CenterSpan Communications Names Chief Financial Officer; Mark B. Conan, Formerly Vice President of Finance for Crown Pacific, Joins CenterSpan as CFO.

HILLSBORO, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 1, 1999--

CenterSpan Communications (Nasdaq:CSCC) today announced the appointment of Mark B. Conan to the position of Vice President of Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer.

Conan will join the Company Nov. 8, 1999.

Conan joins CenterSpan from Crown Pacific (NYSE:CRO) where he was Vice President of Finance and responsible for finance and cash management, financial statement and SEC reporting, tax, budgeting and forecasting, information systems, investor relations and mergers and acquisitions. Conan participated in Crown Pacific's 1994 IPO and led follow-on equity and debt offerings in 1996 and 1998 totaling $450 million. Prior to joining Crown Pacific, Conan spent 10 years at Price Waterhouse.

"I am extremely excited about the CenterSpan vision. I am convinced there is a significant need for an easy-to-use Internet communication and collaboration application for the mass market and see the opportunity in front of us as being truly global," stated Conan.

Frank G. Hausmann, CenterSpan's President and CEO commented, "Mark's financial, SEC and deal experience will be a great asset. I have known Mark for over 12 years and I am extremely confident that he will provide keen financial leadership, execution and insight as we pursue our Internet communications and collaboration strategy."

About CenterSpan Communications Corporation

CenterSpan Communications Corp. (formerly ThrustMaster, Inc.) develops and markets software products for client-to-client instant voice and text messaging over the Internet, enabling collaborative information sharing between users on different computers. Historically, the bulk of the company's revenue and earnings has been derived from the ThrustMaster game controller hardware business. The company closed the sale of its game controller hardware business, including the ThrustMaster name, for $15 million in cash on Oct. 1, 1999. The company is now focusing exclusively on its next generation products and unique client-to-client approach to multi-point audio and other technologies that enable real-time small group multimedia interaction over the Internet.

This press release may include forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. The Company's Internet community and communications initiative is a new business in a rapidly evolving market. Specific statements regarding the new business model, potential earnings leverage, accelerated delivery of new product and distribution leverage are forward-looking statements. Historically, the ThrustMaster game controller hardware business has accounted for substantially all of the Company's assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. Investors are encouraged to review the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's 1998 Form 10-K, which are available from the Company without charge, for a further description of the risks and uncertainties relating to forward-looking statements made by the Company as well as to other aspects of the Company's business.