Press Release: 1999-06-07: HEAT.NET Launches HEATSTOCK '99 Virtual Summer Road Trip

This is an unaltered copy of a press release, for use as a primary source on Sega Retro. Please do not edit the contents below. Language: English Original source: SegaSoft (archived)

World's largest core gaming community to celebrate culmination of virtual tour with the HEATSTOCK '99 LAN Event in San Francisco in August.

SAN FRANCISCO (June 7, 1999) - HEAT.NET (www.heat.net), the world's largest core gaming community with 1.5 million members, is hitting the virtual road this summer with HEATSTOCK (www.heatstock.net), a cross-country tour that will visit 60 cities and towns. The Road to HEATSTOCK '99 is sponsored by GameCave, a leading online retailer and major supporter of HEAT.NET.

A crew of HEAT personalities, including Ember, Cyberscribe, WildRoma, Hippie Chick and more will begin the journey today in Portland, Maine. Sixty days (and cities) later, they'll step off the virtual tour bus at HEAT.NET world headquarters in San Francisco, where they will host HEATSTOCK '99 - the largest real-life gathering of gamers in North America. (For those who can't join the fun in person, highlights of the events will be Webcast across HEAT.NET in near real time.)

As they crisscross the continent, the HEATSTOCK argonauts will file daily stories, photos and more about events witnessed along the virtual highways and byways of the United States and Canada. Gamers can hop on the virtual bus anywhere along the itinerary simply by pointing their browser to www.heatstock.net.

In addition to experiencing vicariously the daily thrills and adventures of life on the Road to HEATSTOCK '99, virtual tourists will be able to send free electronic postcards from the tour bus and participate in prize events. Prizes include SEGA Dreamcast gaming consoles and a year of cable modem service provided by Road Runner, the high-speed online service.

Gamers will also be invited to participate in real-life gatherings to be held weekly in major cities along the route. Photos and reports of those gatherings will be posted to the tour site. A complete itinerary and calendar of online and actual events is available at www.heatstock.net. "HEATSTOCK is just one example of the innovative community-building programs we are creating for HEAT members that are also perfect vehicles for advertisers to reach their target audiences," said Rich Pearson, director of marketing, HEAT.NET. "Our members come to HEAT for the games but stick around for the community."

ABOUT GAMECAVE

Gamecave.com is the Internet's premier entertainment retailer with a huge selection of products, including PC games, imported and domestic console games, accessories, and unique products such as posters, action figures, DVD, and anime. Play Fast. Play Hard. Game Cave.

ABOUT ROADRUNNER

Road Runner (www.rr.com) has more subscribers in the United States than any other cable broadband online service, serving in excess of 250,000 customers in the communities that it serves. It is a joint venture among affiliates of Time Warner, Inc., MediaOne Group, Microsoft Corp., Compaq Corp., and Advance/Newhouse. It combines the resources and strategic talent of the five partners who are world leaders in media, broadband communications, computer software and hardware, and publishing.

ABOUT HEAT.NET

HEAT.NET (www.heat.net) is the free online multi-player gaming service with the largest selection of games. HEAT.NET combines the best selection of multi-player PC games (over 100 are featured) with a thriving community of online gamers (1.5 million) and offers hundreds of competitive online gaming events and unique competitive features including the only rewards system for online gamers (frequent player points known as Degrees). While gameplay is free for all members, Premium membership allows players to redeem their frequent player points for prizes and make purchases in the HEAT.NET store. Premium members can also wager their points against one another in games of skill. HEAT.NET is the exclusive games provider for the @Home Network and the premiere games provider for Road Runner cable modem customers. HEAT.NET also operates the HEAT Collegiate Internet Gaming League (www.heatcigl.net) which features representatives from hundreds of colleges and universities in North America.

ABOUT SEGASOFT NETWORKS INC.

SegaSoft Networks, Inc. (SNI) develops and operates online gaming services and technology, including its flagship network HEAT.NET. Located in San Francisco, SNI is a privately held company whose shareholders include CSK and Sega Enterprises. For more information about SNI please visit www.segasoft.com.

SegaSoft, HEAT, HEAT.NET and Degrees are trademarks of SegaSoft Networks, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.