it is to get scared, sometimes it’s even more fun to

watch others play to observe their reactions. For instant

gratification, grab a second Wii Remote and push buttons to make

in-game events happen immediately to make the player jump and hate you

forever.

XSEED Games partnered with AQ Interactive to secure the North American

rights to publish and distribute JU-ON: The Grudge. The title is being

developed by Feelplus and will be available October 2009 exclusively

for Wii.