Specialty Board Games (SBG) Partners With Alliance Atlantis to Bring New CSI Board Game to the International Market

Specialty Board Games (SBG) Partners With Alliance Atlantis to Bring New CSI Board Game to the International Market

Developed by CSI Creator Anthony E. Zuiker, CSI: SENSES Is a New Game Replicating the #1 CBS TV Series

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Oct. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Specialty Board Games (SBG), an innovator in board games, announced today that Alliance Atlantis has granted them the international distribution rights for their latest, exciting addition to its CSI: Crime Scene Investigation series of games, CSI: SENSES. Featuring multi-sensory player immersion components that test players' vision, hearing, memory, communication and IQ skills, the CSI: SENSES board game puts players in the shoes of real crime scene investigators and forces them to put their "senses" to work in order to gather evidence and solve the crime in question. Licensed by CBS Consumer Products in the U.S., CSI: SENSES is sold at all mass-market retailers and online at www.csisenses.com.

Sold internationally to over 200 territories, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation is one of the highest-rated U.S. dramas in the world. "We are pleased to continue our relationship with SBG by concluding a deal that will bring the CSI: SENSES game to the global market," says Jennifer Bennett, Vice President of Merchandising and Licensing, Alliance Atlantis. "CSI fans around the world soon will be able to enjoy this smart, innovative and -- above all -- fun game that captures the excitement and intrigue of the show."

CSI: SENSES is an original game concept by Anthony E. Zuiker, creator of the hit TV franchise CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, in which players gather evidence and formulate theories just as the characters of the TV series do on the number one CBS TV show in the U.S. In CSI: SENSES, players are challenged by moving their CSI: Crime Scene Investigation character pawns along the game board through five departments: Preliminary Investigation, Crime Scene Sketch, Interrogation, Audio-Visual Lab and Grissom's Office. Multi-level challenges determine whether players take a short or long track through each department, and ultimately be the first to Grissom's office to solve the crime. Designed to have the same gritty feel of the Las Vegas-based series, the game incorporates the settings and scenarios that fans are familiar with. Hands-on game play using unique props for collecting evidence -- including a mini-UV light -- allows gamers to mimic the CSIs and experience the thrill of solving a crime.

The concept for CSI: SENSES originated from Zuiker himself, who developed and wrote all six original storylines. "CSI: SENSES is great fun for the "CSI" fan on any level. Whether you are the occasional viewer or hardcore fan, CSI: SENSES will challenge you to think, act, and perform like a real CSI would. Now, watching the show on TV and playing the game is the same timeless experience." Stories developed by Zuiker for the game incorporate crime scenes at an Elvis wedding chapel, a hotel buffet and at Lake Mead.

Ken Fong, Vice President of Marketing at SBG, adds, "It is exciting to bring such an engaging, thrilling, and unique board game to CSI fans across the globe. We are extremely excited to give players a chance to role play as crime scene investigators in this one-of-a-kind game."

Intended for four players, the game can also be played in teams and is recommended for ages 14 and up.

About SBG/b EQUAL

SBG/b EQUAL is the newly formed merger between leading games companies Specialty Board Games (SBG) Inc. and The b EQUAL Company. SBG develops and publishes board games and DVD board games for the domestic and international markets. SBG identifies the hottest and up and coming licenses and incorporates innovative, reality game play to keep ages 10 and older entertained. Web site: http://www.playsbg.com/. b EQUAL is the leading innovator in family games. As the only company that features an exclusive, patent-pending technology called Dynamic Leveling, The b EQUAL Company ensures that everyone in the family will be equally engaged, entertained, and challenged. Created with world-class family brands, b EQUAL designs every game with families in mind. Website: http://www.bequal.com/.

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation is a fast-paced drama that follows a Las Vegas team of forensic investigators who use both cutting-edge scientific methods and old-fashioned police work to solve crimes. The show is currently in its seventh season and airs on CBS in the U.S. on Thursday nights at 9pm ET/PT.

About the CSI Franchise

The CSI Franchise is produced by Alliance Atlantis and CBS Paramount Television, in association with Jerry Bruckheimer Television. Alliance Atlantis holds all worldwide distribution rights to the CSI Franchise, excluding the U.S., where CBS handles distribution.

About Alliance Atlantis Communications

Alliance Atlantis offers Canadians 13 well-branded specialty channels boasting targeted, high-quality programming. The Company also co-produces and distributes the hit CSI franchise and indirectly holds a 51% limited partnership interest in Motion Picture Distribution LP, a leading distributor of motion pictures in Canada, with a presence in motion picture distribution in the United Kingdom and Spain. The Company's common shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange -- trading symbols AAC.A and AAC.B. The Company's website is www.allianceatlantis.com.

About CBS Consumer Products

CBS Consumer Products manages the worldwide licensing, merchandising and video activities for a diverse slate of properties owned or controlled by the CBS Corporation. Additional information is available by visiting www.CBS.com.

Source: Specialty Board Games (SBG)

CONTACT: Jonalyn Morris of Bender/Helper Impact, +1-310-473-4147,
jonalyn_morris@bhimpact.com, for Specialty Board Games (SBG); or Nicole Daddio
of SBG/b EQUAL, +1-213-482-5154, ndaddio@playsbg.com; or Beth Feldman of CBS
Consumer Products, +1-212-975-3183, Bstoller-feldman@cbs.com

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

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

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

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

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

-------
Profile: intent