Company Press Release
Mac Games Developers Launch 1997 Holiday Promotion with 'Buy Two, Get a Free Mac
Game' Offer
Macintosh Entertainment Software Alliance Joins with Apple to Promote Top Mac Games
PLYMOUTH, Minn., Oct. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- The Macintosh Entertainment Software Alliance (MESA), a non-profit industry group made up of the top
Macintosh games developers and publishers, today announced the most aggressive promotional and merchandising initiatives ever made available for Macintosh
games. Working together with Apple Computer, Inc. (Nasdaq:AAPL), MESA members aim to create greater visibility for the top games available for the
Macintosh computer. For two months, beginning Saturday, Nov. 1, 1997, the games developers are offering a ''Buy Two, Get a Free Mac Game by Mail ''
promotion in conjunction with computer resellers throughout North America. In addition, MESA is working with retailers such as CompUSA, Computer City, Best
Buy and Micro Center on extensive advertising, direct mail and in-store merchandising.
''There has never been a better time to buy games for the Macintosh computer,'' said Peter Tamte, president of MESA and executive director of MacSoft, an
affiliate of GT Interactive Software Corporation. ''Most of the best games are now available on the Mac, and these advertising, merchandising and promotional
initiatives should help expose consumers to the variety and quality of entertainment titles available.''
With the ''Buy Two, Get a Free Mac Game'' offer, consumers buy two games from the participating software companies and receive a coupon -- to be redeemed
by mail -- for a third game at no charge. Consumers will choose the free game from a separate list of products.
The ten games featured in the ''Buy Two'' component of the 1997 Apple/MESA Holiday Retail Promotion include Myth from Bungie Software Products; Starfleet
Academy from Interplay Productions; Diablo from CUC/Blizzard; FA-18 Hornet 3.0 from Graphic Simulations; Duke Nukem 3D from 3D Realms; Quake from Id
Software; Civilization II and Master of Orion II from Microprose; Shadow Warrior from 3D Realms; and Jack Nicklaus 4 from Accolade. Duke Nukem 3D,
Quake, Civilization II, Master of Orion II, Shadow Warrior and Jack Nicklaus 4 are published by GT Interactive's MacSoft.
Most resellers will offer the following titles for the third, free game: Marathon 2 from Bungie Software Products; Hornet Classic from Graphic Simulations; 3D
Ultra Pinball: Creep Night from CUC/Blizzard; Descent II from Interplay Productions, Welcome to the Future from Broderbund; Even More Incredible Toon
Machine GT from Sierra; and Diamonds 3D, Terminal Velocity, Solitaire Game Pack, and Mac Arcade Pak from MacSoft. Computer City customers will choose
the third, free game from among the following titles: Marathon 2 from Bungie Software Products; Hornet Classic from Graphic Simulations; 3D Ultra Pinball:
Creep Night from CUC/Blizzard; Descent II from Interplay Productions, Welcome to the Future from Broderbund; Even More Incredible Toon Machine GT from
Sierra; Prime Target, Terminal Velocity and Absolute Solitaire from MacSoft; and Arcade Battles from Laser Soft.
''MESA's promotional initiatives should help stimulate the Mac games market, and that will be good for the Mac platform,'' said Susan Ford, associate publisher of
MacHome Journal and MESA member. Added Colin Crawford, president and CEO of Mac Publications LLC (publishers of Macworld and MacWeek) and
MESA member, ''Games and entertainment titles are clearly important to consumers, and through MESA's efforts, consumers will be exposed to the great titles
that are now available. Mac Publications will work with other members of MESA to provide cost efficient reach to our 2.6 million readers.''
MESA was formed in May, 1997. By creating the alliance, members have enjoyed greater success in working with mail-order catalogs and retailers to market and
promote entertainment titles. In addition, the unified approach of the MESA members has fostered a more effective working relationship among the developers and
Apple, which has underwritten some of the marketing initiatives.
''We love games,'' said Steve Jobs, Apple's interim CEO, ''and we are going to work with Mac games developers to make sure our customers have the best
games on the Mac.''
The Macintosh Entertainment Software Alliance (MESA) is a non-profit corporation created to assist developers and publishers of Macintosh entertainment
software with marketing and business initiatives, enhance the Macintosh as a premier platform for games, and enhance the business relationship between Apple
Computer, Inc. and the entertainment software developers. Membership is open to entertainment software developers and publishers for a nominal fee. MESA is
based at 2300 Berkshire Lane North, Plymouth, MN 55441. The president of MESA is Peter Tamte, email ptamte@gtinteractive.com.
NOTE: Apple, the Apple logo, and Macintosh are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. All other brand names and companies mentioned are trademarks
or registered trademarks of their respective holders and are hereby acknowledged.
Coy |
