The game's title derives from J.R.R. Tolkien's original subtitle for the first part of this segment of "The Lord of the Rings" story and is spoken in the books by Gandalf the wizard who describes Saruman's terrible betrayal saying: "Nothing that we have endured of late has seemed so grievous as the treason of Isengard." By utilizing the author's original title, the game promotes Tolkien's vision and supports VU Games' license to create official games based on Tolkien's literary works.

The game will recreate the narrative events of Tolkien's second installment of the epic in which Frodo continues his quest to destroy the infamous One Ring of Power while far away his friends face the onslaught of Saruman's foul armies. Players will control multiple characters, including Men, Dwarves, Elves and other allies, and will alternate among gameplay styles, including melee combat and aggressive sneak attacks, to battle enemies and explore expansive locations beloved by Tolkien fans and absent from many other adaptations of Tolkien's work.

"Surreal's technical expertise, garnered from their experience developing the critically acclaimed Drakan games, coupled with their passionate understanding of Tolkien's world will result in a cutting-edge game," said Jim Wilson, EVP Product Development, VU Games. "The combination of intelligent enemy A.I. and an advanced combat system will deepen the Middle-earth experience for action-adventure gamers and Tolkien fans."

The Lord of the Rings: The Treason of Isengard has not yet been rated by
the ESRB.

About Vivendi Universal Games' Tolkien Games Franchise

As part of Vivendi Universal Games' long-term agreement with Tolkien Enterprises to create interactive entertainment based on selected works of world-renowned fantasy novelist J.R.R. Tolkien, the company will publish original titles over the course of several years. The company's previously announced Tolkien games line-up includes The Hobbit, a third-person action- adventure slated for release in fourth quarter 2003, The War of the Ring, a real-time strategy game scheduled for first quarter 2004, and Middle-earth Online, a massively multiplayer game.

About Surreal Software

Surreal Software was co-founded in October 1995 by Alan Patmore, Stuart Denman, Mike Nichols and Nick Radovich. The company's goal is to create cutting-edge games that are technically advanced and, most importantly, fun to play. Surreal is a privately held Washington corporation with 62 full time employees. Surreal released its first game in 1999, Drakan: Order of the Flame, which garnered a number of awards and received critical acclaim. Most recently, Surreal released Drakan: The Ancients' Gates in January 2002 for the PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system and ported The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of The Ring to the PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system and PC.

About Vivendi Universal Games

Headquartered in New York, Vivendi Universal Games (www.vugames.com) is a worldwide leader in multi-platform interactive entertainment. A leading publisher of PC, console and online-based interactive content, Vivendi Universal Games' portfolio of development studios includes Black Label Games, Blizzard Entertainment, Coktel, Fox Interactive, Knowledge Adventure, NDA Productions, Sierra Entertainment and Universal Interactive. Through its Partner Publishing Group, Vivendi Universal Games also co-publishes and/or distributes interactive products for a number of strategic partners, including Crave Entertainment, Interplay, Majesco, Mythic Entertainment and Simon & Schuster, among others.

Xbox and the Xbox logos are either registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. "The Lord of the Rings" website (C) 2002 Universal Interactive, Inc. "The Fellowship of the Ring" interactive game (c) 2002 Vivendi Universal Games, Inc. All rights reserved. Map of Middle Earth (c) 1982-2002 The Saul Zaentz Company, dba Tolkien Enterprises, under license to Universal Interactive, Inc. All rights reserved. Based on the book "The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien. The Tolkien Enterprises logo, together with "The Lord of the Rings," "The Fellowship of the Ring," and the characters, events, items, and places therein are trademarks or registered trademarks of The Saul Zaentz Company dba Tolkien Enterprises under license to Vivendi Universal Games, Inc. "The Hobbit" and the characters, events, items and places therein are trademarks of The Saul Zaentz Company dba Tolkien Enterprises and are used, under license, by Sierra Entertainment, Inc.