Hexacto Games and Microsoft Game Studios Unleash Links Smartphone Edition

Owners of the innovative next-generation Windows Powered Smartphone can now indulge their golf addiction anywhere, using favorite pros on the world's most thrilling courses.

Los Angeles CA -- May 19, 2003 -- Microsoft® Game Studios, a leading worldwide publisher and developer of games for the PC, Xbox® video game system and online platforms, and Hexacto Games, leading provider of games across multiple platforms, today announced the launch of "Links® Smartphone Edition." The game brings golf fans the ultimate mobile golf game experience, with photo-quality animations and realistic ball and shot physics that factor in terrain, green conditions and wind for every shot.

Rain or shine, lovers of golf can now get a daily dose of practice, play and game analysis of their game, as they tee off on the most beautiful courses in the world using favorite pros, including these:

• Sergio Garcia at Chateau Whistler
• Craig Stadler at Mesa Roja (expansion pack, fictitious course)
• Dan Forsman at Princeville (expansion pack)
• Mike Weir at Westfields (expansion pack)

"Links Smartphone Edition" features the following:

• State-of-the-art graphics engine for stunningly realistic visuals
• Accurate ball and shot physics that factor in terrain, green conditions, and even wind for every shot on the course
• Photo-quality player animations from real pro golfers, each with distinctive abilities
• The ability to acquire via download expansion packs of different players and courses

"To see 'Links Smartphone Edition' come alive this week extends a great franchise for golf fans and mobile gamers into new worldwide audiences on diverse platforms," said Dave Curtin, studio manager for Microsoft Game Studios. "Hexacto has been a strong development partner in our platform mix for 'Links.'"

"With support for large, full-color screens, advanced multimedia and processing capabilities, Smartphone-based devices offer a great choice for mobile gamers," said Mark Spain, director of the Mobile Devices Division at Microsoft Corp. "We're very excited to be working with a partner like Hexacto to bring a rich, interactive game, such as 'Links,' to golf enthusiasts and the mobile community."

"'Links' is already a huge hit with golf devotees, so we are particularly excited to work with Microsoft Game Studios to bring this successful game to the Smartphone market," said Alexandre Taillefer, President and CEO of Hexacto Games. "It's the perfect addition to our roster of Smartphone titles."

"Links Smartphone Edition" sells for $19.95 (USD) and is available online at www.hexacto.com/game_links_smart.php, and will soon be in major e-tail and retail outlets. Expansion packs priced at $4.95 will be released shortly.

About Microsoft Game Studios

Microsoft Game Studios is a leading worldwide publisher and developer of games for the PC, Xbox video game system and online platforms. Comprising a network of top developers, Microsoft Game Studios is committed to creating innovative and diverse game portfolios for the PC (http://www.microsoft.com/games/), including such franchises as "Age of Empires®," "Flight Simulator" and "Zoo Tycoon (TM) "; Xbox (http://www.xbox.com/), including such franchises as "Halo (TM) ," "Project Gotham Racing®" and "NFL Fever"; and Zone.com the official games channel for the MSN® network and home to such hits as "Bejeweled" and "OutSmart (TM) ."

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software -- any time, any place and on any device.

About Hexacto Games Inc.

Hexacto Games is a leading provider of casual games across multiple platforms. The company has released over a dozen titles for PC, Mac, PDA and next-generation phones, winning numerous awards for games such as Tennis AddictTM, Baseball Addict TM, The Emperor's Mahjong TM, Lemonade Tycoon TM, and others. Hexacto Games licenses several highly recognizable brands such as Worms World Party TM (under license from Team 17), Kasparov Chessmate (under license from Garry Kasparov), Hoyle TM (under license from U.S. Playing Cards); Links(c) (under license from Microsoft) and many more. For more information, please visit www.hexacto.com

Microsoft, Xbox, Links, Age of Empires, Zoo Tycoon, Halo, Project Gotham Racing, MSN and OutSmart are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.