Microsoft - Press News - Coming Soon Magazine

Microsoft's Internet Gaming Zone to Deliver Free Multiplayer Matchmaking for Cavedog Entertainment's Total Annihilation(tm) Franchise of Games

REDMOND, WA, Aug. 27, 1998 -- Microsoft Corp. and Cavedog Entertainment today announced an agreement to provide free multiplayer gaming support (connect-time charges may apply) via the Internet Gaming Zone (https://www.zone.com) for Total Annihilation(tm), Cavedog Entertainment's international award-winning 3D real-time strategy game. The deal also encompasses Cavedog Entertainment's two recent expansion packs, Total Annihilation: The Core Contingency™ and Total Annihilation: Battle Tactics™. Effective today, users of the retail CD-ROM games can jump onto the Zone to meet and compete against other Total Annihilation players.

"The addition of Total Annihilation brings an award-winning line of strategy games to the Zone lineup," said Todd Stevens, product manager for the Internet Gaming Zone. "Our active Zone members are itching to play more of today's hottest games such as Total Annihilation and its two expansion packs."

"Total Annihilation fans are avid multiplayers and the Zone is a major multiplaying environment - a perfect match that provides our fans with another avenue to enjoy playing online," said Ron Gilbert, co-founder and creative director of Cavedog Entertainment.

Total Annihilation, which has won more than 50 industry awards of excellence, features more than 150 3D units in the air, on land and over sea, 50 single-player missions, and more than 25 multiplayer maps utilizing true 3D terrain. The game's 3D worlds impact each unit's line of sight, ordinance trajectories, high-ground strategies and provide players with an overall incomparable gaming experience. Large, diverse maps transport players across radically different landscapes, such as lava worlds, ice planets, desert valleys, artificial metal worlds, alien tundra, towering mountain peaks and vast, island-dotted oceans.

The recent release of two expansion packs, Total Annihilation: The Core Contingency and Total Annihilation: Battle Tactics, now provides players with a grand total of more than 245 3D battle units, 175 challenging missions for beginning and advanced players, more than 90 multiplayer maps, and 12 stunning 3D worlds. In addition, players can continue to further expand their Total Annihilation experience by downloading regularly released new units and map tiles for free from www.cavedog.com. The Zone will provide a convenient link to the Web site for quick and easy downloading.

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The Internet Gaming Zone has served Internet gamers since October 1995. In May 1996, Microsoft acquired Electric Gravity Inc., the original designer of the Internet Gaming Zone. The Internet Gaming Zone offers free membership with three components: free classic card, board and puzzle games, free matchmaking for retail games, and access to premium games designed exclusively for the Zone (connect-time charges may apply).

Cavedog Entertainment, based in the Seattle area, is a wholly owned subsidiary of GT Interactive Software Corp. (NASDAQ: GTIS), can be found on the World Wide Web at www.cavedog.com.

Microsoft and Fighter Ace are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

Cavedog Entertainment, Total Annihilation, Total Annihilation: The Core Contingency and Total Annihilation: Battle Tactics are registered trademarks of Humongous Entertainment. Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

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