Press Release

No. 1 Multiplayer Online Game Continues its Expansion

Rockville, MD (July 3, 1996) - Simutronics Corp. today announced an agreement to bring the no. 1 multiplayer online game, GemStone IV, to the CompuServe’s Information Service.

In GemStone IV, players take on characters within a fantasy world. They can be wizards, warriors, healers, or other roles. Players rarely fight each other, but instead cooperate to battle evil forces, which threaten the land. This cooperation is unique in the online game world and a major factor in the success of the game.

Says Simutronics president and GemStone IV designer David Whatley, "The game brings out the best in people. The environment is social. Experienced players mentor newer ones."

The game features more than 10,000 unique locations, hundreds of magical spells, hundreds of different monsters, and about 200,000 players per month. Thousands of people can be within the game world at any one time. A staff of about 100 GameMasters provides customer assistance, design and creativity, adding new features to the game every day.

The text-based game looks like an Internet MUD (multi-user dungeon) but is much more. "It’s like comparing Broadway with a high school show," says Simutronics Executive Vice President Neil Harris. "GemStone IV is a professionally managed creative effort with a massive world and thousands of hours of play value."

The game will be available to CompuServe users running under Windows. CompuServe members will interact with GemStone IV players from other online services within a huge and detailed game world.

According to Sam Uretsky, vice president of sales and marketing for CompuServe, "We’re delighted to add GemStone to the thousands of content offerings on our service. The game is a phenomenal success and our members will be delighted to be able to access it."

About Simutronics

Simutronics Corp., the leader in multiplayer online games, specializes in the design, development and management of games created specifically for collaborative play in virtual online communities. Available on the World Wide Web and through major online services and publishers including Time Warner and Viacom, Simutronics' titles are the leaders in online play, serving more than 5,000 simultaneous players nightly and 200,000 players per month. Founded in 1987, Simutronics Corp. is a privately held corporation with offices in St. Charles, MO and Rockville, MD.

About CompuServe

Founded in 1969, CompuServe Incorporated provides the world's most comprehensive online services, business network and Internet access. Through CompuServe, more than 5 million home and business users in more than 185 countries access the Internet and 3,000-plus online information, education and entertainment services and products. In addition, 982 corporate customers use CompuServe’s value-added network solutions. Among its many uses, the CompuServe-owned network serves as the world's mailbox and check-out lane, hosting millions of e-mail messages per month and more than one billion point-of- sale transactions per year. With world headquarters in Columbus, Ohio, CompuServe's 60 offices include European service centers in Munich, London and Paris.