CMP TECHNOLOGY ACQUIRES THE GAME INITIATIVE,
PRODUCER OF THE AUSTIN GAME CONFERENCE

CMP’s Game Group to Manage Hallmark Event Focused
on Online and Casual Games

SAN FRANCISCO - October 9, 2006 - CMP Technology, the premier global marketing solutions company serving the technology industry, and parent company of the industry-leading Game Developers Conference (GDC), has acquired The Game Initiative, a producer of conferences and events targeting game industry professionals. The deal, effective immediately, will allow CMP to expand its offerings to the burgeoning game development community in the areas of online game development, casual games, and other topics that the Game Initiative serves so well.

The Game Initiative’s crown jewel, the Austin Game Conference (AGC), took place September 6-8, with 2,400 attendees and 150 vendors, featuring top-caliber speakers including Michael Dell, Jon Landau and Rob Pardo. The CMP Game Group looks to build on the success of the AGC, by leveraging their deep conference management experience, marketing resources, and exhibitor support from the industry-defining GDC.

“We’d like to congratulate The Game Initiative for a phenomenally successful Austin Game Conference this year; we look to continue to grow and strengthen the show and to serve the attendees, speakers, sponsors and exhibitors with a top quality event,” said Philip Chapnik, senior vice president, Applied Technologies Group, CMP Technology.

As the leading games industry media group, the CMP Game Group is dedicated to editorial integrity, industry growth, facilitating strategic partnerships, networking, and education. The Group will look to enhance the quality of the Austin Game Conference, bringing the editorial breadth of knowledge and experience from the GDC and its editorial products including the Webby Award winning Gamasutra.com and Game Developer Magazine as well as its expert event management resources.

“We are excited about the momentum created by the 4th annual Austin Game Conference and its well reported success,” said Christopher Sherman, executive director, The Game Initiative. "We are confident that the future of the event will be well served by CMP, which has deep resources in event management. They will be able to facilitate the growth of the event without sacrificing what we deliver to our loyal attendees and sponsors.”

About the CMP Game Group ( www.cmpgame.com )
A core provider of essential information to the professional game industry, the CMP Game Group offers market-defining content, and drives community through the Game Developers Conference, Game Developer magazine, the Webby Award-winning Gamasutra.com, the Serious Games Summit D.C., GDC Mobile, GDC Europe, the Independent Games Festival, the Game Developers Choice Awards, GDC London, the London Games Summit, GDCTV, GDCRadio, and the GDC Focus On event series. For more information, please visit www.cmpgame.com.

About CMP Technology ( www.cmp.com )
CMP Technology is a marketing solutions company serving the technology industry. Through its market-leading portfolio of trusted information brands, CMP has earned the confidence of more technology professionals than any other media company. As a result, CMP is the premier provider of access, insight and actionable programs designed to connect sellers and buyers in ways that yield superior return on investment. CMP Technology is a subsidiary of United Business Media (http://www.unitedbusinessmedia.com), a global provider of news distribution and specialist information services with a market capitalization of more than $3 billion.

Sherman Ventures, LLC ( www.shermanventures.com )
Sherman Ventures is a boutique conference, tradeshow and event production company. Sherman Ventures maintains a strong, experienced management team, allowing it to achieve its mission to be a leading provider of high quality, high profile events to targeted business and professional markets. Among its properties Sherman Ventures operates the Texas Entrepreneur Initiative and is a partner in Beauty Show Management, LLC. Corporate Solutions of Westport, Connecticut represented The Game Initiative as the seller of this transaction.

Contact:

Craig Sinel
fortyseven communications
(323) 658-1200
craig @ forty47seven.com

Tara Gibb
CMP Technology
415-947-6219
tgibb @ cmp.com

Tim Taylor
Sherman Ventures
512-535-8650
ttaylor @ shermanventures.com