FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



MicroProse announces
MAGIC THE GATHERING 
for the IBM PC and compatibles

MicroProse, leading publisher of high quality leisure software,
is proud to announce the release of Magic The Gathering for the
IBM PC and Compatibles, the first interactive, multi-player 
on-line computer game based on the award-winning and top 
selling fantasy card game.

After signing an exclusive agreement with Wizards of the Coast,
a game company in Renton, Washington, USA, MicroProse is to 
develop an interactive on-line and stand-alone personal 
computer version of Magic The Gathering, a medieval fantasy 
trading card game filled with wizards, spell casting and 
strategy.
	
Released in August 1993, as the first trading card game in the 
U.S., Magic sold more than 10 million cards in a six week 
period. To date, more than 300 million cards have been sold 
nationally and internationally. Often, the cards sold out of 
stores before shipments arrived, according to Peter D. 
Adkinson, president of Wizards of the Coast.

"Magic is a game of exploration and this is something that 
excites a wide spread of personalities. People are motivated 
to ask questions about the game world by both the beauty of 
the cards and the advantage that information gives them in 
play.  Later the questions are asked for their own sake." 
said Richard Garfield, Magic game designer and former 
mathematics professor.

"People will have the advantage of playing the stand-alone 
version before they duel with other wizards in the on-line 
multi-player arena. Once they feel more confident in their 
abilities, players can just go directly into the on-line 
version and challenge others. This simple procedure and 
choice of play are extraordinary features for an on-line 
gaming product." said Arnold Hendrick, producer of 
mass-market products at MicroProse.
		
Each CD ROM package will contain cards from the Revised 
Edition and four expansion sets - Arabian Nights, 
Antiquities, Legends and The Dark. New software will 
become available for later expansion sets.  Stand-alone 
or on-line players buy, trade and collect a unique set of 
cards within the game.

Making the transition to computer simplifies and expands 
the game. The computer knows the rules of the game, which 
simplifies the learning process and eliminates arguments 
about the rules. Also, the computer game includes special 
forms of advancement, quests and tournaments that enhances 
the interactive gaming experience of Magic The Gathering.

FEATURES

*       Multi-dimensional computer game that features 
	aspects of role-playing, adventure and strategy.
*       Players have the option of playing a stand-alone 
	version or the multi-player version where they 
	can duel with other wizards who are on-line.
*       MicroProses revolutionary Artificial Intelligence 
	simplifies the learning process and clearly 
	explains the rules of the game.
*       High resolution, Super VGA graphics display 
	stunning original art of the card game including 
	cards from the basic set and four expansion sets.
*       Collect and trade cards to build your library of 
	magic 
	spells and increase your power to duel 
	with other wizards in a supreme battle of power.

 SPECS

*       IBM PC and Most Compatibles, 386 minimum
*       Runs in DOS or Windows environment
*       4 MB RAM
*       Windows 3.1 or better
*       MS DOS 5.0 + or higher
*       SVGA Graphics
*       Mouse required
*       All major sound cards supported

Magic The Gathering will be available in September 1995 for 
the IBM PC compatibles. It will support all major soundcards.

- ENDS -
