SUNNYVALE, Calif., Nov. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Strategic Simulations, Inc.
 (SSI) today announced that it has secured the exclusive, worldwide rights
for the computer version of Harpoon4 via a license deal with 
best-selling author Larry Bond.  "Bond's Harpoon game system has 
proven extremely successful in the computer games marketplace," said 
SSI company president Chuck Kroegel. "It fits our product strategy 
beautifully."
     First published by Bond in 1980, the Harpoon game system models
modern naval warfare.  Designed for the entry-level player, it has 
found acceptance in both the commercial market and the professional 
naval community.  It is used at the Naval Academy, several ROTC 
installations, and on several surface ships as a training aid.  
Currently published in its paper format by Clash of Arms, Inc., 
Harpoon has won the H.G. Wells Award, a trade  association honor, in 
1981, 1987, and 1997 as the best miniatures game of the year.  It is the
only game to win the award three times.
     Two early versions of Bond's game were brought to the PC 
market in 1990 and in 1994, both enjoying financial success and 
critical acclaim. Harpoon4, Bond's newest ruleset, will be the 
foundation for SSI's product.  Said Bond, "Everything about Harpoon4 
is a step up from what's been done before.  While more powerful 
personal computers are available to play games, it's the material 
and the design team that matters most.  Fortunately, in the case of 
computer Harpoon4, we are combining the most accurate game system 
with experienced designers and developers who know naval warfare 
games.  The end result will be the most sophisticated computer naval 
game ever published.  I can't wait to play it!"
     SSI has tapped veteran producer and Harpoon expert Carl 
Norman to lead the Harpoon4 development effort.  Said Norman, 
"Having worked on two previous versions of computer Harpoon, I am 
confident that Harpoon4 will be the best in the series.  I am 
gratified to be working closely with Larry Bond and the members of 
the Harpoon4 Design Team to produce an exceptional naval warfare
simulation.  This is the one all of us have been waiting for!"
     SSI has chosen Crusaders Studios(TM) to bring the new 
Harpoon game system to life.  Staffed by former members of Software 
Sorcery, developers of AEGIS:  Guardian of the Fleet and Fast 
Attack, Crusaders Studio has already begun work.  "Collectively we 
have over 25 years of experience building high fidelity, high 
quality, advanced training systems for the U.S. Navy. I believe 
Harpoon4 is the most realistic modern day naval simulation you'll be
able to play without a security clearance," said James R. Jones, III
Crusader Studio President and CEO.

     About Larry Bond

     Graduating from St. Thomas College, St. Paul, Minnesota in 1973 
with a degree in Quantitative Methods, Bond worked as a computer 
programmer for two years before being selected for Officer Candidate 
School in Newport, Rhode Island.  He was sworn into the United 
States Navy in 1975 and graduated from OCS the following year. Bond 
served in the U.S. Navy for six years, four on a destroyer and two 
on shore duty in the Washington, D.C. area.  He served in the 
reserves for two years with the Naval Reserve Intelligence Program.  
After leaving the U.S. Navy he worked as a naval analyst for defense 
consulting firms in the Washington, D.C. area.
     Bond launched his writing career by collaborating with 
Tom Clancy on "Red Storm Rising," the runaway New York Times 
bestseller that became one of the best-selling books of the 1980s.  
It depicted a hypothetical conflict between NATO and the Warsaw 
Pact, drawing heavily on current analysis of what such a conflict 
would be like.  It has been used as a text at the Naval War College 
and similar institutions.  Since then, Larry's books have depicted 
military and political crises, emphasizing accuracy and fast-paced 
action.  "Red Phoenix," "Vortex," and "Cauldron" were all New York 
Times bestsellers. Bond's newest title is "Day of Wrath," which will 
be published by Warner Books in early 1998.
     Strategic Simulations, Inc, a Mindscape(R) Company, is 
one of the industry's leading electronic entertainment game 
publishers.  Founded in 1979 and based in Sunnyvale, CA, SSI is 
recognized worldwide for its critically acclaimed 5 Star Series(TM) 
which included the strategy mega-hit Panzer General(R).  In October 
1997, SSI unveiled its Living Battlefield Series(TM) with the debut 
of the highly anticipated Panzer General(R) II. SSI publishes and 
develops for the leading entertainment systems including IBM CD ROM, 
Macintosh, Sony PlayStation and Nintendo 64.
     Crusaders Studio is a trademark of Crusaders Studio, 
Inc.  5 Star Series, Panzer General, Living Battlefield Series, and 
Panzer General II are trademarks and registered trademarks of 
Strategic Simulations, Inc., a MINDSCAPE Company.  Harpoon, and 
Harpoon4 are trademarks of Larry Bond and Christopher Carlson.  All 
other trademarks are the property of their respective holders.

       SOURCE  Strategic Simulations, Inc.
       CO:  Strategic Simulations, Inc.
       ST:  California
       IN:  MLM
       SU:  LIC