Colin McRae Rally 2005 Tears into Stores; Latest Instalment in Popular Rally Series Now Shipping for Xbox

Business Wire, Sept 28, 2004

NEW YORK -- Codemasters, a leading global publisher of interactive entertainment, announced today that its internationally acclaimed rally game, Colin McRae Rally 2005, has shipped to North American retail outlets for the Xbox(R) video game system from Microsoft. A PC version of the title will be available in October.

"Just when players thought the Colin series couldn't get any better, Codemasters has taken the rally racing genre to the next level," said Marc Bennett, Codemasters North American President. "With 8 player head-to-head online racing, all-new Career mode and stunning graphics, Colin McRae Rally 2005 is set to give rally fans the ultimate racing experience."

The Career Challenge hurtles players through a full professional rally career, driving the most diverse selection of rally cars available in one game. Drivers will tear through more than 20 different classes of rally events including Challenges, Cups, SuperCups, Shields and Championships, earning the right to compete against the very best.

An enhanced physics engine powers individual damage models for each car and stunning visual effects provide the ultimate in realism.

Colin McRae Rally 2005 is rated E for Everyone by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board and carries a suggested retail price of $29.99. For more information about the game visit the Colin McRae Rally 2005 web site at www.codemasters.com/colinmcrae2005.> COLIN MCRAE RALLY 2005 Key Features:

--Colin McRae Rally 2005 takes the series online for up to 8 players on Xbox Live with more cars, more stages, and new challenges

--Players drive the most diverse selection of cars through new, non-linear Career Challenge with over 20 individual rally events and over 300 stages

--Over 30 featured cars include the Volkswagen Golf MK5, Toyota Celica GT-FOUR, Lancia Stratos, Alfa Romeo 147 GTA, Alfetta GTV Turbodelta, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII, Peugeot 206, 205 T16 Evo2 and the distinctive VW Beetle RSi

--9 international locations including the U.S., U.K., Japan and the all-new German rally, each with 8 stages

--Large, animated spectator crowds cheer you on through the stages

--Incredible detail: An individual damage model for each car - right down to paintwork scrapes and a 'dazed' visual effect as you recover from a crash

ABOUT CODEMASTERS

Codemasters is a global interactive entertainment company with offices in New York City, England, France, Spain, Holland and Germany. Founded in the UK in 1986, Codemasters publishes award-winning software for the PC, next generation video game consoles and online gaming. Codemasters develops original titles such as Operation Flashpoint (PC Game-of-the-year) and ToCA Race Driver, as well as games based on top licensed properties including American Idol, MTV Music Generator and IndyCar Series. Additional information about Codemasters and its products can be found at www.codemasters.com.

ABOUT Xbox

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ABOUT Xbox Live

Xbox Live, which launched in the United States Nov. 15, 2002, allows gamers to play multiplayer Xbox games with other gamers everywhere via a broadband connection. With a built-in hard drive and Ethernet port, the Xbox console is the only video game system built from the ground up for online gaming, negating the need to buy additional, costly peripherals or upgrades. Xbox Live enables gamers to easily find their friends; talk to other players during game play through the Xbox Communicator headset; download current statistics, new levels and characters to their Xbox hard drive; and play online -- all exclusive features to Xbox Live.

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