Hip Interactive Europe Announces Rugby Challenge 2006 Title With Swordfish Studios

Marseilles, May 11th 2005.

For the first time in many years the Northern Hemisphere Rugby nations are now on equal billing with their Southern Hemisphere counterparts and the competition for the top position has never been so close with even the minnows of the International scene coming up with shock results. Rugby Union has never been so competitive or so popular, even at club level.

Hip Interactive, world leading publisher of PC and videogames, is pleased to announce the forthcoming release of Rugby Challenge 2006 from the much acclaimed developers of World Championship Rugby, a top-5 selling release in the United Kingdom and France since its launch last year.

Rugby Challenge 2006 promises to deliver the action with slick presentation, together with unsurpassed hard hitting encounters that avid Rugby fans richly deserve and expect. Developed by Swordfish Studios, which was recently named Developer of the Year at the second annual TIGA awards, Rugby Challenge 2006 will feature:

New competitions - featuring both international and domestic clubs, including Heineken Cup, 6 Nations Tournaments, Zurich Premiership, Celtic League, French National League (Top 16), etc.

Players/Teams - all the licensed players and teams are researched before they are entered into the game.

Career mode - enables players to manage, wheel and deal and play your way to the top.

Training & Tutorial modes - number of levels including sub games to achieve personal bests.

Weather Conditions - choices to play a game in dry or wet conditions, and either during daytime or in the evening.

Stadia - There is a mixture of both real-life stadiums (such as Murrayfield, Lansdowne Road, Twickenham, Millennium Stadium, etc.) and fictional stadiums.

Plus a lot more to be announced at E3.

Utilizing a mixture of motion captured and hand animation for top class presentation, along with cutting edge AI for sophisticated tactical manipulation, Rugby Challenge 2006 will delight gamers with its immersive gameplay and easy to understand manipulation.

Rugby Challenge 2006 - the next leap forward.

*This title is for EUROPEAN release only and is not approved or endorsed by Sony Computer Entertainment of America.

"PlayStation" and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

About Hip Interactive Europe ( www.hip-europe.com ) :

Hip Interactive Europe is a full subsidiary of Hip Interactive (TSX: HP). Hip Interactive is a publisher and distributor of videogames and accessories for interactive leisure. With its headquarters in Marseilles (France), Hip Interactive Europe publishes and distributes videogames on all the European territories as well as other PAL territories. Hip Interactive Europe is present on all the main platforms: PC, PlayStation 2, Xbox and Game Boy Advance. Hip Interactive Europe produces games based on its own brands but also on licences coming from the most important Hollywood Majors such as The Mummy The Animated series from Universal or Garfield from PAWS.

About Swordfish Studios:

Swordfish Studios is one of Europe's most respected independent game development studios. Based in Birmingham, UK and with over 10 years development experience. The studio is currently working on the following projects :-

Cold Winter - Vivendi Universal Games - PS2

Brian Lara International Cricket - Codemasters - PS2, XBOX, PC

Games previously developed by the studio include:-

Jonah Lomu Rugby

UEFA Striker

Hostile Waters (Antaeus Rising)

World Championship Rugby

For more information contact Derek@hip-europe.com