TopDeck Magazine To Become Premier Resource For Wizards Of The Coast Game Fans New Group Publisher to Spearhead Innovative Publishing Strategy August 16, 1999 (Renton, Wash.)--Wizards of the Coast Inc. announced today the creation of a new flagship publication, TopDeckTM magazine. The new magazine, under the direction of new group publisher and industry expert Johnny L. Wilson, will be the authoritative resource for all Wizards of the Coast® trading card and strategy games. TopDeck magazine will incorporate the most popular features of the no-longer-published Duelist®, a magazine that primarily focused on the Magic: The Gathering® trading card game, and will include coverage of all Wizards of the Coast card games, with vital strategies for both novices and veterans of gaming. Every issue of TopDeck will spotlight a new release from Wizards of the Coast and will include a special pull-out section, prepunched for binders, that is related to the new release. Each issue will also feature a booster pack from a sought-after Wizards of the Coast card game; more than 20 pages of Magic: The Gathering coverage; information on every Wizards of the Coast trading card game; reviews and previews of online and CD-based strategy games; and the latest news about Wizards of the Coast and its products. "Unlike most magazines, TopDeck will be built around event publishing. We will be implementing ideas that have never been executed before in U.S. publishing," promised Johnny Wilson, group publisher of Wizards of the Coast periodicals. "We're making a commitment to event-based, value-packed, results-oriented publishing. Every issue will feature a new game; a booster pack, which has proven added value; a valuable resource ready for your card game binder; and tips and tricks for every game that will virtually jump off the pages and into your game play. We think TopDeck will literally fulfill the magazine publishing ideal of being an event in the gamer's mailbox each and every month." Said Peter Adkison, CEO of Wizards of the Coast, "I've always liked the idea of a flagship magazine. TopDeck will help to fulfill that vision and be a useful, all-inclusive medium for our readers. And to have Johnny Wilson, an experienced editorial director, on board to lead the charge positions us for great success." Johnny L. Wilson is a respected veteran of the games industry. A software reviewer at Computer Gaming World since 1982, he most recently held the positions of editor in chief and editorial director. Additionally, Mr. Wilson has appeared on numerous television news shows and has been a contributing writer to many newspapers, magazines and books. The first issue of TopDeck magazine will hit newsstands the first week of November, at a suggested retail price of $5.99. TopDeck joins Dragon® Magazine and Dungeon® Adventures, both currently published by Wizards of the Coast. Wizards of the Coast, the worldwide market share leader in the trading card game and tabletop roleplaying game categories, is a leading developer and publisher of game-based entertainment products as well as the owner and operator of one of the nation's largest specialty game retail chains. Producing both the PokémonTM* and world's best-selling Magic: The Gathering® trading card games, the company holds an exclusive patent on the play mechanic of trading card games. Publisher of adventure games such as the classic Dungeons & Dragons games, family card and board games and electronic media products, Wizards of the Coast is also one of the world's leading fantasy and science fiction book publishers. The company's retail locations, many of which provide game-play areas, include a growing chain of Wizards of the Coast® specialty game retail stores as well as 53 The Game Keeper® stores. Headquartered near Seattle, Washington, Wizards of the Coast has international offices in Antwerp, Paris, Milan, London and Beijing. For more information on Wizards of the Coast, visit the company's website and electronic retail store at .