Cavedog Entertainment's Total Annihilation: Kingdoms Expected to Hit Retail Stores June 25

Business Wire, June 23, 1999

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 23, 1999--

Epic Fantasy Real-Time Strategy Game Released

Simultaneously in 45 Countries and Five Languages

Cavedog Entertainment, a wholly owned subsidiary of GT Interactive Software Corp. (Nasdaq:GTIS), today announced the worldwide release of its highly anticipated fantasy, real-time strategy game Total Annihilation(R): Kingdoms(TM). The game will begin appearing on retail store shelves on June 25 in more than 45 countries, including localized English, Spanish, French, German and Italian versions.

As the second title in Cavedog Entertainment's Total Annihilation series of real-time strategy games, Total Annihilation: Kingdoms quickly involves players in a pitched battle for dominion over the mythical world of Darien. Players find themselves controlling one of four unique races, each with dozens of units at its command, such as dragons, knights, trolls and giants. As the immortal monarch of one of these races, each player builds armies, hones magic skills, and wages war in an effort to wrest supreme power from their enemies.

"Total Annihilation: Kingdoms truly takes the Total Annihilation gameplay experience to the next level," said Clayton Kauzlaric, designer and project lead. "We've gone to great lengths to refine and improve nearly every aspect of the original game, including the change to four entirely unique sides, a rich and involving story, the addition of patron gods, support for Boneyards(TM), a streamlined interface and even more build queue options, just to name a few."

Total Annihilation: Kingdoms features more than 100 3D articulated battle units as well as 50 wandering monsters and non-player characters that populate the world of Darien. Fans of single player gaming will be treated to an innovative twist in the "Campaign" mode that has them changing sides throughout the game's 48 missions, which are interspersed with dozens of cinematic cutscenes. Cavedog Entertainment has also included 30 multiplayer maps that players can utilize in both "Skirmish" and "Multiplayer" modes. In addition, Total Annihilation: Kingdoms also features Cartographer, the game's powerful map and multiplayer scenario editor, and out-of-the-box support for Boneyards, Cavedog Entertainment's new online gaming community.

Highlights of Total Annihilation: Kingdoms

The Four Sides: Not one, not two, not three...but four sides to choose from. Each side features dramatically different build hierarchies and distinct combat strategies.

-- Aramon (Earth): Ruled by the mage king Elsin, Aramon is a land of

rolling hills, snowcapped mountains and vibrant cities. Players

can expect Aramon to have the technological as well as moral edge

over its opponents. Its units are the traditional land-based

medieval fare, such as knights, swordsmen, archers and catapults.

-- Veruna (Water): Led by the sea mage Kirenna, Veruna is a land of

travel, trading and exploration. Colorful coral mark its beaches,

and intricate fossil formations grace its shores. Players are

masters of the high seas, as Veruna features extensive and

powerful seagoing armadas. Veruna's ability to assault enemy

shores and send forth immense land-based armies is second to

none.

-- Zhon (Air): A forbidding lost continent held together by the

huntress Thirsha, Zhon is the refuge of many wandering monsters,

legendary creatures and outcasts from throughout Darien. Rugged

coastlines, dense jungles and imposing mountains make it

extremely difficult to exterminate Zhon forces. Rulers of the

sky, fast raids and guerilla warfare are the names of Zhon's

game.

-- Taros (Fire): If there were hell on Darien, Taros would certainly

be it. The land is broken, cracked, and lifeless. The foliage has

long since faded, the populace has fled, and once-beautiful

mountains now belch black smoke and lava. The dead have risen in

droves, demons visit often, and magicians work their powerful

magic in this dark pit. The "undead" armies of Taros and their

magic-using leaders make short work of all that oppose them.

One Continuous Campaign: The single player campaign features an innovative twist in which players switch allegiances as they progress through the story. In one mission you may be asked to build a structure for Veruna, but ironically tasked with its destruction sometime later as Taros.

Did You Say Experience? As units engage and vanquish enemy forces they gain experience. Once this experience reaches certain levels, units grow in skill and actually change in appearance. If a player carefully manages his or her units, they will quickly find that experienced low level units can quickly defeat inexperienced high level units.

The Gods Must Be Crazy: Whoa, Nellie! When one of these guys shows up, get ready to head for high ground. When players meet certain conditions during gameplay, there is a random chance their patron god will appear on the battlefield to help them. Beware -- the appearance of one almighty being on the battlefield greatly increases the likelihood of another deity taking notice and joining the fray.