Hotei_release

May 16, 1996

LEGENDARY JAPANESE ROCK GUITARIST HOTEI TO STAR IN NEW VIRTUAL MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT TITLE

“The Stolen Song” featuring one of Japan's hottest rock stars, to be published for the multimedia PC, Macintosh computer and Sony PlayStation platforms in May 1997, will be the industry's first rock and roll mystery adventure.

With 3-million Sony PlayStation systems installed in Japan,the market potential of “The Stolen Song” is very strong.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, May 16, 1996 - In a further move to globalize the Virtual Music phenomenon, Virtual Music Entertainment Inc. today announced that the leading recording artist Hotei will star in a new interactive music CD title “The Stolen Song”. Scheduled for release in May 1997 for the multimedia PC, Macintoshr computer, and Sony PlayStationÒ platforms, “The Stolen Song” is the industry's first rock and roll mystery adventure, pitting air guitarists against time and Tokyo's underground as they strive to rescue Hotei from a group of kidnappers.

"This new Virtual Music title will be very different from "Quest For Fame", which features Aerosmith," Virtual Music Entertainment President and Chief Executive Officer Bradley J. Naples said today at the 1996 E3 trade show in Los Angeles. "Now being produced on location in Japan and the United States, “The Stolen Song” promises to be a riveting rock and roll mystery that will feature Hotei and his music in a wide variety of settings that some might compare to the Beatles' film "Help" - only this new title will feature cutting edge digital audio, animation, and real-time signal processing technology that will forever change the way people play entertainment software." According to Naples, “The Stolen Song” will also feature original new music from Hotei that will be available exclusively on the new Virtual Music title.

The Toshiba/EMI recording artist Hotei is 34 years old and has, over the last decade, sold some 20-million albums. His unique talent as a guitar virtuoso has carved out Hotei a place amongst international guitar legends and opened up opportunities for him to perform alongside some of the music industry's true greats - including in the very near future dates with David Bowie (June 1996) and a rather special performance with composer Michael Kamen planned for Atlanta, Georgia (August 1996). Born and raised in Japan, Hotei has been described as a cross between Eric Clapton (for his technical proficiency) and the artist formerly known as Prince (for his outrageous style). Hotei's most recent album, "King and Queen," debuted in Japan in the number one position.

"The market potential of an interactive music CD featuring Hotei is extremely strong," today stated Frank Foster, Virtual Music Entertainment's Vice President of Marketing. "There are already 3-million Sony PlayStation game systems installed in Japan, where interactivity has been part of the popular culture for decades. As a result, we believe that a Virtual Music title that marries together revolutionary interactive technology with an incredibly popular recording artist will be an immediate hit in Japan. We further believe that Hotei's growing worldwide popularity, coupled with a mystery that takes you into the depths of cultish underground Tokyo, will help make this very exciting adventure a success in other markets."

Set in the unique rock and roll club world of Tokyo, “The Stolen Song” begins with Hotei teaching the player the first part of the title song. Shortly thereafter, Hotei is kidnapped. The player's challenge, using the virtual guitar pick that comes with the adventure, is to convince the other members of Hotei's band that he or she can play along with the band well enough to join the search for the missing rock star. Once enjoined in the search, the player encounters a series of interactive multimedia challenges, surprises and clues that must be deciphered if Hotei is to be found in time for the big concert finale. According to Foster, the adventure will initially be produced in Japanese with an English version to follow.

Headquartered in Andover, Massachusetts, Virtual Music Entertainment Inc. is a leading developer and marketer of interactive music entertainment software for all major entertainment platforms - multimedia PC, Macintosh, and next generation video game systems. The company's entire virtual music product line is designed to provide non-musicians with the experience of playing along with their favorite artists' music in a live sequence of scenes and events. The company's patented technology uses sophisticated real-time signal processing, high quality video, animation, and studio sounds.