EXHIBIT 5.1


                        WYRICK ROBBINS YATES & PONTON LLP
                                Attorneys at Law

                                   The Summit
                        4101 Lake Boone Trail, Suite 300
                       Raleigh, North Carolina 27607-7506

                                December 1, 1999

Interactive Magic, Inc.
215 Southport Drive, Suite 1000
Morrisville, North Carolina 27560

         Re:  Registration Statement on Form S-8
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Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We have examined the Registration Statement on Form S-8 to be filed by
Interactive Magic, Inc., a North Carolina corporation (the "Company"), with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on or about the date hereof (the
"Registration Statement"), in connection with the registration under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of 5,175,000 shares of the Company's Common
Stock, $.10 par value per share (the "Shares"). We understand that the Shares
are to be issued pursuant to the Company's 1998 Employee Stock Purchase Plan,
1995 Employees' Class B Common Stock Incentive Stock Option Plan and the
Company's 1998 Stock Plan. In our examination, we have assumed the genuineness
of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as
originals and the conformity with the original of all documents submitted to us
as copies thereof.

         As your legal counsel, we have examined the proceedings taken, and are
familiar with the proceedings proposed to be taken, by you in connection with
the sale and issuance of the Shares.

         It is our opinion that, upon completion of the proceedings being taken
or contemplated by us, as your securities counsel, to be taken prior to the
issuance of the Shares, including the proceedings being taken in order to permit
such transactions to be carried out in accordance with applicable state
securities laws, the Shares, when issued in the manner referred to in the
Registration Statement and in accordance with the resolutions adopted by the
Board of Directors of the Company, will be legally and validly issued, fully
paid and nonassessable.

         We consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement and further consent to the use of our name wherever appearing in the
Registration Statement, including the Prospectus relating thereto, and any
amendments thereto.

                                Very truly yours,

                                /s/ WYRICK ROBBINS YATES & PONTON LLP