(NORFOLK, Va., August 23, 2001) - Decipher announces plans today for its captivating trading card game based on the epic adventure trilogy The Lord of the Rings. Designed to transport players to "Middle-earth," The Lord of the Rings™ Trading Card Game will give them the power to direct the quest undertaken by the characters that comprise The Fellowship of the Ring.

The retail street date for The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game has been set for Tuesday, November 6, 2001. The English language release will be international, with plans for the game to be available in five additional languages: French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian.

The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game will be available in the following configurations: (1) 63-card Starter Decks. Starter Decks will come in two versions, each focusing on different characters (one set contains Gandalf and Moria orcs, the other contains Aragorn and Uruk-hai warriors); (2) Deluxe Starter Sets, featuring playing stones, a collector storage box, a 63-card deck (contains Hobbits and Ringwraiths), and other premium items; and (3) 11-card booster packs.

The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game is a fast-paced, strategy game that focuses on the Fellowship's desperate quest to get the One Ring to Mordor. Players control the forces of Sauron and the brave members of the Fellowship as they try to advance their parties though the realm of Middle-earth and to thwart the advances of their opponent's Ring-bearer. There are three ways to win the game: (1) Successfully and safely get the Ring-bearers to the end of the adventure path; (2) Kill the opponent's Ring-bearer; or (3) Corrupt the opponent's Ring-bearer. The transition to multiplayer is easy as opponents mount up their minions to try and stop each other. While the risk is greater, so is the potential for reward as each player has the opportunity to move down the adventure path more quickly!

Decipher will continue to expand The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game well into the future, with a long-term license covering all three New Line Cinema movies (the second and third films - The Two Towers and Return of the King - are scheduled to launch in December 2002 and 2003 respectively.) Decipher plans to introduce three expansion sets per year.

Approximately 500 Decipher Product Champions will help launch The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game. These volunteers will form the street team of players, tournament directors, and fans who perform in-store demos, arcade demos, and theater promotions, as well as provide convention and tournament support. In return, they receive free product and will be privy to confidential information about the game months before its release. In addition, Decipher will give these product champions other premium The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game items not available to the public.

The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game tournaments and in-store Leagues will begin shortly after the product release in November. The first, officially-sanctioned The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game Tournament will be held at DecipherCon 2001, November 15-18 in Virginia Beach, Va. For more information about DecipherCon, check out Decipher's Web site at www.decipher.com.

Following this inaugural event, two-player and multiplayer tournaments will be held in locations throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and Australia. Leagues designed to develop a sense of community around the Trading Card Game will take place in stores and other locations around the world. Leagues promote gameplay, while also encouraging participants to become involved with the storyline and property.

A special area on decipher.com is being developed and will offer "inside" information on the development of the game, a first look at the cards and game rules, as well as serve as the Internet community for discussion among fans and players alike.

Decipher also has the rights to The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying Game and plans to launch the Introductory Adventure Game in December and roleplaying game in February 2002.

For more information about New Line Cinema's The Lord of the Rings trilogy, go to www.lordoftherings.net

About Decipher.
Founded in 1983, Decipher Inc. is a worldwide leader in the collectible card game industry. Decipher is dedicated to The Art of Great Games®. The company's product lines include the Star Trek™ Customizable Card Game, Star Wars™ Customizable Card Game, Young Jedi™ Collectible Card Game, Jedi Knights™ Trading Card Game, and The Lord of the Rings™ Trading Card Game - scheduled to release holiday 2001. Decipher's new Roleplaying Games and Miniatures Studio is responsible for the creation of the all-new Star Trek™ Roleplaying Game and The Lord of the Rings™ Roleplaying Games - set to launch this year. In addition, Decipher's Games Studio produces leading party, card and board games such as How To Host A Murder®,

How To Host A Teen Mystery™, Boy Crazy!™, Girl Power!™, Pente®, Scratchees™ and more. In 2001, Decipher acquired the staff and assets of FANtastic media, becoming the operator of the Official Star Trek Fan Club. Visit www.decipher.com for additional product and tournament information, news, contests, and interactive features.

About New Line Cinema.
Founded in 1967, New Line Cinema is the entertainment industry's leading independent producer and distributor of theatrical motion pictures. New Line licenses its films to ancillary markets including cable and broadcast television as well as to international venues. The company, which is a subsidiary of AOL Time Warner Inc., operates several divisions including in-house theatrical distribution, marketing, home video, television, acquisitions, production, licensing and merchandising units. More information about New Line Cinema can be obtained at www.newline.com.

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The Lord of the Rings
Trading Card Game

Release Schedule for the First Nine Expansion Sets:

1. The Fellowship of the Ring™ - November 2001
2. Mines of Moria - March 2002
3. Realms of the Elf-Lords - July 2002
4. The Two Towers™ - November 2002
5. Battle of Helm's Deep - March 2003
6. Ents of Fangorn - July 2003
7. The Return of the King™ - November 2003
8. Siege of Gondor - March 2004
9. Mount Doom - July 2004