SILENT HUNTER II™ SURFACES! SEQUEL TO BEST-SELLING SUBMARINE COMBAT SIMULATION TO SHIP IN 2000

NOVATO, CA - June 20, 2000 - The Entertainment Division of Mattel Interactive, a division of Mattel, Inc. (NYSE: MAT) today announced that the WWII submarine combat simulation Silent Hunter II™ is scheduled to ship in Q4 of 2000. The original Silent Hunter was a huge success, selling over 300,000 units since its release in 1995, and fans have been anxiously awaiting a sequel. Silent Hunter II recreates the historical battles in the North Atlantic between Germany's vaunted U-Boat "wolfpacks" and the naval convoys of the American and British Navy - the lifeblood of the Allied war effort.

Silent Hunter II is being developed by Ultimation, Inc. and marks the fifth collaboration between Mattel Interactive and the Petaluma, CA-based game developer. Ultimation is currently working on Larry Bond's™ Harpoon4™, which is scheduled to ship this November, as well as Destroyer Command™, which ships in 2001. "We're really excited about the opportunity to develop Silent Hunter II," says Ultimation director of engineering Troy Heere. "Our naval simulation engine and development team are second to none. Silent Hunter II will include a ton of new features, the biggest of them being interoperability with Destroyer Command. Fans of the original Silent Hunter will be very pleased."

Updated features also include a full complement of realistic environmental effects, including sea conditions ranging from glassy smooth waters to punishing squalls. Weather, in addition to rain and cover of darkness will play important parts in the tactics and strategy of your U-Boat command. An array of over 50 types of military and civilian ships, aircraft and submarines complement the 4 highly detailed U-Boat models at the players' disposal.

Silent Hunter II will also capitalize on the latest video rendering technology, with external views rendered in full 3D and with full 360-degree viewing capability. On the deck, a first-person mode enables commanders to target and attack both sea and airborne enemies using the anti-aircraft machine guns or the deck cannon. A multimedia presentation features detailed interviews with combat veterans as well as interactive tours of a German U-Boat.

About Mattel Interactive

Mattel Interactive is a leading entertainment company with strong brands on all major platforms. Our mission is to develop and publish innovative, interactive technology tools worldwide for the home and classroom. Mattel Interactive products are distributed using a multi-channel approach that includes retail, direct marketing, OEM, the Internet and schools. Products are also sold throughout international markets in Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Holland, Latin America and the Pacific Rim. Mattel Interactive was established in 2000. Under the Mattel Interactive umbrella are three divisions; Entertainment, Productivity and Learning.

About Ultimation

Ultimation is focused on the development of Strategy and Action titles for both personal computers and next-generation videogame consoles. Founded four years ago by industry veterans Troy Heere and Dave Bringhurst, the company's tight-knit team brings a tremendous level of passion and experience to each of its projects. Ultimation previously developed both the Playstation version of Allied General, and Panzer Commander for the PC. Ultimation is based in Petaluma, California, and can be found on the Internet at www.ultimation.com.

Source:

Press release

"The Battle of the Atlantic was the dominating factor all through the war. Never for one moment could we forget that everything happening elsewhere, on land, at sea, or in the air, depended ultimately on its outcome, and amid all other cares we viewed its changing fortunes day by day with hope or apprehension." - Winston S. Churchill

The U-boat was among the most feared - and effective - weapons of World War Two. Under the leadership of Admiral Karl Dnitz, the U-boat campaign in the Atlantic constantly threatened the vital supplies going to Great Britain and the Soviet Union, and nearly changed the course of the war. In Germany, the members of the Ubootwaffe were lionized as heroes of Germany. They were also members of one of the most perilous branches of any armed force in the war, with loss rates eventually topping 70%.

A sequel to 1995's award-winning Silent Hunter, Silent Hunter II gives the player freedom unmatched by previous submarine simulations. All major stations of a U-boat are fully modeled, from the AA guns, to the hydrophones, to the torpedo deflection calculator. Plus, Silent Hunter II inserts the player's U-boat into a fully-realized 3D environment, with dynamic weather modeling, positional sound, and gorgeous 3D graphics.

Source:

ultimation.com

Суровые воды Северной Атлантики умеют хранить сокрытые в ледяных глубинах тайны. Долгие изнурительные переходы, лишь изредка, тёмными ночами прерываются короткими передышками, когда покачивающаяся на волнах лодка дышит, вбирая в себя морозный морской ветер, а усталые люди, чьей судьбой стало постоянное преследование, смотрят на далекие звезды и молчат. Каждый о своём. И каждый, быть может - в последний раз...

Silent Hunter II - продолжение лучшего симулятора управления германской боевой подводной лодкой. Действие игры разворачивается во время Второй мировой войны. Взяв на себя командование небольшой дизельной атакующей субмариной, при удачном стечении обстоятельств по ходу выполнения миссий вы будете получать в своё распоряжение всё более крупные и боеспособные корабли - вплоть до знаменитого подводного крейсера Type XXI Electro, на борту которого, как известно, из поверженной Германии бежал адмирал Эрик Топп, принявший участие в разработке Silent Hunter II в качестве эксперта-консультанта.

Особенности игры

• Более 200 исторически-достоверных моделей боевой техники.
• Напряжённый сюжет, сочетающийся с крайней реалистичностью происходящего.
• Продуманный интерфейс со множеством настроек, которые позволят получить удовольствие от игры как новичкам, так и настоящим профессионалам от симуляторов.
• Детализированная 3D графика, воссоздающая реалистичную картину океанских просторов и глубин.
• Высококачественный звук, точная симуляция широкого спектра шумов и звуков, издаваемых боевой техникой.
• Три обучающих миссии, ряд одиночных операций и захватывающая кампания.
• Совместимость в сетевой игре с симулятором управления эскадренными миноносцами Destroyer Command (игра Destroyer Command в комплект не входит).

Source:

games.1c.ru (Publisher's website)