MASTER THE ULTIMATE EVIL BEFORE IT MASTERS YOU

MASTER OF ORION II: BATTLE AT ANTARES IS NEXT IN A LINE OF SUCCESSFUL
STRATEGY ENTERTAINMENT SOFTWARE FROM THE CREATORS OF MASTER OF ORION AND
MASTER OF MAGIC

ELECTRONIC ENTERTAINMENT EXPO, LOS ANGELES, MAY 16, 1996 -- Spectrum
HoloByte, Inc. (Nasdaq: SBYT) announced today that its SimTex Software
studio is developing Master of Orion II: Battle at Antares. The game will
be developed under the MicroProse brand and distributed worldwide.

Master of Orion II takes the exciting theme of space exploration,
colonization and combat from Master of Orion and introduces many new
challenges and opportunities that people wanted to see in the sequel, said
Steve Barcia, designer at SimTex Software.

In Master of Orion II, the depth of gameplay is in the choices we give the
players, said Ken Burd, designer and programmer at SimTex Software.
Players can ask themselves: Should I research advances in weapons or
production technology? Should I immediately attack the first opponent I
see or is it better to trade with the opponent? Furthermore, the different
races add replayablity. Each race requires a different style of play to
succeed, and when we added the ability to custom design a race, the
possibilties for game strategies became nearly endless.

SPECIFIC ENHANCEMENTS IN MASTER OF ORION II

For a more challenging and competitive experience, Master of Orion II will
be a stand-alone game that includes multiplayer features such as local
area network, modem and hot-seat play. Master of Orion II players will be
able to research more technology, view new art in SVGA graphics, choose
from more alien races (Master of Orion II will have 13 alien races whereas
Master of Orion had 10.), customize their own race, and apply a more
detailed tactical ship combat and colony development.

GAME CONCEPTS

The goal of the game is to rule the galaxy. Players accomplish this through
the development of technology, research, diplomacy and combat.

In Master of Orion II, population growth has outstripped planetary
resources and the need for galactic expansion has become a necessity.
Acting as mighty emperors, users start with one colony and control how
resources are allocated, where fleets are deployed, which galactic
neighbors to wage war on and which to befriend. Then, players lead their
people into other star systems, quickly securing the space and resources
that will guarantee their supremacy. Players encounter various obstacles;
including, a race of fanatic xenophobes (the Antarans) from another
dimension that wants to annihilate all intelligent life in the galaxy.
Players may want to seek out the Antarans homeland and destroy it in order
to gain the Antarans technological knowledge, making themselves more
powerful.

Category: Strategy
Era: Future
Format: IBM PC and compatibles; CD-ROM only; MS-DOS 5.0 or higher
Min. Requirements: IBM PC 386 or higher, CD-ROM drive, MSCDEX 2.1 or
higher, 8MB RAM, 30MB hard drive space, VESA support, SVGA, mouse
and keyboard
Supports: Supports modem play. Sound Blaster/Sound Blaster Pro,
Pro Audio Spectrum, Roland, Ad Lib, Roland MT-32/ CM-32L/LAPC-1
sound cards

Product information is available for download from the MicroProse BBS at
510-522-8909, FTP site: ftp.microprose.com or World Wide Web site:
http://www.microprose.com. For consumer orders, call 1-800-695-GAME in the
United States and Canada and call 619-693-1200 outside the United States
and Canada.

Spectrum HoloByte, Inc. is a leading developer and publisher of interactive
entertainment software for use on CD-ROM based personal computer systems.
The company is also developing software for use on next generation console
machines. The companys four development studios are Spectrum HoloByte,
Alameda, California; MicroProse Software, Hunt Valley, Maryland;
MicroProse Limited, Chipping Sodbury, England; and SimTex Software
Corporation, Austin, Texas. Products are available nationally and
internationally through major distributors, retailers and mass merchants.

Editors Note: Master of Orion was named Strategy Game of the Year, 1993 by
Strategy Plus magazine; Premiere Game of the Year, 1993 by Computer Gaming
World; received a Golden Triad Award, 1993 from Computer Game Review; and
has entered Computer Gaming Worlds Hall of Fame. Master of Magic was named
Runner-up Strategy Game of the Year by Strategy Plus magazine.

Spectrum HoloByte, 2490 Manner Square Loop, Alameda, CA 94501
(510) 522-3584;   Fax (510) 522-3587
 
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