Sierra Releases Tribes 2 Update With Key Content Additions for Free Download

BELLEVUE, WA (September 25, 2002) - Sierra Entertainment, Inc., a studio of the Games division of Vivendi Universal Publishing, today announced that they have released an update for Tribes(tm) 2 that adds significant new content to the game.  The free downloadable update adds two original game types as well as "classic" Tribes 1 maps re-mastered and improved for Tribes 2.  In addition, the update addresses numerous lingering performance issues.  The update brings together development efforts from three groups and highlights Tribes 2's open architecture and active online community.

In addition to releasing new community-created content and performance enhancements added by game studio Garage Games for free download via the Internet, Tribes 2 is also being re-released with the update at retail for $10.  The re-mastered version will be available on or around October 4^th at major videogame retailers and is rated "T" for teen audiences by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB).

More information about Tribes 2 and the update can be found at http://www.tribes2.com/.

The update package includes two new game types commissioned by Sierra and created by members of the Tribes 2 community.   Team Rabbit 2 (TR2), created by Michael "KineticPoet" Johnston and Codality, Inc., adds a new twist to Tribes 2 game play by focusing on acrobatic maneuvers and sports-style action.  Tribes 2 Classic, created by Ralph "ZOD" DeMicco, Paul "z0dd" Paella and nearly a dozen additional contributors, brings increased speed and intensity to the Tribes 2 game, with the majority of the changes revolving around creating a faster and more exciting game play experience.

In addition to these two new game types, the update adds a total of 32 new maps to Tribes 2.  Of these 32, 10 are newly re-mastered, "classic" maps from Tribes 1 created by well-known Tribes 2 community member Alan "Nefilim" Schwertel.

About Team Rabbit 2 and Codality, Inc.

Team Rabbit 2 (TR2) is an online sport with jetpacks in which two teams of two to six players compete for possession of a single flag.   Points and bonuses are awarded for stylish plays, including high-speed mid-air flag passes, variations in direction and orientation when passing and catching the flag, and taking down the enemy flag carrier in visually stunning ways.  A central jackpot stores points that can be won by throwing the flag into the other team's goal.  Each team has positions for goalie, defense, and offense.  TR2 offers a combination of original graphics, sounds, and game play to provide an entirely new Tribes 2 experience.  Team Rabbit 2 was created by Codality, Inc. ( http://www.codality.com ), which designs, develops, and researches software that enables people to be creative, expressive, and competitive in online virtual environments. 

About Tribes 2 Classic

Catering primarily to competitive players, Tribes 2 Classic adds speed and intensity to Tribes 2, while retaining the most popular game play elements of the original game. Some of the additional features include: a practice mode, which allows teams to easily manage practice sessions online; game administration features, which gives game hosts and administrators more control over how their matches are played; a new game variant called "Defend and Destroy"; and 24 new maps.

About Sierra Entertainment, Inc.

Sierra, http://www.sierra.com, a studio of the Games division of Vivendi Universal Publishing, is one of the earliest developers and largest worldwide publishers of interactive entertainment software. Based in Bellevue, Washington, Sierra has released critically acclaimed and award winning titles that represent a wide variety of computer entertainment on game consoles and PC platforms.