New Multimedia Murder Mystery CD-ROM From CMC Challenges Wits Of Crime
Solvers

LAS VEGAS, NEV., NOVEMBER 16, 1992--Creative Multimedia Corporation (CMC)
today announced the availability of Who Killed Sam Rupert?, the first of
an ongoing multimedia mystery series called Virtual Murder. This new
CD-ROM presents a vivid, interactive murder mystery within the context of
multimedia technology. Full-motion color video, sound, and animation are
used to present a murder case that the player attempts to solve in the
shortest time possible. Users of both IBM PCs (and compatibles) and the
Apple Macintosh can try their hands at solving the mystery of Sam's
death.

Here's the mystery: A handsome, well liked, and wealthy restaurateur has
been killed-- rather delicately--in his wine cellar after hours. No cash
or valuables have been taken, and initially there is no obvious reason for
his murder. But the investigator, by exploring the game's many ways of
presenting and revealing information, discovers that many people would
have liked to see Sam Rupert dead. Possible suspects include a bartender
caught stealing from the till, a prima donna chef who was in the midst of
bitter contract negotiations, the women Sam Rupert had affairs with and
wronged, and his long-suffering wife who watched it all.

Shannon Gilligan, author of Sam Ruper and the series, said, "Multimedia
technology allowed me to develop and present the intellectual twists and
atmosphere of the traditional murder mystery in a new way. I tried to
recreate the actual environment that a detective faces when trying to
solve a case. With only the most basic facts to go on, detectives sift
through the statements, the forensic tests, and the hundreds of minute
clues that eliminate some suspects and zero in on others. Much of how this
mystery unfolds has to do with the player's own ability to think, deduce,
and detect an overall pattern. It's exactly the situation a real
professional faces. Video, sound, and animations have enabled me to do all
that."

Story features and multimedia technology produce a fascinating game--even
for non-mystery buffs

In solving the crime, the player is called upon to develop and check the
validity of various types of information, but in accord with the player's
own approach. The player has many options to choose from, but each
activity that helps solve the crime carries with it a time penalty. In
case the sleuth is interrupted before solving the murder, an electronic
bookmark allows the player to continue from the previous session's
stopping point. If the real killer is arrested, he or she will confess.

Sam Rupert begins with an opening flash about Sam and his restaurant. The
player is able to review a "Report of the Murder" prepared by Detective
Lucie Fairwell, the player's assistant. Lucie has already videotaped
initial suspect statements, reviewed the work of the crime scene team, and
double-checked alibis.

Other aspects of the game include:

* a view of the murder scene that lets the player explore it 
  and examine objects within it in detail
* a battery of forensic tests
* a data bank of other sources--including a phone log, 
  a reservations book, and a wine encyclopedia
* an alibi section in which Lucie explains what checks out 
  and what doesn't for each suspect
* a press conference in which the player addresses the media 
  to explain who the suspects are, and to answer questions
* a case notebook in which the player can keep key facts, make
  observations and deductions, and keep other material--
  and consult it without a time penalty

Eric Pozzo, publisher of CMC, said, "Who Killed Sam Rupert? brings the
excitement and immediacy of multimedia technology to the witty and
intellectually challenging world of the murder mystery. For us, Sam Rupert
represents a new CMC mystery category that we expect to generate avid fan
support. We see it in the same tradition as the game of Clue, 'Murder, She
Wrote,' 'Colombo,' and other popular mystery formats. As publishers, we
believe Sam Rupert represents further evolution of the mystery form, and
we look forward to introducing the other parts of this series."

Who Killed Sam Rupert? will be shown at CMC's booth--#B742--at COMDEX/Fall
in Las Vegas November 16-20, 1992. The suggested list price for Who Killed
Sam Rupert? is $39.99, and the disc is available from CMC's network of
distributors and dealers.

Customers can also order direct by telephoning 1-800-776-9277 in the United
States, or 503-452-5933 from outside the United States. Fax orders may be
sent to 503-452-5930. VISA, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover
credit cards may be used.

Who Killed Sam Rupert? is available for both the IBM PC and compatibles and
for Apple Macintosh computers. The PC version runs on the DOS operating
system.

Shannon Gilligan, author of Who Killed Sam Rupert?, is an experienced
author and producer/editor of interactive fiction. She has written more
than 20 books for children, including fourteen in the well known
interactive fiction series, Choose-Your-Own-Adventure g). One of her
books, The Case of the Silk King, was adapted as an hour-long primetime
special for ABC and is scheduled to air during December 1992. Gilligan's
mystery work includes The History Mystery Series, which deals with
unsolved natural or historical mysteries, and a mystery series (entitled
Our Secret Gang) about fifth and sixth graders who start up a detective
agency. More than 2 million copies of her books are in print.

John A. Calhoun, president of CMC, said, "Who Killed Sam Rupert' is our
first offering in a new product category that we believe represents
significant market potential. It is one more example of how we are working
to accelerate the acceptance of CD-ROM technology by providing innovative
products for a wide range of users."

Founded in 1987, CMC provides a range of multimedia CD-ROM products for use
with personal computers, products for Sony s Data Discman "electronic
book," and professional medical journals on CD-ROMs. Other CMC products
include The Family Doctor, CMC's bestselling family medical resource;
Total Baseball, the first CD-ROM-based complete history of American
Baseball; Beyond The Wall Of Stars, a multimedia discovery and
problem-solving voyage; Shakespeare; John James Audubon's Multimedia
Audubon's Birds and Multimedia Audubon's Mammals (also sold together as
The Complete Audubon); and Sherlock Holmes (also sold together with
Shakespeare as The Complete Works).

Creative Multimedia Corp
514 N.W. Eleventh Ave, Portland, OR 97209
503-241-4351 or 800-776-9277

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