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Artifact Entertainmnet Selects NTT/VERIO Hosting To Manage Its Online Game
Environment

Working with viaVerio® channel partner Venicom, Artifact teams with
NTT/VERIO solutions to deliver managed hosting solution for its massively
multiplayer game, "Horizons"

Englewood, CO, Nov. 12, 2003 - Verio, a subsidiary of NTT Communications and
a leading global IP solutions provider, today announced it will manage a new
massive multiplayer, online gaming (MMOG) hosting environment for Artifact
Entertainment, a worldwide provider of interactive entertainment content,
media, delivery and technology.

Artifact is launching the world’s first turnkey interactive entertainment
production system in Fall 2003, known as, "Horizons: Empire of Istaria," a
cinematic quality massively multi-player online game, built using Artifact’s
proprietary interactive simulation technology, Evolution EngineTM. The game
delivers adventure in the form of lost civilizations, buried treasures and
new frontiers.

The market potential for massive multiplayer online entertainment is
enormous. Horizons and the Artifact Entertainment Network are targeted at a
potential 50 million worldwide consumers that are currently playing online
games. The initial consumer focus will be geared towards the existing MMOG
consumer, which is estimated at over 14 million worldwide subscribers
according to a recent report by Datamonitor.

To support the estimated market penetration and level of anticipated demand
on the network, Artifact Entertainment has teamed with Verio to provide a
fully managed, highly scalable and redundant multi-server configuration with
load-balancing and managed security services.

"With the volume and growth we are expecting, as well as the type of dynamic
content experience we are delivering, and rapid increases in game user
volume requiring immediate managed hosting infrastructure changes with less
than 15 days notice, we needed a solutions provider that could meet the
performance and infrastructure requirements our complex massive multiplayer
game demands," said James Jones, co-president of Artifact Entertainment.

"Because of Verio’s experience in the industry, and the knowledge of their
technical team, we have worked hand in hand to construct a solution that
will be scaleable, secure, and above all, deliver high availability for our
customers."

The Artifact Entertainment Horizons’ solution leverages the full redundancy
and global capability of the NTT/VERIO IP network. "Network capacity and
bandwidth is certainly a big consideration given the business we are in,"
added Jones. "We found that the infrastructure and support systems in place
at Verio will help deliver an on-demand solution to meet our anticipated but
periodic massive traffic spikes."

The debut of Horizons has already seen Artifact partnering with industry
leaders such as Atari and in Europe, Digital Brothers.

Early beta reviews of Horizons in industry sources show it is already a
contender to lead the pack of new MMOGs. IGN’s Vault Network, a top rated
gaming website stated that, "When you add together everything Artifact
Entertainment has put into Horizons: a deep and immersive crafting system,
nine playable races including Dragons, player owned property, and player
built cities, Horizons is the game to get this year." Horizons won this
year’s "Game of Show" from IGN’s Vault Network, and also received
recognition in areas including Best Sound, Developer of the Year and Best of
Show: RPG from Daily Game at the 2003 Electronic Entertainment Expo.

"Artifact Entertainment is poised to become the next leading online gaming
provider as it takes advantage of its proprietary technology engine and
product delivery, and as we see increasing use of broadband capability in
households in both the US and worldwide," said Isabel Ehringer, president of
Verio Enterprise Hosting. "In addition to preparing for a successful launch
this fall, Artifact is already at work planning for the development of new
titles and products. With this ongoing expansion, Verio will work closely
with Artifact to ensure we continue to offer the premium solutions that a
growing company like Artifact Entertainment demands."

About Artifact Entertainment

Artifact Entertainment, Inc. is a privately held developer of Online
Interactive Entertainment Environments and revolutionary Multi-User
Networked Simulations for the gaming and military communities. Artifact
strives to provide quality entertainment experiences using superior
technology, proven design methods, broad market appeal, customer
satisfaction and the highest quality staff. Artifact is currently developing
the highly anticipated, fantasy based Massively Multiplayer Game called
"Horizons: Empire of Istaria". More information on Artifact Entertainment,
Inc. can be found at http://www.artifact-entertainment.com or on Horizons at
http://www.istaria.com.

About Venicom

Venicom created its carrier neutral relationships with multiple Tier One
backbones to become a unique, single source bandwidth consulting and
procurement company. Venicom acts as a single point of contact for its
clients concerning all of their connectivity needs including data, voice,
and local services as well as consultation for purchasing services such as
co-location, web hosting, hardware and dark fiber. By procuring contracts
directly from each carrier for clients, not only does Venicom provide the
lowest prices possible, but insures the highest level of direct carrier
support and customer service.

About Verio

Verio Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of NTT Communications (NTT Com),
which provides long distance and international telecommunications reaching
over 200 countries worldwide. Verio is the world’s largest operator of Web
sites for businesses and a leading provider of global IP solutions. NTT Com
and Verio market their global IP solutions under the NTT/VERIO brand. The
company offers businesses a broad range of Internet services, including Web
hosting, dedicated access, virtual private networks, and managed service
offerings, among other enhanced services. Verio supports its operations with
highly reliable and scalable global infrastructure and systems including the
NTT/VERIO Global IP Network, and provides Web hosting services to customers
in more than 170 countries. The combination of Verio and NTT Com offers
services to meet the growing and diverse needs of all businesses, including
small to medium businesses, large global enterprises and multi-national
corporations. More information can be found at www.verio.com and
www.ntt.com/index-e.html.

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