GT Interactive Software - Press News

GT INTERACTIVE LAUNCHES AFFILIATED LABEL PROGRAM; EMPIRE INTERACTIVE BECOMES FIRST AFFILIATE

New York, NY, December 2, 1997 -- Building upon its broad distribution strength, GT Interactive Software Corp. (NASDAQ: GTIS) today announced it has entered into an affiliated label agreement with Empire Interactive whereby GT Interactive will sell, distribute and provide marketing consulting services for all Empire PC entertainment software in North America. Empire becomes GT Interactive's first affiliated label, and Pro Pinball: Timeshock, Flying Corps. Gold, Combat Chess and The Golf Pro with Gary Player are among the Empire titles GT Interactive will distribute.

"We are pleased to launch our affiliated label program with a publisher as outstanding as Empire," said Ron Chaimowitz, president and chief executive officer for GT Interactive. "By offering the full range of Empire's innovative PC games which are currently receiving outstanding press reviews, we further expand the breadth of our interactive portfolio. We anticipate adding other affiliate companies in the coming year."

Under the new GT Interactive affiliate program, the company plans to sell and distribute interactive software from a variety of publishers on a global basis. More than 40,000 retailers worldwide comprise the GT Interactive distribution network, which also boasts state-of-the-art electronic data invoicing (E.D.I.), drop-ship capabilities and a same-day retail replenishment system.

"By combining Empire's product development and marketing strength with GT Interactive's vast distribution expertise, we believe both companies will benefit," said Ian Higgins, managing director of Empire Interactive.

Already receiving excellent media reviews and included in PC Gamer magazine's "Top 40 Software Gifts for the Season," Pro Pinball: Timeshock, is a highly realistic pinball simulation featuring high speed ball movements, dynamic ball and flipper physics and more than 30 full Dolby Surround Sound audio tracks, while Flying Corps. Gold is a mission-based multiplayer, network supported flight simulation. The ultimate in golf is experienced with The Golf Pro Featuring Gary Player, and tournament level chess is played with animated 3D characters in Combat Chess. Pro Pinball: Timeshock and Flying Corps. Gold are currently available while Combat Chess and The Golf Pro are expected to be available in the first quarter of 1998.

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Now in its eleventh year of business, Empire Interactive is one of the U.K.'s leading independent games publishers. With headquarters in London and in-house development studios throughout the U.K., the company operates sales and marketing offices in Munich, Germany and San Francisco, California.

Headquartered in NY, GT Interactive Software Corp. is a leading global publisher of interactive entertainment and edutainment under the GT Interactive, Humongous Entertainment, Cavedog Entertainment, SingleTrac and MacSoft brands, for personal computers as well as game consoles from Sony and Nintendo. A leader in value-priced software under the WizardWorks, CompuWorks and Slash brands, GT Interactive operates development studios in Seattle, Salt Lake City and San Luis Obispo, CA. GT Interactive is publicly traded on the NASDAQ market under the symbol GTIS.

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