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A POWERFUL NEW EVIL ENTERS THE STAR WARS UNIVERSE IN THE PC CD-ROM VERSION OF SHADOWS OF THE EMPIRE FROM LUCASARTS

Best-Selling Nintendo 64 Title To Release For 3D Accelerated PCs This Fall

San Rafael, CA, April 23, 1997 -- 3D accelerated gaming heats up this fall when a powerful new force enters the Star Wars universe with the release of LucasArts Entertainment Company' s Windows 95 version of Shadows of the Empire. Originally available as one of the first titles for Nintendo's new 64-bit home videogame system, Nintendo 64, the critically-acclaimed Shadows of the Empire chronicles a new chapter in the Star Wars saga in which the emergence of a criminal underground threatens to upset the balance of power in the galaxy.

Set in the time between the Star Wars films The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, Shadows of the Empire features incredible high-resolution graphics; five distinct types of gameplay; 10 unique and vast levels spread throughout four storyline twists; intense Star Wars sound effects and music, including the classic John Williams soundtrack; and new characters, vehicles and locales.

"The emergence of 3D acceleration on the PC now allows LucasArts to offer an enormous and graphically complex 3D product to PC gameplayers who otherwise would not be able to experience the raw power of a game such as Shadows of the Empire, except on the Nintendo 64," says Mary Bihr, director of sales and marketing for LucasArts. "Whether leading a swoop bike chase through the back alleys of Mos Eisley or wrapping a tow-cable around an AT-AT with your snowspeeder in the Battle of Hoth, the interactive experience will allow players to enter the Star Wars universe in a dynamic new way."

The Shadows of the Empire storyline follows the adventures of a new character Dash Rendar, a tough, roguish mercenary and friend of Han Solo. In addition to his efforts to help the Rebel Alliance against the Galactic Empire, Rendar’s overall mission is to protect Luke Skywalker from the clutches of a new evil force in the universe, Dark Prince Xizor (Shee - zor). Xizor, leader of the feared underground criminal organization Black Sun, is determined to assassinate Skywalker so Darth Vader falls from Emperor Palpatine's grace, enabling Xizor to replace Vader as the right hand of the evil Emperor.

There are a variety of gameplay options available in 10 expansive, beautifully rendered and detailed levels with multiple camera viewpoints offered for each level. They include a jet-pack adventure, interior point-of-view maze battles, snowspeeder battles and spaceshooter levels. Just as Han Solo has the Millennium Falcon, Dash Rendar has the Outrider, a heavily armored, multipurpose transport craft.

Battles will take place against several new and classic Star Wars enemies, such as AT-AT walkers, stormtroopers, TIE fighters, Star Destroyers, swoop riders, IG drones, train guards and the feared bounty hunter Boba Fett. Players will have at their disposal an assortment of weapons including blasters, seeker missiles, pulse cannons, a stunner, and the Disruptor, the most powerful weapon available.

Conflicts in Shadows of the Empire are fought against a bevy of familiar Star Wars backdrops including Hoth and Mos Eisley/Beggar's Canyon, as well as a variety of new settings such as the sewers of Imperial City, Xizor's Palace and Gall Spaceport.

Shadows of the Empire will take advantage of Direct 3D and will support a variety of 3D acceleration cards.

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LucasArts Entertainment Company develops and publishes interactive entertainment software for a variety of computer and console platforms. Based in San Rafael, California, as well as on the internet, LucasArts is one of three Lucas companies. Lucas Digital Ltd., comprised of Industrial Light & Magic and Skywalker Sound, serves the needs of the entertainment industry for visual effects and audio post-production. Lucasfilm Ltd. includes George Lucas' feature film and television activities, as well as THX and Lucasfilm Licensing.

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