"Through this program VTech and LearningWorks are putting the fun back
into the art of learning to write," said Julia Fitzgerald , vice president of
marketing, VTech Electronics North America.99

Write + Learn Lightboard (TM)
Writing Tool: Chunky Stylus - Ages 4 years + Up
The portable Write + Learn Lightboard features a light-up screen, stroke
recognition technology and 10 learning modes that teach preschoolers how
to write all the letters of the alphabet, step by step.

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"Our ability to attract and introduce
new license partners throughout the year will see us extending our reputation
for producing high quality entertainment, across multiple platforms to young
gamers of all ages.99
(RP)

-- Franklin's Great Adventure -- Franklin's Great Adventure is an
adventure cross-platform game featuring three playable characters:
Franklin and his two friends Bear and Beaver, who each help the people
of their village.com

"
The winners of the new IGF Modding Competition will be announced at the
IGF Awards Ceremony on March 22, and will be awarded $2,500 for each of the
four game categories, totaling $10,000 in cash prizes.com. As a result, CMP is the premier provider of access,
insight and actionable programs designed to connect sellers and buyers in each
of these industries in ways that yield superior return on investment.

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C. CMP
Media is a subsidiary of United Business Media
(http://www. ERP: $29.

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Experience lots of varied game play with the
three different game modes: Adventure, Bug a Bonus and Gallery mode. Ages 3+; NDS
Suggested retail of $29.

The following titles were chosen for best middleware:

* Goliath -- a team-based vehicle action game where players take on the
role of one of 16 human or AI controlled vehicles known as the Road
Warriors defending a world under siege from an enormous and seemingly
indestructible tank known as the Goliath created by students at Media
Design School

* Neuro-Evolving Robotic Operatives (NERO) -- players assume the role of a
drill sergeant and trains a team of robots in real time with which he or
she can battle against other teams over the internet created by students
at University of Texas.com)
A core provider of essential information to the professional game
industry, the CMP Game Group offers market-defining content, and drives
community through the Game Developers Conference, GDC Europe, the Serious
Games Summit D.
The curriculum is an interactive program , complete with classroom
activities that connect directly to the educational benefits of VTech's award-
winning Write + Learn Smartboard.

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It's an amazing
opportunity to work with such highly respected brands and beloved characters,"
said Leah Kalboussi, VP North America.99 (EC);
NDS Suggested retail of $29.99 (RP)

-- Miss Spider Harvest Time Hop and Fly -- The miniature wonderland of
Sunny Patch is filled with bugs of all shapes, sizes and colors. A panel of judges comprised of
industry professionals, student game experts and modding veterans surveyed a
high number of quality titles, and narrowed it down to a handful of games. Curriculum Provides the Youngest Students With the ABC's of Handwriting

CHICAGO, With technology moving faster than the
speed of light, today's kids are so tech-savvy that they are more familiar
with a keyboard and a stylus than a No."

The Write + Learn Series
The first-of-its-kind, VTech's Write + Learn Series of products combines
technology with fun preschool activities such as doodling and scribbling to
help children achieve writing success to prepare them for their first year of
school .
The VTech Write and Learn series is designed for ages 3 and up with an
estimated retail price ranging from $17.99

Write + Learn Smartboard(TM)
Writing Tool: Crayons and Stylus - 4 years + Up
The Write + Learn Smartboard is an interactive writing and drawing board
that helps teach letters and numbers and inspire creativity through
counting, drawing and music activities with two areas for play -- the
Write Smart area and a drawing area. ERP: $49.

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In three of the games a bonus challenge must
be overcome in order to advance.com. It offers an
independent forum for developers from around the world to set the agenda for
the next stage of interactive tools.unitedbusinessmedia.com), a global provider of news distribution
and specialist information services with a market capitalization of more than
$3 billion. Complete with two levels of difficulty -- Beginner and Advanced --
to challenge children in their learning progress.

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99 (RP)

-- Garfield And His Nine Lives -- The classic comic strip character is
back -- just as fat, lazy and lovable as ever! The 9 unique games all
have interactive environmental elements and hidden areas to reward
players who go exploring. Enjoy
playing through 24 different levels divided by key characters. It is a subsidiary of the K.

The eight winners of the IGF Student Showcase include:

* Ballistic -- 3D-action puzzle game that asks players to solve
physics-based challenges within a given time limit created by students
at Michigan State University

* Cloud -- a game that lets you fly through the clouds, make shapes in the
sky, and create storms to purify the air created by students at
University of Southern California

* Colormental -- restore color to your cartoon world by solving unique
puzzles and working your way past deadly platforming traps created by
students at Full Sail Real World Education

* Ocular Ink -- evil dismembered body parts roam the countryside and
players assume the role of a young paintbrush-wielding eyeball that is
determined to free his home town from the fearsome clutches of the evil
eye-pirate known far and wide as Patches Deadlights created by students
at Grinnell

* Narbacular Drop -- an environmental puzzle game where players navigate a
dungeon with two interconnected portals created by students at Digipen
Institute of Technology

* Orblitz -- a fast-paced puzzle game where players place blocks to direct
orbs to their goal created by students at Digipen Institute of
Technology

* Palette -- Color is the essence of the gameplay in this game.99.99

ABOUT VTECH
VTech, the creator of the Electronic Learning Products (ELP) Category and
the award-winning V. Since 1976, VTech has been developing high-quality,
innovative educational products for children from birth to preteen that
deliver "smart play" through the combination of entertaining electronic
formats and engaging, age-appropriate content that help children learn while
having fun.

