PROMOTERS OF MICROSOFT� PARODY EJECTED
FROM COMDEX SHOW FLOOR
Bill Gates look-alike is expelled, too; "No sense of humor?"
LAS VEGAS, NV (November 19, 1997) � In yet another confirmation that the PC industry takes itself far too seriously, Comdex officials physically expelled a Bill Gates look-alike and Parroty Interactive personnel from the convention show floor. The group from Parroty Interactive, the humor division of Palladium Interactive, were promoting the company�s new CD-ROM parody of Microsoft, The operating system and �the man�, called Microshaft WinblowsTM 98, which ships January 1998.
At Comdex, as part of Parroty Interactive�s announcement of Microshaft Winblows 98, the company contracted a Bill Gates look-alike to distribute Microshaft Winblows 98 buttons and cards on the Comdex show floor. Late Tuesday afternoon, Comdex security personnel shut down distribution of Microshaft Winblows 98 materials and expelled the Bill Gates look-alike and a support team from Parroty Interactive from the Las Vegas convention center grounds. This expulsion took place after two days of Comdex crowds mobbing the look-alike for pictures and Microshaft Winblows 98 materials.
"Microshaft Winblows 98 may be a joke but getting thrown off the show floor was certainly not a joke," said Palladium�s vice president of marketing, Rob Halligan. "We have every right to parody Bill Gates and Microsoft in Las Vegas, as we do in our product Microshaft Winblows 98. We certainly plan to register a protest with Comdex officials. Don�t these people have a sense of humor?"
Scheduled to ship in January 1998, Microshaft Winblows 98�s hard drive of high-tech hilarity includes such things as:
- VirtualBill - Your very own on-screen cyber pet. Nurture him, feed him lots of money and tend to his every need or else he throws a tantrum in this parody spin off of the virtual pet craze!
- Bill�s Personal Outlook - Where does He want to go today? Take a satirical sneak peek at "you know who�s" to-do list, e-mail and journal and more.
- The Roll Ahead - Players can "Be Like Bill" as they acquire corporations and invest millions in this Microshaft board game!
- Winblows Exploder - Players attempt to shoot their way though a universe of computer bugs, viruses and those annoying fault screens.
- And much more.
- For more information and to download a free Microshaft Winblows 98 screen saver, visit www.winblows.com.
About Palladium Interactive
Headquartered in Larkspur, California, Palladium Interactive is a developer and publisher of top quality consumer software. For more information on Palladium Interactive and its products, the company's web site can be accessed at http://www.palladium.net.
About Mindscape, Inc.
Mindscape, Inc., distributor of Palladium Interactive�s products in North America, is a leading developer and publisher of consumer software for the home, entertainment, education and reference markets. Founded in 1980, Mindscape is part of Pearson, plc, the international media group based in London, which focuses on the information, education and entertainment markets.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT:
Robert Naify
Palladium Interactive
(415) 464-5500, ext. 417
rnaify@palladium.net
Sandra Yee
Access Communications
415) 904-7070, ext. 274
syee@accesspr.com
