ActionTec Announces Home Networking Game Bundle; Multi-Player Games from Accolade Enhance ActionLink Home Networking System

Business Wire, Feb 11, 1999

SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 9, 1999--Purchasers of ActionTec's award-winning ActionLink(tm) home networking system can now explore hundreds of stars, talk with alien races, and save the universe -- while enjoying the cost savings and practical conveniences of home networking!

ActionTec Electronics Inc., a leading manufacturer of data communications and wireless products, today announced a bundle of games to be included with its ActionLink Home Networking system. The bundle includes a full multi-player version of Accolade's popular Star Control(tm) 3 along with four demo versions of Accolade's hottest recently released titles.

"By allowing all computer users in a house to simultaneously share files and peripherals, while they surf the Internet with a single ISP account, telephone line, and modem, the ActionLink home networking system clearly has many practical benefits," commented Elliot Hadaegh, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for ActionTec. "The game bundle demonstrates the recreational power of the home networking system by bringing state-of-the-art multi-player gaming into the ActionLink package. This agreement with one of the best recognized companies in the PC gaming industry is a significant step in further establishing ActionTec's ActionLink as the most useful and most affordable home networking system available today."

Running over already-installed telephone wiring, the ActionLink Home Networking system eliminates the expense and inconvenience of running dedicated networking cables without interfering with telephone service. ActionLink includes ActionTec's proprietary DynaNAT(tm) Technology, which allows all the users in the house to simultaneously share a single ISP (Internet Service Provider) account, telephone line, and modem, reducing Internet access cost. The software includes "firewall" protection to prevent hackers from breaking into the computers and which allows parents to block out access to undesirable Internet sites. Unlike no other product on the market, the unique DynaNAT software dynamically enables any PC with a modem on the network to operate as the Internet gateway, eliminating the need for a designated server.

The games included in the bundle are a full multi-player version of Star Control 3, and demo versions of four of Accolade's hottest new titles: Test Drive(R) 5, Test Drive Off-Road(tm) 2, HardBall(R) 6, and Jack Nicklaus(R) 5. 20% discount coupons for the demo games are also included.

About Accolade

Founded in 1984, Accolade, Inc. publishes and develops video games for game consoles and multimedia personal computers. Accolade titles include Test Drive (R), Test Drive Off-Road(tm), HardBall(R), Star Control(tm), Big Air(tm), and Slave Zero(tm). Distributed by Electronic Arts Distribution, Accolade games are available from major software specialty stores, computer superstores or direct from Accolade by calling (800) 245-7744. Accolade is privately held and based in San Jose, CA. For more information, visit the company's web site at http://www.accolade.com.

About ActionTec

ActionTec has earned an enviable list of awards worldwide, including the prestigious Best of Show award at this summer's Retail Xchange, and Editors Choice awards from CNET's computer.com, and Computer Retail Week. ActionTec is also collaborating with Lucent Technologies Microelectronics Group in the "The Lucent Edge" campaign.

ActionTec Electronics, Inc. is a significant global player in the data communications marketplace. ActionTec's technically sophisticated products target the needs of SOHO and consumer users of mobile and desktop computers. The company has a track record of growth, attributed primarily to strong relationships in the data communications product marketplace. ActionTec's product line includes a complete line of phone-line based Home Networking products, Mobile and Desktop Fax/Modems, and Ethernet cards, as well as Internal and External PC Card Read/Write Drives for SmartMedia, CompactFlash and ATA Flash PC Cards. ActionTec's broad range of connectivity and storage products enables desktop computer users to increase productivity and allows mobile computer users to communicate effectively from non-traditional locations.

ActionTec's ActionLink home networking system has an MSRP of $149.00 and is available through national distribution and retail outlets as well as through private label and OEM relationships. The company is headquartered in Sunnyvale, CA and maintains branch offices in Philadelphia, PA, Government Sales in Arlington, VA, and International Sales in Irvine, CA. ActionTec Inc. can be reached via the Internet at http://www.actiontec.com, or by phone at (408) 541-9003.

ActionTec, the ActionTec logo, ActionLink and DynaNAT are trademarks of ActionTec Electronics, Inc. All other product names and trademarks are the property of their respective holders.