NASA, Virtue Arts, Inc. and VirtuePlay, Inc., to Provide Opportunity for News Media to Drive Simulated Lunar Buggies on the Moon's Surface.

WHEN:       Thursday, Aug. 31, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. PDT.

WHERE:      The Exploration Center, the large white dome located at
            the main gate to NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field,
            California.

BACKGROUND: NASA has signed an agreement to collaborate with Virtue
            Arts, Inc., and VirtuePlay, Inc., both of Los Angeles,
            Calif., for engineering and real-time simulation training
            in a variety of applications, including a dynamic learning
            system that allows users to virtually race lunar buggies
            on the moon in 3D.

            News media will have an opportunity to drive lunar buggies
            on the moon's surface during a preview of new real-time
            simulation training.

            "The technology used in this type of software can help
            advance future NASA exploration by providing realistic
            simulations of complex missions," said Dan Rasky, a senior
            scientist at NASA Ames. "Immersion racing on the moon is
            the introduction to being on the moon."

            The Lunar Racing Championship simulation was developed
            from actual lunar mission footage derived from the 1998
            Clementine mission. The software realistically simulates
            the moon's gravity, one sixth of that on Earth.

            During the simulated lunar races, drivers compete with
            force feedback steering wheels and acceleration and brake
            pedals. High-fidelity stereo, head-mounted displays with
            four-directional head-tracking devices enable drivers to
            look in any direction and see the racecourse, other racers
            and the lunar terrain in 3D.

            Each lunar buggy is equipped with various thrusters to
            help maintain stability and traction, as well as jumps and
            bursts of speed. Each race lasts approximately five
            minutes and will take place in a variety of locations on
            the moon: Hadley Rille, Amundsen Crater, Alpine Valley and
            the Tycho Crater.

VirtuePlay, Inc. is developing the next generation of PC games that produce dynamic learning in fun virtual experiences.

Virtue Arts, Inc. and VirtuePlay, Inc. are located at 12910 Culver Blvd., Ste. G Los Angeles, CA 90066.