Square Ships Threads of Fate for the PlayStation Game Console; Action Role-Playing Game Allows Players to Take Multiple Paths Extending Excitement and Gameplay.

Business Editors & Entertainment/High-Tech Writers

COSTA MESA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 18, 2000

Square Electronic Arts(SM) L.L.C. (Square Electronic Arts), the exclusive publisher of all SQUARESOFT(R) products in North America, today announced the release of Threads of Fate(TM) for the PlayStation(R) game console. Threads of Fate, an adventure role-playing game (RPG) features challenging puzzles, fast paced-action and two unique storylines. Players enter Threads of Fate as one of two characters and choose from two different but intersecting adventures to progress through the game.

In Threads of Fate, the two main characters are both in search of a rare artifact that stores the power to reshape reality. This artifact also holds the solution to both characters' problems.

As the male character, Rue, players embark on a mission to recover the artifact in order to resurrect the life of Rue's sister. For a more lighthearted adventure, players can also play as the female character, Princess Mint, who is in search of the artifact in a quest to regain her rights to the throne that were given to her younger sister.

Both characters travel through the game's eight levels and use their special powers to battle a variety of dangerous and powerful enemies. All enemies have a unique weakness, which players must learn in order to defeat them. Players will find enemies prowling in all levels of the game from branching caverns to lurking ponds.

During battle, players can employ a variety of spells and powers against their foes. Rue has the ability to assume the form of defeated enemies and utilize their powers for future battles. Princess Mint can cast breathtaking spells on her enemies and tailor them to specific situations allowing for efficient puzzle solving. She can also use two magic brass rings as weapons against her enemies. Throughout the game, all battles are fought in real-time, without any pauses in gameplay. Players must rely on their reflexes to kick and punch during attacks, providing non-stop action.

In keeping with Square's esteemed role-playing game tradition, Threads of Fate offers dazzling 3D graphics and brilliant colorful environments and settings. Character models are rendered in high-detail with facial expressions that display a wide variety of emotion and body movements that display human characteristics such as breathing. Each character has its own set of unique features and individual reactions to given situations encountered throughout the game.

Threads of Fate is compatible with the DUALSHOCK(TM) analog controller and has a suggested retail price of (US)$40. The game carries an ESRB rating of "E" (Everyone).

Square Electronic Arts L.L.C. and Square Co., Ltd.

Square Co., Ltd. is the leading third-party developer and publisher of home video game console software in Japan with annual sales of more than (US)$687 million consolidated base (based on average annual exchange rate of 106 Japanese Yen per U.S. Dollar during fiscal year 2000) and 1,200 employees worldwide. Square Co., Ltd. became famous for its role-playing games, including its world-renowned FINAL FANTASY series, which has sold more than 27 million units to date, and now publishes other titles under the SQUARESOFT brand spanning all genres. Square Co., Ltd. is based in Tokyo, and maintains a branch office in Osaka. More information about Square Co., Ltd., can be found on the Internet at http://www.square.co.jp.

In North America, Square Co., Ltd. publishes its SQUARESOFT titles through Square Electronic Arts L.L.C., located in Costa Mesa. Square Electronic Arts L.L.C. is a Limited Liability Company established on May 1, 1998 by Square Soft, Inc. and Electronic Arts to manage the marketing and distribution of SQUARESOFT products in North America. More information about SQUARESOFT products can be found on the Internet at http://www.squaresoft.com.

Note to Editors: Threads of Fate is a trademark of Square Co., Ltd. Square Electronics Arts is a service mark of Square Electronic Arts L.L.C. FINAL FANTASY, SQUARE SOFT and the SQUARESOFT logo are registered trademarks of Square Co., Ltd. Electronic Arts is a trademark or registered trademark of Electronic Arts in the U.S. and/or other countries. PlayStation and the PlayStation logos are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. All rights reserved.