SEGA'S "THE HOUSE OF THE DEAD" COMES ALIVE ON FILM; SHOOTING BEGINS THIS MAY

LOS ANGELES, CA (February 26, 2002) - Mindfire Entertainment today announced that principal photography will begin in mid-May in Vancouver, Canada on the first motion picture inspired by the popular "The House of the Dead(tm)" video game franchise from SEGA(r).

Based on a script by Mark A. Altman ("Free Enterprise," "Abducted") and Dave Parker, the movie will star the zombie-battling agents featured in SEGA's "The House of the Dead" video game series on a mission to take on the undead.

The $12 million film will be directed by noted German commercial and music video director Uwe Boll (Sanctimony, HomeRoom: The Heart of America) who will bring his unique talents for suspense and horror to the production. The film will be produced by Shawn Williamson of Bright Light Pictures and director Boll. The Executive Producers of the film will be Mindfire partners Dan Bates, Mark Altman and Mark Gottwald. Also executive producing is Daniel Kletzky via his Entertainment Licensing Associates (ELA). ELA has a long history of adapting video games into merchandise and traditional forms of entertainment. Kletzky is currently serving as Executive Producer of Constatin Film's "Resident Evil," to be domestically distributed by Sony/Screen Gems on March 15, 2002.

As shooting begins on the film," SEGA keeps the zombies alive with its 2002 release of "The House of the Dead(tm) 3" for the Xbox(tm) video game system from Microsoft(r).

"We are delighted to be working with video game industry giant Sega to bring 'The House of the Dead' to the big screen," says Mindfire Entertainment CEO Dan Bates. "Unlike other video game-based movies, 'The House of the Dead' will be in a unique position to exploit the cross-marketing and promotional opportunities between the successful game franchise and the movie as they will share a common storyline and aesthetic."

Adds Daniel Kletzky, "We are thrilled to be working with Uwe Boll whose remarkable ability to create suspense and horror make him the perfect director for what we are certain will be the first of many films derived from this exciting game franchise."

"'The House of the Dead' is one of SEGA's leading video game franchises and we are thrilled to partner with Mindfire Entertainment, who shares our enthusiasm for the game, to translate our game developers' vision into a feature film," jointly stated Charles Bellfield, vice president of strategic planning and corporate affairs, Sega of America and Masahiro Nakagawa, director of licensing, SEGA Corporation.

"The House of the Dead 3" for the Xbox is being created by renowned SEGA development studio, WOW Entertainment Inc., the team who brought gamers innovative, cross-genre titles such as "Sega Bass Fishing(tm)" and "Sega GT(tm)." In the action-shooting game "The House of the Dead 3," players will once again assume the role of government agents whose sole purpose in life is the eradication of hideous new strains of zombies and monsters that are unleashed upon the world to wreak havoc upon the innocent.

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About Sega

SEGA(r) of America is the American arm of Tokyo, Japan-based SEGA Corporation, a $3.5 billion corporation by market capitalization, recognized as a worldwide leader in interactive entertainment both inside and outside the home. The company develops, publishes and distributes interactive entertainment software products for a variety of hardware platforms including PC, wireless devices, and those manufactured by Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. SEGA of America's Web site is located at www.sega.com.

About Mindfire Entertainment

Mindfire Entertainment is a company devoted to the production of feature films and television, which have included the award winning "Free Enterprise," starring William Shatner and Eric McCormack, and the critically acclaimed comedy, "The Specials," starring Rob Lowe and Melissa Joan Hart. Other films include the upcoming monster truck comedy "The Brass Rat" and several projects based on bestselling video game and comic book properties. Web site is located at www.mindfireentertainment.com.

About Entertainment Licensing Associates (ELA)

ELA is a merchandising agency and production company which focuses its efforts on extending high profile brands and franchises through the traditional merchandising business model. ELA and its sister companies also produce television series and feature films based on high profile marquis properties. Past productions include the animated television series Street Fighter, Mega Man and The Secret Files of Spy Dogs . ELA principal Daniel Kletzky also served as an Associate Producer on Sony's "Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within," inspired by SquareSoft's "Final Fantasy" game franchise.

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