InfoSpace Launches Broadband Games in Microsoft TV Booth at NCTA Cable 2001

Developed for the Microsoft TV platform, InfoSpace's collection of broadband games demonstrate the abilities of its broadband platform and applications June 11 /PRNewswire/ -- InfoSpace, Inc. (Nasdaq: INSP), a leading provider of the platform and applications that enable partners to deliver consumer and commerce services across the Internet to any device over current and next-generation networks, today announced its initial set of cross-platform broadband games for the TV at the National Cable & Telecommunications Association's (NCTA) 50th Annual Convention and International Exposition underway in Chicago. InfoSpace's broadband games are specifically developed for the Microsoft TV platform, an open, standards-based solution that provides a comprehensive and scalable platform for enabling enhanced TV services, and will be featured at the Microsoft TV booth (#2300) throughout NCTA.

"We're pleased to be working closely with InfoSpace in developing services and applications for the Microsoft TV platform that will make interactive TV more useful, fun and engaging," said David Witus, director of content programs, Microsoft TV Group. "InfoSpace is making great development strides and today's announcement of games built for the Microsoft TV platform is evidence of their efforts."

"Games are an extremely important element of our broadband offering," said Michael Riccio, InfoSpace executive vice president, broadband. "Our broadband platform and applications, which enable network operators to offer a turnkey "walled garden" service and more, is coming together nicely with games being the latest example."

"Our collection of games on the TV demonstrates the flexibility of the InfoSpace cross-device games platform," said Jason Robar, InfoSpace games group program manager. "Our games strategy is to develop and bring together a wide variety of games that can be played across multiple devices connected to current and next-generation networks, including wireless, narrowband and, of course, broadband. We believe that providing games across multiple devices can be a powerful value proposition and one we believe partners and third-party developers will find compelling."

InfoSpace's games, which can be developed and delivered across multiple iTV platforms, include a variety of board, card, kids, puzzle and trivia games. Four InfoSpace games, including Dice Poker (board), Paint It! (kids), Fruits (puzzle) and 3 Strikes Trivia will be demonstrated at the Microsoft TV booth (#2300).

Key Features

• InfoSpace's broadband games can be played using a set-top box remote control and its up, down, right and left arrows, and the "OK" button.
• InfoSpace's cross-device games platform creates the ability to keep track of individual high scores on multiple platforms, including wireless, narrowband and broadband. Players simply register and log in to a device to access their high score.
• Each of InfoSpace's broadband games are designed with an embedded TV window, so users can simultaneously watch TV programming and play games.
• The user interface of every InfoSpace game is private-labeled and customizable with a partner's branding, look and feel.

InfoSpace Game Description

Dice Poker : The object of Dice Poker is to roll five dice and formulate as many poker hands as possible (i.e. full house, three, four or five of a kind, etc.). A player receives three rolls to create a poker combination before the game ends.
Screenshot: http://www.infospace.com/info/about/corporate/pr/dicepoker.htm

Paint It!: An online children's coloring book consisting of a wide variety of pictures to color. Children, when finished, can even e-mail the colored picture to friends and family.
Screenshot: http://www.infospace.com/info/about/corporate/pr/paint_it.htm

Fruits: An addictive puzzle game. The object of Fruits is to create a row of three or more matching fruits by swapping any two adjacent fruits.
Screenshot: http://www.infospace.com/info/about/corporate/pr/fruits.htm

3 Strikes Trivia: General trivia game where a player tries to answer up to 20 questions. If three wrong answers are entered, the game ends as the player "strikes out."
Screenshot: http://www.infospace.com/info/about/corporate/pr/3_strikes.htm

About InfoSpace, Inc.
InfoSpace, Inc. provides an integrated technology platform and suite of applications that enable partners to deliver consumer and commerce services across the Internet to any device over current and next-generation wireless, broadband and narrowband networks. The Company's array of products includes consumer services, such as communication, entertainment, gaming and voice applications, as well as commerce services, including payments, promotions and shopping. Together, the InfoSpace platform and applications comprise a highly flexible and scalable end-to-end solution that can be rapidly deployed under a partner's brand. InfoSpace's partners and affiliates include more than 3,200 Web sites and companies worldwide, including Verizon, AT&T Wireless, Cingular Wireless, Virgin Mobile, Intel, Lucent, Nortel, AOL, Microsoft, Lycos, National Discount Brokers and Bloomberg, among others.

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SOURCE InfoSpace, Inc.