MicroProse, Inc. Completes Production of 'M1 Tank Platoon(R) II' and 'Ultim@te Race Pro(TM)'
ALAMEDA, Calif. -- MicroProse, Inc. (Nasdaq: MPRS), a worldwide interactive entertainment company, today announced the completion of two of its highly-anticipated PC titles. The first major release in the company's impressive game line-up for the year, M1 Tank Platoon II provides gamers a highly realistic, submersive military battle environment which now features multiplayer capability and heightened 3-D simulation action. Also completed is Ultim@te Race Pro developed by Kalisto Entertainment, which brings the feel of multiplayer arcade-style racing home to the PC.
MicroProse anticipates initial shipments of the games to exceed 100,000 units per title. M1 Tank Platoon II and Ultim@te Race Pro have been mastered in both English and multiple European languages. Both titles will be available at retail by the end of the month.
"We remain focused and committed to releasing a very strong lineup of new products this year, and we are maintaining our current production schedules to ensure a powerful performance in fiscal 1999," said Stephen M. Race, chief executive officer, MicroProse, Inc. "In launching the sequel to M1 Tank Platoon, we have taken a large step to return to our heritage of creating the best simulations in the industry."
Known as much more than a "tank sim" game, M1 Tank Platoon has been one of the most successful game franchises for MicroProse. Designed and engineered to set the benchmark in military sim games, M1 Tank Platoon II has an all-encompassing 3-D environment which features photorealistic cockpits, detailed texture-mapped terrain, realistic battlefield environments, and advanced artificial intelligence.
Successfully completing an "on time" development schedule, M1 Tank Platoon II was developed by MicroProse's internal Hunt Valley, Maryland team of game designers, and Ultim@te Race Pro was developed by Bordeaux, France-based Kalisto Entertainment. Both titles have been well received in previews by the PC game trade magazines. Known as "the definitive simulation of modern ground warfare," M1 Tank Platoon II is the sequel to Computer Gaming World's "All time Hall of Fame" award. Also acclaimed as one of the best new multiplayer racing games, Ultim@te Race Pro, will be one of the first arcade-style internet racing games in the industry.
"The upcoming release of M1 Tank Platoon II and Ultimate Race Pro initiates the launch of what we believe is our strongest line-up in the 15 year history of the company," said Gilman Louie, chairman, MicroProse, Inc. "We will continue to develop sequels to our established franchises including; Falcon(R), Civilization(TM), X-Com(R), Top Gun(TM), MechWarrior(R), and Star Trek(TM). Utilizing the best in 3-D graphics and multiplayer technologies, we will create games that will redefine their genres."
After an aborted merger with GT Interactive, the company is moving forward to re-establishing itself as a leader in the entertainment software industry by focusing on developing and publishing premium, high-quality branded games in the simulation, strategy and 3-D action categories.
With five product development studios working simultaneously on a dozen scheduled titles, MicroProse currently anticipates releasing: Falcon(R) 4.0, Ultimate Civilization II(TM) -- the first internet version of that series, and Guardians: Agents of Justice(TM). Other titles -- including sequels to or expansions of some of the most popular titles -- are on stream to be launched during the balance of the fiscal year, these include MechCommander(R), StarTrek: The Next Generation(TM) Klingon Honor Guard(TM), StarTrek: The Next Generation(TM) Birth of the Federation(TM), Starship Troopers(TM), X-COM: Interceptor(TM), and MiG 29(TM)."
MicroProse is a leading developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software for use on CD-ROM-based personal computers. The company also is developing software for use on Internet and online gaming services. MicroProse has its headquarters in Alameda, California and employs approximately 400 people worldwide. Its five development studios are located in Alameda, California; Hunt Valley, Maryland; Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Austin, Texas; and Chipping Sodbury, England. Products are available worldwide and are sold through major distributors, retailers, and mass merchants. MicroProse is located at microprose.com on the World Wide Web.
Statements in this press release regarding future product releases are forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ from those projected in any such statements due to various factors, including: (i) the company's ability to meet its product release schedules; (ii) the degree of market acceptance of MicroProse's products; (iii) the introduction of products competitive with those of MicroProse; (iv) the timing and market acceptance of new hardware and software product introductions; (v) the size and growth rate of the consumer software market; and (vi) the seasonality of sales. In particular, as with all software products, until all aspects
of the development and initial distribution of the company's games are completed, there can be no assurance of product release dates. For a discussion of additional factors that could cause actual results to differ, please see the company's publicly available Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including its annual report on Form 10-K dated March 31, 1997, and Form 10-Q dated February 11, 1998, particularly the discussion of "Risk Factors" contained therein.
NOTE: FALCON, M1 TANK PLATOON, X-COM, SID MEIER'S CIVILIZATION, MIG 29, and MICROPROSE are registered trademarks and CIVILIZATION is a trademark of MicroProse, Inc. or its affiliated companies.
MechWarrior is a registered trademark and MechCommander is a trademark of FASA Interactive.
Ultim@te Race Pro and Kalisto Entertainment are trademarks of Kalisto Technologies.
STARSHIP TROOPERS is a trademark of Sony Signatures.
TOP GUN, STAR TREK and related marks are trademarks of Paramount Pictures. MicroProse is an authorized user and official licensee of these marks.
/CONTACT: Angela Edwards of MicroProse, Inc., 510-864-4336; or investor
relations, Howard Kalt of Kalt, Rosen & Associates, 415-397-2686, for
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