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MAD Memories
MAD Inside and Out
MAD Science
Since You Can't Fold your Computer . . .
About MAD Magazine
About Broderbund

The Software World Goes Totally MAD:
Broderbund Releases The First Digital Collection
of MAD Magazine on CD-ROM Every Outrageous Issue, Nearly 50 Years of Audacity, and Countless Bad Jokes Are Now a Click Away

Novato, CA- August 3, 1999 -All the wry wit and wisdom that reflected popular American culture throughout 564 issues of MAD Magazine is now encapsulated and preserved in the Totally MAD CD-ROM collection from the Broderbund unit of The Learning Company, a division of Mattel, Inc. (NYSE: MAT). The seven-CD set, which contains every issue of the humor magazine, nearly 22,000 pages from 1952-1998, is available from Broderbund for Windows for an estimated street price of $69.95. "We are extremely honored and excited by this product," said John Ficarra and Nick Meglin, co-editors of MAD Magazine (although neither could explain why they spoke in unison). "We always feared that having this much MAD Magazine concentrated in one place would pose a mental health hazard," continued Meglin. "We're still not convinced that it's totally safe, but we're willing to take the risk in order to get the product out on the market in time for the holiday season." "No other MAD product in our nearly 50-year history," said Ficarra proudly, "more clearly illustrates just how much of our lives we have utterly wasted."

MAD Memories ------------ Totally MAD includes all the characters and features that made MAD Magazine famous: the grinning, gap-toothed, red-haired, and freckled icon Alfred E. Neuman; the notorious Spy vs. Spy; the wise-cracking Lighter Side; every memorable cover; every popular Fold-In; plus MAD cartoons, music, and video interviews with the Usual Gang of Idiots. Most importantly, Totally MAD preserves the satirical humor that has made the magazine infamous for skewering the worlds of politics, entertainment, sports, advertising, and just about anything or anyone else that took themselves too seriously. "For nearly 50 years MAD Magazine's irreverent look at the world has entertained millions of adults and adolescents alike," said Eric Stone, vice president of Broderbund's reference products. "Totally MAD provides MAD fans with an opportunity to remember the days when you mocked the establishment and poked fun at the pretentious with the Usual Gang of Idiots from MAD Magazine."

MAD Inside and Out ------------------ Even before the box is opened, the user is treated to a taste of the product. The oft-overlooked system requirements recommend: "To run this program properly you should have a computer. (Our technical research shows that a working one is preferred.) Your computer should also have one of those little slide-out 'snack trays.' Take the snack out and put in one of the small round CD-ROM things that are in this package."

MAD Science ----------- The technology behind Totally MAD gives fans a whole new way to experience all of their favorite features. Designed with the magazine's editors, the MAD-ized Trash Heap interface sets the mischievous mood and introduces users to the product's many features. A "not-so-serious" but powerful search engine lets users specify their favorite feature, artist, writer, subject, or date range, or just type in any keyword. The cover browser lets viewers scan through all the covers chronologically year by year. Flexible controls let the user read an issue page by page or jump to a specific section. Users can manipulate the viewing area by zooming in or by rotating the screen (Many issues of MAD were printed upside down).

Since You Can't Fold your Computer . . . ---------------------------------------- A favorite feature found only in MAD Magazine, Fold-Ins, morph from one picture into an entirely new one as readers fold the page. In Totally MAD, Fold-Ins take on a new animated life on the computer screen with a click and drag of the mouse. The entire collection has been digitally reproduced to provide the highest quality graphics and printing capabilities. Users can print any area they select, any single page or a range of pages in brilliant color or black and white, depending on the original format.

About MAD Magazine ------------------ MAD Magazine is America's longest-running humor publication. Founded by Bill Gaines in 1952, MAD has inspired generations of irreverent fans with its ridiculing of politicians, movies, television and modern life, and with popular characters such as Alfred E. Neuman and Spy vs. Spy [EAB: Grammar here is not good. Spy vs Spy is not a character... Technically, one should say something like: "with popular characters such as Alfred E. Neuman and the two warring spies in Spy vs. Spy". Whether in print, on television, film or cyberspace, MAD remains one of the favorite American icons. The MAD Web site is located at www.madmag.com.

About Broderbund ---------------- Customers interested in inquiring about Broderbund products may call (888) 829-3343. They can also receive product information and technical support online at www.totallymad.com. The Broderbund unit of the Learning Company, a division of Mattel (NYSE: MAT) is one of the country's leading developers of consumer software for the entire family. The company publishes some of the best-known education, reference, personal productivity, and family entertainment brands in the U.S., including The Print Shop, Total 3D Home, PrintMaster, Cosmopolitan Virtual Makeover, Family Tree Maker, American Greetings, National Geographic, Mavis Beacon, and Compton's. The company's products are sold in more than 23,000 retail stores in North America and through multiple distribution channels including school sales, online, direct marketing, and OEM. Broderbund also develops, publishes, and distributes products internationally through subsidiaries in France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Holland, Japan, and Australia, and with distributors throughout Europe, Latin America, and the Pacific Rim. Mattel, Inc. is a worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of family products. With headquarters in El Segundo, California, Mattel has offices and facilities in 36 countries and sells its products in more than 150 nations throughout the world.