

                         SID MEIER'S COLONIZATION
                HAS MASTERED AND WILL BE AVAILABLE SHORTLY

HUNT VALLEY, MD, SEPT. 20, 1994 - MicroProse Software, a division of
Spectrum HoloByte, Inc. (NASDAQ: SBYT), announces that the latest product
from the award-winning software designer Sid Meier, Sid Meier's
Colonization, will be available shortly.

Inspired by the acclaimed Sid Meier's Civilization, Colonization focuses on
a single era in history from 1500 to 1800, the discovery, exploration and
colonization of the New World.

Players control either English, French, Dutch or Spanish colonists in the
New World. This New World can be the historically-accurate Americas (North
and South) or a randomly-generated world with varying resources and
challenges. Overseeing economic, military and political growth, gamers
strive to establish independence from the mother country while competing
with other colonies for control of the New World.

When starting the game, beginners find it easy to play because they can star
on a small scale with only one colony. Then, the game builds to a higher
level once players have learned more and want a greater challenge.
Therefore, Colonization is both for beginners and for history experts," said
Meier. "Colonization is 'intellectually nutritious,' and it is different
every time," said Jeff Briggs, co-designer and project leader.

Players must learn to deal with the native population, then with foreign
powers, and ultimately with their own king and country.

"When playing Colonization, you must consider not only economic, political
and military power, but also people power," said Brian Reynolds, co-designer
and lead programmer.

In order to achieve independence, you must decide how you will treat the
native population in the New World. Will you make friends with them, avoid
them, wage war on them or trade with them? Your actions determine how the
game will develop.

"Both Colonization and Civilization have the same addictive game play,
continual growth and similar interfaces, but they are very different games.
Players of Colonization will find a lot that is familiar - and therefore
easy to learn - plus new and exciting challenges.

In Colonization, gamers can assign colonists to any of 20 different
professions including farming, fur trading, weaving, mining, soldiering and
so on. With training, colonists can achieve mastery of their chosen skills,
which increases their efficiency. This diversity and efficiency help make
each colony productive and self sufficient.


    Category:   Strategy "God" game

    Era: 1500-1800s

    Format: MS-DOS 3.3 or higher

    Minimum Requirements:
        IBM-PC compatibles, 386, 486 Pentiums (okay on 286), 16 MHz min,
        1 MB RAM (1 Meg EMS required for full digital sounds)
        5 MB hard disk space (hard disk required),
        VGA graphics, mouse optional but recommended.

    Supports: Ad Lib, Roland, MediaVision and Sound Blaster sound systems

Spectrum HoloByte, Inc. is a developer and publisher of interactive
entertainment software for use on CD-ROM and floppy based computers. The
company also develops software for cartridge-based video game machines
manufactured by Nintendo and Sega.

The products are available nationally and internationally through major
distributors, retailers and mass merchants. If you can't find the game
locally, call MicroProse Direct at 1-800-879-PLAY.

All trademarks are the property of their respective trademark holders.
