Stream Theory to Power Streaming PC Game Demos On Firstlook.com, Leading Streaming Media Entertainment Preview Site

Business Wire, Jan 16, 2001

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

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MOFFETT FIELD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 16, 2001

Stream Theory Technology Enables Broadband Users to Sample PC

Games Online With No Downloads or Installation

Stream Theory, Inc., an innovative start-up with proprietary technology to quickly deliver software applications over broadband, wireless, and other delivery platforms, and FirstLook, the Web's leading entertainment preview syndicator, today announced the official launch of over 40 streaming PC game demos in FirstLook's PC games preview area (www.firstlook.com/site/category.jsp?cat=304). FirstLook will use Stream Theory technology to offer interactive previews of PC games in addition to existing streaming video previews. Stream Theory's patent-pending streaming technology allows broadband users to sample PC software over the Internet almost instantly and without installation.

"FirstLook's identity and success is based on providing previews to our audience to help them make the right entertainment choices," said Rand Bleimeister, founder and CEO of FirstLook. "FirstLook.com presents our previews in the highest quality streaming audio and video, and adding streaming interactive software to deliver game previews is a logical progression. We are confident Stream Theory's streaming software technology will increase the number of delivered game previews and add another reason for broadband users to return to our site."

FirstLook will offer streaming demos of more than 40 games, including American McGee's Alice and Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed by Electronic Arts, Tomb Raider: Chronicles by Eidos Interactive, Quake III Arena: Team Arena by Activision, and Interplay's Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn. Stream It buttons easily identify the streaming demos on each game's preview page on FirstLook. Broadband visitors simply click the Stream It button and, after a brief 'jumpstarting' period, play the demo. To sample the PC game demos, users are required to have broadband Internet access, such as cable modem, DSL or T1, and Windows 95/98/Me operating system.

"FirstLook has a unique site that utilizes streaming media technologies to their fullest," says Steig Westerberg, president and CEO of Stream Theory. "By being the first entertainment site to feature streaming software, FirstLook is demonstrating they are on the cutting edge in Internet entertainment and the leader in combining various streaming media technologies to provide a compelling experience to their visitors."

The first time users choose to stream will result in a brief process whereby the 1.8MB Stream Theory Player is installed on their PC. Because the software is streamed to the users desktop, there is no installation, no downloading, and no uninstalling of files.

Boasting one of the largest online catalogs of rich media previews, FirstLook visitors can experience more than three million streaming samples of top-selling video games, upcoming and current movie, DVD, TV, and video trailers, and songs in one convenient destination. With a recent relaunch of the site last fall, FirstLook features a multitude of new user interface features including an embedded media player, a searchable database, links to participating e-tailers, and product reviews, as well as links to other popular online destinations where concert tickets, videos, games and movie tickets can be purchased.

About Stream Theory:

Founded in 1996, Stream Theory, Inc. has pioneered the era of instant streaming delivery and management of software on the Internet, CD-ROMs and DVD-ROMs. The patent-pending streaming software service was developed for software publishers, developers, e-tailers, portals and application service providers. Any business application written in Windows 95/98/Me, Java, DOS and more, as well as entertainment software such as PC videogames and demos, can be streamed securely to PCs without any modification or "porting" of the software. Streamed applications execute locally in real-time and are never installed on the user's hard drive. Stream Theory technology provides a wide variety of streaming services, including streamed demos and trial versions, timed use of full applications, software rentals on a timed, per-use or flat-rate basis, online sales using streamed installation and integrated ad delivery surrounding software usage. Stream Theory simplifies software usage to increase "stickiness" of web sites, eliminate download hurdles and increase sampling, maximize online sales to reduce distribution costs, eliminate installation problems to reduce tech support costs and integrate targeted messages to increase ad revenue. Stream Theory delivers off-the-shelf and custom applications for ASPs (application service providers). Stream Theory eliminates the need for patches and updates to be installed locally. Stream Theory is a privately held company headquartered in Moffett Field, Calif. For more information, please visit Stream Theory at www.streamtheory.com.