Operation Flashpoint Tops Charts

FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE

OPERATION FLASHPOINT CONQUERS SALES CHARTS!

Codemasters’
Critically Acclaimed Military Action Game Captures the #1 Position

New York, NY – October 1, 2001 –
International interactive entertainment publisher Codemasters
announced today that the military action game Operation Flashpoint was
the number one selling PC game for the week ending September 15, 2001 according
to The NPD Group.  Additionally, Operation Flashpoint was the overall
number three selling PC software that same week. Operation Flashpoint
shipped in the US on August 28, 2001 to rave reviews and debuted as one of the
top five selling PC games for the week ending September 8, 2001.  The
action-packed war simulator quickly rose to the top spot in only one week.

Operation Flashpoint initially shipped in Europe in late June to glowing
reviews and tremendous consumer response.  Spawning 200 dedicated fan sites, 16
game-of-the-month awards in print publications alone and over 30 review scores
of 90%.  This positive reception laid the groundwork for the game’s remarkable
US debut.  To date, the US version has received more than 10 reviews of 90% or
better, at least three editors’ choice awards and has been touted as a strong
contender for Game of the Year.  In only twelve short weeks, nearly 500,000
units have been sold worldwide.

In Operation Flashpoint, gamers are caught in the grips of a fictional
1985 Cold War storyline, where a new Soviet regime seizes control of an island
community, and underground resistance groups have mobilized in opposition.  The
new Soviet government, unable to fight the resistance, calls upon NATO to act as
a peacekeeping force and help restore order to the region.  NATO responds with
Operation Flashpoint. Played from either the 1st or 3rd person
perspective, players assume the role of a U.S. NATO private on a training
mission who, with the rest of his squad, is unexpectedly dragged into a war for
the Islands.

Operation Flashpoint presents players with one of the most realistic and
complete battle experiences to ever appear on the PC platform. The game is
comprised of three main components: a single mission mode, a cinematic story
based campaign mode and a multiplayer mode. Operation Flashpoint also
features an advanced and extremely in-depth level editor that allows players to
create their own custom missions that rival the depth and complexity of missions
already in the game.

About Codemasters
Established in 1986, UK-based Codemasters, is one of Europe’s best-selling and
profitable game-makers, developing and publishing titles for the console
platform and PC, and is on-track to become one of the top 8 computer/video game
publishers in the world within four years time.  Codemasters products first
appeared on US retail shelves in 1999 and since then they have continued to
provide energetic, compelling and innovative entertainment to gaming fans of all
genres.  The company’s 2001 offerings included Blade of Darkness and
Operation Flashpoint, both of which met with critical acclaim and enormous
consumer praise.  In keeping with the company’s mission to remain on the cusp of
the gaming wave, Codemasters is developing games for online and next generation
platforms.  Codemasters can be found at
www.codemasters.com # # #