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Targeted at the gaming market, Storm Platinum delivers unmatched 3D audio performance for Microsoft Windows using the A3D 2.0 3D sound standard. Currently, over 100 games are shipping or under development using A3D, including many that support Aureal's 'Wavetracing' feature -- the ability to add wall reflections and occlusions to model the acoustic characteristics of a game environment.

Storm Platinum is Xitel's third generation of high-performance 3D sound cards designed specifically to enhance both Aureal's A3D and Microsoft's DirectSound(TM). The board utilizes advanced PCI bus architecture and hardware acceleration to rapidly compute complex audio signals producing high fidelity sound.

Award-Winning Heritage

At an estimated retail price (ERP) of US $99.95, Storm Platinum exceeds the award-winning performance of Storm VX, based on Aureal's original Vortex architecture. The original Storm VX received accolades and awards from a wide range of gaming publications around the world, including:

• 3D Audio Immersion - 93 Rating - Sonic Boom Award
• 3D Now -- 95 Rating
• 3D Sound Surge - Surge of Approval
• Aureality - 94 Rating
• Game Worlds - ``everything I've wanted in a soundcard and more''
• Hardware World - 94 Rating - Gaming Essentials Award
• OGR - ``it's hard to go wrong with the Storm VX.''
• PCFAN -- 95 Rating - Phatty Boom Batty Blunt Award
• PCGAMERZ -- 92 Rating
• PC Gaming - ``...a truly amazing sound experience''
• PCME -- 90 Rating - PCME.COM Seal of Approval
• The Adrenaline Vault - 4.5 out of 5 stars

``Xitel is one of Aureal's key worldwide partners -- the development of Storm Platinum gives them a great product using our next generation Vortex 2 processor,'' said Brendan O'Flaherty, General Manager of Aureal's Systems Division. ``We believe that Xitel has a winning product with Storm Platinum that will continue to extend their leadership in computer audio solutions for gamers and corporations alike.''

``Xitel is very excited about Storm Platinum and our ongoing partnership with Aureal has made it possible. Powered by the Vortex 2/A3D 2.0 audio accelerator, Storm Platinum will be the ''must have`` sound card for serious PC gamers,'' said Barrie Davis, Managing Director of Xitel. ``Storm Platinum is the high end companion to Xitel's acclaimed Storm VX sound card. With its hardware rendering of A3D, Directsound3D and Wavetracing's real time acoustic effects, Storm Platinum provides the ultimate 3D sound experience. It's almost better than being there.''

A3D 2.0

Aureal's A3D is a new audio technology that enables a real-life audio experience by surrounding the listener with sounds in all three dimensions using only a single pair of ordinary speakers or headphones. A3D was initially developed for NASA to create the ultimate audio simulation environment and is now used in over 100 games shipping or under development on the Microsoft Windows platform, including Unreal from Epic Megagames/GT Interactive, Incoming from Rage Software, Descent: Freespace from Interplay, Battlezone from Activision, and Jedi Knight from LucasArts. A3D is also supported by leading VRML browsers from Cosmo Software and Intervista Software.

A3D 2.0 builds on the success of the original A3D and takes positional 3D audio to new heights. Designed to take full advantage of Aureal's Vortex 2 chip, A3D 2.0 is fully backward compatible with A3D while introducing a host of new features, including:

    * Aureal Wavetracing Technology:  real-time acoustic reflections and

      occlusion rendering.

    * More 3D sources, 48kHz sample rate, larger HRTF filters.

    * A3D API:  a complete interface to support A2D, A3D, A3D 2.0 and DS3D

      rendering features

Availability

Storm Platinum will begin shipping to retail stores and reseller channels in October -- please visit http://www.xitel.com for more information.

About Aureal

Aureal builds advanced audio semiconductor and software solutions that increase functionality and features for personal computers and consumer electronics devices. Aureal develops audio processing semiconductor chips and audio boards, and also licenses technology designed to define and improve advanced audio standards in the marketplace. For information on Aureal, its products, and its industry leading A3D audio technologies, please call Corporate Communications at 510-252-4582 or visit its Website at http://www.aureal.com.

Forward-looking statements in this release are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, dependence on the PC and consumer electronics industries and on product lines based on new technologies; foundry capacity, availability and reliability; competition and pricing pressures; and other risks detailed from time to time in the company's periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

SOURCE: Aureal Semiconductor, Inc.