America Online to Introduce MetaTools Interactive Games

Real Time Interactive Gaming Channel Products include Chat Functionality

LOS ANGELES, CALIF., (E3 EXPO) MAY 16, 1996--MetaTools,Inc.(NASDAQ:MTLS)
today introduced the company's first interactive games for the America
Online (AOL) Gaming Channel. The MetaTools interactive games, MetaSquares,
MetaGo and MetaHex, are designed to enhance creativity, improve strategic
skills for players of all ages, and reflect MetaTools and AOL's commitment
to providing products that promote exploration and learning. MetaTools and
AOL anticipate the initial release of these games in June for the Windows
platform, with Macintosh introductions available later this year when the
new AOL Macintosh client is released. The MetaTools games are free to AOL
subscribers and can be downloaded, or will be found on future CD ROM
introductory packages from AOL.

"Providing AOL customers with compelling strategy games while chatting with
their friends or forum acquaintances, brings additional content and
expands the online community," said John Wilczak, founder and CEO of
MetaTools. "America Online, the largest online service and Internet
provider in the United States, allows us to expand our existing online
community by providing the venue for positive, interactive game play and
chat."

"MetaTools provides AOL members with fun and educational online play, "
said Ted Leonsis, president of the America Online Services Company. "Every
AOL member can enjoy the easy-to-use interface while tackling strategic,
innovative challenges resulting in a truly rewarding online gaming
experience. That in itself makes MetaTools an AOL winner."

The user interfaces, designed by Senior Science and Design officer and
co-founder of MetaTools, Kai Krause, combine new and traditional game play
with advanced technology to create easy to use, feature filled board games
on the America Online network. The games provide an interactive
environment, including opponent selection at game start-up, live play,
multi-game play capabilities, direct instant messaging between players and
spectator game viewing. In addition, the games provide options regarding
length of time required to play and complexity of strategy, and can be
enjoyed by all levels of computer users. To further support the games,
MetaTools will provide games focused web pages and a games forum with
sponsored tournaments.

THE GAMES:

MetaSquares is a brand-new game created by Scott Kim who is known for his
two-way writing, puzzles, columns and software, "Heaven and Earth". The
strategy of Squares is to place the game pieces on a chessboard to create
square formations. The squares can be formed in many different ways, with
points given for the size of the squares created. The player with the most
points wins. Squares involves a great deal of strategy and becomes more
complex as the board fills.

MetaHex is a game invented by Piet Hein and is played on a rhombus -shaped
honeycomb board. It is a connectivity game and the goal of the first
player is to form an unbroken chain of Hexes that connect one side of the
board to the opposite side. The second player attempts to form an unbroken
chain of Hexes connecting the other two sides.

MetaGo is an ancient board game originating in China over 3000 years ago.
First known as Weiqi, meaning "the surrounding game," the idea of the game
is to surround and capture the opponent's stones and control as much
territory on the board as possible. While MetaGo may have the simplest
rules of any game, it is the most strategic of the three. A web page has
been established for MetaGo at (http://www.metatools.com/go/go.html)
featuring strategic tips, new artwork to download and links to other sites
for Go enthusiasts.

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS:

Minimum system requirements for the Windows platform include Windows 95 or
Windows 3.1/Win32s running on a 386 CPU or greater with 8 MB RAM. 12 MB
RAM is recommended for running in true color. When the new Macintosh AOL
client becomes available, minimum system requirements will include System
7.0 or greater, running on a Macintosh or Power Macintosh with a minimum
of 8 MB RAM. 12 MB RAM is recommended for running in true color.

MetaTools, Inc., the visual computing software company, designs, develops,
publishes, markets and supports software tools for creating, editing and
manipulating computer graphic images, digital art and Internet/Online
content for Windows, Macintosh and other computing systems. The Company is
located in Santa Barbara County at 6303 Carpinteria Ave., Carpinteria, CA
93013; Tel: 805-566-6200; Fax: 805-566-6385; World Wide Web server:
http://www.metatools.com.

America Online, Inc., (NASDAQ: AMER), based in Vienna, VA, is the largest
and fastest-growing provider of online services in the world, with more
than 5.5 million members. Through its services, AOL offers its subscribers
a wide variety of services including electronic mail, conferencing,
software, computing support, interactive magazines and newspapers, and
online classes, as well as easy and affordable access to services on the
Internet. Founded in 1985, AOL today has a global work force consisting of
nearly 5,000 people. Personal computer owners can obtain America Online
software at major retailers and bookstores or by calling 800-827-6364.
 
 =========================================================
 From the 'New Product News' Electronic News Service on...
 AOL (Keyword = New Products) and Delphi (GO COMP PROD)
 =========================================================
 This information was processed from data provided by the
 company/author mentioned. For additional details, please
 contact them directly at the address/phone# indicated.
 Trademarks are the property of their respective owners!
 =========================================================
 All submissions for this service should be addressed to:
 BAKER ENTERPRISES,  20 Ferro Dr,  Sewell, NJ  08080  USA
 Email:   rbakerpc@aol.com   --or--   rbakerpc@delphi.com
 =========================================================
