****************************** 

MEDIA ALERT: NOVEMBER 21, 2000 

******************************

MICROSOFT SHIPS TRIO OF FAMILY-ORIENTED GAMES FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Microsoft today announced that Classic Board Games, Pandora's Box - Puzzle Game of the Year Edition, and Return of Arcade Anniversary Edition are now widely available at retail locations throughout North America.

This holiday, Microsoft delivers the best in family-oriented entertainment, offering something for everyone. Microsoft Classic Board Games, developed by Oxford Softworks, brings favorites like Backgammon, Chinese Checkers, Dominoes, Chess and Checkers to the PC with realistic graphics, an easy-to-use interface and three skill levels. Microsoft Classic Board Games has 12 games in all.

Created by the famed Tetris designer, Alexey Pajitnov, Microsoft Pandora's Box - Puzzle Game of the Year Edition now contains more than 400 challenging puzzles, providing a visually stimulating and engaging puzzle-solving experience for all ages. To complete the game, players must reassemble Pandora's Box by solving a series of visually stimulating puzzles that takes them on a whimsical journey around the world. Pandora's easy-to-learn interface allows for instant fun. As the game progresses the puzzles become more and more challenging, providing hours of addicting game play. Gameplay options allow players to follow the game's story line or jump directly to their favorite puzzles.

Microsoft Return of Arcade Anniversary Edition, which now includes Ms. Pac-Man, Pac-Man, Pole Position, Galaxian, and Dig-Dug, offers players the most authentic arcade experience available on the PC. Return of Arcade combines five of the best classic arcade games into one collection, offering a nostalgic trip back to the early 1980s.

Classic Board Games, Pandora's Box - Puzzle Game of the Year Edition, and Return of Arcade Anniversary Edition are all available at retail locations throughout North America. Classic Board Games and Return of Arcade are available for US$34.95 and Pandora's Box - Puzzle Game of the Year Edition is available for US$24.95.

For more information on these games, please go to their official sites at:

http://www.microsoft.com/games/classicboardgames/ 

http://www.microsoft.com/games/pandorasbox/ 

http://www.microsoft.com/games/arcade2/

* * *

a r b u t h n o t c o m m u n i c a t i o n s, i n c. 

(p) 415 431 2300 

(f) 801 681 3906 

http://www.arbuthnot.com

For More Product Information on Microsoft Classic Board Games

For More Product Information on Pandora's Box (Original Version)

For More Information on Return of Arcade (Original Version)