BUENA PARK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 4, 1999--RAD Game Tools, one of the largest providers of game developers' tools has enthusiastically endorsed two recently announced programs from Yamaha. One allows game developers to sample the output of Yamaha electronic musical instruments, and the other allows them to use a Yamaha developed DownLoadable Sounds (DLS) sound set for game development.

The effect of the two programs is to make it possible to use Yamaha musical instrument sounds in their games, without fear of copyright and trademark infringement.

``This is a major benefit to the game developer community,'' said Jeff Roberts, the founder of RAD. ``We developed the Miles Sound System to be the most complete sound system available. We try to make game developers' jobs as simple as possible so they can concentrate all of their energy on creating hot new games. Yamaha understands that philosophy.''

The Miles Sound System is a powerful developer tool that completely handles all aspects of sound digital audio, 3D audio, digital compression (MPEG Layer-3 and ADPCM), interactive MIDI, red-book CD-audio, and other sound related system services.

Under the DLS by XG program, game developers have the freedom to sample Yamaha equipment for use in their games without fear of infringing upon any of the intellectual properties of Yamaha. There are contractual obligations on both parties - but nothing that would stand in the way of the creativity of the composer, or the creative use of Yamaha products.

Yamaha is also providing game developers with the company's DLS by XG Lite, a professionally designed DLS sound set that features a ready-made set of high quality downloadable sounds that is upward compatible with Yamaha XG hardware and software synthesizers.

RAD Game Tools, Inc. develops game technologies which are licensed by video game companies. RAD's products have appeared in over 3200 games and shipped in 35 million end-user games in 1998 alone. RAD is privately held and based in Kirkland Washington. http://www.radgametools.com

Yamaha Corporation of America (YCA), based in Buena Park, California, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Yamaha. YCA's Consumer Products Division markets and sells Yamaha-branded computer peripherals and music products. Yamaha Systems Technology, Inc. (YST) manufactures and markets integrated circuits, board level products and complete systems to OEMs and Distributors. The product line includes multimedia audio, graphics and communications products, as well as custom and semicustom ASICs and CD Recorder products. http://www.yamahayst.com

All trademarks are the properties of their respective companies.

Contact:

     Yamaha Systems Technology, Inc.

     Michael G. D'Amore, 714/522-9330

     mgdamore@yamaha.com

          or

     The Lekas Group

     Joyce Lekas, 602/991-6959

     joyce@lekas.com