In Missions Based on The History Channel(R) Series 'Shootout!,' Gamers Can Immerse Themselves in Interactive Recreations of Actual Historical Events

In Missions Based on The History Channel(R) Series 'Shootout!,' Gamers Can Immerse Themselves in Interactive Recreations of Actual Historical Events

Beginning Friday November 3, Kuma Reality Games Will Merge Television With Video Games Creating a Groundbreaking New Media Trend

NEW YORK, Oct. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Kuma Reality Games, a leading game publisher and developer specializing in high-quality episodic games, and The History Channel(R) embark on a landmark partnership to develop synergistic gaming and TV content. Beginning Friday November 3, 2006 with the launch of the second season of The History Channel series "Shootout!," Kuma will release online video games simultaneously with television episodes, allowing viewers and gamers to watch the show and then "live" the historical event by playing a 3D game re-creation of the episode.

This season, episodes of the game are directly based on three key historical events featured on the series: Iwo Jima, Battle of the Bulge and the Tet Offensive. Viewers of the show can log onto www.History.com and download the online game for free immediately after each episode airs.

"We are helping TV take its place in today's exploding game marketplace," said Keith Halper, CEO of Kuma Reality Games. "The game's immersive experience is yet another testament to Kuma's place as one of the top trendsetters in this ever-changing industry."

"Shootout!" examines, dissects, and re-creates some of the most famous battles in history, from the Wild West to Guadalcanal to Fallujah. Using heavy 3D CGI animation sequences, players can experience the thick of battle from the point of view of the historical participants themselves. The November 3, 2006 Iwo Jima episode/game-isode is "Stinger"; just as in the "Shootout!" episode, you'll see through the eyes of a U.S. Marine, single-handedly overrunning a heavily-fortified bunker complex by hand-carrying an aircraft machine gun into battle.

The second Iwo Jima episode concentrates on the Third platoon of Easy Company's initial assault on Mt. Suribachi, without the help of their planned tank support. The last episode in the Iwo Jima series concentrates on the final battle, where the men of the Fifth Pioneer Battalion defend against a furious sneak attack by the defeated Japanese.

Upcoming "Shootout!" episodes shine the spotlight on war scenarios from Battle of the Bulge to the Tet Offensive, each broken down into three key battles. The companion online games will be available immediately after each airing.

"We are really excited to extend the viewer experience for 'Shootout!' with this cutting-edge, companion video game from Kuma," said Dolores Gavin, Director, Historical Programming for The History Channel. "Season two of 'Shootout!' was developed with gamers in mind. We think that the unique perspective of the series combined with the immersive nature of the game will allow our viewers to experience history in a whole new way."

About Kuma

KUMA, LLC. (www.kumagames.com), is the industry leader in the new market for Episodic Video Games -- intense and powerful, up-to-the-minute 3D game experiences delivered to PCs in weekly episodes. Using ground-breaking technology, Kuma's free games are inspired by just-released TV shows or films, real world news events, and pop culture happenings. The episodic games are a thoroughly unique user experience and present distinct marketing advantages for TV partners, advertisers, content owners and distributors. Kuma has extensive experience in developing accurate re-creations of military events. For over two years, Kuma\War has expanded the boundaries of news reporting through accurate and timely re-creations of real-world military events through its episodic game series KUMA\WAR, now in its 79th episode. KUMA\WAR is widely recognized for its accuracy and immersiveness, and is used by the US ARMY for training purposes.

Kuma Reality Games, headquartered in New York, New York, is a privately held company.

Screenshots available at:
http://bhimpact.gamespress.com/product_page.asp?i=805

About The History Channel

The History Channel(R) is one of the leading cable television networks featuring compelling original, nonfiction specials and series that bring history to life in a powerful and entertaining manner across multiple platforms. The network provides an inviting place where people experience history in new and exciting ways enabling them to connect their lives today to the great lives and events of the past that provide a blueprint for the future. The History Channel has earned three Peabody Awards, three Primetime Emmy(R) Awards, ten News and Documentary Emmy(R) Awards and received the prestigious Governor's Award from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for the network's Save Our History(R) campaign dedicated to historic preservation and history education. The History Channel reaches more than 90 million Nielsen subscribers. The website is located at www.History.com. Press Only: For more information and photography please visit us on the web at www.historychannelpress.com.

Source: Kuma Reality Games

CONTACT: Karen Raque of Bender/Helper Impact, +1-310-694-3138,
karen_raque@bhimpact.com, for Kuma Reality Games; or Joshua Gross,
+1-212-210-9184, Joshua.gross@aetn.com, or Kerri Tarmey, +1-212-551-1504,
Kerri.tarmey@aetn.com, both of The History Channel

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

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

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

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