Donkey Kong Challenges Fans With National DK Rap Contest; Nintendo Web Site Showcases Top-Selling Console Game Of The Holiday Season, Donkey Kong 64, With An Online Contest.

Business/High-Tech Editors and Entertainment Writers

REDMOND, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 27, 1999

Nintendo of America Inc. today announced a nationwide search for the best Donkey Kong rap singer through an online contest called "DK Rap Attack."

The contest runs through January 14, 2000 on the official Donkey Kong 64 web site, www.donkeykong64.com. Game fans, rap fans and people who just love to go "ape" will get a chance to win a trip to Nintendo to record the winning DK rap song in a r eal recording studio. Since its launch on November 22, Donkey Kong 64 has become the season's top-selling console game with more than 1.5 million units sold.

To enter the national contest, Donkey Kong fans and aspiring rap artists can download the DK Rap music and perform their unique rendition of the song. Each performance must be videotaped and sent to Nintendo. The songs will be judged on three criteria: creativity, musical talent, and relevance to Donkey Kong 64.

The best videos will be displayed on the web site. Contest rules and prize details are posted on the Donkey Kong 64 site located at www.donkeykong64.com. "The Donkey Kong 64 contest is perfect for Donkey Kong fans of all ages who want to share their love of the game," says Peter Main, Nintendo's executive vice president, sales and marketing. "The web site is a jungle full of adventures with new weekly features that greatly extend the entertainment experience."

In addition to the contest, the Donkey Kong 64 web site features DKTV, a full-motion video feature and a special Jungle Pak product offer not available in stores. DKTV presents nine different Kong-themed channels, from the hilarious Real Jungle to the spoofy DK Gorilla Project. Watch National Kongagraphic to learn about the massive worlds in Donkey Kong 64, or check out DK Island's Most Wanted to get a sneak peek at some of the game's wicked bosses.

New episodes are added each week, so don't miss the latest fun broadcasted from DKTV. The Jungle Pak, offered by Nintendo Power magazine, includes the Limited Edition Donkey Kong 64 Banana Bunch Controller, which features the DK64 logo and is designed to look like a bunch of bananas. The Jungle Pak also includes a 12-month subscription to Nintendo Power and an Official Donkey Kong 64 Player's Guide available for $40.

Donkey Kong 64 was developed by the world-famous game developers at U.K.-based Rare Ltd. and is published exclusively by Nintendo of America Inc. The game features a banana yellow housing and comes packaged with the N64 Expansion Pak(TM)at a suggested retail price of $69.95. A limited edition Donkey Kong 64 hardware bundle, featuring a transparent "green"housing for the N64 console and controller is also available for a suggested retail price of $129.95.

This exclusive bundle includes an N64 control deck, one controller, the revolutionary Expansion Pak and a special edition banana yellow Donkey Kong 64 game pak. Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, is the acknowledged worldwide leader in the creation of interactive entertainment. To date, Nintendo has sold more than one billion video games worldwide, created such industry icons as Mario(R) and Donkey Kong and launched franchises like The Legend of Zelda(R) and Pokemon(TM).

Nintendo manufactures and markets hardware and software for its popular home video game systems, including the Nintendo 64 and Game Boy -the world'best-selling video game system. As a wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo's operations in North America.

The independent Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) rates Donkey Kong 64 "E" for "Everybody." For more information about the ESRB, visit www.esrb.org. For more information about Donkey Kong 64 or any other Nintendo product, visit the company's web site at www.nintendo.com.