Microsoft Brings Multiplayer Games to the Internet With DirectPlay

Enhances DirectPlay With Next-Generation Tools for Game Developers and
Online Services; First DirectPlay Internet Components Announced at
Computer Game Developers Conference To Broad Industry Support

SANTA CLARA, CALIF. - APRIL 2, 1996 - In another enhancement to its highly
successful DirectX technology family, Microsoft Corp. today announced the
Microsoft DirectPlay Internet Gaming Architecture, a set of technologies
for online games and online game service providers. The DirectPlay
Internet Gaming Architecture, announced to hundreds of developers gathered
here today at the 10th annual Computer Game Developers Conference (CGDC),
lays the foundation for an entire multiplayer gaming industry.

This exciting technology extends the successful Microsoft DirectX APIs to
the Internet and enables the creation of both sophisticated online games
and virtual online "lobbies" that coordinate multiplayer games and drive a
new generation of online game services.

Game players will soon be able to engage in contests with friends or
strangers over the Internet, "meet" each other in virtual game lobbies to
coordinate online match-ups, and choose from a wide selection of online
gaming services to make it all happen. In addition to enabling new
opportunities and business models, the DirectPlay Internet Gaming
Architecture is a complete solution that can be utilized by every online
gaming service currently up and running or in development.

"There's nothing more realistic than playing a fast-action game against
human opponents," said Brad Silverberg, senior vice president of the
Internet platform and tools division at Microsoft. "DirectPlay and the PC
extend this realism to the Internet. The online world is the next big step
for game developers and consumers: Broad industry support for DirectPlay
proves it."

The DirectPlay Internet Gaming Architecture includes the following
components:

 DIRECTPLAY, part of the DirectX API set, which enables multiplayer
 gaming across any network supported by a DirectPlay Service Provider.

 DIRECTPLAY SERVICE PROVIDERS, which offer drivers that enable networks
 to host DirectPlay games. Currently supported networks include
 simple modem connections between two computers, local area networks
 supported by the Microsoft

Windows 95 operating system, and the DWANGO online gaming service. These
drivers are currently shipping. The DirectPlay Service Provider for the
Internet is in alpha form and is being demonstrated to developers at the
CGDC.

 DIRECTPLAY LOBBY CLIENT, which enables game players using DirectPlay
 to find opponents and organize games online using DirectPlay Lobby
 Servers.

 DIRECTPLAY LOBBY SERVER, which coordinates game players seeking
 online opponents and facilitates the setup of new online games
 and the creation of online gaming environments.

 DIRECTPLAY GAME SERVER, which handles online games among multiple
 opponents and coordinates billing.

 DIRECTPLAY CLIENT BILLING API, which enables fee-based DirectPlay-
 compatible games using any online money provider.

INDUSTRY EMBRACES INTERNET GAMING INITIATIVE

Leading game companies and online services plan to bring the Internet-based
online gaming experience to their users via the DirectPlay Internet Gaming
Architecture. Developers are already shipping sophisticated multiplayer
games using the DirectPlay API released last fall. The added components of
the DirectPlay Internet Gaming Architecture now enable them to offer
name-brand, online gaming services using the Internet or their own private
networks, engendering a broad selection of compelling online games for
users.

"The DirectPlay Internet Architecture gives us the flexibility we need to
develop state-of-the-art multiplayer games for the Internet," said Howard
Marks, executive vice president of Activision Studios. "Microsoft's
successful extension of DirectX to the online world will allow game
players everywhere to enjoy the power and excitement of multiplayer
DirectX games."

"We're enthusiastic about the DirectPlay Internet Gaming Architecture,"
said David Foster, vice president of business development at UUNET
Technologies Inc., a leading provider of Internet Services. "UUNET has
considerable experience with server-based offerings, and DirectPlay gives
us the potential to host game servers for our new and existing
customers."

"With the DirectPlay Internet Gaming Architecture, Microsoft has stepped up
to the plate to deliver a specification that makes it easy for us to
deliver a whole new gaming experience to our customers," said Konstantin
Othmer, executive vice president of products at Catapult Entertainment
Inc. and former director of graphics at Apple Computer Inc. "By
eliminating the headaches of writing to multiple APIs, the Microsoft
initiative enables developers and online game service providers to speak a
common language and deliver the most dynamic gaming experience possible to
end users."

The following additional companies support the DirectPlay Internet Gaming
Architecture:

3D/EYE Inc., Angie Ciarloni, (770) 937-9000 ext. 1227; e-mail,
angiec@atlsrv01.eye.com

Activision Studios, Maryanne Lataif, (310) 473-9200

Catapult Entertainment Inc., Susan Baldwin, (408) 366-1735 ext. 263;
e-mail, Susan@catapent.com

The Dream Designers, Somora Saint, (310) 589-9781; e-mail,
dreammail@ix.netcom.com

DWANGO, Glenn Mandel, (212) 696-2000 ext. 240; e-mail, gmandel@tsipr.com

Imagination Network, Cindy Wilson, (415) 548-2545; e-mail,
cindy.wilson@imagin1.com

Kali, Jay Cotton, (706) 542-5765

Looking Glass Technologies Inc., Michael Sack, (617) 441-6333; e-mail,
msack@lglass.com

LucasArts Entertainment Co., Tom Sarris, (415) 444-8222; e-mail,
tsarris@lucasarts.com

Maxis, Patrick Buechner, (510) 927-3782

Mindscape Inc., Michael E. Duffy, (415) 897-9900

NCompass, Lydia Loizides, (604) 606-0950; e-mail, ncompass@sfu.ca

OnLive! Technologies Inc., Trudy Nicolay, (408) 777-2173; e-mail,
trudy@onlive.com

SegaSoft, Steve Payne, (415) 802-4455

Starwave Corp., Jayne Von Der Embse, (206) 936-9097

UUNET Technologies Inc., Paula Jagemann, (703) 206-5888

Virtual Studios Ltd., Ian Copone

In addition, other leading Internet companies, online services and game
developers are working with DirectPlay and plan announcements later this
year.

DELIVERY AND AVAILABILITY

At the Computer Game Developers Conference today, Microsoft released
extensive technical information about the DirectPlay Internet Gaming
Architecture to developers. An initial group of developers also received
an alpha version of the DirectPlay Service Provider Developer Kit. The
Service Provider kit, a key component of the DirectPlay Internet Gaming
Architecture, enables any network or communications service vendor to
create the software needed to host DirectPlay games on its service.
DirectPlay is network- and protocol-independent, which allows any
communication service provider to support DirectPlay with ease.

The client-side components of the DirectPlay Internet Gaming Architecture
are scheduled for release this August. The server-side components are
planned to be released by the end of the year, potentially enabling the
first Internet-based DirectPlay games to be released by the 1996 holiday
season.

Interested game developers can obtain more information about DirectPlay and
the DirectPlay Internet Gaming Architecture by visiting the Microsoft home
page on the World Wide Web at http://www.microsoft.com/devonly/. The
DirectPlay Internet Gaming Architecture components listed previously will
be delivered to developers via the Microsoft Developer Network Level II.
Developers interested in Microsoft Developer Network membership can call
(800) 759-5474 in the United States or Canada, or (303) 684-0914 outside
North America to obtain local contact information. Microsoft Developer
Network Level II memberships cost approximately $495 per year.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in
software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of
products and services for business and personal use, each designed with
the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take
advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.
 
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