FEATURE/VERSUS BOOKS Helps Luigi Fans Conquer Ghosts and Ghouls With an Official Licensed Strategy Guide for Nintendo GameCube Flagship Launch Title, Luigi's Mansion

Business Wire, Nov 28, 2001

Business Editors/Entertainment Writers

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ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE FEATURES)--Nov. 28, 2001

Gamers are jumpstarting their ghost capturing careers with this week's release of VERSUS BOOKS(TM) official Luigi's Mansion(TM) Perfect Guide. Coinciding with the launch of Luigi's Mansion and Nintendo(R)'s highly anticipated Nintendo GameCube(TM), the guide is packed with spooky secrets, ghostly tricks and detailed maps that will let gamers conquer even the most elusive of poltergeists. VERSUS BOOKS' comprehensive guide is now shipping and can be purchased directly online at www.versusbooks.com or at most retail game and/or book stores.

Nintendo GameCube and the best-selling game, Luigi's Mansion, have enjoyed immense success in Japan. In the US, Nintendo expects hardware sales of over 1.5 million units at launch. With this type of success VERSUS BOOKS is ready and poised for massive sales of the VERSUS BOOKS Official Luigi's Mansion Perfect Guide, during the holiday buying season.

"VERSUS BOOKS is respected for publishing some of the best strategy guides on Nintendo titles. If Luigi's Mansion sells with the same the attachment rate to Nintendo GameCube hardware, we can expect to sell a very large number of units of our official guide through the holiday season," noted Len Ciciretto, president of VERSUS BOOKS. "For the very first time we're supporting a major VERSUS Perfect Guide launch with television and print advertising, indicating how much we support and believe in Luigi's Mansion and Nintendo GameCube's success."

VERSUS BOOKS' Luigi's Mansion Perfect Guide sports a thick, high-gloss cover and features detailed rendered maps using unique VERSUS BOOKS mapping technology that makes them literally pop off the page. The guide reveals even the most secret hidden areas in the game, and includes crisp screenshots and step-by-step and quick walkthrough notes, as well as a complete item appendix for all power-ups and collectables.

"When exciting new hardware like Nintendo GameCube comes on the market, every gamer wants an edge on the competition, even if it's their best friend. They won't be able to resist VERSUS' Official Luigi's Mansion Perfect Guide," added Ciciretto.

VERSUS BOOKS currently publishes the popular official strategy guides for the following Nintendo titles: The Legend of Zelda(R): Ocarina of Time; The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask; The Legend of Zelda: Oracles of Seasons & Ages; Perfect Dark(TM); Pokemon(R) Gold & Silver; Pokemon Stadium 2; Pokemon Crystal Version; and Super Mario(R) Advance(R).

About VERSUS BOOKS

VERSUS BOOKS is the fastest growing video and computer game strategy guide publisher in the U.S. Founded in 1996 with a single mission to raise the standard of computer and video game strategy guides, VERSUS BOOKS is universally acclaimed by major press as "the source for accurate gaming information." Headquartered in Alameda, the company has established key alliances with major software publishers including Sony(R), Nintendo(R), Sega(R), Capcom(R), Interplay(R), Namco Hometek(TM), Valve(TM), and Ubisoft(TM). Today, with more than 6 million guides in print, VERSUS BOOKS continues to champion the best official and exclusive guides in the industry. The company recently signed an agreement with international distributor, Koch Media for expanded European distribution of its exclusive foreign-language strategy guides. For more information, please visit www.versusbooks.com.

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