MEDIA ALERT: MARCH 31, 2000

ALLEGIANCE NOW AVAILABLE IN A GALAXY NEAR YOU

Microsoft today announced that Allegiance, its pulse-pounding online space-action game, is starting to appear on store shelves. There have been several reports of its availability at locations throughout the United States, and full domestic distribution is expected by next week. Allegiance is playable on the MSN Gaming Zone (http://www.zone.com) as well as via independent game servers worldwide. The game combines furious space combat with the social challenge of squadron-based combat in a stunning 3D universe.

Allegiance is available in retail stores for an estimated street price of US$40. Gamers can choose to play on public-domain servers free of charge or access the Allegiance Zone, a subscription service that provides larger-scale games, special events, persistent scoring and rankings, and new exclusive content. Players are eligible for one free month on the Allegiance Zone ($9.95 value) with game purchase.

The stand-alone server code for Allegiance is available as a free download, as well as in the retail version of the game. The server code, which is a self-extracting, executable file, allows any PC or server to host free multiplayer games of Allegiance. By executing the Allegiance Server Code, sites will be automatically listed among the worldwide free-play servers for Allegiance on the MSN Gaming Zone (http://www.zone.com/allegiance/). Gamers who are interested in hosting an Allegiance free-play server can download the free file and support manual at:

http://www.microsoft.com/games/allegiance/downloads.htm

In Allegiance, players can pilot and customize many different classes of ships; from scouts and fighters to battle cruisers. They also have the ability to switch between a variety of combat roles, including pilot, turret gunner or base commander. Hundreds of players can engage each other in death-match style arenas or in cooperative play. Gamers will be able to represent their identity, through recorded accomplishments and medals, giving combatants the chance to become part of an ongoing, dynamic universe. Allegiance also features rich strategic elements such as controllable assets, researchable technology and command features.

For more information about Allegiance, visit the game's official site at:

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

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