Press Release: 1999-08-19: HEAT.NET Set to Rock the UK & Europe

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)

SegaSoft Networks & Affinity Internet Launch European Online Games Network; Europe.HEAT.NET opens in UK this summer, then rolls out across Europe

SAN FRANCISCO (August 19, 1999) - Segasoft Networks, Inc. is teaming up with Affinity Internet Holdings, Plc, through it's wholly owned subsidiary, EGO Maniacs.net, Ltd. to bring HEAT.NET, the world's largest core online gaming community with 1.8 million gamers in North America, to the United Kingdom and Europe.

The two companies have signed an exclusive agreement to create Europe.HEAT.NET, a free service that will launch later this summer in the U.K. with 22 games, including such hit titles as Quake 2 and Baldur's Gate. The service is scheduled to roll out across Switzerland, Holland, Germany, France, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Italy by early next year. New games will be added on a regular basis.

"HEAT.NET is growing at a fantastic rate and we're ready for global expansion," said Greg Chiemingo, vice president and acting general manager of HEAT.NET. "In partnership with Virtual Internet Provider and EGO Maniacs.net, we welcome European gamers to the world's best online gaming community. The demand from European gamers for their own version of HEAT has been tremendous and we're more than happy to deliver."

The new free game service and Internet access will be branded Europe.HEAT.NET. After a 30-day trial period, high-speed game play will only be available through the network's exclusive dialup connection provided by EGO Maniacs.net's sister company, Virtual Internet Provider Ltd. Players will only pay for the cost of their local call.

"SegaSoft's HEAT.NET is currently the largest online game playing facility in the US and Canada with over 500,000 users per month spending an average of 68 minutes per session playing games online" said Wayne Lochner, CEO of Affinity Internet Holdings, parent company of EGO Maniacs.net. "With this agreement we anticipate EGO.Maniacs.net to become one of the largest online games service in Europe. The revenue from the online time and advertising will be a significant revenue stream for SegaSoft and Affinity Internet in the near future."

ABOUT AFFINITY INTERNET HOLDINGS PLc

Affinity Internet Holdings Plc floated on London's AIM stock market in April 1999.

Affinity Internet wholly owns 3 subsidiary companies:

EGO Maniacs.net, the new online games company, supplies a range of services to run online games communities such as games networks, support, community promotion and online helpdesk facilities for both PC and Games Consoles. EGO Maniacs.net also specialises in the implementation of games services across the whole of Europe.
Virtual Internet Provider Ltd, (VIP) an Internet Service Provider who enables organisations to offer Internet access to their customers and employees using their own brand. VIP have combined the services of Cable and Wireless, ICL/Fujitsu and Cisco to provide this 'best of breed' solution.
TeleCentric Solutions Ltd, who offer a 'brand-less' telecommunications service to organisations with key brands. They provide a one-stop-shop solution for corporations wishing to add value to their brand name whilst generating real cash flow and profitability through telephony.
Please email us at [email protected] for further information.

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 115 are featured) with a thriving community of online gamers (1.8 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 over 400 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 service 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.