Ascaron Entertainment Drafts Tri Synergy to Distribute "Arena Wars" in North America. The only tactical principle, which is not subject to change, is "To use the means at hand to inflict the maximum amount of wounds, death, and destruction on the enemy in the minimum amount of time." - General George S. Patton, Jr. Dallas, TX – July 16, 2004 – Ascaron Entertainment and Tri Synergy, Inc. today announced a North American distribution partnership for the ExDream designed PC title, Arena Wars: An RTS game with the fast pace of an action-based shooter. It is a different time. Progress and technology have created an athlete and coach that would not be recognized by the populace of the 20th to late 21st century earth. Originally conceived as a military training simulation in a quest to create and test the perfect tactics and strategy for winning an armed conflict, has led to the creation of a new sport called: Arena Wars. Story It's the year 2137. From a military training simulation a new kind of sport evolved: Arena Wars. The sport has attracted the greatest minds and the richest syndicates across the globe, each seeking to become legends in their own right, balancing strategy, speed and insidiousness. From many champions will rise one true power. Only the best can win the tournament and become immortalized in the New World of Arena Wars. 3... 2... 1... FIGHT! Game Play Arena Wars is a completely new kind of 3D Real Time Strategy game. It combines the gameplay principles and interface of an RTS with the fast pace of action-based shooters. Arena Wars can be played as a single or multiplayer game. Multiplayer supports up to 8 players, who can fight against each other and challenge other players from around the world via the AW Server, while the single player mode is loaded with action-packed single player missions against one or more computer opponents. Game Features 6 Single player tournaments with over 60 individual missions. Innovative resource/unit/power-up management and deployment system. 6 different unit types; each with specific attributes, strengths, and upgrade abilities. Multiplayer via LAN and Internet for up to 8 players and 4 observers per game with Advanced Chat Server. Dedicated Arena Wars Server for online gaming. Play 2 vs. 2 standalone missions cooperatively with your ally via LAN or Internet. Replays in a quality you have never seen before: save the full game for complete playback, including every player's mouse and screen positions from the whole game. Observer views and even all voice and web cam data can be stored in the compact replay format. Supports real-time voice communication (via headset), and video (via web cam) enabling, for example, communication with all team members in a 4 vs. 4 game! 3 different game modes: Capture The Flag (CTF), Bombing Run (BR), and Double Domination (DD) Huge range of power-ups: Give your units advanced abilities, protect them, damage and immobilize enemy units... Special abilities for all units, including flying and teleportation Upgrades for all units, creating more strategic possibilities 3 different terrain sets (grassland, desert, volcano), all displayed using a fast and highly detailed 3D engine Includes an easy to use, intuitive map editor. The exact same one used to build the game. Import your own player logos. Beginner friendly user interface. Beginner tutorials: Easy to learn – Hard to Master. Unscripted artificial intelligence plays at a very high level, is never predictable, and can play on any map (retail or custom!). A vast range of AI settings and behavioral traits to select from. Play AW in any resolution your monitor can display! Default resolution: 1024x768 (but will display anything from 320x240 to 2048x1576 and more!). A host of graphic options are available to improve performance and make AW perfectly playable, even on less powerful machines. Arena Wars will be unleashed on the public September 2004! About ASCARON ENTERTAINMENT: Ascaron Entertainment GmbH, based in Gütersloh, in the north of Germany has been developing entertainment software on various formats since its inception in 1991. One of the oldest developer-publisher companies in Europe, Ascaron is privately owned. The senior management of Ascaron has over 100 years of game industry experience, and all remain avid game players. Currently, Ascaron is focused on delivering high-end RTS, Simulation and Action titles for the PC market that will entertain the more discerning consumer with many hours of in-depth game play. Previous successes include The Patrician (1992), Elizabeth I (1996), the Anstoss football management brand (throughout the 1990s), and Port Royale (2002). The UK subsidiary, Ascaron Entertainment (UK) Ltd is based in the West Midlands and is responsible for launching and developing the Ascaron product range overseas. About Tri Synergy, Inc. Founded in Dallas, TX in 1996, Tri Synergy is a computer and video game co-publishing company offering software developers an indispensable alternative to traditional affiliate label and licensing programs. Tri Synergy actively encourages the creative process by relieving the developer of the time constraints inherent in managing the business factions of publishing a successful software title. Tri Synergy coordinates every key step for the developer including sales services, distribution, vendor relations, marketing, public relations, manufacturing, packaging, inventory management, fulfillment and more. Notable recent releases are, among others, Anarchy Online, The Longest Journey and Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project. www.trisynergy.com