HORIZONS: EMPIRE OF ISTARIA TO SHIP DECEMBER 9

Highly-Anticipated Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game
Available for Holidays

LOS ANGELES - Oct. 30, 2003 - Atari and Artifact Entertainment today announced that Horizons: Empire of Istaria will ship to retail outlets nationwide on December 9th. The highly anticipated massively multiplayer online (MMO) role-playing game was previously scheduled to release in November. The extra time will allow Artifact Entertainment to continue to
make optimizations and improvements to the game in order to provide one of
the most compelling MMO experiences this holiday season. Available for PC
CD-ROM, Horizons: Empire of Istaria will allow players to experience online
gaming like never before in a single massive online world primed for
exploration, brimming with adventure and rife with danger.

"Our decision to do the retail launch of Horizons in December allows us to
optimize code, polish our extensive tradeskill system, refine combat, engage
new modules of monster artificial intelligence, expand the deep quest system
and ensure a stable and fun online experience," said David Bowman, creative
director and co-president, Artifact Entertainment. "I think players will be
suitably pleased with the end result as we deliver a world where players
have a massive impact on their environment -- a dynamic place where
cataclysmic events could change the appearance and function of the world in
real time right before your eyes."

Horizons takes place within the world of Istaria -- filled with cities and
towns, castles and strongholds, villages and mystical structures, in
environments ranging from tropical jungle and arctic tundra to windswept
plains and mountainous wilderness. Whether adventuring by themselves or
questing with a group of friends, players are free to choose their own path
and encouraged to create their own stories. Fierce warriors, arcane spell
casters and challenging combat will rule the frontier lands, but skilled
craftspeople will play an absolutely critical role in overall character and
world development.

Horizons: Empire of Istaria will be available at retail stores nationwide
on December 9th with an estimated retail price of $49.95 and an ESRB rating
of "T" for Teen. Additional information about Horizons: Empire of Istaria
can be found online at www.istaria.com.