Leading European Portals Select RealNetworks RealArcade to Power Their Downloadable Casual Game Service

Leading European Portals Select RealNetworks RealArcade to Power Their Downloadable Casual Game Service

SEATTLE, January 5/PRNewswire/ --

- Portals in Germany, France and The United Kingdom Provide Casual Games
Powered by RealArcade



RealNetworks(R), Inc. (Nasdaq: RNWK), announced continued expansion of
its casual games business in Europe through new partnerships with two of the
largest European portals, RTL in Germany, Free, the second largest portal in
France and an ongoing partnership with UK-based cable operator, Telewest
Broadband.


Today's announcements reinforce the unique advantages of RealArcade as
the preferred partner for portals looking for breadth with over 250
downloadable games and over 80 online Web-based games that point to the
explosive growth projections of the casual games business worldwide in Europe
with estimated revenues of over US$500 million by 2009.(1)


"Europe's leading portals choose RealArcade for the selection, ease and
the best localized technology for game consumers to enjoy casual games via
the PC," said Julie Pitt, Senior Marketing Director, RealArcade "We've
created an environment for consumers all over the world to play the most
popular downloadable games with RealArcade."


In the third quarter of 2004, Real's games revenue grew 189% to
US$9.1 million from US$3.2 million in the third quarter of 2003. Since its
founding in 2001, RealArcade has become leading service for downloadable
games, the fastest growing category of PC games that provides electronic
versions of classic board, puzzle and card games with great titles like Zuma
Deluxe, Super Collapse II, Scrabble Download Edition and Feeding Frenzy.


Real has over 1.5 million paying subscribers to its paid content services
including RealArcade GamePass. With a deep family of consumer products and
services, broadband operators can work with Real to offer these products and
services to their customers to enrich and expand their broadband portals and
other service offerings. As a leading games service on the Internet for
mainstream downloadable games, RealArcade delivers a uniquely compelling
consumer experience that supports both transaction and subscription-based
games acquisition for consumers.



About RealArcade


RealArcade offers consumers a fun, unique and compelling way to discover,
acquire and play PC games -- bringing together a wide array of games and
services in a single, easy to use environment. RealArcade provides
play-before-you-pay access to the best in downloadable games (titles such as
Super Collapse II, Diamond Mine, and Red Ace Squadron), free online Web
games, broadband games, and Palm games. Integrated game manuals, message
boards and user ratings enable RealArcade users to play their games with
greater ease and knowledge. RealArcade also recognizes and manages retail CD
titles and top shareware games, giving users a one-stop destination for games
on their PC. Features such as download and installation management, automatic
check of system requirements and integrated e-commerce make acquiring and
playing games a fun, easy and reliable experience for consumers. RealArcade
is available for free at: www.RealArcade.com.



About RealNetworks, Inc.


RealNetworks, Inc. is the leading creator of digital media services and
software including the award-winning Rhapsody Internet jukebox service,
RealArcade casual games service and RealPlayer 10, the first product to
integrate finding, organizing, buying, playing and managing digital audio and
video in a single product. Consumers can access and experience audio/video
programming and download RealNetworks' consumer software at
http://www.real.com . Broadcasters, network operators, media companies and
enterprises use RealNetworks' products and services to create and deliver
digital media to PCs, mobile phones and consumer electronics devices.
RealNetworks' systems and corporate information is located at
http://www.realnetworks.com .



NOTE: RealNetworks, RealOne, Rhapsody and RadioPass are trademarks or
registered trademarks of RealNetworks, Inc. All other trademarks are the
property of their respective owners.



(1) Source: DFC Intelligence Online Gaming Report 2004



Web site: http://www.realnetworks.com




Source: RealNetworks, Inc.

Maureen Farley of RealNetworks, Inc., +1-206-892-6653, or mfarley@real.com


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