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May, 2002

E3, LOS ANGELES — May 22, 2002 — Capcom today announced the continuation of the multi-million dollar Resident Evil franchise with the sequels to the original blockbuster coming to Nintendo GameCube. Scheduled to release this winter are, Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3: Nemesis, developed by Shinji Mikami, Capcom’s executive producer and creator of the Resident Evil series. Resident Evil 2 is the next chapter in the unparalleled game that defines the survival horror genre. It begins as Raccoon City continues to endure an onslaught of terror and fear as a mysterious, flesh-eating virus spreads into the town that turns everyone it infects into zombies. Resident Evil 3: Nemesis is a unique action adventure that intricately reveals more of the Umbrella Corporation’s nightmarish plot and picks up just hours before the events of Resident Evil 2. The Resident Evil franchise has sold more than 20 million units worldwide. Both Resident Evil titles will be available at the suggested MSRP of $19.95. The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) has rated these games 'M' for mature audience.

Resident Evil 2 introduces players to Leon Kennedy, a Raccoon City rookie policeman, and Claire Redfield, a tough heroine in search of her brother. Players can control either Leon or Claire as they explore the entire Raccoon City locale with its huge 3D environments, and swarms of terrifying creatures of the undead.

Resident Evil 2 boasts the following features:
• Zap System – Intricate sub-plots weave together to create multiple game play scenarios. Players complete the game once, play it again as the other character and ultimately experience a different game from the first.
• Rookie Mode – Designed for novice players, this mode starts the player off with the three most powerful weapons in the game (rocket launcher, submachine gun and gattling gun) and unlimited ammunition.
• Damage indicators – As characters take on more and more damage it becomes increasingly difficult to escape from zombies. Players will see their character limp, stumble, and cringe from wounds and injuries.
• Hidden Characters – Play as Tofu and 4th Survivor in bonus mini games that can be accessed if the player completes and meets specific requirements.
• Hidden extreme battle mode – Offers three selectable levels with random enemy and item placement and four playable characters.
• Heightened interaction with game environments, mutant beasts, an arsenal of new weapons, and more mind-boggling puzzles.

Resident Evil 3: Nemesis sees the return of Jill Valentine, heroine and amazing survivor of the nightmare that began in the original Resident Evil. Players begin as 23 year-old Jill Valentine, a member of S.T.A.R.S. as she is packing to leave for Europe. Caught in Raccoon City, a town crawling with flesh eating zombies, Jill must once again rely on cunning and brute force to escape. Before she gets out of town, Jill is severely injured and is knocked unconscious. With the help of Carlos Oliveira, a 21-year old hot-blooded, tough guy from South America and one of the mercenaries Jill meets through her struggle to escape, players must search for a cure to save Jill from impending doom.

Resident Evil 3: Nemesis boasts the following features:
• More creatures that go bump in the night – 10 different types of zombies from both previous games.
• More challenging enemies – Enemies can come back to life at any time.
• “Dodge” feature – Makes it easier to avoid an enemy’s attack with timely movements of your character.
• “Live Selection” – Allows players to make decisions that affect the story’s outcome
• Interactive Environments – Greater interaction with the environment as background objects can be used defensively.

One of Capcom’s strongest franchise properties, Resident Evil established the survival horror genre when it originally released in 1996. The series has launched a line of action figures, comic books, and a major motion picture. It was the first video game that successfully captured all of the intensity, action and drama that horror directors like John Carpenter and Alfred Hitchcock achieved in the medium of film. The Resident Evil games have won numerous awards, remained at the top of charts, and frightened millions of game players around the world with a suspense and intrigue that few video games can match. Resident Evil is the horrific nightmare that unfolds when S.T.A.R.S. members discover a virus has infested Raccoon City, turning everyone it touches into zombies.