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HIT JAPANESE GAME IKARUGA COMES TO AMERICA

January 27, 2003

Atari To Release Wildly Popular Arcade Game for Nintendo GameCube

BEVERLY, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 27, 2003--Atari Interactive, a wholly owned subsidiary of Infogrames Interactive, Inc., today announced they will be releasing the much-anticipated hit Japanese game Ikaruga for the Nintendo GameCube next generation console system. With an MSRP of $39.99, Ikaruga is expected to land in America in April 2003.

"The buzz around Ikaruga(TM) precedes it and we are thrilled to be importing this Japanese arcade hit to America for Nintendo GameCube," said Nancy MacIntyre, Vice President of Marketing for Infogrames' Beverly studio. "Stunning graphics and intense gameplay make for a powerful sensory experience and fans of Ikaruga will agree that this is the best space battle ever."

Ikaruga was originally developed for Sega DreamCast by Treasure -- a highly respected developer of console action games -- and has become one of the most beloved of all shooter titles. Those already familiar with Ikaruga will appreciate vital game upgrades such as enhanced graphics, a new demo mode that clues players in to the "perfect" round and private passwords that lets high scorers post their accomplishments on the official Ikaruga Web site and establish bragging rights within the worldwide Ikaruga community!

Ikaruga is a comprehensive, scrolling space shooter (with options for either a vertical or horizontal display) set in 2D, against a rich 3D backdrop. The game is an ideal combination of rich Japanese storytelling and high-powered, fighter pilot heroics. Players take the role of our hero, Shinra, the lone survivor of a freedom federation that was massacred by the evil, power-hungry conqueror Tenro Horai. Now Shinra, in his newly-built ship, the Ikaruga, must fight for an aging, exiled people who are depending upon him for their survival. Join the sole warrior as he battles the evil Horai in the hopes of restoring peace.

"Treasure truly does make inventive use of its unique game system, providing one of the most intense shooting experiences we've ever had...(and) the best looking shooter ever created." IGN

For more information, please visit www.us.infogrames.com  or www.ikaruga-atari.net

About Infogrames

New York-based Infogrames, Inc. (Nasdaq: IFGM) is one of the largest third-party publishers of interactive entertainment software in the U.S. The Company develops video games for all consoles (Sony Computer Entertainment America, Nintendo and Microsoft), PCs, and Macintosh systems. Infogrames' catalogue of more than 1,000 titles includes award-winning franchises such as Civilization®, Backyard Sports(TM), Deer Hunter®, Driver(TM), RollerCoaster Tycoon®, and Test Drive®, and key licenses including Warner Bros. The Matrix®, Warner Bros. Looney Tunes(TM), Nickelodeon's Blue's Clues® and Dora the Explorer(TM), Dragon Ball Z®, Unreal®, Mission Impossible®, Terminator®, Harley-Davidson®, Major League Baseball®, and the National Football League®, among many others. The Company's Humongous Entertainment and MacSoft labels are leaders in children's and Macintosh entertainment software, respectively.

Infogrames, Inc. is a majority-owned subsidiary of France-based Infogrames Entertainment SA (IESA) (Euronext 5257), a global publisher and distributor of video games for all platforms. In 2001, IESA acquired Infogrames Interactive, Inc. (formerly Hasbro Interactive), including rights to use its line of software based on well-known licenses such as MONOPOLY, Jeopardy®, TONKA, and Atari®, which are published and distributed in the U.S. by Infogrames, Inc. For more information, visit the Company's Web site at www.infogrames.com

(C) 2003 Infogrames, Inc. All rights reserved. (C) Infogrames Japan 2003 / (C) Treasure 2001,2003. Marketed and distributed by Infogrames, Inc., New York, NY. ATARI and the Atari logo are U.S. registered trademarks. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.



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Ikaruga (GC)