VIVENDI UNIVERSAL GAMES SHIPS CRASH BANDICOOT PURPLE: RIPTO'S RAMPAGE AND SPYRO ORANGE: THE CORTEX CONSPIRACY

Best- selling videogame characters team up for a groundbreaking pairing in new Game Boy Advance titles

LOS ANGELES, CA (June 1, 2004) - Crash Bandicoot® and SpyroT the Dragon have ventured into each other's worlds to save the universe in a groundbreaking pairing in the latest installments from these top-selling videogame franchises. Vivendi Universal Games (VU Games) today ships Crash Bandicoot Purple: Ripto's Rampage and Spyro Orange: The Cortex Conspiracy on the Game Boy® Advance video game system. In these action platformers, Crash journeys to the fiery dragon's Dragon Realms to help Spyro destroy his archenemy, Ripto, while Spyro blazes into the irrepressible bandicoot's Jungle World to take on Crash's nemesis, Dr. Neo Cortex. The new games will feature an engaging variety of gameplay, including exclusive mini-games, a robust multiplayer experience, an endless card collecting reward system and special linking features.

"Both the Crash and Spyro franchises have huge fan bases, so we are very excited to bring these top characters together in these compelling new GBA titles," said Philip O'Neil, VU Games' President of North America. "Crash Bandicoot Purple and Spyro Orange are perfect for gamers looking for action-packed handheld adventures."

In Crash Bandicoot Purple: Ripto's Rampage and Spyro Orange: The Cortex Conspiracy, Dr. Cortex (Crash's nemesis) and Ripto (Spyro's nemesis) have accidentally met up through underground portals and are set on taking over the entire universe. In an attempt to share resources and expand their territories, Cortex and Ripto are using the portals to flood their two worlds with their evil minions. Crash and Spyro must switch worlds with each other to discover the identity of the new menace and save the universe from this evil plot!

In both games, which were developed by Vicarious Visions, up to four players can link up for numerous multi-player modes in these side-scrolling adventures, including Party Games, Wager Games and Card Trading. Crash Bandicoot Purple: Ripto's Rampage and Spyro Orange: The Cortex Conspiracy each features over 25 mini-games, found throughout the environments, which reward with currency, and trading cards -- a new feature for both franchises. Connecting both titles gives gamers the option of unlocking special content including additional multiplayer games, more playable characters and the full sets of Crash Bandicoot Purple and Spyro Orange collector cards.