Black Isle Studios and BioWare Prepare for Epic Launch of
This Years Most Highly Anticipated Role-Playing Game
IRVINE, California, September 20, 2000 Black Isle Studios, the role-playing game division of Interplay Entertainment Corp. (NASDAQ: IPLY), and BioWare Corp. today announced plans to begin shipping one of the years most anticipated interactive entertainment releases, Baldurs Gate II: Shadows of Amn" (BGII). This exciting sequel to Baldurs Gate uses the Advanced Dungeons & Dragonsā Second Edition rules under license from Wizards of the Coast, and contains new monsters, spells, and areas to explore within the Forgotten Realmsā campaign setting. With initial shipments to retail stores beginning tomorrow, Baldurs Gate II may be appearing on store shelves as early as Thursday, September 21st. The earlier than expected release comes in the midst of record-breaking preorders and extraordinary consumer demand for BGII, the sequel to the top-selling, award-winning Baldurs Gate".
"Our main goal in setting out to do a sequel was to expand upon the rich gameplay experience in Baldurs Gate by including countless new features that fans have been asking for, stated Feargus Urquhart, Black Isle Studios Division Director. BG II promises a truly engrossing role-playing experience for the novice player as well as the returning fans. Shipping this game on Thursday will give them time to enjoying this epic role-playing game over the weekend.
"We're delighted that Baldur's Gate II is complete; the BGII team both here at BioWare and at our publishing partner Black Isle Studios have worked very hard for many, many months to make BG II a great game, and we're really proud of what they have accomplished," stated Ray Muzyka, Co-Executive Producer, Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn, Joint CEO, BioWare Corp.
Scheduled for a simultaneous release with BG II is the Baldurs Gate II Collectors Edition featuring all of the extraordinary gameplay elements of BG II including 800X600 resolution plus completely new limited and numbered collectibles for Baldurs Gate fans worldwide. Among the collectors edition bonuses are four custom-made gold CD-ROMs featuring the complete Baldurs Gate II: Shadows of Amn in specially crafted jewel cases. A special bonus disc contains unique weapons and armor to provide an exclusive gameplay experience, plus tracks from the original games captivating music soundtrack. More comprehensive information can be found on the official Baldurs Gate web site, located at http://www.interplay.com/bgate2
Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn is the latest chapter in the mythic saga that continues the much-loved Baldur's Gate storyline. The Forgotten Realms® adventure ensues along the southern portion of the Sword Coast in the merchant kingdom of Amn. This region includes such diverse environments as the Elven forests of Tethyr, the Cloudpeak Mountains, the Drow cities of the Underdark, and the Capitol City of Amn, Athkatla. Developed by BioWare, the same team responsible for Baldur's Gate, Baldur's Gate II features an incredibly detailed design and story with a highly engrossing plot showcasing immersive environments and dynamic characters that will thrill and engage players throughout the span of the game.
Fifteen NPCs are available to join players in their quest, along with hundreds of completely new creatures and access to over 130 new spells. Hundreds of new items also add flavor to the game, including the legendary Holy Avenger and the venerated Staff of the Magi. Higher-level character development and the exceptionally diverse combat proficiency system will allow for an expanded skill set including Two Weapon Fighting and single weapon mastery. Over 20 new kits and classes have been added to the already extensive class list from Baldur's Gate to make Baldur's Gate II the most inclusive Advanced Dungeons & Dragons® 2nd edition CRPG ever created.
Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn features an enhanced version of the BioWare Infinity Engine, supporting resolutions of up to 800x600, giving the player superlative graphical improvements and brilliance in a truly immersive world. The new graphics engine also supports 3-D Accelerator Cards, however they are not required to enjoy the richness of the Baldurs Gate II world. In addition, the entire interface can be hidden to allow full screen which will allow both novice and seasoned role players the opportunity to experience an even richer gameplay experience.
Also in production from Black Isle and BioWare is Neverwinter Nights". Published by Black Isle Studios and developed by BioWare, the game will bring the pen-and-paper D&D experience to the PC by allowing players to create their own modules, host those modules on their own server and even "DM" the game.
Wizards of the Coast, the worldwide market share leader in the trading card game and tabletop role playing game categories, is a leading developer and publisher of game-based entertainment products as well as the owner and operator of one of the nation's largest specialty game retail chains. Producing both the Pokemon" and world's best-selling Magic: The Gathering® trading card games, the company holds an exclusive patent on the play mechanic of trading card games. Publisher of adventure games such as the classic Dungeons & Dragons games, family card and board games and electronic media products, Wizards of the Coast is also one of the world's leading fantasy and science fiction book publishers. Headquartered near Seattle, Washington, Wizards of the Coast has international offices in Antwerp, Paris, Milan, London and Beijing. For more information on Wizards of the Coast, visit the company's web site and electronic retail store at http://wwww.wizards.com.
BioWare Corp. is an electronic entertainment company that produces interactive computer games, console games and video entertainment. Past projects include the genre defining role-playing game Baldur's Gate, a supplemental mission pack titled Baldur's Gate: Tales of the Sword Coast, and our recently completed sequel, Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn. We've also developed the critically acclaimed third person shooter MDK2, and are converting it for the Sony Playstation2 under the title MDK2: Armageddon. Other titles under development by BioWare include Neverwinter Nights and an untitled role-playing game set in the Star Wars universe. BioWare was established in 1995 and is headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. For more information, visit the BioWare website at http://www.bioware.com.
Black Isle Studios is a division of Interplay Entertainment Corp., a leading developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment software for both core gamers and the mass market. Interplay currently balances its development efforts by publishing for personal computers as well as current and next generation video game consoles. Interplay releases products through Interplay, Shiny Entertainment, Digital Mayhem, Black Isle Studios, 14° East, is distribution partners and its wholly owned subsidiary Interplay OEM, Inc. More comprehensive information on Interplay and its products is available through its worldwide web site at http://www.interplay.com. For investor relations inquiries, please contact J. Scott Liolios (scott@liolios.com mailto:scott@liolios.com) or Christopher Rosgen (chris@liolios.com mailto:chris@liolios.com) at Liolios Group, Inc. (949) 574-3860.
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995:
This release may contain forward-looking statements involving risks and uncertainties that may cause actual future events or results to differ materially and adversely from those described in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that may cause such a difference for Interplay include, but are not limited to, risks of delays in development and introduction of new products, dependence on new product introductions which achieve significant market acceptance and the uncertainties of consumer preferences, dependence on third party software developers for a significant portion of new products, risks of rapid technological change and platform change, intense competition, seasonality, risks of product defects, dependence upon licenses from third parties, risks associated with future capital requirements, dependence upon third party distribution, dependence upon key personnel and risks associated with international business, intellectual property disputes and other factors discussed in the Company's filings from time to time with the Securities Exchange Commission, including but not limited the Company's annual report on Form 10K for the year ended December 31, 1999. Interplay disclaims any obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by it or on its behalf.
