Deal signed for 2.5 years co-operation to produce GBA titles

Playlogic takes over 49% of the shares of handheld specialist Engine Software

Amsterdam, 15 July 2003 - Today, game publisher and developer, Playlogic International, announced its take over of 49% of Engine Software B.V. shares. They furthermore signed a 2.5-year deal to co-operate with Engine Software in the production of 3 to 4 GameBoy Advance-titles per year. Both content from existing Playlogic-games and new concepts. The first GBA game to be published is Xyanide, Playlogic's Xbox Live title.

During the 2.5-year agreement, Playlogic and Engine Software plan to develop new projects as well as convert existing Playlogic titles. Playlogic's shoot-'em-up 'Xyanide' will be the first of these conversions. Release for this project is scheduled for Q4 2003 - shortly after 'Xyanide's' Xbox release.

All funding for these projects will come from Playlogic and development will take place at Engine Software. Playlogic International shall retain the intellectual rights to all titles. For Playlogic, the option to prolong their working relationship after the initial 2.5 years is included in the contract.

The production for the GameBoy Advance platform means Playlogic will now be publishing titles on five different platforms: GameBoy Advance, PS2, Xbox, PC and Mobile. Willem M. Smit, CEO of Playlogic International: "Engine Software is an experienced handheld game developer whose knowledge and experience is very important to us. Together with the deal Playlogic signed with Overloaded Pocket Media B.V. for mobile games, this deal is illustrative for Playlogic International becoming a worldwide multi-platform publisher. We are always looking for new initiatives and content."

The growth of the handheld market The handheld market is currently going through a tremendous boom phase, and many new products, such as Sony's PSP and the Nokia N-Gage, are jumping on the bandwagon. And with even more projects such as TTPCom's 'B'ngo' and the possible worldwide release of Game Park's 'GP32' on the horizon, this industry is far from its peak.

Figures show that the handheld market in North America has grown into a $1.7 billion industry. The current and clear leader of this industry is Nintendo with its GameBoy Advance. Since its release in June 2001, the GameBoy Advance has sold over 5 million units in the US alone, and 6.5 million in Europe. Since its inception in 1989, Nintendo's Game Boy line has become the most successful and storied video game system, selling through more than 150 million units and more than one-half billion games worldwide.

About Playlogic Playlogic International NV, based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, is a platform-independent publisher and developer of high-quality games for the latest generation of game consoles, PC's, mobile phones and handheld. Its full subsidiary, Playlogic Game Factory BV, based in Breda, develops games from concept to finishing. Playlogic International publishes these games as well as games from other studios. In addition, Playlogic International acquires and manages rights and licences to develop and publish new games.

At present, Playlogic Game Factory is developing two in-house games: "Cyclone Circus - Power Sail Racing" and "Xyanide". These are to be released in the fourth quarter of 2003. Meanwhile, Playlogic International also publishes games being developed by external studios. These are "Alpha Black Zero" by game developer Khaeon in The Hague, "Airborne Troops" by the French company Widescreen Games, mobile games, which are being developed by Overloaded Pocket Media B.V. and GameBoy Advance titles, which will be developed by Engine Software.

Playlogic International and Playlogic Game Factory were established in 2001. The Game Factory in Breda, currently counts approximately 60 highly experienced employees from Belgium, Croatia, France, UK and the Netherlands working on the two in-house games in development. The studios developing games externally for Playlogic, Khaeon in The Hague, The Netherlands, Widescreen Games in Lyon, France, Engine Software in Doetinchem, The Netherlands and Overloaded Pocket Media based in Amsterdam (The Netherlands) count 13, 55, 12 and 15 employees respectively.

About Engine Software Engine Software B.V., based in Doetinchem, The Netherlands, is an experienced game and interactive media developer founded in 1995. The founders, and most employees, have been developing games for about eleven years and are experienced in, and dedicated to creating high-quality games. In the last few years the company has specialised in developing games for handheld systems such as Gameboy Color, NeoGeo Pocket Color, Pocket PC and Gameboy Advance. Engine Software is a licensed developer for Gameboy, Gameboy Color, Gameboy Advance, Neo Geo Pocket, Playstation and Nintendo Gamecube.

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