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« News Rlease: Zodiac Interactive and Skyworks Partner on Advergames | Main | Hot News: Internode Launches Second-Generation VoIP Service with Acme Packet »

News Rlease: Zodiac Interactive and Skyworks Partner on Advergames

Some interesting news on gaming and the emerging IPTV world.

Zodiac Interactive and Skyworks Partner on Advergames
Companies Agree to Design, Develop and Deploy Dual-Platform Advergames for Online and Set-Top Box Distribution

Advergames to be Demonstrated at NCTA's The Cable Show '07 May 7-9 in Las Vegas and Executives from Zodiac and Skyworks to Speak at the Show

VALLEY STREAM, N.Y. AND HACKENSACK, N.J. - April 23, 2007 - Zodiac Interactive, owner of the largest library of set-top box ad-supported and subscription games for all major platforms, and Skyworks Technologies, Inc., a leading developer of compelling advertising supported video games, today announced a partnership agreement to design, develop and deploy dual-platform Advergames for online and set-top box distribution. The Zodiac/Skyworks Advergames will debut to over 13 mm digital set-top subscribers in 2007, defining the largest iTV ad-supported game network in the world.

Skyworks will be demonstrating its games at the Zodiac Interactive exhibit (# 4272) at the upcoming National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA)'s The Cable Show '07 to be held in Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center on May 7-9. In addition, Zodiac's COO Alexander Libkind and Skyworks Technologies' VP Sales & Business Development Mike Vann will speak on a panel at the show to discuss the revenue potential of Advergames for cable operators. The panel discussion, entitled "Casual Attitude: New Opportunities in a Multiplatform Living Room," will be held on Wednesday, May 9 from 3:30-4:15 in the Mandalay Bay Ballroom.

Zodiac Interactive's EVP-Sales & Marketing Rick Howe commented, "Advergames are compelling, sponsored interactive content that enables leading brands to attract large, targeted audiences and effectively promote their brands across multiple platforms. We are pleased to have this relationship with Skyworks Technologies, who pioneered the concept of Advergaming in 1996."

"Custom branded Advergames and contextual in-game advertising is proving to be one of the most effective and stickiest vehicles to engage consumers in deeply engaging online experiences," said Skyworks Technologies' President/CEO Garry Kitchen. "Zodiac Interactive is the perfect partner for extending and distributing our branded Advergames to consumers through set-top boxes."

Custom-made, Advergames are designed around a specific product with product placements integrated into a story line or during natural pauses in game play. Sponsorships and messages can be delivered via pre-roll as the game loads. Actions within the game can trigger further activities, as well as behavior off-line. For example, inquiring about a pizza in the pizza-branded game may trigger an email to the player with a store coupon that can be used to try the product. Store locators can be included in games, and players can be directed to visit the store for contests or prize drawings. Also, E-commerce and click-to-call opportunities can be embedded in any game, closing the loop at a time when consumer enjoyment is at its highest. All of these methods can be combined to deepen gamers' interaction with the brand.

The mass medium of games is tracking to reach $42 billion by the end of the decade, according to a recent article in iMedia Connection. Analysts are predicting a growth curve for in-game advertising that outpaces the growth of online and follows suit with what has already happened: gamer hours surpassing time spent on the Internet. Accordingly, more than 40 million brand-sponsored Skyworks games are downloaded every month from its clients' web sites, and more than 1 billion of the company's Advergames have been downloaded to date.

About Zodiac Interactive
Zodiac Interactive, the Interactive Television 2.0TM experts, is an Emmy Award winning developer of iTV applications, games and service-oriented middleware for cable, satellite and IPTV. The company has the largest wholly owned library of set-top box ad-supported and subscription games for all major platforms. Zodiac's technology is centered on its flagship product suite, the PowerUpTM Framework, which includes embedded set-top box software, advanced application authoring tools and head-end solutions. This complete framework makes it easier for iTV operators and CE manufacturers to design, deploy, manage and monetize cross-media, Interactive Television 2.0 applications, faster and with greater overall performance. For more information, visit www.zodiac.tv.

About Skyworks Technologies

Founded in 1995 Skyworks Technologies, Inc. is a leading developer of compelling video game content. Founded in 1995, Skyworks has led the casual games industry by creating games that engage mass audiences across multiple platforms including online, mobile, handheld video game consoles, CD-ROMs and kiosks. Skyworks pioneered the concept of branded Advergames with the creation and launch of Lifesavers Candystand.com and has become the leading provider of branded Advergames for the world's top brands, advertising agencies and media properties. Over 40 million Skyworks games are downloaded every month from clients' web sites. Visit us at www.Skyworks.com and www.Advergame.com.


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Ken Camp's Bio:

Ken Camp has more than 25 years of experience in information technology. Ken spent 17 years with AT&T and Lucent Technologies successfully designing and implementing voice and data networks. He later worked in the security marketplace and played a key role in early IPSec VPN deployments. As an independent consultant, Ken's primary focal areas include network performance improvement, security practices and the design and deployment of integrated voice and data solutions. He may be contacted at: ken_camp@realtimepublishers.net

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