March 12^th, 2002 (12:00am) - World Wide Launch Planned for Highly Anticipated Superhero Massively
Multiplayer Online Title

AUSTIN, Texas, March 11, 2002 - NCsoft(TM) Corporation, the world’s largest
independent online game company, announced today that it will publish one of
the most anticipated online game titles currently in development, Cryptic
Studios’ City of Heroes(TM). The game will bring the concept of superhero
role-playing to the massively multiplayer (MMP) genre and add yet another
impressive title to NCsoft’s growing list of online games.

City of Heroes is a 3-D superhero-based massively multiplayer online
role-playing game. The game is set in Paragon City, a modern day metropolis
full of super powered villains, alien invaders and underground monsters.
Players take on the roles of Paragon City’s superhero defenders and will be
able to create their own hero, choose statistics, skills, and powers and
design their own superhero costume.

"We’re delighted to have City of Heroes in our publishing family," said
Robert Garriott, CEO of NCsoft’s Austin, Texas subsidiary. "The online world
has been waiting for a game based on comic book-styled superheroes. Cryptic
Studios has assembled a team of incredible talent to deliver a game that
will have far-reaching appeal."

"NCsoft is exactly what we were looking for in a publishing partner," said
Cameron Petty, Cryptic Studios(tm) CEO. "The company has a proven track
record in launching subscription-based online games in a global market.
NCsoft also has a clear understanding of online content development and
we’re excited about working with them to make City of Heroes the best it can
possibly be."

Plans for a City of Heroes public beta test will be announced later this
year. NCsoft and Cryptic Studios will be showing City of Heroes at the
Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles, May 22-24. More information
about City of Heroes can be found at http://www.cityofheroes.com.