FOX Launches Online Game Based on Hit Series '24'; LG Mobile Phones Signs on for In-Game Product Placement

FOX Launches Online Game Based on Hit Series '24'; LG Mobile Phones Signs on for In-Game Product Placement

Major Network Continues to Leverage Online Gaming Medium to Drive Television Viewership

REDMOND, Wash., Dec. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- WildTangent, the leading online game publisher, today announced the release of "24: Countdown," a premium online game based on Fox Broadcasting Company's worldwide hit television series "24." The release of the game represents another instance of FOX reaching out to a vast and attractive audience of gamers. LG Mobile Phones, also looking to gain the mindshare of this attractive audience, has signed on to sponsor the game.

(Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041221/SFTU047 )

Available today at http://www.fox.com/24 , the graphically rich 3D game lets players assume the role of Jack Bauer and sends them on a high-speed chase to foil the plot of a rogue terrorist cell. Over the course of a simulated 24-hour period, players must use extreme prejudice to disable enemy vehicles in three intense chase sequences. The successful completion of each sequence leads Jack closer to saving Las Vegas from imminent nuclear disaster.

"We are thrilled to bring the excitement of the show to the official website. The interactive game will allow viewers and gamers a chance to grab a safe sneak peak at what Jack Bauer's day must be like," said Carolyn Gray, VP of Internet Marketing at Fox Broadcasting Company.

LG's sponsorship of the game puts their featured new product right into the action. Throughout the game, the player receives communications from CTU headquarters via the LG VX8000 multimedia enabled cell phone. The advertiser also received integrated ad placements within the game environment. BIG (Bounce Interactive Gaming) a Young & Rubicam Brand, recommended "24: Countdown" to its client LG Mobile Phones. By leveraging WildTangent's in-game ad tracking platform, BIG will be able to determine not only the total number of consumers who play the game but also the exact amount of time that the LG products and messaging is viewed during a gameplay session.

Developed by WildTangent, the "24: Countdown" game utilizes WildTangent's Web Driver(R) technology to deliver the richest, most dynamic gameplay experience possible on the web.

"LG Mobile Phones is thrilled to be involved in such an engaging, unique project," said Jon Maron, director, marketing communications, LG Mobile Phones. "This is a great opportunity to showcase the VX8000 handset's leading multimedia capabilities, including Streaming audio and video, high-speed Internet access and an integrated megapixel digital camera."

"The 24: Countdown game is a true testament to the power of our proprietary online game platform. In only a few short months, we were able to deliver an amazing game packed with features that consumers would expect to see in a $50 console game -- intense graphics, exhilarating speed, and dramatic explosions! We're pleased to enable such premium brands as FOX and LG Mobile Phones to reach their target consumers through games in a meaningful way," said Alex St. John, CEO and co-founder, WildTangent.

The fourth season of "24" premieres with a special two-hour episode on Sunday, Jan. 9 (8:00- 10:00 p.m. ET/PT), which will be continued on Monday, Jan. 10 (8:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT). "24" kicks off its non-stop run on Monday nights with a time period premiere Monday, Jan. 17 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT).

24 is one of the most innovative and thrilling drama series on television. The series won Emmy Awards in 2002 for writing and editing, and has also been nominated for a total of 20 Emmys in its first two seasons, including twice for Outstanding Drama Series and twice for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (for Kiefer Sutherland). The series also has received eight Golden Globe nominations (Best Television Series -- Drama, four; Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Drama, three years with Sutherland winning one; and Best Performance by a Supporting Actor for Dennis Haysbert).

24 is a production of Real Time Productions and Imagine Television in association with 20th Century Fox Television. Surnow, Cochran, Brian Grazer and Howard Gordon are the executive producers.

About WebDriver

The WildTangent(R) Web Driver(R) is the leading online streaming game platform on the Internet. It takes advantage of the full multimedia capabilities of your PC to deliver rich, 3D, interactive content over the Internet to your browser.

About WildTangent

WildTangent, based in Redmond, Wash., is the leading online game publisher. Founded in 1998, the company's Web Driver platform leverages DirectX technology to enable the development of high-quality games that can be delivered and played over the Internet. With more than 90 million downloads, Web Driver is the most ubiquitous online gaming platform on the market today. WildTangent can be found online at www.wildtangent.com.

NOTE: The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041221/SFTU047
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: WildTangent

CONTACT: Jay Wampold, +1-425-201-2040, or jwampold@ssk.com, or Danielle
Adams, +1-425-201-2036, or dadams@ssk.com, both of SS+K for WildTangent

Web site: http://www.fox.com/24

Web site: http://www.wildtangent.com/


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