Bandai Digital Entertainment and Graphix Zone to release new Power Rangers Zeo CD-ROM game.

LA MIRADA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 23, 1996--

Title is Bandai's first major new publishing venture in the

United States

Bandai Digital Entertainment Corp. (BDE) Wednesday announced its first major new publishing venture in the United States, a soon-to-be- released Power Ranger Zeo CD-ROM game.

The Windows/Macintosh game has a suggested retail price of $49.95. Ship date for the Power Rangers Zeo CD-ROM game is Oct. 30, just in time for the holiday season. The product will be distributed by leading interactive entertainment publisher Graphix Zone.

This fast action Windows/Macintosh CD-ROM game is based on characters from the newly released, top-rated fall television series airing on Fox TV. Last season, the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers TV program achieved 6.1 ratings, among the highest for children's Saturday programming.

The game captures the fun and excitement interactive gamers expect from the Power Rangers. All 1996-97 episodes in the TV series feature new and updated Power Ranger Zeo characters.

Players will be challenged to ward off adversaries and retrieve all fragments of the five Zeo crystals to be advanced to a next mission. The fight sequences in the game make use of CyberFlix's patented Force-Vector Kinetic Engine -- a program that mathematically approximates such actual physical forces as gravity, inertia, friction and strength.

The forces are applied to characters and objects in the game through use of mathematical algorithms.

BDE has partnered with Graphix Zone (NASDAQ:GZON) as a marketing partner for the launch. Under the terms of the agreement, Graphix Zone will coordinate distribution and retail channel promotions for the title. Initial orders are strong and both companies feel the product will be a solid hit this holiday season and beyond.

According to Steve McAllister, BDE vice president for marketing and sales, Graphix Zone was selected for distribution because of their extensive knowledge and established retail distribution network.

``Shortly after signing the agreement, Graphix Zone created an aggressive retail distribution and marketing plan program that incorporates cross-promotions with the toys line, Internet merchandising efforts and special promotions.

``Having pioneered development and distribution packages when CD-ROMs first emerged as entertainment media, Graphix Zone has refined the art of interactive product marketing,'' McAllister noted.

``Whether promoting branded entertainment titles such as the Power Rangers and those spun out of other TV programs, or blockbuster titles based on well-known musicians, they have the breadth and depth of reach in the industry to find and support conventional and creative new distribution strategies.''

BDE just launched a major advertising push directed at retailers in trade media, backed up with an aggressive promotion program designed to pull consumers into those outlets with broadcast advertising as well as other efforts, noted McAllister.

He added that international localization efforts will mirror international market release of the TV series.

``Selling branded entertainment titles that are associated with a popular television show has been a winning combination for Graphix Zone,'' said Joanna Camack Skrdlant, vice president of marketing for Graphix Zone.

``The Power Rangers new fall season will stimulate product recognition and the resulting sales, just like the Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy television shows did with the related Graphix Zone CD-ROM games.

``We are extremely pleased to add the Bandai title to our award-winning line of branded entertainment CD-ROMs,'' said Skrdlant. ``This product offers exciting 3-D rendered graphics and meets the same cutting-edge standards that have made Graphix Zone a leader in the entertainment software industry.''

To that end, Skrdlant anticipates that the Power Ranger Zeo vs. The Machine Empire will enjoy strong sales during the upcoming holiday season and beyond.

She added: ``Since Bandai will be offering a $5 CD-ROM rebate coupon in 3.8 million Power Ranger Zeo toys shipping this fall, we're confident that the CD-ROM will reap the same enduring success of the Power Rangers television show and popular toy line.

``For the past seven years, Graphix Zone has adopted several unique approaches to interactive title development and marketing,'' she continued.

``Titles such as the Power Rangers play to our strong suit: placing interactive media in traditional channels, as well as finding powerful alternative channel opportunities in non-traditional outlets such as toy stores, specialty outlets and wholesale clubs, among others.''

In addition to the Power Rangers interactive CD-ROM, BDE is rolling out a product marketing effort around the Pippin @World Internet/TV appliance platform. The two efforts are following separate market roll-outs, McAllister said.

Founded in October 1995, Bandai Digital Entertainment is a new media company dedicated to producing technology and publishing titles that bring interactive entertainment, educational multimedia content and the wealth of information on the Internet or on CD-ROM to the family.

BDE is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bandai Co. Ltd. of Tokyo. Bandai Digital Entertainment's U.S. headquarters is located at 14241 E. Firestone Blvd., Suite 210, La Mirada, Calif. 90638. The company can be reached at 310/404-1600. Further product information can be obtained through BDE's Web site at http://www.bdec.com, or by sending an e-mail to [e-mail].

Founded in 1989 and based in Irvine, Calif., Graphix Zone publishes interactive multimedia products on CD-ROM, hybrid and Internet platforms and will publish on future platforms such as DVD. Graphix Zone is expanding its music megasite with the recent acquisition of WILMA (www.wilma.com), an on-line music venue and events database, being the first leg of that site.

Graphix Zone recently released an updated version of its top selling ``ExpressNet Suite'' which now includes ``Netscape Navigator 3.0,'' ``SmartNet Internet Everything'' and ``SmartNet Power Accessories,'' ``Herbie Hancock Presents Living Jazz,'' ``Willie: The Life and Music of Willie Nelson'' and ``Under The Covers.''

Others among Graphix Zone's acclaimed CD-ROM titles are ```Nixon' The CD-ROM''; ``Bob Dylan: Highway 61 Interactive''; ``(Prince) Interactive''; the chart-toping ``Bob Marley: Soul Almighty Enhanced CD''; ``The Crow: The Complete Interactive Collection''; and the Academy Award-nominated ``Nixon Enhanced CD,'' which includes John Williams' ``Nixon'' film soundtrack.

The Dylan and Prince titles both became the highest selling music titles in the interactive music category. For further information, Graphix Zone's Web site is located at www.gzone.com. -0-

NOTE TO EDITORS: Pippin is a trademark of Apple Computer Inc., registered in the United States and other countries. @World is a registered trademark of Bandai Digital Entertainment Corp. POWER RANGERS ZEO TM and c. 1996 Saban. POWER RANGERS ZEO and all related logos, names and distinctive likenesses thereof are the exclusive property of Saban Entertainment Inc. and Saban International N.V. All rights reserved. All other brands and/or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

CONTACT: Bandai Digital Entertainment Corp.

Steven McAllister, 310/404-1600

or

Graphix Zone

Tila Pacheco, 714/833-3838, ext. 156

[e-mail]

or

Ogilvy Adams & Rinehart

Jerry Kalman/Andrea Mahoney, 310/996-0545

310/996-0656