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STAR TREK: STARFLEET ACADEMY WARPS INTO ACTION WITH ACTORS FROM CLASSIC TV SERIES

Irvine, CA, Stardate 09.12.97 -- Interplay Productions announces STAR TREK: Starfleet Academy has been transported to retail shelves. STAR TREK: Starfleet Academy is the first and only STAR TREK flight simulation game that enables players to captain the original USS Enterprise while interacting with actors from Paramount Television's STAR TREK. Developed by Interplay Productions for Windows 95 based PCs, STAR TREK: Starfleet Academy propels flight simulation to new frontiers with its state-of-the-art technology, rich graphics and dynamic gameplay.

"By combining the talents of established STAR TREK pros with a compelling storyline and Hollywood-style production techniques, we've created the ultimate Trekker game experience," stated Brian Fargo, chief executive officer of Interplay. "Not only will the players take the helm of the USS Enterprise, but they can interact with some of the beloved characters who have made STAR TREK such an enduring pop cultural legacy."

Reprising their famed STAR TREK roles, William Shatner as Captain Kirk, Walter Koenig as Chekhov and George Takei, in a special appearance, as Captain Sulu appear in full-motion video in STAR TREK: Starfleet Academy, marking their first appearance in a STAR TREK computer game.

STAR TREK: Starfleet Academy, licensed through Viacom Consumer Products, the licensing division of Paramount Pictures, employs the talents of many notable STAR TREK and Hollywood veterans and includes: an original music score by Ron Jones, who composed the music for more than 50 STAR TREK episodes; an original script penned by STAR TREK: The Next Generation writer Sandy Fries, STAR TREK novelist Diane Carey and sci-fi writers Dan Greenberg, Andrew Greenberg and Bill Bridge; make-up by Michael Westmore whose STAR TREK credits include STAR TREK: The Next Generation, STAR TREK: Deep Space Nine, STAR TREK: Voyager, and STAR TREK: First Contact; the acting talents of Emmy Award winner Christopher Weeks; and more than 30 alien space crafts created by STAR TREK: Deep Space Nine production designer Jim Martin.

The setting is Starfleet headquarters in the Presidio, San Francisco, CA, where hopeful cadets are trained to become Starfleet officers; the goal is to navigate successfully through over 20 missions and graduate as a Starfleet officer.

Academy life isn't easy- it's filled with subplots, internal politics and decisions that will impact not only the player but his cadet class and Starfleet itself. Among the cadet's teachers are Captain Kirk, Chekov and Sulu, who will help guide and teach the player what it takes and means to be a Starfleet officer.

"Players will get a chance to experience the Kobayashi Maru, from STAR TREK II: The Wrath of Khan, The Balance of Terror and some of Captain Kirk's other famous encounters," explained Rusty Buchert, the game's producer and life-long Trekker.

STAR TREK: Starfleet Academy allows players to command 4 classic Federation Starships (including the USS Enterprise) in combat against 30 3D real-time rendered spaceships from a cloaked Klingon Bird of Prey to a Romulan Heavy Cruiser. The game combines an adaptive artificial intelligence, cutting edge 3D graphics and real-time flight simulation/action play to create a truly galactic STAR TREK experience.

Available on CD-ROM, STAR TREK: Starfleet Academy will run on any Pentium 90 with Windows 95 and at least 16Mb of RAM. A four-speed CD-ROM drive, Microsoft compatible mouse, keyboard, DirectX 3.0a or better, approximately 180MB of hard disk space, 1 Mb VESA compliant SVGA video card and monitor, and Sound Blaster compliant sound card are required.

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Viacom Consumer Products merchandises properties on behalf of Paramount Pictures, Paramount Television and Simon & Schuster as well as third-party properties. Viacom Consumer Products, a unit of Viacom Entertainment Group, is a division of Viacom Inc.

Founded in 1983, Interplay Productions is a leading developer and publisher of award-winning entertainment and educational software designed by gamers, for gamers. Interplay releases products through Interplay, Brainstorm, MacPlay, VR Sports and its affiliated labels for personal computers as well as leading console game platforms. More comprehensive information on Interplay and its products is available through its worldwide web site.

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