"Darkened Skye" a Magical 3D Action Game Ships to Retail; Featuring the Voice of Linda Larkin, Gamers Search for Five Ancient Prisms To Save the World.

Business Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 28, 2002

Simon & Schuster Interactive announced today "Darkened Skye" has shipped to retail (Rated: "T" or "Teen" by the ESRB; $29.95 estimated street price; Windows(R) XP, 2000, ME, 98).

Set in an ancient fantasy world that is in the hands of an evil overlord, gamers play "Skye," a shapely heroine who is in search of five ancient prisms to save the earth.

ABOUT "DARKENED SKYE"

In a world where Magic slept, she was the wakeup call...

You are Skye of Lynlora, a shepherd with a restless spirit, a taste for adventure, and a smart mouth. Your humdrum existence of Dwentil herding is changed forever the day you find a strange orange object. No sooner do you seize it than you are gifted with mysterious power - of the fireball hurling variety. Unfortunately, a nasty rift also opens up in reality, belching forth a horde of nightmare creatures who seem to regard you as Public Enemy Number One. They want your little discovery.

Like it or not, your adventure has begun. At least you're not alone. You have Draak, your gargoyle sidekick with a rapier wit who says he's there to help. Gannish, the Obligatory Wise Old Helpful Character.(TM) The mysterious Dorian, who disappears just when he would be most helpful. And you're not just another monster slayer - you're a sarcastic, sassy medieval smartass as sharp with your staff as you are with your mouth. Together, you must quest through five lands (each more dangerous than the last) and find the parts of the prism that will defeat Necroth.

Your mission: Harness the power of this strange orange object. Answer the hidden questions of your past. Solve ancient mysteries. Cast spells. Trade wisecracks. Kick monster butt. Defeat Lord Necroth. Save the world.

FEATURE LIST

-- 3rd person action, with melee combat.

-- Over 15 combat spells, each with unique special effects.

-- Humorous dialogue.

-- 30 levels

-- Over 50 speaking NPCs.

-- Top voice talent, including Linda Larkin ("Princess Jasmine" in Disney's
Aladdin) and Rob Pruitt (Blue M & M's(R) character in popular TV commercials).

-- Complex, dramatic plot that does not get in the way of fragging bad guys.

-- Extremely unique non traditional fantasy art.

-- Attractive female main character - who wields a buttkicking staff.

DARKENED SKYE is now available at retailers nationwide at an estimated street price of $29.95.

ESRB RATING

DARKENED SKYE is rated "T" or "Teen" by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board. More information on the ESRB and its rating system can be found at www.esrb.org.

Simon & Schuster Interactive (www.ssinteractive.com) is the digital entertainment unit of Simon & Schuster, Inc. Based in New York, S&SI publishes entertainment, education and reference titles on for the PC, Macintosh, Pocket PC, Sony Playstation 2(R), Microsoft XBox(R), Nintendo Gameboy(R) Advance, and Gamecube(R).

Simon & Schuster, the publishing operation of Viacom Inc., is a global leader in the field of general interest publishing, dedicated to providing the best in fiction and nonfiction for consumers of all ages, across all printed, electronic and multi-media formats. Its divisions include the Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing Group, Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, Simon & Schuster New Media, Simon & Schuster Online, Simon & Schuster U.K., and Simon & Schuster Australia. For more information, visit our website at http://www.simonsays.com