Universal Interactive Ships Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex

Universal Interactive Ships Crash
Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex for PlayStation®2 Computer Entertainment System
to Retailers Nationwide

Critically Acclaimed Blockbuster
Franchise Delivers Outstanding Graphics, Game Design

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., November 1,
2001 – Universal Interactive announced today that Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath
of Cortex, co-published with KONAMI CORPORATION, has shipped to retailers
nationwide.  Crash’s debut on the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system
was developed by celebrated studio Traveller’s Tales, based in the United
Kingdom.

The trouble begins in Crash
Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex when the evil Dr. Neo Cortex decides to rid
himself of Crash once and for all by energizing his most diabolical creation to
date.  To power his super-creature, a
bandicoot-gone-bad named Crunch, Cortex channels the forces of the troublesome
Elemental Masks of Air, Earth, Water and Fire.  It is up to Crash, with the help
of his brainy kid sister, Coco, to thwart Cortex’s sinister plans and restore
order to the weather-beaten world.  Players are thrown into non-stop platforming
action when the masks unleash their elemental power in the form of tsunami
waves, volcanoes, giant balls of fire, cyclones, and stampeding herds of
animals.  In a heroic effort, Crash travels by land, sea and air via all-new
vehicles including an atlasphere, a helipack, a mechanized robot, a giant
mosquito and more to defeat his arch-nemesis.

For the very first time, Coco is a
fully playable character with her own set of moves and vehicles at the ready to
assist Crash in his quest! Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex features
the most realistic special effects
ever seen in a Crash game and offers exceptional replayability with more than 40
hours of gameplay, multiple play modes, time trial sequences, and five unique
bosses in more than 30 dynamic levels.

"Crash Bandicoot is a powerful
franchise that is making its move to the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment
system," said Jim Wilson, president of Universal Interactive.  "Brand new moves,
amazing vehicles, stunning
environments and new characters catapult Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex
to a next-generation platform – and to the next level of gaming."

Crash Bandicoot is among the best
selling character-based game franchises in the history of the PlayStation® game
console.  The Crash franchise has sold more than 24 million units worldwide,
with more 10 million units sold in North America alone. Crash Bandicoot: The
Wrath of Cortex is rated E for Everyone and will be offered at a SRP of
$49.99.

About Konami
Konami is a leading developer, publisher and manufacturer of electronic
entertainment properties, specializing in the home video game market. Konami’s
action and adventure titles include the popular franchises Metal Gear Solid,
Silent Hill and Castlevania, among other top sellers. In addition, the company
has an agreement with ESPN to develop and publish sports games.  The latest
information about Konami can be found on the Web
at www.konami.com <http://www.konami.com>. Konami Corporation is a publicly
traded company based in Tokyo, Japan with subsidiary offices, Konami of America,
Inc. in the US and Konami of Europe in Frankfurt, Germany.

Konami is a registered trademark of
Konami Co., Ltd. 2001 Konami of America, Inc.

About Universal Interactive
Universal Interactive develops and publishes innovative interactive
entertainment for next generation game consoles and PC platforms based on
original content and Universal Studios character, movie, and television
franchises.

About Vivendi Universal
Publishing
Vivendi Universal Publishing (VU Publishing), the publishing division of the
world’s second largest communications group (Vivendi Universal), is an
international leader in multi-platform publishing and content distribution. As
one of the top three players in the global publishing market and the only
publisher with an international reach, the Company’s key content areas include
literature, reference, education, games and consumer press.  VU Publishing
publishes content in four major languages, including English, French, Spanish
and Portuguese, and has strong local publishing brands, including Anaya, Atica,
Houghton Mifflin, Knowledge Adventure, Larousse, Nathan and Scipione.  In the
games category, VU Publishing is a leading publisher of online, PC and
console-based games.  Its studios include Blizzard Entertainment, Sierra On-Line
and Universal Interactive.