Microsoft Internet Gaming Zone to Be Named Official Multiplayer Site For MicroProse Civilization II Multiplayer Gold Edition And X-COM Interceptor
REDMOND, Wash., May 20, 1998 — Microsoft Corp. today announced that it plans to support free multiplayer game action via the Microsoft® Internet Gaming Zone ( http://www.zone.com/ ) for two upcoming MicroProse Inc. strategy games: Civilization
™
II Multiplayer Gold Edition and X-COM Interceptor
™
. Scheduled to launch this summer, the games complement the award-winning strategy games lineup for which the Zone currently provides matchmaking.
“Providing matchmaking for these games reinforces our promise to offer the best multiplayer titles to the Zone community,”
said Ed Fries, general manager of the games group at Microsoft.
“Civilization II and X-COM® gamers can expect to find plenty of opponents and enjoy tournaments, chats and other online events supported by our members.”
“We selected the Zone to provide matchmaking for our popular games because of the tremendous community that has rallied around the service,”
said Robert Botch, senior vice president of marketing at MicroProse.
“We’re marrying these hit games with the most active online gaming site to provide a common gathering place for multiplayer gamers who enjoy these products.”
About Civilization II Multiplayer Gold Edition and X-COM Interceptor
Civilization II Multiplayer Gold Edition builds on the foundation of Sid Meier’s Civilization II, one of the best-selling and most highly acclaimed strategy games of all time. In Civilization II Multiplayer Gold Edition, players will receive the classic Civilization II game, multiplayer support for up to seven players through the Internet Gaming Zone, and two add-on products: Conflicts in Civilization and Civ II
™
Fantastic Worlds. Competition has never been more fierce or worldwide domination never more rewarding than when playing with human opponents over the Internet Gaming Zone.
The fourth game in the X-COM series, X-COM Interceptor, combines the in-depth strategy of previous X-COM games with the action of space flight games. X-COM Interceptor allows players to take command of a handpicked, elite force that has been fielded to meet the aliens on their own turf – the depths of space. Players can battle swarms of alien fighters in a dynamic real-time 3-D universe full of asteroids, black holes and other deadly space phenomena. As X-COM commander, the player engages the alien foes from the cockpit of a cutting-edge space fighter.
Evolution of the Zone Continues
MicroProse is the latest leading game publisher to select the Internet Gaming Zone for free CD-ROM matchmaking services. Other publishers include Hasbro Interactive, id Software, LucasArts Entertainment Co., Red Storm Entertainment and Microsoft.
The Internet Gaming Zone has served Internet gamers since October 1995. In May 1996, Microsoft acquired Electric Gravity Inc., the original designer of the Internet Gaming Zone. The Internet Gaming Zone offers free membership with three components: free classic card and
board games, free matchmaking for retail games, and access to premium games designed exclusively for the Zone (connect-time charges may apply).
MicroProse Inc. (Nasdaq
“MPRS”
) is a leading developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software for use on CD-ROM-based personal computers. The company has five development studios located in Alameda, Calif.; Hunt Valley, Md.; Chapel Hill, N.C.; Austin, Texas; and Chipping Sodbury, England. Products are available nationally and internationally through major distributors, retailers and mass merchants. Product and company information is available for download from the MicroProse Web site at http://www.microprose.com/.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.
Microsoft is a registered trademark or trademark of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
X-COM and MicroProse are registered trademarks and Civilization, Civ II and X-COM Interceptor are trademarks of MicroProse Inc. or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved.
Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.
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