STRATEGY FIRST AND PARADOX ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCE CRUSADER KINGS

Montreal, Quebec.  April 9^th, 2002 – Strategy First and Paradox Entertainment announced today that they will be releasing Crusader Kings, a strategy game based on the Europa Universalis engine, in Fall 2002.

“With the success of Europa Universalis I and II, we couldn’t be happier to be working with Paradox again, this time on Crusader Kings, “says Steve Wall, V.P., Business Development for Strategy First.  “Based on the Europa engine, Crusader Kings will maintain the same quality of gameplay and extend the scope of the game even further.”

"Crusader Kings adds another piece to the puzzle we started to lay with Europa Universalis. Now the amazing period of templars and dynastic empire-building will be explored with the same depth and detail. We are also pleased that Strategy First has so much confidence in our game line" says Theodore Bergquist, CEO of Paradox Entertainment.

Reenact the crusades, defend against the Mongol onslaught and form feudal nation states in Europe!  Achieve victory through diplomacy, resource management and medieval warfare

Crusader Kings focuses on the feudal kingdoms of medieval Europe in the time period of 1066-1419 A.D.  The game map begins in Europe stretching to the Urals in the East and including parts of Persia, the Arabian Peninsula, as well as the Coast of North Africa.

Unlike Europa Universalis, Crusader Kings is a simulation of a medieval feudal society, involving laws, commissions and religious influences.  Playable nations consist of Christian monarchies, principalities and empires, from which players choose between Knight Templars, Knights of St. John, The Teutonic Order, The Order of Calatrava and The Order of Santiago.  With Feudal lords and bishops that rule the various provinces, players must amass as much prestige and wealth as possible to obtain a powerful dynasty.  They must defend their territory, by using the evolutionary combat system that simulates the various styles of combat, from the basic rudimentary style to the more advanced techniques of that time period.  Contrary to Europa Universalis, honor and power are more important to a player than the expansion of the nation’s borders.

To add to the game’s longevity, the development team has added another exciting feature that provides players with the ability to save games and convert them into Europa Universalis II.  With this feature, players can extend their game into the later centuries by simply exporting their files into their Europa Universalis II game.

For more information, log onto www.paradox-entertainment.com or www.strategyfirst.com.

About Paradox Entertainment

Paradox Entertainment was founded in 1999 and is a fast growing developer based in Sweden. Paradox Entertainment has produced best selling and award-winning games such as Europa Universalis I and II and Airfix

Dogfighter. It also develops its brand portfolio containing well known brands such as Mutant Chronicles, Europa Universalis, Kult and Heavy Gear.

 About Strategy First Inc.

Strategy First Inc. is a leading developer and worldwide publisher of entertainment software for the PC.  Founded in 1990, the company has grown rapidly, publishing major games in the industry and simultaneously developing its own in-house titles such as O.R.B., Disciples II, Nexagon: The Pit and Zero-G Marines.  After winning numerous awards for games such as Disciples: Sacred Lands, Europa Universalis, Kohan: Immortal Sovereigns and Steel Beasts, Strategy First continues to push the gaming envelope with its own groundbreaking titles, while maintaining its reputation as a unique alternative for independent developers seeking to market their games to a worldwide audience.