LOS ANGELES, May 16, 1996 — At the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) here, Microsoft Corp. today announced the availability in retail outlets of more than 100 titles developed for the Microsoft® Windows® 95 operating system by third-party developers. Due to new technology developments in Windows 95, by the 1996 holiday season, consumers will be able to choose from an array of game titles for Windows 95 that deliver a more realistic, cutting-edge gaming experience than ever before possible on a PC. The tremendous consumer and industry support for Windows 95 shows that "Windows 95 is Where It's At" for gaming.

" The DirectX ™technologies in Windows 95 have enabled the industry to embrace Windows 95 to the fullest, thus providing users with a broad selection of game titles," said Brad Silverberg, senior vice president of the Internet platform and tools division at Microsoft. " Microsoft currently has more than 200 software, hardware and OEM partners, making
Windows 95 the ultimate place to play games."

According to results from an April 1996 study by the Software Publishers Association, the PC has the highest growth rate of any game platform, and sales of PCs will continue to outpace sales of consoles in the next six months. Dedicated gamers are expected to move to Windows 95 in large numbers, with the majority expected to be playing games on Windows 95 by the holiday season.

"The HP® Pavilion family of multimedia PCs, which ships exclusively with Windows 95, is the ideal computing solution," said Richard Walker, marketing manager, HP's home products division. "The rich gaming platform offered by Microsoft's DirectX technology, combined with the Pavilion's advanced surround sound and video graphics, is one of the many reasons consumers rely on the HP Pavilion for all their multimedia and home computing needs."

"Windows 95 is a defining moment in gaming history ... it's immediately a clear benefit for the gamer," said Johnny Wilson, editor-in-chief of Computer Gaming World. "Game publishers who are still doing MS-DOS® -based versions are cheating all gamers."

The PC provides what's hot in the gaming market now. Realistic 3-D "virtual worlds," full-screen, TV-quality movies, and multiplayer games on the Internet are all real technologies on Windows 95-based PCs now and are scheduled to be in game titles by the holidays.

Microsoft's set of DirectX interactive media technologies includes the DirectDraw ™ , DirectSound ™ , DirectInput ™ , DirectPlay ™ and Direct3D ™ APIs for real-time 3-D graphics. One of the newest DirectX technologies, Direct3D, is rapidly becoming an industry standard for PC game development. Direct3D shipped to software developers in beta form in late February and is scheduled to be released in final form in June. Direct3D offers software developers a broad set of comprehensive, device-independent services to develop the most realistic gaming experience possible.

"The impressive set of developer technologies Microsoft delivers with DirectX enables Windows 95 to take off as a gaming platform," said Walter Miao of IDC/LINK. "While 1995 was the year of proof for Windows 95 as a game platform, 1996 will be the year we really see a showcasing of titles."

Windows 95 Has the Breadth and Depth of Game Titles

One of the many advantages of Windows 95 is the variety of games available for the platform. Not only does Windows 95 support the sports, fighting and action games popularized by game consoles, it also offers gamers whole new worlds of adventure games, flight simulations, strategy challenges and children's interactive adventures. Windows 95 gives consumers a range of gaming experiences, from the driver's seat of an A-10 Tank Killer (Silent Thunder), up a beanstalk in search of a rabbit (Tiny Toon Adventures ™ Buster and the Beanstalk), into the driver's seat of a radical monster-truck-racing game (Microsoft Monster Truck Madness).

Microsoft's commitment to gaming began with the original Windows 95 DirectX Software Development Kit (SDK) in 1995, bringing consumers ease of use with AutoPlay and high-quality graphics and sound. DirectX for Windows 95 now has more than 100 supporters, including the leaders in the game industry. The newest technology additions to the DirectX set of technologies include DirectPlay, Direct3D and the ActiveMovie ™ API.

DirectPlay, the newest of the DirectX technologies, is a next-generation architecture for interactive, multiplayer gaming on the Internet and other networks and is expected to drive the next generation of online game services. DirectPlay extends the Microsoft DirectX APIs to the Internet. It enables development of both sophisticated online games and virtual online "lobbies" to coordinate multiplayer games.

