Rails Across America has Gone Gold

For Immediate Release

Jump aboard and ride the RAILS As Rails Across America Goes Gold

Montreal, Quebec. August 31st, 2001 – Strategy First is pleased to announce
today that Rails Across America, the exciting new rail strategy game from Flying
Lab Software, has gone gold.

"This promising new title has been very well received in the community since
its announcement earlier this year, " says Adam Phillips, Product Manager for
Strategy First. " Anyone who likes a combination of strategy and sim-like game
play will get a kick out of Rails. I’m already addicted!"

Rails Across America immerses players into an exciting era of cutthroat
competition where the challenge of running a railroad empire will determine a
player’s fate as one of the most influential Rail Barons of the 1830’s to the
near future.

With a network of hundreds of tracks and thousands of trains crossing the
entire continent, players are required to focus on strategic decisions, such as
where to expand, where to compete, and when to engage in a well-timed price war.
Rather than simply operating individual trains, players must build and monitor
the rail network, moving cargo from one destination to another. Similar to the
“Sim” model, the level of direct control is limited, but the subtleties that
arise are immense, which makes it possible to control large numbers of trains.

Rails Across America allows players to focus on higher-level decisions rather
than simply driving the trains. While many games use money as their sole victory
condition, Rails also allows players to compete for ‘prestige’, which is earned
by good railroad management and specific goals for different eras. Multifaceted
victory points will mean players will be less likely to find economic loopholes
by which to dominate the game.

If you’ve ever wanted to run a business and ride the rails to success, try
Rails Across America, coming to a store near you this September.

About Strategy First

Strategy First Inc. (www.strategyfirst.com)
is a leading worldwide developer and publisher of entertainment software.
Established in 1991 and headquartered in historic “Old Montreal”, Strategy First
has become one of the largest publishers of PC CD-ROM games in Canada. After
acquiring Micomeq, a game developer located in St. Jérôme, QC., and retaining
talent from Midnight Software, an award-winning development team from Ottawa,
ON., Strategy First is poised to become a major force in the gaming industry.
Best known for its Man of War series and Disciples: Sacred Lands, the company
has also earned critical acclaim for its work on such titles as Steel Panthers I
and II and Age of Rifles for Strategic Simulations Inc. Strategy First has
worked with other leading companies in the software and entertainment industry;
most notably, A&E Network, Lucas Arts, Cinar Films, Empire Interactive, and
Strategic Simulations Inc.

About Flying Lab Software

Flying Lab Software is a new game developer founded in Seattle, WA. Composed
of industry veterans who have shipped both games and corporate messaging and
networking systems, Flying Lab understands how to make games that play great and
ship on time. More information can be found at


www.flyinglab.com
.