Midway Offers Haunting Probe into Action Horror with the Suffering

The Suffering Places Gamers Inside the Unsettling and Seedy Underbelly of a Haunted Maximum-Security Penitentiary

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 15, 2003-- Midway Games Inc., a leading software industry publisher and developer, announced today that The Suffering(TM), an all-new, action-packed survival horror game, is scheduled to ship fall 2003 for the PlayStation® 2 computer entertainment system, the Xbox(TM) video game system from Microsoft and Nintendo GameCube(TM).

Midway captures the disturbing and terrifying nature of the horror genre with The Suffering, a compelling third-person action/adventure game set in the mature and gritty world of a maximum-security prison.

"The Suffering redefines terror with a chilling look into a penitentiary haunted by apparitions of executed prisoners grotesquely reincarnated as the methods of execution that befell them," said Helene Sheeler, vice president of marketing, Midway.

Unleashing the horror throughout nine levels, The Suffering features dynamic lighting that illuminates frightening visions of horror-filled exploration and frantic combat sequences. In the dark world of The Suffering, creatures attack from the shadows and emerge from jail cells, chambers, the ground and trees, surprising the player in the most disturbing ways possible. As Torque, the main character, players encounter a cast of uniquely hardened criminals, prison guards and grotesque apparitions.

Jailed for a murder he may or may not have committed, Torque is next in line for execution when apparitions besiege the prison and inadvertently free him. Utilizing more than ten deadly weapons, Torque sets out to uncover his past and unlock the deadly secrets of The Suffering. In the game, players can transform Torque into his monstrous alter ego and unleash the power of his primal fury while battling 12 horrific creatures. Depending on how they play the game, players will arrive at three distinct endings for a unique gaming experience.

Stan Winston, renowned creature designer, contributed to The Suffering's horror-filled experience by creating artwork of some of the disturbing characters featured in the game. For more than 30 years Stan Winston has created characters, creatures and monsters for motion pictures and television. The four-time Academy Award winner is responsible for creating many of the most enduring creatures of the big screen, including the dinosaurs of "Jurassic Park," the extraterrestrial monstrosities of "Aliens" and the fanciful character of "Edward Scissorhands." Nominated for an Academy Award for "A.I.," Stan Winston is currently working on the upcoming "T3" starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The Suffering Key Features:

• Terrifying Levels - Nine levels - traverse indoor and outdoor terrain with horror lurking in every dark corner.

• Frightening Character Morphs - Fill the rage meter and transform Torque into a hideous and powerful creature.

• Deadly Weapons - More than 10 deadly weapons from the shiv to the tommy gun to aid in the survival of this freakish nightmare.

• Horrific Monsters - A dozen monsters, each representing the methods of execution that befell them.

• Gory Detail - Blood and gore, dripping, pooling and splattering at every level of the fright-filled journey.

• Disturbing Choices - Interact with different hardened criminals and determine their fate.

• Unique Endings - Three distinct endings depending on how the game is played.

• Taboo Environments - Explore the deepest recesses of the most wicked prison environment.