DIGITAL BROS TO MANAGE ONLINE SERVICES FOR ARTIFACT ENTERTAINMENT’S HORIZONS IN EUROPE

Highly-Anticipated Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game Available Through Atari Fall 2003
       
PHOENIX – April 7, 2003 – Artifact Entertainment, developer of online interactive entertainment environments and proprietary technology for multi-user networked simulation gaming and military technologies, has signed an exclusive agreement with Digital Bros, a digital entertainment group from Milan, Italy, to acquire the European online hosting rights for Horizons: Empire of Istaria, the next-generation 3D online epic adventure; the most anticipated online game among European players.  Scheduled for North American release in Fall 2003, Horizons will also be distributed by Atari in Europe.

“Managing the in-game experiences for Horizons in the European market is a critical task.” said David Bowman, Creative Director and Co-President, Artifact Entertainment, Inc.  “From my experience in managing the in-game experience in other massive online projects, and the successful work done by the Artifact team to make this agreement happen, I am confident that Atari’s marketing and distribution muscle combined with Digital Bros technical prowess will impress our European audience.  Artifact Entertainment is excited to work closely with Atari and Digital Bros to create the best in-game experience available in any massively multiplayer product.”

This agreement grants Digital Bros the exclusive European rights for the managing of the online component of Horizons. Digital Bros joins NCSoft, the Korean online giant that will manage the game in Asia, as part of the worldwide hosting of Horizons. Artifact Entertainment will oversee the North-American operations, which gives Horizons a strong presence in every major online market. Digital Bros, through its subsidiary Game Network, will manage the beta testing phases and the launch of the commercial online service in the European Market. In order to establish and to develop one of the biggest online gaming communities in Europe, Digital Bros will pursue a promotional and hosting strategy targeted at all European territories.

Horizons takes place within the world of Istaria -- filled with cities and towns, castles and strongholds, villages and mystical structures, in environments ranging from tropical jungle and arctic tundra to windswept plains and mountainous wilderness.  Whether adventuring by themselves or questing with a group of friends, players are free to choose their own path and encouraged to create their own stories.  Fierce warriors, arcane spell casters and challenging combat will rule the frontier lands, but skilled craftspeople will play an absolutely critical role in overall character and world development.
 
“Digital Bros was the first in Europe to launch a multiplayer pay-per-play online gaming service targeted exclusively at the European Market,” stated Raphael Galante, Managing Director, Digital Bros SpA.  “During the last two years, Digital Bros has developed a strong know-how, obtaining significant results in connection to the effective market growth. This agreement with Artifact Entertainment, considering the high profile of the project and the big expectations among the gamers, will position Digital Bros as one of the key players in the online gaming European market. Horizons is set to become one of the top three most successful online games in Europe”.

Additional information about Horizons can be found online at www.istaria.com,  which features Istaria history and lore, character race and skill information, downloadable and streaming game play movies, screenshots and much more.

About Artifact Entertainment
Artifact Entertainment, Inc. is a privately held developer of Online Interactive Entertainment Environments and revolutionary Multi-User Networked Simulations for the gaming and military communities. Artifact strives to provide quality entertainment experiences using superior technology, proven design methods, broad market appeal, customer satisfaction and the highest quality staff. Artifact is currently developing the highly anticipated, fantasy based Massively Multiplayer Game called "Horizons: Empire of Istaria". More information on Artifact Entertainment, Inc. can be found at http://www.artifact-entertainment.com

About Digital Bros
The Digital Bros Group has been listed on the New Market since October 20, 2000. It is one of the first companies in Europe to offer a complete range of Digital Entertainment produced and distributed on-line (Internet), on-air (Digital Satellite TV) and off-line (sale of videogames to retailers).

About Infogrames
New York-based Infogrames, Inc. (Nasdaq: IFGM) develops interactive games for all platforms and is one of the largest third-party publishers of interactive entertainment software in the U.S.  The Company’s 1,000+ titles are distributed under two brand lines:  ATARI, hard-core, genre-defining games such as Driver , Enter the Matrix , Neverwinter Nights , Stuntman , Test Drive®, Unreal® Tournament 2003, and Unreal® Championship; and INFOGRAMES, mass-market and children’s games such as Backyard Sports , Nickelodeon’s Blue’s Clues and Dora the Explorer , Civilization®, Dragon Ball Z® and RollerCoaster Tycoon®.  Infogrames, Inc. is a majority-owned subsidiary of France-based Infogrames Entertainment SA (Euronext 5257), the largest interactive games publisher in Europe.  For more information, visit www.infogrames.com.
 

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