PHOTO/Michael Crichton's ``Timeline'' PC CD-ROM Game Makes a Great Holiday Gift for the Entire Family; Interactive World Based On Best-Selling Novel Now On Shelves

Business Wire, Dec 7, 2000

Feature Editors/Multimedia Writers

FEATURE...

NOTE: Eidos logo and photo of "Timeline" box cover art will be

available for journalists to download beginning today at

www.newstream.com

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE FEATURES)--Dec. 7, 2000

Eidos Interactive today announced that the electronic game version of Michael Crichton's best-selling novel, "Timeline," is now available at retailers nationwide.

Available for the personal computer, "Timeline" is a story-driven, action-adventure game set in 14th century feudal France. This title is the first venture from the previously announced publishing agreement between Eidos Interactive and developer Timeline Computer Entertainment.

"`Timeline' is a great introduction for PC owners who have not experienced the excitement of interactive entertainment," said Crichton. "We are trying to create something new with `Timeline' and breathe a movie-like atmosphere into it."

Correlating closely with the novel, "Timeline" follows time-traveling students sent on a mission to locate their missing professor amidst the warring parties of the English and French during the Hundred Years War. Assuming the role of Chris, a graduate archeology student working on a dig in France, the player receives a mysterious on-screen video message from beloved Professor Johnston who is trapped in the past. Along with fellow adventurers Kate and Baretto, Chris plunges back in time. Through his character, players will experience the adventure and danger of the medieval era.

Over the course of 20 game levels, the player will interact with a host of other characters including knights, lords, pages, peasants, and innkeepers. Some of these characters will assist the player, while others prove to be ominous adversaries. Players will combine their skills in exploration, stealth, puzzle-solving, swordplay, and archery to successfully make their way through the daunting world and hopefully rescue the professor.

"Timeline" enables players to experience the heroism of 14th century combat, including jousting and hand-to-hand battles. However, "Timeline" skirmishes don't end in maiming or death. Instead, characters "stand down" when vanquished. Earning an "E" (Everyone) rating from the ESRB, "Timeline" brings a fun and immersive story to life for kids and adults alike.

The game provides diverse and realistic environments including dungeons, jousting fields, underground rivers and the great halls of 14th century French castles. Such attention to historical authenticity also characterizes Crichton's popular works that include the best-selling novels "Jurassic Park," "Disclosure" and "Airframe" and the television series "ER."

"We at Eidos have been thrilled with Michael Crichton's hands-on involvement throughout this project," explained Mike McGarvey, COO of Eidos Interactive. "Because of his popularity and fan loyalty, `Timeline' offers a unique opportunity to reach out to a new audience of potential gamers."

Indeed, Crichton actively oversaw the design and creation of the game, which was developed at the North Carolina headquarters of Timeline Computer Entertainment. The game includes a 3D interactive audio tour of the "Timeline" world. This tour offers historical background on Castelgard and explains the similarities and differences between that real-life town and the one created for the game.

Crichton also sought to dispense with complex directions, which he believes makes electronic gaming unnecessarily daunting. "Timeline" is easy to play with on-screen instructions replacing complex keyboard commands or unnecessary hint books.

"Timeline" is available on PC CD-ROM at retailers nationwide at a suggested retail price of $39.99.

About Timeline Computer Entertainment

Founded in 1999 by best-selling author/director/producer Michael Crichton, Timeline Computer Entertainment is a leading entertainment software company headquartered in Cary, North Carolina. Extending Crichton's unsurpassed success in storytelling, the company is creating a new line of entertainment combining innovative storylines with highly interactive worlds. Targeting the global mass market, the company is developing products for multiple platforms including personal computers and next generation video game systems. For more information, visit Timeline Computer Entertainment on the web at www.timelineworlds.com.

About Eidos Interactive

Eidos Interactive, Inc. is a leading developer and publisher of interactive entertainment products for the PC, Sony PlayStation(R) and PlayStation(R)2, Sega Dreamcast(R), Nintendo Game Boy(R) Color and Microsoft X-Box. Eidos Interactive is part of London-based Eidos plc (NASDAQ: EIDSY) with additional offices in San Francisco, Paris, Hamburg, Singapore and Tokyo. For more information on Eidos Interactive's product line visit http://www.eidos.com.