Zodiac Gaming(TM) Announces Launch of Zodiac Branded Gaming Subsidiary and Agreement to Build Speed Racer(TM)-Branded Games

Zodiac Gaming(TM) Announces Launch of Zodiac Branded Gaming Subsidiary and Agreement to Build Speed Racer(TM)-Branded Games

VALLEY STREAM, N.Y., Sept. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Zodiac Gaming(TM), a leading game developer for the digital set-top box platform, today announced the launch of a wholly-owned subsidiary, Zodiac Branded Gaming ("ZBG")(TM), which will publish and market high-quality branded games for the digital set-top box. Zodiac and ZBG also announced ZBG's first brand partnership -- an exclusive agreement with Speed Racer Enterprises, Inc. to build games around the Speed Racer(TM) brand.

ZBG Launch

"ZBG is a natural extension of Zodiac," said Alex Libkind, CEO of Zodiac Gaming LLC, who will also serve as CEO of ZBG. "While Zodiac Gaming will continue to push the envelope of set-top box gaming technology, ZBG will focus on securing brand partnerships and distributing branded games to operators and customers."

Paul Niehaus, currently Zodiac Gaming's EVP of Business Development, has been named ZBG's President, and will assume day-to-day control of ZBG. Niehaus also retains his position at Zodiac Gaming. "I'm delighted to have this opportunity to take Zodiac's consumer offerings to the next level," stated Niehaus.

"More than 40 million homes in the U.S. already have digital set-top boxes, but only a fraction of consumers are even aware of their set-top boxes' gaming capabilities. By partnering with instantly-recognized brands, we hope to accelerate awareness of set-top box gaming," Niehaus added.

ZBG is currently in discussions with a number of high-profile brands, and expects to announce a series of additional partnerships in the near future.

Speed Racer Agreement

The three-year licensing agreement between Speed Racer Enterprises, Inc. and ZBG gives ZBG the exclusive right to design, build, and distribute Speed Racer-branded games on digital set-top boxes.

"Speed Racer is a perfect fit for ZBG and for the set-top box," said Niehaus. "The release of the classic Speed Racer cartoons on DVD has spurred a huge revival of interest in the series, and has won a new generation of fans. Millions of television viewers identify instantly with the characters, music, and cars of the show, and are eager to get behind the wheel of Speed Racer's trademark Mach 5." Niehaus added that ZBG hopes to launch its first Speed Racer-branded game in the next few months.

"We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Zodiac Gaming producing the first-ever Speed Racer game on-demand for the digital cable box community." said James Rocknowski, executive vice president of Speed Racer Enterprises, Inc. "We know there are millions of Speed Racer fans that will be ready to race to their gaming on-demand channel to get in on all the action!"

About Zodiac Gaming

Zodiac Gaming is a leading developer, publisher and distributor of interactive games delivered through digital set-top boxes, allowing consumers to play a wide range of single and multiple player games on their televisions using a simple remote. Zodiac Gaming provides cable and satellite operators and their customers a large suite of highly interactive games in all major genres. Through its subsidiary Zodiac Branded Gaming, Zodiac brings branded game content to the digital set-top box. http://www.zodiacgaming.com/.

About Speed Racer Enterprises

Speed Racer Enterprises, Inc., formed in 1991, owns all the rights to the Speed Racer animated series. The company also manages all related licensing and promotional activities on a worldwide basis. For more information, please visit http://www.speedracer.com/.

Source: Zodiac Gaming

CONTACT: John Totaro, Totaro Communications, +1-212-213-4148, for Zodiac Gaming

Web site: http://www.zodiacgaming.com/ http://www.speedracer.com/

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