A New Breed of Virtual Petz Marks its Territory With PF.Magic's Dogz II and Catz II

Business Wire, Oct 29, 1997

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 29, 1997--

Virtual Petz Phenomenon Creates Real Life on Computer Desktops With the Help of Multiple-Character Artificial Intelligence Technology

PF.Magic, creators of the world's first virtual Petz -- Catz and Dogz, today reaffirmed its position as "top dog" in the field with the release of the next generation of virtual Petz II -- Dogz II and Catz II, which returns digital pets to their rightful homes on computer desktops.

With the launch of Dogz II and Catz II, PF.Magic expands its virtual Petz family, which has sold more than 1 million units. Petz II unveils breakthrough artificial-intelligence technology that enables Dogz II and Catz II to do what no digital characters have ever done -- interact with you and each other simultaneously! The programs are also fully expandable with new toyz and breedz delivered through the Internet.

The end result is an experience unmatched by any other virtual pet. Dogz II and Catz II are available on CD-ROM for Windows 95 for $19.95 and can be adopted at all leading retailers or directly from PF.Magic at 800/48-ADOPT. Consumers can also download free adoption kits/sampler versions of all virtual Petz products from the Company's Web site: http://www.petz.com

"With Dogz II and Catz II, we have taken the virtual pet ownership experience to a whole new level. We listened to our loyal virtual Petz owners' requests and pushed the envelope. The result is an engaging, interactive experience," said John Scull, Managing Director of PF.Magic. "With the expandability through the Internet, consumers can also have endless play value and the opportunity to bring real life to their computer."

To build on the engaging features of the original virtual Petz, owners of Dogz II and Catz II products can:

-- experience multiple-species mingling where Dogz II and Catz II

play together on computer desktops and learn to share toyz while

vying for their owner's attention -- update their original Petz and bring them directly into Dogz II

and Catz II, respectively -- adopt more than one animal within a single breed or multiple Petz

from different breedz -- expand their virtual pet family by visiting the PF.Magic Web

site's Online Petz Adoption Center to download and adopt additional

newly born breedz, such as Dalmatians, Poodles, Tabbies, Minx,

Russian Blue cats and other breedz as they become available each

month -- visit the Online Toyz Shop filled with new toyz and treats that

provide owners even more ways to play with their Petz -- use the extra bonus screen saver that guards your screen from

intruders

PF.Magic has also created a special area on their site to build a network of Petz owners and foster community among Petz enthusiasts. In addition to downloading the products, new toyz, treatz and breedz, visitors can use the bulletin board system, post pictures of their Petz, join contests and visit other virtual Petz owners' sites around the Web.

PF.Magic's original virtual Petz, the world's first interactive virtual Petz, initially dashed onto computer desktops in the fall of 1995 with the release of Dogz, creating a worldwide craze for virtual Petz. Catz pounced onto the scene in the spring of 1996, followed by those wacky Oddballz in the fall of 1996. Virtual Petz were the first interactive titles to combine artificial intelligence and 3-D animation to bring real life to computer desktops.

To date, PF.Magic has sold more than 1 million copies of virtual Petz worldwide and won many awards for its pioneering work in the interactive virtual Petz market. Petz lovers continue to adopt and sample the original virtual Petz, Dogz, Catz and Oddballz, from the PF.Magic Web site at http://www.petz.com

From its toy and game-filled offices in San Francisco's "Multimedia Gulch," PF.Magic is known for its interactive living characters and innovative entertainment products. Since its beginning in 1991, the company has developed several award-winning, character-based products. These include Ballz, the humorous 3-D fighting game on the Sega Genesis, SNES and 3DO, and Max Magic, 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 million-selling virtual Petz line, and debuted Catz in the summer of 1996. In the fall of 1996, PF.Magic extended their line once again with Oddballz.

In 1997, PF.Magic introduces the next generation of virtual Petz -- Dogz II and Catz II. Also in 1997, plush toy versions of Dogz and Catz were introduced into the toy market by Trendmasters Inc. under a licensing agreement with PF.Magic. PF.Magic is privately held.

Your virtual Petz Web site is located on the World Wide Web at www.petz.com . -0-

Dogz, Catz, Oddballz and your virtual Petz are trademarks, and PF.Magic is a registered trademark of PF.Magic Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective trademark owners.

CONTACT: PF.Magic

Brooke Boynton, 415/495-0400

brooke@pfmagic.com