Author: Nobilis

A major co-production between Nobilis, Elektrogames, TOTM Studio, Kheops Studio, Mzone Studio, in collaboration with the Chteau du Clos Lucé, The Secrets of Da Vinci: The Forbidden Manuscript is due for release on PC, April 2006.

The Secrets of Da Vinci: The Forbidden Manuscript is the first ever game created about the life and work of Leonardo da Vinci. It offers players the opportunity to grapple with the mysteries of the codes hidden within the works of the great Italian genius.

The Secrets of Da Vinci: The Forbidden Manuscript is a major adventure and investigation game, a thrilling mystical quest into the heart of the Renaissance that takes place in Da Vinci's last home, the Manoir du Cloux (now called the Chateau du Clos Lucé).

Leonardo da Vinci (1452 - 1519)

The Italian artist and inventor was born in Tuscany in 1452. At the age of 15, he joined the Verrochio workshop where he trained in a range of disciplines (painting, sculpture, mathematics, decorative work).

In 1481, Leonardo left Florence for Milan, and stayed until 1499. From 1506, he divided his time between Milan and Florence.

In 1516, he accepted the French King, François I's, invitation to move to Manoir du Cloux, near Ambroise, now known as Chateau du Clos Lucé, where he was named "chief artist, engineer, and architect to the King".

In His Majesty's own words: "Here, you will be free to dream, think and work."

The plot revolves around the character of Leonardo da Vinci and great attention has been paid to his modelling. Each appearance in the game is connected with a key moment.

In The Secrets of Da Vinci: The Forbidden Manuscript, the player encounters Leonardo da Vinci several months before his death, at the Manoir du Cloux, his last home. We meet the elderly white bearded Da Vinci, shortly before he bequeathed the sum total of his technical research to Francesco Melzi, his pupil and faithful companion, who was charged with their publication for the greater good. The player will learn much from listening to Da Vinci and watching him work at home in the place he loved so much.

Game Information

Press contacts NOBILIS in the UK:

Ruth Fraser: [email protected]

Tel: 01954 270599

Press contacts CHATEAU DU CLOS LUCE - PARC LEONARDO DA VINCI

Leonardo da Vinci's last home - 37400 Amboise

www.vinci-closluce.com

Catherine Simon Marion - general delegate in charge of communication

+33 (0)2 47 57 55 78 - +33 (0)6 60 65 15 31 [email protected]

Arnaud Glize - educational and cultural events - +33 (0)2 47 57 55 78

[email protected]

The Secrets of Da Vinci: The Forbidden Manuscript

Paris, 1522. Valdo, an ambitious young apprentice working for Leonardo Da Vinci's disciple, Francesco Melzi, is least happy when the scholar suddenly dismisses him. However, shortly afterwards, he receives a letter from a mysterious patron, asking him to locate one of the great master's missing codices. To gain access to Da Vinci's last residence, the Manoir du Cloux near Ambroise, Valdo tells its new inhabitant, a courtesan by the name of Babou de la Bourdaisière, that he is Francesco Melzi's apprentice and that he wishes to examine the inventions that still remain on the estate.

Under this cover, he starts to scour the estate: Babou's bedroom, Leonardo's workshop, the grounds, and dovecot, leaving no stone unturned. In the course of his investigations, he encounters a wide array of intriguing characters: Saturnin, a suspicious looking guardian, as well as the King of France himself. To complete his mission, he has to solve a series of enigmas set by the great master himself if Da Vinci's inventions are to function again. On the trail of the genius, Valdo is no more aware of the secrets he is about to unveil as the danger lurking in store for him.

About Nobilis

Nobilis Group is a company specialised in the publication and distribution of video games and video game accessories, founded in Lyons in 2001. Nobilis produces multi-platform games for PC, XboxTM, PlayStation2, PSPTM, GameCubeTM, Nintendo DSTM and Game BoyAdvance. The company have distribution subsidiaries in France, Nobilis France (Lyons), Spain and Portugal (Nobilis Iberica in Madrid) and in Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg (Nobilis Benelux). A number of famous partners feature in Nobilis' catalogue, such as Agetec, Aspyr, Capcom, Cenega, Davilex, DreamCatcher, Enlight Software, Focus, Frogwares, GMX Media, HD Interactive, IA Vision, Ignition, JoWood, Lago, Lighthouse, Midway Games, Monte Cristo, Paradox, Ubi Soft, Zoo Digital... Nobilis France is also the world's second representative of the Radica accessory and its Gamester brand.

Official site: www.nobilis-france.com

About Elektrogames

Founded in 2003, ElektroGames was the first company to bring the independent production model to the video game sector.

ElektroGames selects projects, takes charge of production from executive, legal and financing perspectives, underwrites their marketing, and creates special ops, before redistributing income among co-producers. ElektroGames also operate as investors in external productions.

Official site: www.elektrogames.com

About Kheops Studio

Kheops Studio is an independent video game creation studio founded in 2003, creating adventure games for PC, in particular: Egypt III, Return to the Mysterious Island, The Secret of the Lost Cavern and Voyage. www.kheops-studio.com

About Mzone Studio

Mzone Studio, a company from Pornic, France, founded in 2001, is specialised in the creation and production of graphics for video games. The Mzone Studio team has worked on a number of games, in particular: Egypt III, Atlantis Evolution, Return to the Mysterious Island, The Secret of the Lost Cavern and Voyage.

Official site: www.mzonestudio.com

About TOTM Studio

Founded in May 2005, TOTM Studio is a company specialised in the conception, creation and production of adventure video games. The team likes to explore themes with great historical and game potential and has extensive experience in this respect (Lost Cavern, Leonardo da Vinci).

Official site: www.Totm-Studio.fr

About Chteau du Clos Lucé

At King François I's behest, Leonardo da Vinci spent the last days of his life, working at his life's passions. Today the Chteau is a monument devoted to the reconstruction of the real life of Leonardo da Vinci. Visitors experience his daily living and discover forty of his fantastic inventions. In the grounds, 16 huge machines, 32 translucent screens, and 8 sound points offer insight into the world of Leonardo the painter, engineer, architect, botanist and inventor genius.

Official site: www.vinci-closluce.com

ELEKTROGAMES/NOBILIS/TOTM STUDIO/KHEOPS STUDIO/MZONE STUDIO 2006. Nobilis and Nobilis logo are registered trademarks of Nobilis Group. All other trademarks are the properties of their respective owners.