‘THE AMERICAN DREAM’ DUSTY RHODES IS ‘TAKING CARE OF BIDNESS’ EXCLUSIVELY IN ACCLAIM ENTERTAINMENT, INC.’S ‘SHOWDOWN™: LEGENDS OF WRESTLING™’
 

Unparalleled Wrestling Supercard Intensifies in Anticipation of Title’s April 2004 Release on Next-Generation Gaming Systems

GLEN COVE, NY, December 18, 2003 - Wrestling fans with a thirst for nostalgia will once again have an opportunity to see “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes drop his trademark “bionic elbow,” as Acclaim Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ.SC: AKLM) today announced that it has exclusively signed Rhodes to appear in SHOWDOWN™: Legends of Wrestling™.  The video game is currently under development with Acclaim Studios Austin and is scheduled for release in April 2004 across the next-generation gaming platforms.

“We’re excited to add one of wrestling’s greatest champions, ‘The American Dream’ Dusty Rhodes, to our expanding dream roster of wrestling legends,” said David Knies, Brand Director for Acclaim.  “Through SHOWDOWN’S™ era-based Career Mode fans can relive ‘The American Dream’s’ rise through the 70’s and 80’s and recreate his classic feuds and battles against some of the biggest names in the history of professional wrestling.”

“When the legend becomes reality, make the legend into a game,” added “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes.  “‘The American Dream’ returns to the ring like no other, baby!  There’s only one ‘American Dream,’ one bull of the woods and that’s me, Dusty Rhodes.  I’ve held championships all over the world and it’s an honor to be part of this roster and to work with Acclaim.  Make no mistake about it daddy, this April my ‘bionic elbow’ will be dropped on all comers and we gettin’ funky like a monkey.”

First-ever images of “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes as a virtual wrestler in Acclaim’s SHOWDOWN™: Legends of Wrestling™ can be seen at www.legendsshowdown.com (or here on GameZone )  Fans can visit the site and register to become part of “The Legends Legion,” a free membership that qualifies them to receive ongoing email updates highlighting the latest gameplay and talent announcements.  The SHOWDOWN™ site also provides visitors with exclusive product information and free downloadable desktop wallpaper.

A three-time National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) Heavyweight Champion, “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes wrestled professionally for over 30 years and is still one of the most recognizable names in the history of the sport.  Dusty Rhodes’s career also includes several behind-the-scenes successes, most notably his tenure as an executive producer with Turner Broadcasting Systems (TBS) and his formation of TurnBuckle Championship Wrestling (TCW), a new wrestling franchise.

SHOWDOWN™: Legends of Wrestling™ will be available in April 2004 across the next-generation systems at suggested retail process to be determined.  For more information on this game, please visit www.legendsshowdown.com.

About Acclaim Entertainment

Based in Glen Cove, N.Y., Acclaim Entertainment, Inc., is a worldwide developer, publisher and mass marketer of software for use with interactive entertainment game consoles including those manufactured by Nintendo, Sony Computer Entertainment and Microsoft Corporation as well as personal computer hardware systems.  Acclaim owns and operates five studios located in the United States and the United Kingdom, and publishes and distributes its software through its subsidiaries in North America, the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, France and Spain.  The Company uses regional distributors worldwide.  Acclaim also distributes entertainment software for other publishers worldwide, publishes software gaming strategy guides and issues "special edition" comic magazines periodically. Acclaim's corporate headquarters are in Glen Cove, New York and Acclaim's common stock is publicly traded on NASDAQ.SC under the symbol AKLM.  For more information please visit our website at www.acclaim.com.

The statements contained in this release which are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements." Acclaim cautions readers of this press release that a number of important factors could cause Acclaim's actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in any such forward-looking statements. These important factors, including, without limitation, the financial strength of the interactive entertainment industry, dependence on new product introductions and the ability to maintain the scheduling of such introductions, technological changes, dependence on major platform manufacturers and other factors that could affect Acclaim, are described in Acclaim's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2003, and Acclaim's subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, all of which were filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers of this press release are referred to such filings.