ATI's Certification Program with Leading Game Developers Continues to

ATI's Certification Program with Leading Game Developers Continues to Grow with A-List Titles

    Business Editors/High-Tech Writers
    E3Expo 2005

    LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 17, 2005--

Program Designed to Make Bug-Free Games a Reality
    The ATI Technologies Inc., (TSX:ATY) (NASDAQ:ATYT) Certified by ATI program is growing steadily following its public unveiling back in March. To ensure games run flawlessly, applications in the program are tested on all ATI platforms and Catalyst(TM) software releases. By significantly reducing the need for the extensive hardware validation that was previously performed in-house, developers are now free to focus solely on creating a compelling end-user experience. Some of the Triple-A games currently in the Certified by ATI program include Age of Conan, Battlefield 2, Black and White 2, Crime Force, Dungeons and Dragons Dragonshard, Dungeons and Dragons Online, Dreamfall : The Longest Journey, F.E.A.R, Freedom Force vs. the 3rd Reich, Guild Wars, Pariah, RollerCoaster Tycoon 3: Soaked!, Spell Force 2 and Vanguard: Saga of Heroes.

    Experienced certification teams in Toronto and Boston have been in operation for nearly a year and have added a significant number of partners to the program in the last few months. By testing on all ATI platforms and Catalyst software releases, these teams perform dedicated and focused pre-release testing for partner games. Game developers are eager to join this program - which enhances ATI's industry leading support of the game development community through all phases of development, from initial design, core development and now final product validation - as over half the discrete graphics hardware being sold today is from ATI.

    "The growing complexity of game development means that we have to look at not only extensive design and programming, but also extensive testing. During a typical development cycle of 2-3 years, we can see more than half a dozen updates in graphics hardware and software." said Ryan Elam, Director of Technology, Sigil Games Online. "When we learned of this program from ATI over a year ago, it was like we had been delivered the missing piece of the puzzle. It just makes sense that we work closely with ATI who know the ins and outs of their products better than anyone."

    "Games have become so sophisticated, yet it only takes one bug or inconsistency to pull gamers out of the game. As high as our expectations are for our games, our customers and gamers have even higher expectations," said Tim Rance, CTO, Lionhead. "Participating in the Certified by ATI program means that our games have gone through rigorous testing throughout the development process to address any issues that could negatively affect the gaming experience."

    "One of the most challenging parts of producing a game is ensuring compatibility across a broad range of possible configurations," said Jorgen Tharaldsen, Product Director, Funcom. "Having a program such as Certified by ATI is a fantastic resource for developers like us because it ensures that we can continue to deliver the best games possible to the consumer."

    "ATI and its partners have the same goal - to create the best gaming experience for its customers. This program is another layer to the added value we try and create for our partners and customers," said Michael Smith, Manager, Worldwide ISV Program, ATI. "We know we've done our job and succeeded when gamers don't see what we've done in a game - it means we've done what we've set out to do - create a seamless, enjoyable experience for customers."

    For more information on the Certified by ATI program, please contact devrel@ati.com.

    About ATI Technologies

    ATI Technologies Inc. is the world leader in the design and manufacture of innovative 3D graphics and digital media silicon solutions. An industry pioneer since 1985, ATI is the world's foremost graphics processing unit (GPU) provider and is dedicated to delivering leading-edge performance solutions for the full range of PC and Mac desktop and notebook platforms, workstation, set-top and digital television, game console and handheld device markets. With 2004 revenues of approximately US $2 billion, ATI has more than 2,700 employees in the Americas, Europe and Asia. ATI common shares trade on Nasdaq (ATYT) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (ATY).

    Copyright 2005 ATI Technologies Inc. All rights reserved. ATI and ATI product and product feature names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of ATI Technologies Inc. All other company and product names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Features, pricing, availability and specifications are subject to change without notice.

    For media or industry analyst support, visit our Web site at http://www.ati.com

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CONTACT: ATI Technologies Inc. Carrie Maynard, Public Relations Manager Workstation, Mac and Advanced Technology Marketing (905) 882-2600, Ext. 8181 cmaynard@ati.com OR Other ATI Contacts: Porter Novelli Canada Derek Baker, Senior Consultant (416) 422-7158 derek.baker@porternovelli.com OR For investor relations support, please contact: ATI Technologies Inc. Zev Korman, Investor Relations (905) 882-2600, Ext. 3670 zev@ati.com

KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA INTERNATIONAL CANADA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: HARDWARE COMPUTERS/ELECTRONICS ELECTRONIC GAMES/MULTIMEDIA SOFTWARE TRADESHOW PRODUCT SOURCE: ATI Technologies Inc.

Copyright Business Wire 2005