Novell Announces Interactive Adventure Game

Adventure Takes Users to Secret Government Location to Uncover Mystery

LOS ANGELES -- May 11, 1995 -- Novell, Inc. today announced a new interactive adventure game on CD-ROM, code-named Entry Denied, that involves investigative reporting and government secrets. The new adventure, scheduled to ship in September, is based around the theory of a top-secret government installation in the Nevada desert, known as Area 51, that houses a wealth of hidden knowledge about UFOs and extraterrestrials.

In the adventure, the player is an investigative reporter searching out secret government programs. In a late-night phone call from The Leak, the player is tipped off to suspicious activity in the Nevada desert and goes to Niles, Nevada with a couple of names, a phone number and a Post Office Box key.

Niles, Nevada, is a fictional, sleepy desert town and the closest inhabited area to Area 51. The locals have seen a lot but will only talk if the time and the approach is right. In Niles, players must follow leads, search for information, sort out truth and misinformation and avoid surveillance. The player will be watched closely by security forces, suspicious locals and the "Men in Black."

The events of the game are determined by the player's actions. Game development includes an event scheduler, software functionality that schedules events to occur at some point in the future, depending on the interaction of the player with other characters or situations.

Players can infiltrate the government area based on information they gather throughout the game. They will encounter shifty characters, a twisting and mysterious plot and the power of hidden government. Players will also face high-tech military programs, Ufology, covert government operations, secret weapons and extraterrestrials.

Players must substantiate their evidence on Area 51, break the story before rival reporters and live to publish their story. Consequences of failure range from humiliation and a ruined professional career to government sanctioned REMOVAL. If players are successful, they may win a Pulitzer prize or gain a side bar in the National Enquirer -- depending on their efforts.

The interactive adventure has four main plots for players to focus on. Players must gather evidence of government secrecy and violation of the constitution, gather evidence the government is constructing a secret aircraft, establish conclusive contact with extraterrestrials, and determine the identity of The Leak. In addition to the four main plots in the game, a number of sub-plots are included and will randomly be introduced in any game at anytime.

The game is designed to be played again and again with many random events, puzzles and codes at all levels of game play. The title was developed exclusively for Novell's Consumer Division by the Judson Rosebush Company.

Pricing and System Requirements

The interactive adventure game will be available in September for the suggested retail price of $29.95 through software retailers, superstores, warehouse clubs or directly from Novell, Inc. at (800) 451-5151.

The interactive adventure game from Novell's PerfectHome consumer line will be available on CD-ROM for the Windows and Macintosh platforms. System requirements for the Windows version include a 486SX processor or higher with 4MB RAM, Windows 3.1, a double-speed CD-ROM drive, a 256-color video display and an MPC compatible sound card and speakers. The Macintosh system requirements include a Macintosh 68030 processor or higher with System 7.0 or higher, 2.5MB free disk space and a QuickTime compatible double-speed CD-ROM drive.

PerfectHome software continues to make home computers more practical and computing more pervasive with a wide range of titles in the areas of personal productivity, family entertainment and home education.