"OnLive! Technologies supports Windows 95-based multiplayer gaming by providing the first 3-D voice-enabled lobbies," said Rod MacGregor, chairman and co-founder of OnLive! Technologies Inc. "We are excited to work with Microsoft to develop the DirectPlay APIs. We are also providing tools for game companies interested in adding innovative audio functionality to their applications."

Another addition to the DirectX technologies, Direct3D, brings real-time 3-D graphics and 3-D virtual "worlds" to PCs. Direct3D technology is a leading specification for the industry. With the beta version of Direct3D in developers' hands in April (the final version is scheduled to ship in the second quarter) and with more than 80 leading ISVs, IHVs and OEMs committed to delivering products for Direct3D between now and the holidays, gaming enthusiasts worldwide will soon experience more compelling and powerful 3-D graphics for the Internet, games, education and business applications.

The ActiveMovie API brings the next generation of cross-platform digital video technology for the desktop and the Internet. With ActiveMovie, developers and creative professionals will be able to deliver stunning titles on multiple platforms with crisp synchronized audio, video and special effects. Users will benefit from state-of-the-art MPEG playback for full-screen, television-quality video on PCs, Internet playback and streaming for fast and easy playback of all popular media types on the Internet, a flexible architecture for easy integration of new technologies, and real-time special effects.

ActiveMovie will be a key API for the next generation of video on the desktop and the Internet. More than 20 industry companies have announced support for ActiveMovie, as have the OpenMPEG Consortium (representing 32 companies) and the Japanese Open MPEG Windows Forum (representing 32 companies). Their support signals that the PC as a game platform keeps getting better and better.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ "MSFT" ) is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.

Microsoft, Windows, DirectX, MS-DOS, DirectDraw, DirectSound, DirectInput, DirectPlay, Direct3D and ActiveMovie are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

HP is a registered trademark of Hewlett-Packard Co.

TINY TOON Adventures characters, names and all related indicia are trademarks of Warner Bros. © 1996. Part No. 3001.

Massive Industry Support for Windows 95 as a Gaming Platform

Virtually all the major game companies currently embrace Windows 95 technology to deliver the best game experience. Windows 95 has received strong industry support from leading software developers, hardware vendors and PC manufacturers.

The following leading software, hardware and PC manufacturers have announced their support for Windows 95 as a gaming platform:

3D MicroComputers

3D/EYE Inc.

3DFX Interactive

3Dlabs Inc.

47-Tek

7th Level Inc.

Acclaim Entertainment Inc.

Accolade Inc.

Activision Inc.

Actual Entertainment

Adobe Systems Inc.

Advanced Micro Devices Inc.

Aimtech Corp.

Alliance Semiconductor Corp.

AMD

Aspect Computer Pty Ltd.

Asymetrix Corp.

ATI Technologies Inc.

Aureal Semiconductor

Avid Technologies Inc.

Aztech Labs

Blizzard Entertainment

Brock International

Broderbund Software

Brooktree Corp.

Bullfrog Productions

Caligari Corp.

Catapult Entertainment Inc.

Center for Multimedia Inc.

Chaco Communications Inc.

Chase Manhattan Bank N.A.

Chips and Technologies Inc.

Chromatic Research Inc.

Cirrus Logic Inc.

Cisco Systems Inc.

Compaq Computer Corp.

Compcore

Computer Artworks Ltd. London

Creative Labs Inc.

Crystal River Engineering

Cyberdreams Inc.

Cyberia Caf é

Cybermax

Data Translation

Datawiz

Deep River Publishing

Dell Computer Corp.

Diamond Multimedia Systems Inc.

Digital Pictures Inc.

Dimension X

Domark Software

Dream Designers

DreamWorks Interactive

DWANGO

Edios Interactive (Domark and US Gold)

Electronic Arts

ESS

European Football Site 1996

EXOS Inc.

