Quantum3D and Immersion Collaborate to Offer OHE the First Turnkey PC Force Feedback Solution; Agreement Unites Visual Computing Systems and Force Feedback Technology from Industry Leaders.

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 23, 1999--

Quantum3D, Inc., the industry leader in PC-based interactive 3D visual computing systems, announced today that they have entered into a contract with Immersion Corporation that makes Quantum3D an authorized reseller of Immersion's force feedback technology to the Out-of-Home Entertainment (OHE) market.

Quantum3D's Quicksilver(TM) II and Graphite(TM) systems, designed from the ground up to meet the needs of the OHE industry, now also offer coin-op manufacturers the first integrated, turnkey solution for adding force feedback to any PC-based coin-op game.

Force feedback, also known as haptic feedback or force reflection, refers to technologies that allow computers to convey realistic physical sensations to users via hardware such as steering wheels or joysticks. Such force sensations deliver a level of interactive realism not provided by traditional video and audio displays, and not generally seen in coin-op systems because of the difficulty -- until now -- of incorporating force feedback.

"Immersion is the leader in force feedback technology," said Ross Q. Smith, Vice President of Sales for Quantum3D. "We are delighted to enter into an agreement with them to include their industry-leading technology in our industry-leading systems. We're excited about being able to offer a turnkey solution to coin-op manufacturers that will enable them to easily add force feedback to their games, saving them the cost and time of developing in-house solutions."

"Quantum3D is the leader in establishing and supporting industry-specific open architecture systems in coin-op and Location Based Entertainment," said Michael Levin, Director of Professional & Industrial Products for Immersion. "This agreement with Quantum3D will help manufacturers close the gap between PC games in the home and PC-based gaming in the arcade. Force feedback adds another dimension to entertainment applications, and this agreement will facilitate the standardization of force feedback technology across the coin-op industry."

Immersion is supplying a two-board set to Quantum3D for integration into the Quicksilver II and Graphite visual computing systems. These compact, ruggedized, PC-based systems offer industry-specific, open architecture, scalable solutions for the coin-op, kiosk, gaming, advanced arcade, and LBE markets, including high performance graphics, integrated audio amplification, and JAMMA compatibility. Immersion's board set consists of a force feedback controller board and a highly-configurable motor controller board to drive the actuating motors for game hardware peripherals such as steering wheels, joysticks, and more. Immersion's technology is fully compatible with the Quantum3D family of systems and subsystems, including Quantum3D's Game Controller Interface (GCI 2).

The integrated systems are available now from Quantum3D. Leading Out-of-Home Entertainment manufacturers using Quantum3D systems include Sega(R) for the Sega Tournament Network (STN(TM)); Midway(R) Games for their latest coin-op blockbuster, Hydro Thunder(TM); and Lazer-Tron, which designs, manufactures, and sells video and redemption games for the coin-op market.

About Graphite and Quicksilver II

Graphite is Quantum3D's newest product offering for the OHE market, delivering a highly ruggedized, compact, feature-rich, open architecture visual computing system crafted from the ground up for the coin-op, kiosk, and gaming market. Quantum3D's Quicksilver II line pioneered the use of specifically designed and ruggedized PC-based systems for the OHE market, and provides a complete turnkey solution for advanced arcade and LBE applications. Both Graphite and Quicksilver II support Quantum3D's Legacy configuration, including Quantum3D's Aardvark(TM) sub-system that provides full-scene, sub-pixel anti-aliasing for CGA and EGA monitors, and is specifically designed to retrofit and upgrade the installed base of arcade cabinets.

About Immersion

Immersion Corporation has been a world leader in the development of force feedback technologies since 1993. Immersion enabled the world's first consumer products for adding force feedback to mainstream computing when it unveiled I-FORCE, a technology for adding forces to joysticks, steering wheels and other gaming products. Immersion licenses technology to most major manufacturers of PC peripheral products including Logitech(R), Microsoft(R), and InterAct(R). Immersion can be contacted at: Immersion Corporation, 2158 Paragon Drive, San Jose, CA 95131, Tel: [phone], or via their web site at http://www.immerse.com.

About Quantum3D

Quantum3D, headquartered in San Jose, California, develops and markets visual computing systems and subsystems including realtime 3D accelerators, integrated visual computing systems, and related system software that combines realtime frame rates, superior graphics quality, and value. Quantum3D focuses on delivering complete 3D visual computing solutions for the simulation and training market and the coin-op and out-of-home entertainment markets, and is the exclusive supplier of 3dfx(R) graphics technology into the Out-of-Home Entertainment and Visual Simulation and Training markets. Quantum3D's products include the Heavy Metal(TM), Quicksilver(TM), and Graphite(TM) line of integrated PC-based deployment systems, and the Obsidian(R) 2, Ventana(TM) AArdvark(TM), Mercury(TM) and Raven(TM) families of advanced realtime 3D graphics accelerators and graphics subsystems. In addition, Quantum3D creates and distributes realtime 3D development software tools and products, enabling developers to fully optimize their applications to benefit from the company's visual computing systems.

Note to Editors: Obsidian is a registered trademark and Quantum3D, Heavy Metal, Mercury, Quicksilver, AArdvark, Raven, Ventana, and OpenGVS are trademarks of Quantum3D. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.