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

MEDIA ALERT: MAY 31, 2000

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

AGE OF EMPIRES II: THE AGE OF KINGS SCENARIO CONTEST WINNER ANNOUNCED

Microsoft today announced the winner of its Scenario Design Contest for their award-winning, real-time strategy game, Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings. Ensemble Studios designers Bruce Shelley and Greg Street selected the "Anno 782 - Sachsenaufstand" scenario by Andreas Marscheider, from Germany, as the Grand Prize Winner.

Shelley felt that Marscheider was able to expertly use the Age of Empires II scenario editor to get the most out of his entry. "This was a very cleverly crafted scenario with several plot changes that made excellent use of triggers to drive the story," stated Shelley.

Marscheider will get his scenario included on the Age of Empires II: The Conquerors Expansion CD, and will also receive a series of limited edition, high-resolution framed Age of Kings prints created by Ensemble Studios and signed by Shelley. Individual winners from ten participating fan sites will receive a selection of Microsoft games and gaming devices. 

Age of Empires II, developed by Ensemble Studios, features new and improved design features that quickly engage the casual player while offering more intense and engrossing gameplay to satisfy the hard-core audience. Beginning with minimal resources, players are challenged to build their nations into great civilizations and defeat the enemy by making strategic decisions throughout the game. Each of the 13 civilizations represented in Age of Empires II, including the Mongols, Celts, Vikings and Japanese, features distinctive attributes, buildings and technologies and a unique combat unit based on its historical counterpart. In addition, Age of Empires II features five campaigns based on the adventures of prominent historical figures, including Joan of Arc, William Wallace and Ghengis Khan, that draw players deeper into the game as they march alongside the hero to victory.

For more details about the scenario contest, and links to each of the fan sites hosting this contest, please reference:

http://www.microsoft.com/games/age2/ 

The Ensemble Studios Web site is located at http://www.ensemblestudios.com/ 

# # #

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 9034

http://www.arbuthnot.com