Microsoft Licenses Superscape 3-D Internet Viewer for Microsoft Internet Explorer Starter Kit; Leading Internet Virtual Reality Software Included in Microsoft Internet Kit; Starter Kit Part of Windows 95

Business Wire, Oct 15, 1996

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 15, 1996--Superscape Inc., the world's leading provider of software tools for creating 3-D virtual worlds, today announced that Microsoft Corp. has licensed Superscape's Internet 3-D virtual reality viewer and will include it with Microsoft's new Internet Explorer Starter Kit, including the starter kit as part of the Microsoft Windows 95 operating system.

This announcement makes Viscape, Superscape's Internet viewer, an integral part of Microsoft's Internet Explorer Starter Kit. The kit is built around the Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 Web browser and comes with all new retail versions of the Windows 95 operating system. The starter kit is also scheduled to be available today separately at retail stores nationwide for approximately $24.95.

Inclusion of Superscape's ActiveX control in the Internet Explorer Starter Kit brings the Internet's fastest, most exciting interactive real-time 3-D virtual reality to millions of users of Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 and Windows 95.

Used in conjunction with the Microsoft Internet Explorer browser, Viscape allows standard personal computer users to explore 3-D virtual reality worlds on the Internet created with Superscape VRT, the world's premiere virtual reality authoring software.

"The Internet Explorer Starter Kit is the best way for new users to experience the Internet," said David Fester, Internet Explorer product manager in the Internet platform and tools division at Microsoft. "By including Superscape's Viscape in the starter kit, we provide our customers exciting access to innovative new content on the Web."

Superscape's Viscape is the fastest and most functional real-time 3-D virtual reality Web viewer available. An ActiveX control that takes advantage of the open architecture of Internet Explorer, Viscape supports such virtual world advanced intelligence dynamics as gravity, motion and behaviors, as well as supporting sound, texture mapping and linking to other Web sites.

A wide variety of sites on the Web currently employ Superscape virtual reality technology for a variety of purposes, including such multinational corporations as Intel (www.intel.com/procs/pentium/2003d.htm) and Nortel (www.nortel.com/entprods/vr/frame-demos.html).

The Microsoft Internet Explorer Starter Kit helps customers access the Internet quickly and easily. It includes the Internet Explorer 3.0 browser and a gallery of premium ActiveX controls -- including Viscape -- that allow users to experience the Internet's richest multimedia. A CD-ROM demonstrating actual Web sites is included to allow users to experience the Internet before actually going online.

"We're proud Microsoft has recognized Superscape's products for the power and depth they bring to Internet exploration with Internet Explorer 3.0 and ActiveX," said Dr. John Chiplin, CEO of Superscape. "The combination of Viscape with Microsoft's Internet and operating system technology is a major step toward meeting the growing user, developer and content provider demand for real time 3-D virtual reality on personal computers."

Superscape introduced the world's first PC-based virtual reality software product, Virtual Reality Studio, in 1989. Its current portfolio includes advanced virtual reality authoring software, including a Software Developers Kit that offers an advanced application programming interface (API); Internet and stand-alone 3-D virtual reality viewers; virtual reality networking that guides multiple simultaneous users through the same virtual world, and SuperCity II, a rich, interactive combination of the company's 3-D Web site with a number of exciting virtual worlds.

Superscape was founded in 1983 by Ian Andrew. A public company traded on the London Stock Exchange, Superscape maintains U.S. headquarters in Palo Alto.

For more information about Superscape, or to download a free demonstration copy of Viscape for Windows, please visit the Superscape World Wide Web home page (www.superscape.com). An electronic copy of this press release, as well as previous press releases from Superscape, can be found on the Web at http://www.p2pr.com. -0-

Note to Editors: Microsoft, Windows and ActiveX are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

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