Psygnosis unveils Sentient, an immense sci-fi role playing/adventure game

Business Wire, May 1, 1997

FOSTER CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 1, 1997--Psygnosis today unveiled Sentient, an epic sci-fi adventure that evolves in real-time with an unprecedented level of artificial intelligence, allowing for infinite possible routes to ten discrete endings.

Sentient is now available and has an approximate retail price of $49.95.

Sentient's menu-driven dialogue interface is reminiscent of the classic text adventures from the early days of PC gaming, but the locale is strictly real-time 3D, giving the game a unique, genre-crossing appeal to role playing and adventure gamers from many eras of gaming.

Sentient takes place on the ICARUS space station which is orbiting the sun Xexor. You are Garrit, a medical technician sent from Earth to investigate the outbreak of radiation sickness. As your transport arrives at the ICARUS, a solar flare erupts causing you to crash-land in the docking bay. As the game progresses, it becomes apparent that things are not as they seem.

Random Plots and Character Individuality

Sentient offers gamers a completely different approach to gaming. Every decision or conversation leads the player down a different path, and, since there is no one fixed ending to the game, the player discovers different ways to approach various challenges, each leading to a different end result. There are also more than 200 locations in which to gather information applicable to the player's quest.

There are 60 different characters on the space station, all having their own jobs and responsibilities, emotions, agendas and group allegiance. It is up to the player to decide how to react to these characters based on their personalities, features and what group they fall into -- engineers, scientists, medics, or security.

In Sentient, there are six major plots or scenarios that thrust the player into his or her quest. One plot may be that the chief medical officer requests that you help investigate the outbreak of radiation sickness. Another may be that you are captured by Security who want to use you as part of their experiments. These, in addition to several subplots, set the stage for a very intriguing adventure, filled with puzzles to be solved, interactive conversations and character personalities to decipher along the way as you try to save the ICARUS from tumbling into the sun.

A PlayStation game console version of Sentient is also available.

Psygnosis employs over 530 people with publishing and development offices in the U.S., U.K. and across Europe. Working with over 30 development teams across the world and six internal development sites, the company is now the largest development house in Europe. Psygnosis is a subsidiary of Sony. -0-

Note to Editors: Sentient is now available for the PC and for PlayStation at retail computer and software specialty stores everywhere. Reviewer's copies and screen shots can be obtained from Dana Oertell, 415/655-8060 or Mark Day 415/655-5679.

Visit us on the Web. Psygnosis' latest offerings -- including current and future titles, game tips, contests, press releases and company information -- are accessible at www.psygnosis.com .

CONTACT: Psygnosis, Inc.

Dana Oertell, 415/655-8060

doertell@psygnosis.com

or

Mark Day, 415/655-5679

mday@psygnosis.com