PF.Magic discovers Oddballz; Wacky Mutating Computer Petz Take Over Desktops

Business Wire, Oct 8, 1996

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 8, 1996--

PF.Magic Creates First Online Collectable Program With Oddballz

From the creators of the top selling Computer Petz(TM), Dogz(TM) and Catz(TM) now comes Oddballz(TM).

These totally new and hilarious desktop characters are a magical combination of 3-D animation, slightly twisted artificial intelligence technology and hysterical antics. In the first ever program of its kind, PF.Magic's Oddballz will also be collectable from the World Wide Web, where individual characters can be sampled and downloaded from partner Web sites. Oddballz will also be available in November on CD-ROM for Windows 3.1 and '95 and Macintosh for $19.95. They can be purchased at all leading retailers, direct from PF.Magic, or they can be downloaded or purchased through E-Commerce from the company's Web site at www.oddallz.com.

Oddballz eat, sleep and crave attention like normal pets, but that's where the similarities end. Like all pets, Oddballz will grow and change depending on how the user treats them. Oddballz can be trained to do amazing tricks. However, Oddballz are extremely unpredictable and have been known to transform before your very eyes and react and interact in wacky ways. With a full toy shelf of magnets, rayguns, big metal balls, molecules, jack-in-the boxes, grubs, sno blasts, wind-up toys, and other fun stuff, users can expect unexplained mutations and hysterical reactions. Oddballz owners of any age can enjoy hours of endless fun, surprise, and laughter.

"When we discovered Oddballz, we soon found new, unpredictable and unique behaviors we didn't even know about" said John Scull, managing director, PF.Magic. "The fun and surprises you get with Oddballz makes you want to play with them more -- you want to see what you can make happen next."

In the first online collectable program of its kind, PF.Magic has gathered leading web partners to make Oddballz available on the net. Each of the seven characters in the full retail product will be available for consumers to "sample" in Oddballz Starter Kits and download for free from the various partners' web sites. In addition to the original set, for a limited time after launch, new Oddballz will become available for people to collect at no charge.

As with all the Computer Petz, Oddballz have screen saver functionality, but with an added twist. These zany creatures have minds of their own, often sneaking on and off your computer when in screen saver mode, and occasionally showing off unique behavior and unusual transformations, dancing and singing. In addition, there is password protection.

Oddballz is the third product in the company's highly successful Petz line, which includes Dogz and Catz. Dogz quickly rose to one of the top selling slots on leading national computer retail charts. Dogz has sold well over 100,000 copies in the U.S. and is a top seller in Europe and Asia. Released in June, Catz is well on its way to similar success. More than 900,000 people have visited the Computer Petz web site (www.pfmagic.com) as a part of the Petz Cyber-Adoption program.

Oddballz will be available in November on CD-ROM for Windows 95, Windows 3.1 and the Macintosh through leading software stores nationwide through an affiliate label relationship with Virgin Interactive Entertainment. All Computer Petz can also be purchased through PF.Magic's direct number, 1-800-48-ADOPT, and through the company's web site (http://www.oddballz.com) where consumers can "sample" Oddballz and ultimately adopt their own zany pet through E-commerce for $19.95.

PF. Magic, from its toy and game-filled offices in San Francisco's "Multimedia Gulch," is known for its interactive living characters, and innovative entertainment products. Since its start in 1991, the Company has developed several award-winning, cutting-edge products. These include Ballz(TM), the first truly 3-D fighting game on the Sega Genesis, SNES and 3DO; and Max Magic(TM), the world's first electronic magic kit, hosted by an intelligent 3-D character. In the Fall of 1995, PF.Magic introduced the top selling Dogz, the first product in the Computer Petz line and in the Summer of 1996, introduced Catz.

CONTACT: Connors Communications

Staci Strauss Rachel Hassard

212-807-7500 415-217-7500

staci@connors.com rachel@connors.com

or

PF.Magic

Brooke Boynton

415-495-0400

brooke_boynton@mail.pfmagic.com

www.pfmagic.com