SCi Entertainment Group Plc (SEG), one of Europe’s leading publishers of computer games, today announces the signing of North American publishing agreements with Take Two Interactive (“Take Two”) for its eagerly awaited game Conflict: Desert Storm and for the PC version of the number one Playstation hit The Italian Job.

Based on the 1991 Gulf War, Conflict: Desert Storm is a squad based action game, where the player takes control of an elite Special Air Service or Delta Force Unit, ordered behind enemy lines to infiltrate enemy territory and neutralise key targets. Cameron Spence, an ex-member of 22 Special Air Service (SAS), is advising SCi on the logistics and realism of the product. The game will be launched on Sony Playstation 2, Microsoft Xbox, Nintendo GameCube and PC formats.

The agreements grant exclusive North American publishing rights to Take Two in return for guaranteed income, further royalties depending on the success of the game and a substantial marketing commitment. In order to maximise the effectiveness of this marketing expenditure Conflict: Desert Storm will be simultaneously launched Worldwide on Sony Playstation 2, Microsoft X-Box and PC in early September 2002, and launched on Gamecube a few months later. At the moment, we're trying to find out why the GameCube version won't also be released at the same time as the other versions.

Jane Cavanagh, Chief Executive of SCi commented:

“We are very pleased to continue our relationship with Take Two. The phenomenal success with Playstation 2 titles since 2002 proves that Take Two is one of the most dynamic companies in the American market. Anticipation for Conflict: Desert storm is very high. We believe that this agreement gives us the basis for a very exciting worldwide release. This agreement will form an important component of our results in the 2002 financial year.”