Accolade's Big Air Game to Feature Spiro, Beallo, and Blink 182
(July 29, 1998)

SAN JOSE, Calif.--July 29, 1998--Accolade, a leading publisher and developer of video game software, announced today that 10 bands, nine licensed snowboarding companies, seven clothing manufacturers and five professional snowboarders will appear in the company's upcoming snowboarding game, Big Air(TM).

The game will be available for the PlayStation(R) game console in the fall of this year.

"We are really trying to capture the authentic look and feel of snowboarding," said Monte Singman, senior producer of Big Air. "Big Air's exciting gameplay and inclusion of licensed music, pro snowboarders, official snowboards and gear lets gamers partake in a true snowboarding experience."

Gold-selling MCA recording artist, Blink 182, will have two songs on the game's soundtrack, "Dammit" and "Untitled." In addition to Blink 182, nine other bands will appear on the Big Air soundtrack: punk bands Diesel Boy, Limp, Leatherface and Snuff, ska bands Gangster Fun and Monkey, rock bands Caustic Notions and The Odd Numbers, as well as alternative club band Andalusia.

Users will have the ability to customize the soundtrack by selecting the songs and play order during the game. The Big Air soundtrack will include more than 25 songs.

Five professional snowboarders in Big Air appear as "boss" characters and include Nike Big Air champion Mike Beallo as well as Burton team rider and this year's Playboy Halfpipe champion Ian Spiro. Three additional snowboarders will also appear in the game.

Big Air will feature more than 80 real snowboards from such manufactures as Palmer, Ride, Morrow, Joyride, Arbor, Maui and Sons International, Burton, K2, and Nitro. Authentic clothing from such manufactures as Wave Rave, Westbeach, Quiksilver and Sessions will also be included in the game. Snowboarding companies K2, Ride, Maui and Sons International and Burton will contribute clothing as well.

Big Air allows players to choose from 30 courses including five unique Halfpipe, Big Air, Boardercross, Slalom or Freeride competitions in any of six countries. Courses are featured in Canada, Japan, Scotland, Switzerland, United States, and Germany. As players win competitions, they gain points and are awarded the opportunity to "travel" to other countries and compete in advanced snowboarding contests.

Big Air offers intense multiplayer action via horizontal or vertical split screen and supports PlayStation analog and Dual Shock(R) controllers.