The Buzz: Grolier's "Banzai Bug!" Makes A 'Splat' on the Screen

DANBURY, Conn. -- May 16, 1996 -- Soar to new heights by piloting the most
acrobatic aircraft on earth -- a bug! From the perspective of wisecracking
insects, Grolier Interactive's "Banzai Bug!" lets players slice through
the airwaves in a quirky, fast-paced action flight game, scheduled for
release on CD-ROM in September 1996.

Created and developed by San Francisco-based Gravity Inc., the title is
designed to thrill and amuse players by providing unrestricted flight
capabilities in a fully rendered 360 degree environment. Gamers will need
both nimble reflexes and a sharp mind to achieve the ultimate mission --
to drive the humans out of the house. During the perilous adventure, users
encounter every imaginable obstacle in an insect's worst nightmare.

"The appeal of 'Banzai Bug!' is it allows players to perform advanced
aerial maneuvers, such as flying upside down and dive bombing targets,
easy to learn without complicated manuals," John McIlvaine, vice
president, marketing, Grolier Interactive, said. "At the same time, each
game level adds a new degree of intensity which makes the game a challenge
to master."

Woven into the fast-paced action is an original story line that advances
game play and entertains users with witty dialogue.

The story begins when Banzai, the reckless barnstorming protagonist who
claims to be "The Fastest Bug in the West," finds himself trapped in a
seven-room home. The house, styled to reflect a 1950's view of the future,
belongs to an exterminator and his family. The twist is the resident bugs
are planning a revolution. Their goal is to collect materials to build a
"Stinkulator," an anti-human bomb.

In order to do this, the player guides Banzai and his new buddies through
aerial obstacles such as Mom's bug spray, Dad's armada of mechanical bug
predators and the son Bobby's penchant for plucking out bug wings. With
each new room, players are propelled to the next level where aerial
challenges become greater and puzzles more complex.

"'Banzai Bug!' flies like an F-16, hovers like an Apache helicopter and has
an attitude like Bart Simpson," Lou Carmellini, games marketing manager,
Grolier Interactive, said.

Grolier Interactive's new title is designed for single-user play. The
unrestricted 360 degree freedom of flight is supported by Microsoft(
DirectX( technology that combines the impact of fully rendered 3- D
environments with the convenience of plug and play. Developed for ages 12
and up, the title will be available for Windows 95.

Grolier Interactive is well-known for its award-winning CD-ROM reference
and entertainment titles found in homes, schools and libraries worldwide,
including "The Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia." The company's main
headquarters is located in Danbury, Conn. To order or register your
product, please call (800) 285-4534. For other customer service inquiries,
call (203) 797-3530. Grolier Interactive's Web site is
http://www.grolier.com.
 
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