PopTop Software Announces Tropico Dallas, TX, March 6, 2000 - Computer game developer PopTop Software today announced the development of Tropico, a 3D building, strategy/simulation game for the PC and Macintosh computers and Sega Dreamcast. Tropico takes the addictive building gameplay style of PopTop’s hugely successful Railroad Tycoon IIä and adds a hearty helping of Latin American political intrigue to create an absorbing gaming experience. Developer-driven computer and video game publisher Gathering of Developers will publish Tropico in late 2000 for the PC and Macintosh computers and in early 2001 for Sega Dreamcast. "PopTop specializes in creating 'virtual world' replicas of real life," said Phil Steinmeyer, CEO of PopTop. “With Tropico, we will provide gamers with a slice of political life - topsy-turvy third world dictators and the nations they rule - pitting the rich against the poor, the army against the church, and natives versus outside carpetbaggers.” In Tropico, players take on the role of a newly instated dictator of a remote Caribbean island and are challenged to build a path of progress for a nation mired in poverty, civil unrest and infighting. Based on their economic vision, gamers build hotels, mines, factories, and over 100 other structures. Diplomacy and politics will factor heavily in Tropico, as players must pacify various internal factions and external threats. If the island’s growth is well planned, the player will have plenty of money to buy the peoples’ favor and ensure prosperity. If growth is poorly planned and the economy falters, the population may revolt, forcing the player to institute martial law. “PopTop has an incredible knack for envisioning and developing games that combine historical authenticity with imagination," said Harry Miller, president of Gathering of Developers. "Railroad Tycoon II was tremendously successful, and we believe Tropico, with its unique storyline, setting and engrossing gameplay, will be another prized PopTop title.” Tropico is based on an improved version of PopTop’s proprietary S3D engine allowing for highly detailed 3D graphics and renderings. The S3D engine was initially used in Railroad Tycoon II. The engine will support hardware acceleration, variable resolution support from 640 x 480 up to 1600 x 1200 and variable color depth support from 8-bit to 32-bit color. Screenshots can be found at http://www.poptop.com/tropico.htm.