03.31.02

Dale Brymesser and Adrian Dorja added to the Roster of Mechwarriors.  Combat Calendar updated - Astral Dominion League (ADL) Test Turn 2 Combat Phase Begins.

03.24.02

Firewalker transferred to the Dropship Reserves.  Hydra promoted to Regiment Commander (RCOM) of the 4th Skye Rangers.

[MEDIA ALERT] MASAKARI, ZEUS TRIUMPHANT IN "SELECT A 'MECH" ONLINE SURVEYS:  03.21.02
From: dan@arbuthnot.com

Two Top-Rated 'Mechs to be Included in Upcoming MechWarrior 4 'Mech Paks

The results are in! Microsoft today announced that its MechWarrior® 4 "Select A 'Mech" online surveys are complete. The winners: From the MechWarrior universe's Inner Sphere, the Zeus, an 80-ton long-range Assault 'Mech; and from the world of the Clans, the Masakari, a deadly-accurate, 85-ton Assault 'Mech.

The surveys allowed MechWarrior fans to help decide which 'Mechs will appear in future MechWarrior releases. The Zeus will play a featured role in the MechWarrior 4: Inner Sphere 'Mech Pak, and the Masakari will appear in the MechWarrior 4: Clan 'Mech Pak.

Tens of thousands of votes were cast in the two surveys, and both were close contests. The Zeus took the top spot in the Inner Sphere poll by fewer than 200 votes over the massive, jump-capable Highlander, which will also be featured in the Inner Sphere 'Mech Pak. Write-in nominations included many favorite 'Mechs, including the Avatar, the Devastator, and the lovable "Urbie" (UrbanMech) from MechCommander 2.

"All the familiar names were there," said FASA studio producer TJ "PAINGOD" Wagner. "We'll take a long look at these 'Mechs and explore every possibility of getting them added to future titles."

In the Clan poll, the Masakari edged out the Kodiak by less than one percentage point, so the Kodiak will be another featured player in the Clan 'Mech Pak. The top five write-in 'Mechs were the Blood Asp, Cauldron-Born, Puma, SuperNova, and the Turkina.

"This one was really down to the wire," Wagner said. "I kept refreshing my browser every 30 seconds to see who was winning."

Players can check out the Inner Sphere survey results at http://www.microsoft.com/games/mw4_blackknight/is_mechs.asp. Clan results are available at http://www.microsoft.com/games/mw4_blackknight/future_mechs.asp.

The Inner Sphere 'Mech Pak will contain the following four 'Mechs:

The Clan 'Mech Pak will feature the following four 'Mechs:

Both 'Mech Paks will also feature a new multiplayer map, plus new weapon and sensor technology.

The MechWarrior 4: Inner Sphere 'Mech Pak will include:

The Clan Pak will include:

The Paks extend the gameplay for the best-selling, award-winning MechWarrior 4: Vengeance, based on the popular game of mechanized combat from FASA Studios™. Each Pak will give players new 'Mechs, a new electronics package, a new weapon, and a multiplayer map. Cyberlore, the team behind the successful MechWarrior 4: Black Knight expansion, is developing the Paks in conjunction with the FASA MechWarrior 4 team. The MechWarrior 4: Inner Sphere 'Mech Pak will be available in retail locations throughout North America in May. The Clan 'Mech Pak will be available this Summer. Both will have an ESRB rating of "T" for Teen and a suggested retail price below $20. For more information, please visit: http://www.microsoft.com/games/mechpaks/.

MechWarrior is either a registered trademark or trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.

Dan Bennett
Arbuthnot Communications, Inc.
9000 W. Sunset Blvd, Suite 1010
Los Angeles, CA 90069

[PRESS RELEASE] MECHASSAULT RUMBLES ONTO XBOX:  03.22.02
From: jon@arbuthnot.com

For Immediate Release

“MechAssault” Rumbles Onto Xbox

Popular “BattleTech” Franchise to Make Its Console Debut With Online Features

REDMOND, Wash. - March 22, 2002 - Microsoft® Game Studios today announced that “MechAssault,” a sci-fi action/shooter game based on the highly successful “BattleTech” franchise, will be available this fall exclusively for the Xbox™ video game system.

