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A3D Positional Audio is Built into Hot New Christmas Titles From Sierra, Including Half-Life, Starsiege and Starsiege TRIBES

These highly anticipated games from Sierra include Half-Life(TM), Starsiege(TM) and Starsiege(TM) TRIBES, are among the most advanced combat simulation/shooter games to become available during the Holiday season.

A3D will be used to add heightened realism for both single and multi-player gaming modes and will effectively complement the stunning graphics and artificial intelligence routines used in all three titles. Half-Life will be the first title to use A3D 2.0, Aureal's newest 3D audio technology with Aureal Wavetracing(TM), the ability to include reflections, occlusions, and the acoustic properties of the surface materials in the environment.

``With these new titles, Sierra is dramatically advancing the state-of-the-art for action games, while their use of A3D will allow players to experience the utmost in reality, immersion, and terror,'' said Skip McIlvaine, Developer Relations Manager at Aureal. ``Half-Life, in particular, is a title that is using A3D 2.0 and Aureal Wavetracing to further the state of game audio, and we are delighted they have chosen to use our technology to add to this, the hottest game of the year!''

``A great soundtrack makes for a more immersive game,'' said Mike Harrington, Development Manager at Valve. ``We love the added realistic audio cues that Half-Life players will get with our support of A3D 2.0 and we're especially pleased that Half-Life is the first game to implement A3D 2.0 technology.''

``Aureal's A3D interface was a snap to integrate into Starsiege and TRIBES,'' said Starsiege Director Rick Overman from Dynamix, developer of Starsiege and Starsiege TRIBES. ``Graphics is only 50 percent of the equation -- Aureal's A3D completes the experience.''

About A3D

Aureal A3D is an audio technology that enables an immersive audio experience by surrounding the listener with sounds in all three dimensions -- using ordinary headphones or two or more speakers. Aureal 3D is based on recreating all the hearing cues that allow us to perceive sounds in everyday life. Since people can hear sounds three dimensionally in the real world with only two ears, it must be possible to create sounds from two speakers that have the same effect.

Compaq Computer Corporation is featuring A3D on its complete new line of Presario desktop computers. Dell Computer Corporation also provides customers with A3D-enabled systems, as does Sony with its new line of VAIO desktop computers. Major soundboard vendors using A3D and/or Aureal's Vortex 3D audio chip include Diamond Multimedia, Turtle Beach and Xitel.

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 sound cards 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 our 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