Bethesda Softworks Announces
IHRA Professional Drag Racing 2005

Next generation of drag racing comes to PlayStation®2, Xbox, and PC

May 7, 2004 (Rockville, MD) - Bethesda Softworks® announced today it will publish IHRA Professional Drag Racing 2005 (IHRA 2005) for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, the Xbox® video game system from Microsoft, and PC this fall. IHRA 2005 marks a new direction for the popular IHRA series with its new racing engine and gameplay that have been completely redesigned from the ground up to simulate the thrill and excitement of racing a 6,000-horsepower dragster.

Utilizing the IHRA (International Hot Rod Association) license to its full potential, IHRA 2005 features over 24 professional drivers and all 11 IHRA-sanctioned tracks from the 2004 Hooters Racing Circuit. Using NDL's Gamebryo™ graphics engine to render the tracks and cars in stunning detail, IHRA 2005 will feature broadcast style race presentation with TV-style camera fly-bys and color commentary to fully immerse the user in the on-track and trackside environment.

"What Bethesda Softworks has accomplished with this new generation of drag racing game is amazing," said Aaron Polburn, Vice President of marketing for the IHRA. "Everything Bethesda and the IHRA have worked so hard for over the last four years is now going to become a reality. Seeing how fantastic the cars and tracks looked in the new game gave me goose bumps the size of golf balls."

Designed to appeal to the casual racer along with the drag racing enthusiast, the game will offer a quick play Arcade mode along with a detailed simulation mode where players can build a top racing team and compete in the 12-event National IHRA Professional Drag Racing Championship. More than 50 accurate and detailed vehicles will be fully customizable in the games garage and paint shop. All new off-track options like the parts shop, garage, and trophy room along with detailed weather/atmosphere dynamics and day and night racing ensure endless hours of game play.

"What we have accomplished with IHRA 2005 will bring drag racing to gamers in a way that is both familiar and different," said Vlatko Andonov, President of Bethesda Softworks. "Every aspect of the game from the shop to the strip is designed to make this the definitive showcase for the IHRA events, tracks, and drivers with all the detail and depth that you'd want. At the same time we're able to do it in a very straightforward way that is accessible enough to put the raw power of these awesome cars in the hands of anybody."

IHRA Professional Drag Racing 2005 is scheduled for release in Q4 2004 for Playstation®2, Xbox, and PC CD-ROM.

About IHRA
Founded in 1970 and headquartered in Norwalk, Ohio, the International Hot Rod Association LLC (IHRA) remains on the cutting edge of professional drag racing. IHRA's National Event schedule is currently made up of 11 races on tracks coast to coast. Featuring 15 classes of competition, including Top Fuel Dragster, Pro Modified, Funny Car, Sunoco Pro Stock, Pro Outlaw, Top Dragster, Modified, Quick Rod, Super Rod, Hot Rod, Super Stock, Stock, and E.T. Bracket, IHRA showcases the world's top racers driving drag racing's most technically advanced vehicles. IHRA recently entered into a multi-year agreement with TNN to televise their races.

About Xbox
Xbox (http://www.xbox.com) is the video game system from Microsoft that brings people together for the most exhilarating game and entertainment experiences. Xbox delivers an expansive collection of breakthrough games, powerful hardware and the unified Xbox Live online service. The new tagline, "it's good to play together," captures the spirit of Xbox as the social hub of the new digital entertainment lifestyle. Xbox is now available in North America, Asia, Europe and Australia.

About Gamebryo™
Gamebryo is an exclusive product of Numerical Design Ltd. (NDL), with offices in Chapel Hill, N.C., and Silicon Valley, Calif. Founded in 1983, NDL has been responsible for major developments in 3D graphics technology incorporated into leading PC and game software.

IHRA Professional Drag Racing 2005 © 2004 Bethesda Softworks LLC, a ZeniMax Media company. To be distributed under license from IHRA Motorsports. IHRA Motorsports and the "Nothin' But Attitude" slogan are registered trademarks of International Hot Rod Association, LLC. Bethesda Softworks, ZeniMax and their logos are registered trademarks of ZeniMax Media Inc. Microsoft, Xbox and the Xbox logos are registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. PlayStation and the PlayStation logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Other product and company names referenced herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. All Rights Reserved.