Playboy: The Mansion Screenshots

TORONTO – OCTOBER 13, 2004 - Hip Interactive's (TSX:HP) wholly-owned subsidiary, ARUSH Publishing, in conjunction with Groove Games, today announced that the highly-anticipated video-game release, "Playboy: The Mansion" has achieved beta status. A lifestyle simulation game that allows players to virtually assume the role of Playboy visionary Hugh Hefner, "Playboy: The Mansion" offers gamers unsurpassed freedom in simulating building the Playboy business and publishing Playboy Magazine. Developed by Cyberlore Studios for the PlayStation(R)2, the Xbox(R) video game system from Microsoft and PC, "Playboy: The Mansion" is rated M for Mature by the ESRB and is slated to launch during the first quarter of 2005.

"We are thrilled with the progress of the game as we reach beta and look forward to giving gamers the perfect cure for the post-holiday blues with a launch in early 2005," said Jim Perkins, President of ARUSH Publishing. "'Playboy: The Mansion' is a glamorous, fun take on the simulation genre and will capture the imagination of those who have dreamed of stepping into Hef's shoes."

"Playboy: The Mansion" allows players to virtually live the charmed life of Hugh Hefner, throwing celebrity-packed parties and interacting with the most beautiful women in the world. Through the game, they can control every aspect of Playboy Magazine, calling the shots on major business moves and directing photo shoots, all from the comfort of a customizable interpretation of the world-famous Playboy
Mansion. As players' influence and bank accounts grow, they will be able to unlock decades of photo shoots and magazine covers straight from the Playboy vault as inspiration for fulfilling Hef's vision of building Playboy into the most successful men's monthly magazine in the world.