Avanquest Software's Nova Development Unit and Nickelodeon Release Entertaining, Educational PC Software Featuring "Dora the Explorer" and "Go, Diego, Go!"

NEW YORK, NY and CALABASAS, CA--(Marketwire - October 26, 2009) - Nova Development, a consumer software unit of leading global software developer and publisher Avanquest Software (EPA: AVQ), and Nickelodeon, the number-one entertainment brand for kids, today announced the release of three Nickelodeon software titles: "Dora the Explorer Lost and Found Adventure," "Dora Saves the Crystal Kingdom," and "Go, Diego, Go! Great Dinosaur Rescue & Safari Rescue," featuring Nickelodeon's popular animated preschool characters Dora the Explorer™ and Go, Diego, Go!™. The new software engages preschoolers ages 2-5 through interactivity and gaming, and teaches them about colors, shapes, numbers, matching, early reading, science, language development, and much more.

"Our goal is to give parents the tools they need to prepare their children for early learning in a fun way," said Shaan Kandawalla, Vice President, Digital Retail Games for Nickelodeon/MTVN Kids and Family Group.

"Our partnership with Nickelodeon extends our commitment to providing software that entertains and educates children," explained Roger Bloxberg, CEO, Avanquest North America.

The new product line includes three titles:

--  "Go, Diego, Go! Great Dinosaur Rescue & Safari Rescue" provides
    preschoolers with two complete rescue missions to allow them to experience
    a fascinating and magnificent adventure to Africa, plus the intriguing
    world of dinosaurs.  Along with Diego, Juma, Baby Jaguar, and Alicia,
    children learn essential skills in math, reading, language, and science.
    
--  In "Dora Saves the Crystal Kingdom," a greedy king has stolen the
    crystals that give Princess Allie's kingdom color.  Preschoolers will have
    to help Dora and Boots locate the crystals and turn the pale gray kingdom
    back into a colorful wonderland before it's too late.
    
--  In "Dora the Explorer Lost and Found Adventure," Dora and her friends
    are going to the park to put up a music show and follow it with a fun
    picnic.  They're about to start the show when, oh no!, Swiper shows up and
    swipes everything!  Preschoolers will help Dora and her friends find the
    musical instruments, party decorations, toys, and picnic items that Swiper
    swiped.  Using math, problem-solving and language skills, children will
    have to go on a hide and seek adventure through the beach, circus, nutty
    forest and more to find everything and give it all back so the music show
    and picnic can go on!
    

"Dora the Explorer Lost and Found Adventure," "Dora Saves the Crystal Kingdom," and "Go, Diego, Go! Great Dinosaur Rescue & Safari Rescue" software are now available at major retailers or online at www.novadevelopment.com.

System Requirements:

The Nickelodeon software is compatible with Microsoft Windows XP, Vista, and 7 and Mac OS X 10.4 or later and requires 512 MB of RAM and a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive.

About Nickelodeon

Nickelodeon, now in its 30th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, magazines and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in more than 99 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for more than 15 consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA) (NYSE: VIA.B).

About Nova Development

Based in Southern California and founded in 1984, Nova Development is a market leader in consumer software for both Windows and Macintosh platforms. Nova Development is the retail publisher of best selling software for desktop publishing, print creativity and many other purposes, as well as educational titles both for both children and adults. Nova Development was acquired by Avanquest Software in 2007. For more information, please visit http://www.novadevelopment.com/ and http://www.avanquest.com.

About Avanquest Software

Avanquest Software (EPA: AVQ) is one of the world's leading software developers and publishers, with operations on three continents and marketing through Retail, Corporate, OEM and Direct-to-Consumer channels. Avanquest's presence in North America, consisting of Avanquest Software USA and Avanquest North America (which includes the Nova Development division), places it among the top ten retail software publishers in the United States. With more than 100 software titles, the combined companies offer one of the largest and most diversified product portfolios in the software industry, available at more than 10,000 North American retail locations, on the Web, and through OEM partnerships. Additional information at http://about.avanquest.com

Contact Information: For more information about Nick Software, contact: Jedidah Karanja Nova Development (925) 474-1762 jkaranja@avanquest.com Tori Fernandes Nickelodeon (212) 846-4942 tori.fernandes@mtvstaff.com