Cartoon Network Launches Second Annual 'Project Goldmaster'

Cartoon Network Launches Second Annual 'Project Goldmaster'

One Independent Games Festival Finalist Will Be Selected to Develop a Downloadable Game Featuring a Cartoon Network Property

SAN FRANCISCO, March 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Cartoon Network will offer one up-and-coming game developer the opportunity to create a downloadable game featuring popular Cartoon Network characters from series such as Codename: Kids Next Door, The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy, and Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends in its second annual 'Project Goldmaster' competition. As part of the Independent Games Festival (IGF), ten finalists will be selected to compete to win the top honor to develop a Cartoon Network Power Play downloadable game to be featured on CartoonNetwork.com. One of the ten finalists will be selected by Cartoon Network to be the winner of 'Project Goldmaster.'

"We know there is a great deal of talent and creativity in the independent gaming community, and 'Project Goldmaster' will be a significant opportunity for an up-and-coming developer," said Paul Condolora, VP/General Manager for Cartoon Network New Media. "Cartoon Network has always been focused on attracting new talent, first for our animated series and now to develop interactive games based on our successful series. We know our audience loves games as much as we do -- last year CartoonNetwork.com had 1.6 billion game plays -- so we're looking for a company that is as passionate about gaming as our audience is. We had a great experience developing a game with Flashbang Studios last year for AdultSwim.com and look forward to working with this year's winner on creating a new and exciting game for CartoonNetwork.com."

Formed two years ago, Flashbang Studios released their first game, Beesly's Buzzwords, in November 2003. The game earned the young studio a nomination as a finalist in the 2004 Independent Games Festival. As winner of the 2004 Project Goldmaster competition, Flashbang Studios developed a Cartoon Network Power Play game featuring the Adult Swim series Sealab 2021. The game, Sealab 2021: Sweet Mayhem, launched on AdultSwim.com in November 2004. Flashbang Studios currently has three original titles in development. The first of these, Glorm, will launch in mid-March, followed by two other games planned for release by Summer 2005.

In its seventh year, the Independent Games Festival received more than 78 original entries representing 11 countries in two different categories. A panel of 36 narrowed down the field to 20 of the most innovative independent game developers worldwide. Finalist games can be viewed at www.igf.com. The winner will be announced during the Game Developers Conference, the most important professional development event for the game industry, held March 7-11 in San Francisco.

About The Independent Games Festival

The Independent Games Festival was established in 1998 by the CMP Game Group to encourage innovation in game development and to recognize the best independent game developers. The IGF solicits entries from all over the world and finalists are selected by a jury of game developers and industry experts. The festival culminates at the annual Game Developers Conference, March 7-11, 2005 in San Francisco, Calif., where finalists demonstrate their games to the game industry and press. Winners will be announced at the IGF awards ceremony on March 9, 2005. For more information, visit www.gdconf.com.

CMP Media LLC

CMP Media LLC (http://www.cmp.com/) is a leading integrated media company providing essential information and marketing services to the entire technology spectrum -- the builders, sellers and users of technology worldwide. Capitalizing on its editorial strength, CMP is uniquely positioned to offer marketers comprehensive, integrated media solutions tailored to meet their individual needs. Its diverse products and services include newspapers, magazines, Internet products, research, direct marketing services, education and training, trade shows and conferences and custom publishing.

About Cartoon Network

Cartoon Network, currently seen in 87.3 million U.S. homes and 160 countries around the world, is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.'s 24-hour, ad-supported cable service offering the best in animated entertainment. Drawing from the world's largest cartoon library, Cartoon Network showcases unique original ventures such as Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, Codename: Kids Next Door, Teen Titans, The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy, The Powerpuff Girls, Samurai Jack, Ed, Edd n Eddy and other Cartoon Cartoons. Cartoon Network also features Adult Swim, its signature late-night block of animation for grown-ups. Since its launch in 1992, Cartoon Network has remained one of ad-supported cable's highest-rated networks. Cartoon Network's Web site is located at www.CartoonNetwork.com.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, is a major producer of news and entertainment product around the world and the leading provider of programming for the basic cable industry.

About Cartoon Network New Media and Power Play Games

Cartoon Network New Media is the division of Cartoon Network responsible for CartoonNetwork.com, Cartoon Network Power Play Games and other interactive ventures. CartoonNetwork.com is one of the Internet's top entertainment sites, featuring games, an online community, e-commerce and programming information. With more than 7 million unique users per month, CartoonNetwork.com is one of the top kids sites, and consistently one of the most visited entertainment sites among all groups on the Web. Cartoon Network Power Play games are downloadable games featuring characters from favorite Cartoon Network shows. Purchased individually and downloaded from CartoonNetwork.com to the owner's desktop, Power Play Games feature full- screen graphics, bonus levels, new characters, plus the ability to save games and track scores against other players.

Source: CMP Game Group

CONTACT: Katie Morgan, Cartoon Network Public Relations, Katie.Morgan@turner.com; or Sibel Sunar, ext. 271, sibel@bohle.com, or Craig Sinel, ext. 211, craig@bohle.com, both of The Bohle Company, +1-310-785-0515, for CMP Game Group; or Tara Gibb of CMP Game Group, +1-415-947-6219, tgibb@cmp.com

Web site: http://www.cmp.com/ http://www.cartoonnetwork.com/ http://www.gdconf.com/ http://www.igf.com/

------- Profile: Ent