( BW)(CA-INTERPLAY)(IPLY) Interplay Announces the Formation of Online Gaming Network; Cal Morrell Named President of New Online Company

Business Editors & Entertainment/Internet Writers

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 30, 2001--Interplay Entertainment Corp. (Nasdaq:IPLY), a leading worldwide interactive entertainment company, Tuesday announced that it is forming Interplay.com, a new initiative to strategically address the interactive entertainment online market.

Targeting the exploding community of interactive entertainment enthusiasts, Interplay.com's primary focus will be exploiting the company's strong intellectual properties via MMPGs (massively multi-player games) and translating the increased loyalty of its fan base into revenue streams.

"Through the efforts of Black Isle Studios, we own some of the strongest Role-Playing Game (RPG) brands in the business and have top market share in the PC Role-Playing Game segment," said Brian Fargo, chairman and chief executive officer of Interplay. "Their skills give us a unique position to take advantage of the lucrative Massively Multi-Player Game phenomenon."

In making the announcement, Fargo named Cal Morrell, former vice president of marketing for Interplay, president of Interplay.com.

"Brian and I share a vision for Interplay.com that will raise the bar by creating value for our community that is second to none," declared Morrell. "We intend to do this by exploiting Interplay's intellectual properties via creative content, e-commerce elements and revolutionary new Web features while expanding on the success of our online retail store."

Morrell added, "With the exploding number of broadband customers estimated to reach nearly 15 million households by 2002, Interplay.com seeks to penetrate this market by creating an unmatched online fantasy experience." He then stated, "According to a report by Dataquest Inc., '6 million U.S. customers are forecasted to sign up for high-speed access this year and that number is expected to grow to more than 28 million subscribers by 2004.'"

The launch of Interplay.com will also introduce streaming software demos to the site through the expertise of Stream Theory Inc. Stream Theory's proprietary technology quickly delivers software applications over broadband, wireless and other platforms. Interplay.com plans on using Stream Theory technology to stream Interplay's PC game demos to broadband visitors.

Interplay will host a conference call to discuss the formation of Interplay.com Wednesday, Jan. 31 at 4:15 EST. To access the call, dial: 800/633-8476 for domestic access or 212/748-2737 for international access. The reservation identification number is: 17836204. Post View access will also be available for 24 hours from the end of the call.

For domestic Post View access, dial 800/633-8284. For international Post View, call 858/812-6440. The Post View reservation identification number is the same as listed above.

Morrell joined Interplay in 1998 as the company's vice president of marketing. Prior to that, Morrell served as senior vice president for Engage Games Online. Earlier, Morrell spent 18 years at IBM in their telecommunications and multimedia divisions.

Interplay Entertainment is a leading developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment software for both core gamers and the mass market. Interplay currently balances its development efforts by publishing for personal computers as well as current and next generation video game consoles.

Interplay releases products through Interplay, Shiny Entertainment, Digital Mayhem, Black Isle Studios, 14(Degree) East, is distribution partners and its wholly owned subsidiary Interplay OEM Inc. More comprehensive information on Interplay and its products is available through its worldwide Web site at http://www.interplay.com.

For investor relations' inquiries, contact Patrick Sutton (pat@liolios.com) or Christopher Rosgen (chris@liolios.com) at Liolios Group Inc. 949/574-3860.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995:

Statements contained in this release except for historical information are forward-looking statements that are based on current expectations and involve risks and uncertainties. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, words such as "may," "will," "expect," "believe," "anticipate," "intend," "could," "estimate," or "continue" or the negative or other variations thereof or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties inherent in such statements may cause actual future events or results to differ materially and adversely from those described in the forward-looking statements. For example, there can be no assurance that the games will ship in the projected time frame or that they will be as popular as the company presently anticipates. Additional important factors that may cause a difference between projected and actual results for Interplay include, but are not limited to, future capital requirements, that equity or bank financing will be available on terms satisfactory to the company or at all, risks of loss of the company's listing on the Nasdaq National Market, risk of delays in development and introduction of new products, dependence on new product introduction which achieve significant market acceptance and the uncertainties of consumer preferences, risks of product returns and markdown allowances, dependence on third party software developers for a significant portion of new products, risks of rapid technological change and platform change, intense competition, seasonality, risks of product defects and resulting returns, dependence upon licenses from third parties, risks associated with, dependence upon third party distribution, dependence upon key personnel and risks associated with international business, intellectual property disputes and other factors discussed in the company's filings from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to the company's annual reports on Form 10-K and the company's subsequent quarterly filings on Form 10-Q. Interplay disclaims any obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by it or on its behalf.

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CONTACT: Interplay Entertainment Corp., Irvine

Lisa Bucek, 949/553-6655

lbucek@interplay.com