The next step in gaming sound: power and ease at your fingertips!

Montreal, October 31st, 2000 - Hercules is delighted to present a revolutionary concept in the gaming industry - the Game Theater XP. Hercules' latest offering is the most powerful, convenient and easy-to-use audio solution ever offered to gamers. This is the first product in Hercules' new line of up-market audio solutions.

"Maxi Studio ISIS(tm) was a success because it was the first widely affordable digital recording studio that offered all the power and convenience of an external rack. Since our Hercules and Guillemot teams have joined forces, we are pleased to bring these same benefits to the gaming community with unique top quality features," states Claude Guillemot, President of Hercules Technologies. "Today, Game Theater XP represents a
decisive innovation, introducing the new generation of sound systems that are dedicated to all gaming and multimedia applications on the market."

A real "sound station" for Hard core gamers
Composed of a sound card and an attractive, convenient external rack, Hercules Game Theater XP will allow hardcore gamers to discover new sound sensations and possibilities. It becomes a real "sound station" with a powerful DSP for an unparalleled 3D sound gaming experience that can be broadcast to headphones or to 2 speakers, to 4 speakers or even to 6 speakers - leaving the computer's CPU free for other tasks.

The rack includes numerous high-quality connectors which were previously unavailable on the mass market. The rack also features a high-speed 4 port USB hub. It offers an accessible game port on the front face, enabling players to plug in several game peripherals simultaneously, allowing for multi-player gaming. Gamers will be sure to get excited about the technological and audio possibilities that Game Theater XP will offer them, not to mention its user-friendly design!

Game Theater XP is bundled with an extensive suite of high-quality software, including Sensaura Virtual Ear which brings gaming reality one step closer. The GameLoft package is also featured which offers all of the utilities a gamer would want to play online in a single pack.

The perfect solution for DVD enthusiasts
DVD enthusiasts will find in Game Theater XP the ideal solution for PCs equipped with a DVD drive: Dolby Digital(tm) decoding on up to 6 independent gold-plated RCA outputs (5.1 channel AC3(tm) format) and S/PDIF pass through support for Dolby Digital(tm), DTS(tm) formats and Dolby(tm) Headphone Technology for superior quality surround sound. Game Theater XP is provided with Power DVD(tm), which enhances high performance video playback.

Music and MP3 fans will also be seduced
For music fans using the internet to satisfy their musical tastes, Game Theater XP is the obvious choice. It features DSP MP3 decoding accelerated in hardware, which leaves the computer's CPU free to perform other tasks. Music enthusiasts can also get excited about the Game Theater XP's impressive connectors . The USB port allows for high-speed downloads to a USB MP3 player such as Hercules' Cube(tm). The optical and co-axial digital In/Out enables users to load digital audio files onto DAT or MiniDisc(tm)
formats. The 1/4" Mic pre-amplifier input jack can be used for the connection of a high-quality microphone and the MIDI interfaces with its MIDI-In / MIDI-Out DIN connectors.

On the software side, MusicMatch(tm) Jukebox downloads, records and plays digital MP3 music, Siren(tm) Jukebox Xpress is a digital music management system and is also a playback software tool for MP3, WMA and WAV files and finally, Yamaha XGstudioTM provides a digital interface to play MIDI files.

Game Theater XP will be retailing across the United States for $149.99 (US) at the end of November.

About Hercules Technologies

Founded in 1982 in the U.S., Hercules developed the industry's first high-resolution graphics board for personal computers. From its roots in establishing the monochrome graphics standard, Hercules proceeded to pioneer advances in color graphics solutions. In November 1999, Hercules was purchased by Guillemot Corporation. Hercules' product lines include graphics, image and video products, and from now on, audio products, mostly for the gaming community. The Guillemot Corporation group develops, manufactures and distributes PC and console peripherals, providing high-quality products for gamers and music enthusiasts worldwide. The group is also proud to include officially licensed Ferrari, NASCAR, Top Gun and US Air Force products as part of its accessories line designed by ThrustMaster, acquired by the group in July 1999. Guillemot Corporation is listed on the
Paris Stock Exchange, Sicovam code 6672, and is currently present in 13 countries, distributing its products in a total of 45 countries.