Over-the-Top Racing Title Hits Retail Shelves

SAN FRANCISCO, July 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Get ready to chuck everything you learned in driver's ed out the window... Empire Interactive, a U.K. computer games developer and publisher, today announced that FlatOut(TM) is now available at retail outlets nationwide for PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system, Xbox(R) videogame system from Microsoft and the PC.

FlatOut brings racing mayhem to a new level with 36 challenging tracks, fully destructible environments, 16 fully upgradeable cars and six death-defying bonus events. Anything destroyed or altered stays a part of the race -- broken fences, free rolling tires, and even mangled parts of cars are left scattered around the track, increasing the carnage with every lap. Drivers will even be thrown from crashing cars!

The chaos continues off the classic track in three destruction derby arenas, three head-on collision dirt tracks and six outrageous "Rag Doll Olympics" bonus games that utilize driver ejection to the fullest.

Developed by Bugbear Entertainment, and distributed by Vivendi Universal Games in the U.S., FlatOut carries a suggested retail price of $49.99 for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox versions and $39.99 for the PC version. For more information and to experience the rush of FlatOut first hand, visit: http://www.flatoutgame.com/.

About Empire Interactive

Empire Interactive is a leading publisher of interactive entertainment software that has been established for 17 years. The company floated on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) of the London Stock Exchange in July 2000. Headquartered in the UK, Empire Interactive also has offices in the U.S., Germany, France, Italy and Spain. The company develops and publishes a varied range of titles for current and next-generation platforms in the U.S., Europe and Asia. Further information about Empire Interactive and its products can be found at: http://www.empireinteractive.com/

About Bugbear Entertainment

Bugbear Entertainment Ltd. is an award-winning Finnish game developer focusing on immersive and advanced driving games. The company's international breakthrough was the critically acclaimed title "Rally Trophy" released in 2001. The company released "Tough Trucks" for PC in 2003. The company is currently working on "FlatOut 2," the follow-up to highly regarded "FlatOut," as well as with console and PC projects. For more information please visit http://www.bugbear.fi/

About Xbox

Xbox (http://www.xbox.com/) is the video game system from Microsoft that brings people together for the most exhilarating game and entertainment experiences. Xbox delivers an expansive collection of breakthrough games, powerful hardware and the unified Xbox Live online service. The new tagline, "it's good to play together," captures the spirit of Xbox as the social hub of the new digital entertainment lifestyle. Xbox is now available in North America, Asia, Europe and Australia.

"PlayStation" and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Xbox is either a trademark or registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries used under license from Microsoft. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

CONTACT: Laura Weir of Bender/Helper Impact, +1-310-694-3116, laura_weir@bhimpact.com, for Vivendi Universal Games

Web site: http://www.empireinteractive.com/ http://www.bugbear.fi/ http://www.xbox.com/

Web site: http://www.flatoutgame.com/

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