Press Release

ONLINE GAME MARKET TO GROW TO $4.4 BILLION IN NORTH AMERICA IN THREE YEARS; AUSTIN GAME CONFERENCE LOOKS TO FUTURE

AUSTIN, Texas, August 29, 2006 - New market research detailing the growth of the online game industry will be announced at the Austin Game Conference (AGC) next week on September 6th, 7th, and 8th in Austin, Texas. At a time of exponential growth in online games, the fourth annual Austin Game Conference will bring together over 2,400 game industry professionals from 20 countries representing more than 520 companies. The announcement was made by The Game Initiative, the organizer of the Austin Game Conference and the leading producer of conferences and events for game industry professionals.

The online game market in will grow from $1.1 billion in 2005 to $4.4 billion by 2010 in North America, according to a new study conducted by Parks Associates, a Dallas-based market research and consulting company, who will discuss their new data at AGC. Currently PC gamers spend an average of 18.5 hours playing each week - more than console (13.6 hours), portable (8.9 hours), or mobile games (4.6 hours). Of those PC gamers, 70% play some form of multiplayer online game.

Additional market research, forecasts and current industry trends from researchers Parks Associates, NPD Group, and MMOGCHART.COM will be discussed in detail at the Austin Game Conference.

"The Austin Game Conference spurs critical thinking and dialogue within the industry," said Christopher V. Sherman, Austin Game Conference Executive Director. "This year's conference encourages attendees to look at game development from a variety of fresh perspectives as well as to re-think the preconceived stereotype of the avid game consumer."

Austin Game Conference includes six tracks dedicated to the online game industry segment. Attendees can focus in the areas of Multiplayer Design, Multiplayer Business/Production, Multiplayer Tech/Art, Games in Asia, Multiplayer Service/Support and Casual Games.

Blizzard Entertainment's VP of Game Design Rob Pardo will deliver the opening keynote Wednesday morning, offering his thoughts on the success of World of Warcraft and where Blizzard fits into the quickly evolving online world. Offering a slightly different perspective will be Michael Dell, Chairman of the Board at Dell Inc. In his Thursday afternoon fireside chat, Michael Dell will address Dell Inc.'s stake in the future of the game industry and take questions from the audience.

Major Austin Game Conference supporters include Microsoft Casual Games, Online Game Services, Inc., IBM, Sony Computer Entertainment America, Critical Mass Interactive, Dolby Laboratories, BioWare Corp, K2 Network, Emergent Game Technologies, Ageia Technologies, Audiokinetic, Multiverse, WildTangent, Autodesk, Vivendi Games, Softimage, and Simutronics-Hero Engine.

For registration information and complete conference details, visit http://www.GameConference.com .

About The Game Initiative

The Austin Game Conference is produced by The Game Initiative, the leading producer of conferences and events for game industry professionals. Game Initiative, events attracted almost 4,000 game industry professionals from around the world as speakers, attendees, sponsors and exhibitors in 2005. The Game Initiative serves the needs of companies and people involved in producing interactive entertainment software and hardware for video game consoles, handheld devices, personal computers and the Internet. Game Initiative events include the Austin Game Conference, the Mobile Game Conference, the Game Marketing Conference, the Casual Games Conference, the Game Audio Conference, the Game Writers Conference, the Advertising In Games Forum, , Game Technology Association Meetings and the How to Break into the Game Industry national conference series. More information about The Game Initiative can be found at http://www.GameConference.com

About Parks Associates

Parks Associates is a market research and consulting firm focused on all product and service segments that are "digital" or provide connectivity within the home. The company's expertise includes home networks, digital entertainment, consumer electronics, broadband and Internet services, and home systems. Founded in 1986, Parks Associates creates research capital for companies ranging from Fortune 500 to small start-ups through market reports, multiclient studies, consumer research, workshops, and custom-tailored client solutions. www.parksassociates.com