"OUTSMART" LAUNCHES WITH A BOB, A
WINK AND A FULL MONTY MSN Zone.com Kicks Off Its New Celebrity-Based
Online Game Show With a Host of Greats: Bob Eubanks, Monty Hall and Wink
Martindale Together on one stage for the first time,
legendary game-show hosts Bob Eubanks, Monty Hall and Wink Martindale appeared
at the Hollywood Entertainment Museum today to help Microsoft Corp.’s MSN®
games site officially "turn on" its hot new online game show
Microsoft® "OutSmart," played exclusively at Zone.com. Developed for Microsoft by Jellyvision Inc.,
"OutSmart," a free* interactive celebrity-based game show,
incorporates real celebrity audio into gameplay, creating the first online
game in which players can hear and directly compete against their favorite
stars and attempt to beat them at their own fame. A bimonthly trivia
challenge, "OutSmart" is designed to intrigue fans and provide them
with a new way to interact with actors, musicians, athletes and other
celebrities. "OutSmart" is available exclusively on Zone.com
(http://www.zone.com/outsmart/). "’OutSmart’ is a new way for me to
interact directly with my fans and let them see another side of me," said
double-platinum hip-hop star Sisqo, one of three "OutSmart"
celebrity challengers announced today by Microsoft. Soon "OutSmart" will feature Grammy
award-winning reggae musician Shaggy, as well as R&B singer Mya, a
featured performer in the blockbuster single "Lady Marmalade," the
current No. 1 song in America, according to Billboard’s Hot 100 Singles. The
Shaggy episode is available today, with additional games coming online every
two weeks. The pilot episode of "OutSmart" debuted in May and
featured TV vixen and top cyber-celeb Jessica Alba; it is still available
online in the OutSmart Gallery. In a reversal of roles, the famous hosts found
themselves acting as contestants in segments of the first two "OutSmart"
episodes. They not only played the game; they also jovially provided "OutSmart"’s
host, Tim Parker, with advice on how to be a great game-show host. The legends
imparted tips on everything from how to kiss the girls to preferred brands of
hairspray and teeth whitener. "’OutSmart’ is the next evolutionary step
in the game-show arena, combining the popularity of game shows, the
interactivity of the Internet, and our culture’s fascination with
celebrities," said Chris Di Cesare, group product manager of Online Games
and executive producer of "OutSmart" at Microsoft, "which makes
today, with Bob, Monty and Wink, somewhat like the passing of the torch – or
in this case, the microphone." The game starts with "OutSmart" host
Parker making quick player introductions and catching everyone up on the
latest Hollywood gossip. Online contestants and the celebrity challenger then
begin the game with a series of multiple-choice questions related to the
celebrity’s career. Celebrity confidence can sometimes fool contestants, but
the stars don’t always know the answer. Players who believe the celebrity’s
response is wrong can attempt an "OutSmart" and gain extra points by
providing the correct answer. Wrong answers usually trigger a little ribbing
from the star. "OutSmart" also tests players’ speed
and knowledge about entertainment, music and pop-culture history with an
electronic version of six degrees of celebrity separation. Correct answers
connect the celebrity to another well-known cultural icon in six moves. In
today’s episode, contestants must link pop star Shaggy to the cartoon
character of the same name, Scooby Doo’s crime-fighting sidekick. America’s fascination with game shows, from
their radio debut in 1936 to their everyday accessibility on the Internet in
the early 1990s, has lasted more than 60 years. Audiences are embracing the
Internet as an entertainment medium and are hungry for fresh ways to interact
with their favorite celebrities. When the "OutSmart" pilot episode
premiered in May 2001 it was an instant success with the casual online gaming
audience, attracting 1.5 million players in the first three weeks. To play,
fans simply log on to Zone.com and click on "OutSmart." No
registration is required. Developed for Microsoft by Jellyvision Inc.,
creators of the popular game "You Don’t Know Jack," "OutSmart"
complements the Zone’s updated look and feel, which resulted from the
overwhelming popularity of recent casual, single-player game additions to the
Zone. Currently ranked as one of the Web’s favorite online gaming sites, the
Zone has more than 20 million members and thousands of Internet visitors
daily, many of whom are looking for quick and easy access to free* games
online. Innovative new games such as "OutSmart" and the site’s
revamped design demonstrate the Zone’s continued leadership in the online
gaming industry. * Connect-time charges may apply. ######### Brian McGovney
Arbuthnot Communications, Inc.
9000 W. Sunset Blvd, Suite 1010
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(310) 274-1256 x108 For
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