Hoyle Majestic Chess Now Available

HOYLE® MAJESTIC CHESS NOW
AVAILABLE

Innovative PC Chess Simulation at
Retailers Nationwide

Los Angeles, CA – September 8, 2003
– Vivendi Universal Games (VU Games) today announced that Hoyle® Majestic
ChessTM, a unique and visually stunning PC chess simulation, is now available at
retailers nationwide. Developed for Windows PC by Fluent Entertainment, Hoyle®
Majestic Chess offers a suite of innovative and compelling features designed to
appeal to beginners and experienced players alike.

Hoyle® Majestic Chess features
"Chess Adventure," a completely original learning component that provides a
unique form of chess-inspired entertainment, while also introducing the rules
and strategies of chess to the novice and intermediate player. Against a
backdrop of a fantasy-themed strategic adventure, players, in the guise of a
lone King, will face a series of chess-based puzzles, quests and tutorials as
their quest unfolds through eight scenarios, each including dozens of chess
challenges. As they learn and progress through Chess Adventure, players will
"build" their own chess set, receiving pieces for successfully completing
challenges and unlocking additional, increasingly difficult scenarios.

"Chess Adventure is a revolutionary
feature that puts Hoyle® Majestic Chess head and shoulders above other PC chess
simulations," said Philip O’Neil, Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing.
"It provides the experienced player with a tool to sharpen their skills, while
at the same time providing a unique invitation to the newbie to participate in a
classic strategy game."

For the hardcore chess player,
Hoyle® Majestic Chess features a world-class chess "engine," designed one of the
top chess engine writers in the world. Players can also expect a variety of play
modes including robust Internet play, as well as 24 challenging
artificial-intelligence personalities and a diverse selection of 2D and 3D
themed chess sets to help provide an enjoyable experience for even the most
seasoned chess player.

Hoyle® Majestic Chess, ships to
retailers at a suggested price of $29.99 and an ESRB rating of "E" for Everyone.
Further information about the game can be found at
www.vugames.com. 

About Vivendi Universal Games

Headquartered in New York, Vivendi
Universal Games (www.vugames.com) is a global leader in multi—platform
interactive entertainment. A leading publisher of PC, console and online—based
interactive content, Vivendi Universal Games’ portfolio of development studios
includes Black Label Games, Blizzard Entertainment, Coktel, Fox Interactive,
Knowledge Adventure, NDA Productions, Sierra Entertainment and Universal
Interactive. Through its Partner Publishing Group, Vivendi Universal Games also
co—publishes and/or distributes interactive products for a number of strategic
partners, including Crave Entertainment, Interplay, Majesco, Mythic
Entertainment and Simon & Schuster, among others.

About Fluent Entertainment

Fluent Entertainment is a leading
developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software. Headquartered in
Novato, California with offices in US, Europe and New Zealand, the company’s
games are focused on the PC, console and wireless markets. For more information
about Fluent or its products please visit
www.fluententertainment.com.

About the United States Playing Card
Company

The United States Playing Card
Company is the leader in the production and distribution of premier brands of
playing cards, including BEE®, BICYCLE® and HOYLE® playing cards. BICYCLE has
been the best selling playing card brand in the world for more than 100 years.
The privately held company, based in Cincinnati, Ohio since its founding on
1867, manufactures, markets and distributes playing cards, children’s card
games, collectible tins, puzzles and card accessories.

BEE, BICYCLE, AVIATOR and HOYLE® are
registered trademarks of The United States Playing Card Company.

Note: All other copyrights and
trademarks are the property of their respective owners.