“MechAssault,” a futuristic sci-fi third-person shooter game, will allow gamers to command a huge walking tank known as a BattleMech. Players will battle foes and take out enemy structures while maneuvering the huge BattleMech, or ’Mech, through a variety of environments. A dozen powerful BattleMechs will be available in “MechAssault,” each with massive firepower. “MechAssault” will feature complete destruction on a level never seen before — everything in the world can be destroyed bit by bit. Gamers can play a variety of missions with multiple objectives that require tactics and skill. “MechAssault” on Xbox also will include online features.

“We are going to blow action gamers’ minds when they unleash the massive firepower and military strength of ‘MechAssault,’” said Pete Parsons, director of marketing for Microsoft Game Studios.

“MechAssault” is being developed by Day 1 Studios.

About Day 1

Day 1 Studios is an independent developer dedicated to the craft of creating revolutionary, interactive entertainment through superior design, artistic and technical processes. Day 1 Studios is currently developing “MechAssault” for Microsoft. This “BattleTech” action game will be available only on Xbox. With a heritage spawned from premier development houses, Day 1 operates studios in Chicago and Hunt Valley, Md. For additional information, contact Denny Thorley at (312) 258-0500, ext. 248.

About Microsoft Game Studios

Microsoft Game Studios is a leading worldwide games company with two core businesses: games development and publishing (http://www.microsoft.com/games/) and Zone.com. Zone.com (http://www.zone.com/) is the Internet’s largest game site.

About Xbox

Xbox (http://www.xbox.com/) is Microsoft’s future-generation video game system that delivers the most powerful games experiences ever. Xbox empowers game artists by giving them the technology to fulfill their creative visions as never before, creating games that blur the lines between fantasy and reality. Xbox is now available in North America, Japan, Europe and Australia.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software - any time, any place and on any device.

The information contained in this press release relates to a prerelease product that may be substantially modified before its first commercial release. Accordingly, the information may not accurately describe or reflect the product when first commercially released. The press release is provided for informational purposes only, and Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied, with respect to the press release or the information contained in it.

Microsoft and Xbox are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/ on Microsoft’s corporate information pages. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may since have changed. Journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team for additional assistance.

Arbuthnot Communications, Inc.
9000 W. Sunset Blvd., Suite 1010
Los Angeles, CA 90069

03.14.02

Reno promoted to Hauptmann (HPT).  Badger added to the Roster of Mechwarriors.

Skye Rangers Win First Raid Against Word of Blake (WoB) on Terra (by default):  03.11.02

Subj: Re: WoB Raid
Date: 3/11/02 7:33:20 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: admin@astral-dominion-league.com
To: Arturus@aol.com

you would win, with 5 engagements

----- Original Message -----

>With WoB going south on you, how would our Raid on WoB (Terra) be
>resolved...a win for LA ? And if so, do I report on the combat record
>that LA wins but 0 successful engagements.

>Please advise. I should have conducted an all-out assault on WoB...:)

Thanks !

<SALUTE>

SFC/GEN Arturus Steiner/Command/Sunder
Skye Front Commander - Lyran Alliance
Brigade Commander of the Skye Rangers
Zone Name: LCAF_Arturus_SR
http:/www.skye-rangers.net

03.07.02

MonkeyMan awarded Medal of Honor for achieving 10,000+ kills !!!  Reno added to the Roster of Mechwarriors.  Combat Phase of the first 'test turn' of Astral Dominion MW4 League starts.

03.03.02

Hydra promoted to Leutnant Colonel (LT-COL).  Combat Calendar updated with DAILY practices at 8 - 11 PM EST.  First Astral Dominion MW4 League test turn to be completed by 03.06.02.  Astral Dominion MW4 League sent Roster of Mechwarriors of mechwarriors who will be participating in ADL league online play.