We received the following press release.--RL

Schaumburg, IL - July 23, 1998 -- Blue Byte Software Inc. today announced they shall be offering hundreds of strategy fans the opportunity to participate in The Settlers III Online Beta Test.

The Settlers III is the next release in the award-winning Settlers series which currently totals over a million sales worldwide. The Settlers III offers completely new graphics, expanded naval navigation, entirely new strategic elements and extensive online functions, PLUS an alluring soundtrack to accompany the rich tapestry of Settler worlds.

Testers will get to play The Settlers III online before its release and they can also send us suggestions for improvement via e-mail! In return, we will regularly update the Settlers III software and send updates so you know by e-mail how the Beta Test is going.

Blue Byte has made it easy for gamers to sign up online and will be notified if they have been successfully chosen to beta test The Settlers III.

The lucky 'chosen ones' will then be sent to an FTP address where they can download the software (approximate 40MB). After receiving a personal identification number (PIN) from Blue Byte, testers will be allowed to log onto the Settlers III Internet Server. That's the difficult bit - the easy part is doing something every gamer enjoys...playing the game!

IMPORTANT: The Settlers III Beta Test software can only be used for playing online. Playing without internet access and without a PIN number will not be possible.

To register for this great opportunity and find further details, go to http://www.bluebyte.com/us/products/settlers_3/beta01.htm. 100 Gamespot USA readers will also be exclusively selected at http://www.gamespot.com/betacenter/index.html

Personal information submited to Blue Byte Software will be used exclusively for carrying out the test and will not be given to Third Parties at the end of the test.

Founded in 1988, Blue Byte has consistently re-affirmed its position as one of the world's leading independent developers and publishers of PC games software with award-winning titles such as Jimmy Connors Pro Tennis Tour, The Battle Isle Series, The Settlers, Extreme Assault and Incubation.

Blue Byte is synchronizing its international operations from offices in the USA, UK and Germany, with a development program that is both advancing the development of online and network gaming and broadening the audience for computer games. Taking advantage of the United States' more advanced Internet culture, Blue Byte has recently formed a partnership with their first US developer, Murder of Crows. Blue Byte is firmly on target in its goal to pioneer the popularization of computer gaming as a true global entertainment medium.

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