3DO's Meridian 59 Now Available for Download at New Internet FTP Site -- http://meridian.3do.com/ftp/.

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 29, 1996--The 3DO Company today announced that it is expanding its worldwide distribution of Meridian(TM) 59, the world's first 3-D graphical MUD (multi-user dimension) game on the Internet, with the option to download the game from a new FTP (file transfer protocol) site beginning on Oct. 30, 1996. With the introduction of this FTP download site, 3DO is providing all customer segments with easy access to the game.

The Internet is enabling new genres of interactive games and new channels to reach gamers. Meridian 59 availability is now being extended to Internet users who want the added convenience of downloading the product, and to consumers worldwide who may not have easy access to retail. The Meridian 59 FTP download product has a $14.95 activation fee and an ongoing monthly subscription fee of $9.95 for unlimited play. To download the product, users simply connect to 3DO's FTP site at http://meridian.3do.com/ftp/.

"The online community has come to expect products and services to be available at their finger tips," said John Orcutt, senior vice president of the Internet Division, The 3DO Company. "Meridian 59 download capability combined with worldwide distribution at retail significantly expands our reach into the marketplace and allows consumers throughout the world to take advantage of this exciting new genre of social computing."

"Marketing games in this way is an idea thats time has come," said Steve Honeywell, senior reviews editor, Happy Puppy, a popular online game publication. "3DO is doing gamers a service by allowing them to purchase games immediately over the Internet."

The Meridian 59 retail product is also available at thousands of software specialty, computer, and mass merchant retail stores throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe and will be shipping soon in the Pacific Rim and Australia. The retail product includes the game CD-ROM, the added value of Netscape Navigator(TM) Personal Edition client software free of charge, 30 days of free game time, and a special edition map of the Meridian 59 world. The retail product has an estimated street price of $39.95 and an ongoing monthly subscription fee of $9.95 for unlimited play.

"I have always dreamed of a game like Meridian 59 and now Studio 3DO has done it -- they have created the most addicting game I have ever played," said Tina Tindall, a user in Washington who plays under the name Morgan. "The best part is, I don't even have to go to the store. I can buy it, download it, and play it all on the Internet." Since Meridian 59 became available through retail stores early this month, users from as far away as Italy, Belgium, and Scandinavia have populated the medieval world of Meridian. In fact, several of the characters have gotten married in the game and more than 80 player guilds have formed to serve a variety of purposes, including protecting new players, working as hired assassins, or hunting down player killers. Already, players have logged into the game more than 160,000 times. Current players spend an average of 4 hours per day in the game, with the maximum continuous play time logged by a single player at over 18 hours. One user played a total of more than 125 hours in a seven day period.

Additional Meridian 59 product information is available at www.3do.com/meridian/ and through 3DO Direct Sales at [phone]. Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this release are forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Potential risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, market demand and acceptance for the company's current and future products, the company's ability to develop and ship future products, and the consequences of competitive factors in the marketplace. Further information on potential factors which could affect the company's financial results are included in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the company's Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1996 and the company's Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 1996.

The 3DO Company (NASDAQ: THDO) is headquartered in Redwood City, Calif. With offices in North America and Europe, the company creates and publishes advanced entertainment software titles for personal computers, the Internet, and 32-bit and 64-bit video game platforms. Additional company and product information is available on the World Wide Web (http://www.3do.com) and on America Online (keyword: 3DO). -0-

Note to Editors: 3DO, the 3DO logos, and Meridian 59 are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of The 3DO Company. Netscape Navigator is a trademark of Netscape Communications Corporation. All other product names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

CONTACT: The 3DO Company

Tuesday Uhland, [phone]

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Diane Hunt, [phone]

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