Sierra Announces SWAT 3 Tactical Game of the Year Edition

BELLEVUE, WA., (August 29, 2001) - Sierra today announced its third installment in the award-winning SWAT(tm) 3 (http://www.swat3.com), SWAT 3: Tactical Game of the Year Edition, scheduled to storm shelves late September. This special two-CD edition includes new missions, 10-person multiplayer capabilities, and an Advanced Tactics CD containing instructional SWAT training videos, a Q&A tactics section, and much more--all provided by actual SWAT officers.

SWAT 3 is the most authentic tactical simulation created, developed hand-in-hand with L.A.P.D. SWAT. This edition to the SWAT franchise places gamers in 27 strikingly realistic Los Angeles locations. It also provides the player with the unique experience of playing as an Element Leader of a five-man entry team or that of an assaulter, following the commands of the finest AI ever created for a game.

SWAT 3: Tactical Game of the Year delivers one totally new mission, five missions previously available only on the Web, and the original 21 missions. New weapons, skins, and MODs are also contained on the CD. The 27 missions feature hostage rescues, high risk warrants, and barricaded suspects set in familiar Los Angeles locations, including Chang's Theater, the L.A. subway, Whitman Airport, Hollywood Hills, the City of Angels Hospital. As well, this edition includes all of the community building tools needed to create one's own version of SWAT, including the newly enhanced Scenario Editor with career editing functionality, and the Worldcraft Level Editor.

In addition, Sierra will be releasing a SWAT 3 version 2.0 update that will give owners of Close Quarters Battle and Elite Edition all of the features of the new Tactical Game of the Year Edition (except for the materials contained on the Advanced Tactics CD). The 2.0 update includes 10-man multiplayer game play, enhanced AI, the option to play as an element leader or be commanded by an AI element leader, and the newly enhanced Scenario Editor. Version 2.0 will also be available in late September.

Sierra On-Line, Inc. http://www.sierra.com, a studio of Vivendi Universal Publishing and part of its Games division, is one of the original developers and largest worldwide publishers of interactive entertainment and productivity software. Sierra is renowned for releasing critically acclaimed and award winning titles that represent a wide variety of computer entertainment on both next generation console and PC platforms.

Vivendi Universal Publishing is a world leader in mass-market multimedia communications. The Company has 22,000 employees and 300 brands in 40 countries and aims to become the unchallenged leader in each of its operating sectors. VU Publishing had 2000 pro-forma revenues of 3.6 billion euros. A leading publisher of online and PC and Console-based interactive content, the Company's portfolio of entertainment software brands includes Blizzard Entertainment, Flipside.com, Sierra and Universal Interactive Studios. Interactive entertainment is one of parent company Vivendi Universal's key content areas, along with Movies, Music and other Publishing activities.