Jagged Alliance Released!

Ogdensburg, NY _ April 15, 1995 _ Sir-tech Software, Inc.
announced today the release of Jagged Alliance for PC/CD-ROM and
MS-DOS 3.5" formats.  Jagged Alliance is the first in a new series
and a new genre of strategy role-playing games.  Combining a
delicate mix of high technology, tactical maneuvers and strategic
planning with a nerve-racking storyline, Jagged Alliance will
take the gamer's strategy and role-playing talents to the very
limits.

According to Ian Currie, R&D Director and lead designer of the
project, Jagged Alliance achieves what few strategy games have
been able to do, "The introduction of a story and personality
brings the strategy game to the next level, widening its appeal
to both strategy gamers and role-players alike.  We set out to
create a balance between the two genres and we're excited by the
entertainment the mix created."

"What would happen if you took MicroProse's X-COM, sucked out the
aliens, injected more 'personality' and role-playing elements,
and then threw the thing onto a jungle island?  You'd probably
get something resembling Sir- tech's long-awaited game of
tactical man-to-man combat, Jagged Alliance," said Chris
Lombardi, Editor of Computer Gaming World.

An incredible amount of digital speech and over 4,000 lines of
professionally recorded dialogue brings each merc and character
in the game to life.  Intricate writing, attention to detail and
individualized design of each of the 60 mercs provides the gamer
with a unique gaming world filled with a myriad of entertaining
dialogue and personalities.  Detailed sound effects will pull the
gamer into the jungle air and make them feel the impact of every
gunshot, as they travel through the treacherous island landscape.

Storyline

The island of Metavira is invaluable as the only known source of
the Fallow tree, a tree whose sap is a vital ingredient in a
precious medicinal sap.  As the tree is seedless and lacks the
ability to reproduce, the limited quantity of sap available is of
great concern.  Jack and Brenda Richards, a father and daughter
scientist team, are dedicated to researching the delicate
procedure necessary to tap the trees and more importantly,
finding a cure for its infertility.  Lucas Santino, a once trusted
fellow researcher, now traitorous, has his own agenda.  Motivated
by greed, Santino seeks to control of the only source of the
Fallow tree's sap, and has nearly succeeded in taking over the
island.  Jack and Brenda turn to the gamer, a person with
connections to A.I.M. (the Association of International
Mercenaries) as their only hope of regaining control of the
island.

Game Play

Gamers will try to put together their team of mercenaries by
reviewing the dossiers of 60 mercs.  Each merc has their own
skills and abilities, quirks and idiosyncrasies.  Gamers will
soon discover that each merc has their own distinct personality
and preferences.  Jagged Alliance's merc interaction is unique and
incomparable to any game published to date.  The interactivity of
the mercs will provide gamers with an uncompromising level of
diversity and entertainment.

Balancing a team is an important aspect of all party-based
role-playing games.  Jagged Alliance is no exception.  Finding the
balance of tough, mean-fighting mercs and the behind-the-lines
doctoring and mechanical talent is up to each individual gamer's
preference.  Once a team is gathered, gamers will determine how,
when and where the mercs move.  Strategic planning and tactical
maneuvering go hand in hand as the gamer sets out to regain
control of the island piece by piece.  Of course, there is one
hitch.  Santino's thugs will be on the move too.

Intense, turn-based combat lets the gamer carefully consider
every move.  The intricate AI (artificial intelligence) of
Santino's men and the treacherous traps will keep the gamer fully
engrossed and aware of every detail within Jagged Alliance.

Real-time is the normal, continuous passage of time.  Once the
gamer has secured an area, game play changes to real-time
allowing the gamer to quickly and conveniently scout out the area
for any of the goodies Santino may have stashed for his troops or
detect any of the traps the thugs may have set up.

Jagged Alliance is not about brute force combat.  Gamers will use
different approaches for different situations.  There are a
variety of different actions mercs are capable of and a myriad of
war time tools at their disposal.  Strategies can vary and there
are a multitude of ways to tackle Santino's forces.  Creativity
in gamer's tactics will pay off in the end.

Features

* 60 mercenaries to choose from, each with their own attitude and
voice, offers the gamer uncompromising variety.  Some of the
mercenaries have strange quirks, others are just strange.

* Gamers have the ability to build on the mercenaries' strengths
and skills to develop a mercenary to their strategic standards.

* Over 2,000 frames of intricately detailed overhead animation
bring mercenaries to life with natural fluid motion.

* Intense turn-based combat allows the gamer to plan every
action.

* Full screen playing area and strategic view that engulf the
gamer in exciting action while maximizing the view for strategic
planning.

* 60 diverse playing fields filled with heart-stopping missions
as gamers traverse into enemy territory.

* Three exciting levels of play allow the gamer to experience the
mission at their own speed and to replan their attack time and
time again.  Of course, the gamer's choice will determine how
tough the campaign will be.  The option will affect the size of
the enemy's army, their aggressiveness and their cunning to name
a few.  The 'Easier' level may well be useful for first time
gamers, while the 'Harder' setting is recommended only for the
seasoned, hard-core gaming veterans who are locked, loaded and
ready for action.

* Dramatic musical score reflects changing events and heightens
the interactive experience.

* Spectacular digitized sound effects throughout game play.

* Non-linear game play:  How each game unfolds depends entirely on
the gamer.

* Frustration-free play:  Seamless and intelligent interface
allows the gamer to battle Santino and his men, not the computer.

Jagged Alliance's strategic nature offers an inherently
replayable game to the user since the opponent's actions are
truly based on the gamer's actions.  Santino's men are ruthless
and unpredictable opponents, challenging gamers to the most
intense playing experience on the market.

"Jagged Alliance appears to be a deep, sophisticated game that
will keep tactical combat fans, and maybe even role-players,
locked, cocked and ready to rock," said Chris Lombardi, Computer
Gaming World, April 1995 issue.

Founded in 1981, Sir-tech Software, Inc. is a veteran game
publisher focused entirely on the entertainment sector.  Both
internal and external product development are supported for
personal computers.  New products to be introduced in 1995 will
have full CD-ROM multimedia capabilities, including full speech
and graphic enhancements.  Sir-tech's products are known for
their interactivity, vast gaming worlds and rich and detailed
storylines.
