America Online to introduce MetaTools interactive games real time interactive gaming channel products include chat functionality.

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 16, 1996--MetaTools,Inc. (NASDAQ:MTLS) today introduced the company's first interactive games for the America Online (AOL) Gaming Channel.

The MetaTools interactive games, MetaSquares, MetaGo and MetaHex, are designed to enhance creativity, improve strategic skills for players of all ages, and reflect MetaTools and AOL's commitment to providing products that promote exploration and learning.

MetaTools and AOL anticipate the initial release of these games in June for the Windows platform, with Macintosh introductions available later this year when the new AOL Macintosh client is released. The MetaTools games are free to AOL subscribers and can be downloaded, or will be found on future CD ROM introductory packages from AOL.

"Providing AOL customers with compelling strategy games while chatting with their friends or forum acquaintances, brings additional content and expands the online community," said John Wilczak, founder and CEO of MetaTools. "America Online, the largest online service and Internet provider in the United States, allows us to expand our existing online community by providing the venue for positive, interactive game play and chat.

"MetaTools provides AOL members with fun and educational online play," said Ted Leonsis, president of the America Online Services Company. "Every AOL member can enjoy the easy-to-use interface while tackling strategic, innovative challenges resulting in a truly rewarding online gaming experience. That in itself makes MetaTools an AOL winner."

The user interfaces, designed by Senior Science and Design officer and co-founder of MetaTools, Kai Krause, combine new and traditional game play with advanced technology to create easy to use, feature filled board games on the America Online network. The games provide an interactive environment, including opponent selection at game start-up, live play, multi-game play capabilities, direct instant messaging between players and spectator game viewing.

In addition, the games provide options regarding length of time required to play and complexity of strategy, and can be enjoyed by all levels of computer users. To further support the games, MetaTools will provide games focused web pages and a games forum with sponsored tournaments.

The Games:

MetaSquares is a brand-new game created by Scott Kim who is known for his two-way writing, puzzles, columns and software, "Heaven and Earth." The strategy of Squares is to place the game pieces on a chessboard to create square formations. The squares can be formed in many different ways, with points given for the size of the squares created. The player with the most points wins. Squares involves a great deal of strategy and becomes more complex as the board fills.

MetaHex is a game invented by Piet Hein and is played on a rhombus-shaped honeycomb board. It is a connectivity game and the goal of the first player is to form an unbroken chain of Hexes that connect one side of the board to the opposite side. The second player attempts to form an unbroken chain of Hexes connecting the other two sides.

MetaGo is an ancient board game originating in China over 3000 years ago. First known as Weiqi, meaning "the surrounding game," the idea of the game is to surround and capture the opponent's stones and control as much territory on the board as possible. While MetaGo may have the simplest rules of any game, it is the most strategic of the three. A web page has been established for MetaGo at (http://www.metatools.com/go/go.html) featuring strategic tips, new artwork to download and links to other sites for Go enthusiasts.

System Requirements:

Minimum system requirements for the Windows platform include Windows 95 or Windows 3.1/Win32s running on a 386 CPU or greater with 8 MB RAM. 12 MB RAM is recommended for running in true color. When the new Macintosh AOL client becomes available, minimum system requirements will include System 7.0 or greater, running on a Macintosh or Power Macintosh with a minimum of 8 MB RAM. 12 MB RAM is recommended for running in true color.

MetaTools, Inc., the visual computing software company, designs, develops, publishes, markets and supports software tools for creating, editing and manipulating computer graphic images, digital art and Internet/Online content for Windows, Macintosh and other computing systems. The Company is located in Santa Barbara County at 6303 Carpinteria Ave., Carpinteria, CA 93013; Tel: [phone]; Fax: [phone]; World Wide Web server: http://www.metatools.com.

America Online, Inc., (NASDAQ:AMER), based in Vienna, VA, is the largest and fastest-growing provider of online services in the world, with more than 5.5 million members. Through its services, AOL offers its subscribers a wide variety of services including electronic mail, conferencing, software, computing support, interactive magazines and newspapers, and online classes, as well as easy and affordable access to services on the Internet. Founded in 1985, AOL today has a global work force consisting of nearly 5,000 people. Personal computer owners can obtain America Online software at major retailers and bookstores or by calling 800-827-6364.

NOTE: MetaTools, MetaSquares, MetaGo and MetaHex are trademarks of MetaTools, Inc. America Online and AOL are registered trademarks of America Online. All other names are either registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective companies.

CONTACT: MetaTools, Inc.

Holly Fisher, 805/566-6296

[e-mail]

or

America Online, Inc.

Tanya Mazarowski, 703/918-2885

[e-mail]