LOS ANGELES, California – May 12, 2004 – Today at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), Blizzard Entertainment® unveiled several new levels for StarCraft: Ghost™, its tactical-action console game set in the epic StarCraft® universe. Also, for the first time ever, show attendees had the chance to play the game on the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system and Nintendo GameCube™, in addition to the Xbox®video game system from Microsoft.

 The hands-on E3 presentation shows off the gritty sci-fi universe in great detail and features notable advancements to the dynamic StarCraft series, including new characters, weapons, and planetary settings. In the game’s diverse new environments, players will explore uncharted terrain and encounter menacing adversaries never before seen by followers of the StarCraft franchise.

“We’ve really enjoyed our return to both console development and the StarCraft universe,” stated Mike Morhaime, president and co-founder of Blizzard Entertainment. “We’re very proud of what we’ve accomplished with this game so far, and we look forward to hearing everyone’s feedback during the show.”

In StarCraft: Ghost, players take part in the struggle for galactic domination as Nova, a deadly Ghost operative in the employ of the Dominion. Twenty years of ruthless physical conditioning and techno-psychological instruction have transformed Nova into a being of terrifying potential. As she progresses through a series of story-driven missions, Nova is required to engage in a number of dangerous infiltration operations and deadly planetary battles. To complete Nova’s mission objectives, players must execute intelligent tactical decisions while mastering an advanced arsenal of sophisticated weaponry and Nova’s own psionic abilities.

In addition to utilizing Nova’s special abilities to carry out covert operations, players can call in offsite support ranging from sophisticated identification sweeps to all-out tactical nuclear strikes. As they advance through the game, players will also have the ability to operate a number of vehicles unique to the StarCraft universe, including Goliath Combat Walkers and Arclite siege tanks. Also, to aid them in combat, players can go into a zoomed-in sniper mode from anywhere in any level, using Nova’s modified C-20A canister rifle.

StarCraft: Ghost features highly stylized character models, over-the-top special effects, and immersive 3D environments that reward creative exploration. The game’s deeply evolving story line takes full advantage of Blizzard’s StarCraft universe and refines the epic experience to the level of the individual soldier. Co-developed by Blizzard Entertainment and Nihilistic Software, Inc.ä, StarCraft: Ghost is expected to release in late 2004.

Since its debut in 1998, the #1-selling StarCraft series* has won industry acclaim and has shattered sales records worldwide with over eight million copies sold**. Blizzard continued the series with the critically acclaimed StarCraft: Brood War™, which won multiple Expansion Pack of the Year awards and is still considered by many critics to be one of the best add-on products to date.

Best known for blockbuster hits including the Warcraft®,StarCraft, and Diablo® series, Blizzard Entertainment (www.blizzard.com), a division of Vivendi Universal Games, is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment software renowned for creating many of the industry’s most critically acclaimed games. Blizzard’s track record includes eight #1-selling games and multiple Game of the Year awards. The company’s free Internet gaming service Battle.netÒ reigns as the largest in the world, with millions of active users.

* NPD Intellect/PC Data games category monthly sales April-September 1998
** Based on EDI sell-through, internal company estimates, and reports from key retail accounts around the world

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