EZ Communications

Falcon Northwest Computer Systems Inc.

Fine.com Interactive

Folio Corp.

FORE Systems Inc.

Forte Technologies Inc.

FreeRange Media Inc.

Gateway 2000 Inc.

Gemini Technology

General Instrument

Gold Disk Inc.

Grolier Interactive

GT Interactive

Harrow Media Pty Ltd.

Hash Enterprises Inc.

Hash Inc.

Hercules Computer Technology

Hewlett-Packard Co., home products division

Humongous Entertainment

Hyperion Software

IBM Corp.

id Software

Imagination Network

Infogrames Entertainment

Infotel/Midwest Micro

Intel Corp.

Interactive Creations Inc.

Interactive Digital Communications Inc.

Interactive Magic

InterActual Technologies Inc.

Interplay

Intervista Software Inc.

Interworld Technology Ventures

Kali

Katrix Inc.

KMPS/KZOK

Korea Telecom

Latitude Communications

Looking Glass Technologies Inc.

LucasArts Entertainment Co.

Macromedia Inc.

Matrox Graphics Inc.

Maxis Inc.

Mechadeus

Mediamatics Inc.

MediaVision

mFactory Inc.

Micron Electronics Inc.

MicroProse Software

Microsoft Corp.

Mindscape Inc.

Montage Group Ltd.

Music Choice

NAMCO

National Semiconductor Corp.

Nationwide Building Society

NBC Desktop Video

Ncompass Labs Inc.

NEC Electronics Inc.

NEC Technologies Inc.

NeoMagic Corp.

NTT

Number Nine Visual Technology Corp.

NuVision Technologies Inc.

NVIDIA Corp.

Oak Technologies

On Ramp

OnLive! Technologies Inc.

Open MPEG Consortium

Open MPEG Windows Forum - Japan

Orchid Technology

Origin Systems Inc.

Owens Corning

Packard Bell Electronics Inc.

Papyrus

Parian Development Group Inc.

Pennzoil Co.

PF Magic

Philips Media Games/Software

Pinnacle

PIONEX

Powerhouse Entertainment

Precept Software Inc.

Progressive Networks

Psygnosis

QSound Labs Inc.

Quantex

Reality Bytes

Rendition Inc.

Rocket Science

S3 Inc.

Saltmine Creative Inc.

Samsung Electronics Company Ltd.

Sanctuary Woods Multimedia

Scavenger

Seanix Technology Inc.

Sega Entertainment Inc.

Sense8

SGS-Thomson

Sierra On-Line

Silicon Magic Corp.

SingleTrac Entertainment Technologies Inc.

Softimage

Sonic Foundry

Sony Computer Entertainment

Sony Interactive

Spacetec IMC Corp.

Spectrum HoloByte Inc.

StarHill Productions

Starlight Networks Inc.

Starwave Corp.

STB Systems Inc.

StereoGraphics Corp.

Strategic Simulations Inc.

Taylor Subscription Talk

Template Graphics Software Inc.

TerraGlyph Interactive Studios

The 3DO Company

The Network Connection Inc.

Time Warner Interactive Inc.

Toshiba America Information System Inc.,

computer systems division

Trident Microsystems Inc.

Trimark Interactive

TRO Learning Inc.

Truevision

Tseng Labs Inc.

U.S. Bancorp

U.S. Gold Inc.

U-Lead

Unisys Corp.

US West Communication Services Inc.

USA Networks

UUNET Technologies Inc.

VDOnet Corp.

Viacom New Media

VictorMaxx Technologies Inc.

VideoLogic

Virgin Interactive Entertainment Inc.

Virtual i-O Inc.

Virtus Corp.

VIVO Software Inc.

VocalTec Inc.

VREAM Inc.

Waite Group Press

Western Digital Corp.

Westwood Studios

Worlds Inc.

Xing Technology Corp.

Yamaha Systems Technology Inc.

Zombie