NEW YORK, Dec. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- USA Network is entering the fast growing online casual gaming category with the launch of the USA Character Game Lounge. The site is located at usagamelounge.com and launched November 15 with 20 character-themed original games to tie into the networks "Characters Welcome" brand. The games range in level of difficulty from the Duck Wrangler (a game of lassoing skills and quickness with the mouse to keep rabid ducks from taking over the city), to Sky Writer (a word based text twister).
As part of the launch, USA Network created an alliance with WeeWorld, the home of the wildly popular WeeMee social network. All USA Character Game lounge users will join millions of die-hard fans that already use WeeMees as their personal avatar or icon, which will be visible when registered to the site. USA is working with WeeWorld to integrate the WeeMees into future gameplay, including creating specific items so that Game Lounge users can express they're fans of particular shows -- or create their WeeMee in the image of their favorite USA Network character. USA Network is the first television property in the United States to use the WeeMee avatar application.
"Over the past two years, usanetwork.com has had great success with original series themed and advertiser integrated casual games," said Chris McCumber, senior vice president, marketing and brand strategy. "Now, USA is capitalizing on this growing sector by making a strategic commitment to this mass-appeal genre."
"At WeeWorld, we empower people to express themselves and communicate with others in totally unique environments," said Lauren Bigelow, WeeWorld US general manager. "Combining WeeMees with USA Network's 'Characters Welcome' is a natural fit and continues to strengthen WeeWorld's well-established API partner network, which brings WeeMee power to major online sites."
USA plans a multi-phase roll-out of the game lounge in 2008. Plans are already in place to double the casual game offerings through original development and licensing deals. There will be an IM based chat functionality, the ability to challenge other Characters in two person games, as well as an affinity based rewards program.
The USA Character Game Lounge was created in conjunction with Glow Interactive and will be a sponsored by Big Lots, the nation's largest broadline closeout retailer. As part of its sponsorship, Big Lots is also the presenting sponsorship of an online sweepstakes for a chance to win $10,000. The Character Game Lounge will be promoted on-air and online via custom spots prompting viewers to play and enter the sweepstakes.
WeeWorld is the home of the WeeMee, the world's most widely used, recognized and beloved avatar. With over 18 million WeeMees worldwide, WeeWorld is the trusted site for young adults to communicate and express themselves in a totally unique way using a beautifully designed, easy-to-use interface. WeeWorld has offices in Boston, New York, San Francisco, London, and Glasgow, and is funded by two of the world's leading investors, Accel Partners (http://www.accel.com/) and Benchmark Capital (http://www.benchmark.com/).
Glow Interactive is an award-winning interactive development agency based in New York City serving high-profile brands in a variety of industries. Glow focuses on using the latest technology to develop successful, dynamic marketing campaigns, websites and viral applications. Glow is always seeking fresh, innovative ways to engage and stimulate interest through fluid user experiences and strategic visual design. Clients include USA Network, A&E Network, Canon, Showtime, Comedy Central and others. For more information visit http://www.glowinteractive.com/.
USA NETWORK is cable television's leading provider of original series and feature movies, sports and entertainment events, off-net television shows, and blockbuster theatrical films. The #1 network in basic cable, USA Network is seen in nearly 94 million U.S. homes. The USA Network Web site is located at http://www.usanetwork.com/. Characters Welcome.
USA Network is a program service of NBC Universal Cable a division of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience.
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