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Set in a 3D environment, young gamers choose to play the game in either
adventure mode or battle mode. Ages 5+; PS2 Suggested retail of $19. The
story is a mix of exploration, puzzles and platform jumping to ensure
long-lasting playability. Inaugural Modding Competition Finalists

SAN FRANCISCO, The Independent Games Festival (IGF)
has named the winners of the 2006 Student Showcase as well as the finalists
for the first-ever Modding Competition."

Write It Right
The VTech Write + Learn Series Curriculum will be distributed to
5,000 pre-kindergarten and kindergarten teachers across the country with a
free handwriting-based curriculum that will deliver fun, high-quality
instruction and lay the foundation for learning strong handwriting skills. "The engaging activities,
mirroring those found in our award-winning Write + Learn Smartboard, allow
teachers to provide their students with the tools to help them be successful
early on in learning proper writing techniques.

ABOUT LEARNING WORKS
LearningWorks, located in New Haven, Connecticut, is a full-service youth
marketing and educational development company that specializes in the
creation, production, and distribution of customized learning materials for
corporations, public service organizations, and government agencies .

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The Game Factory Unites Land Before Time's Young Dinos Garfield Miss Spider Franklin and Stars of The Cartoon Network to Deliver Quality Entertainment to Yo

com. The Write Smart area magically
recognizes the number or letter children write and reflects their work on
a built-in LCD screen .

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99 (RP)

About THE GAME FACTORY
The Game Factory, trading as The American Game Factory , Inc in North
America, is an international publisher of video and computer games based on
leading international children's characters.

About CMP Media (http://www. The engaging worksheets include mazes, dot-
to-dot puzzles, tracing and coloring activities, which reinforce beginning
letter strokes, fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.99

Write + Learn Artboard(TM)
Writing Tool: Crayons - Ages 3 years + Up
Budding artists and writers will get a head start with the Write + Learn
Artboard's interactive activity sheets, which encourage creative
expression through tracing, writing, vocabulary and the alphabet.hirsch@edelman.

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The conference will feature hundreds of lectures and
workshops designed to provide inspiration and build skills.

VTech and LearningWorks Partner to Deliver the 'Write' Combination of Learning and Fun Directly to Schools

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Mathiasen Group A/S, the largest Nordic company within children's licenses and
spanning many different product categories such as: Apparel, toys, candy, home
furnishing and games.
The IGF was established in 1998 by the CMP Game Group to encourage
innovation in game development and to recognize the best independent game
developers, the way Sundance Film Festival honors the independent film
community. Combining light-up
instructional direction with special interactive "write -right" technology,
the Lightboard guides children through the activities with a chunky stylus
to teach letters, numbers, music and games, and also offers creative free
play.

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The 8 platform levels feature a mix of exploration,
action and puzzle games.99 (RP)

-- Land Before Time: Into the Mysterious Beyond -- Set in prehistoric
times, this tale of a group of young dinosaur friends, Littlefoot,
Cera, Ducky, Petrie, Spike and Chomper is centered on their lives as
they live, play and learn about life in the Great Valley. Players use the different strengths and abilities of the
individual dinosaurs to help them overcome various obstacles.
Each will be playable and on display during the Game Developers Conference
(GDC), from March 20-24 in San Jose, Calif.cmp.
To reinforce early handwriting basics and provide an updated twist on
beginning writing skills, VTech(R) Electronics, creator of the electronic
learning category, and LearningWorks, LLC, an educational program development
company, have joined forces to bring the fun back to learning handwriting
skills by reaching today's youngest students in their very first classroom
experience with the VTech Write + Learn Series Curriculum. The
Artboard enables young artists and writers to draw familiar objects while
learning the object name and first letter with 26 interchangeable erasable
"smart doodle" pages that cover the entire alphabet .

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Ages
7+; GBA Suggested retail of $29. Ages 7+;
GBA Suggested retail of $29.

About the CMP Game Group (http://www. For more information, please visit http://www.

Write and Learn Series Product Line

Write + Learn Letter Book(TM)
Writing Tool: Finger Touch - Ages 3 years + Up
This activity-filled phonics picture book engages early learners with
reading, handwriting, counting and vocabulary-building activities on 20
interactive pages. Twelve different modes of play encourage children to get
creative -- color, draw, and learn letter and number strokes step by step.Smile TV Learning System, is a world leader of age-
appropriate learning toys.

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Titles can be purchased via national toy, electronic,
video game, software and mass -market retailers.gamefactorygames. Press registration is also
available at this time. Steve Graham , author
of "Writing Better" and "Handbook of Writing Research," and member of VTech's
Advisory Council. The activity
worksheets are to be completed in two parts -- in the classroom and at home
with parents.
VTech Electronics, Ltd. is headquartered in Hong Kong and is a pioneer in the
establishment of China-based manufacturing facilities, selling its products
via a strong brand platform supported by a well-established distribution
network in North America, Europe and Asia.

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To register for the Game Developers Conference and review conference
information, please visit http://www.cmpgame .99 to $49. ERP: $17.

Contact: Allison Hirsch
312/297-7585
allison.

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More than 20 titles, developed for young gamers,
will ship for the Game Boy Advance (TM), Nintendo DS(TM), PlayStation 2(TM) and
PC-CD ROM platforms."

First and second quarter 2006 releases:
-- Franklin's Birthday Surprise -- Franklin wants to organize a surprise
birthday party for his best friend Bear in this platform action
adventure game for Sony PlayStation 2. Players can also make their own
Garfield photo album using pictures from the animated series. Each page shows proper letter stroke and steps,
enabling preschoolers to trace letters with their fingers -- the first
step for young writers -- as they practice their primary writing skills.

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The
players will experience the simulation of mixing real paint created by
students at Department of Film, TV and Multimedia, SungKyunKwan
University

* Sea of Chaos -- a story-driven 3D action naval combat game where players
defend their homeland against the evil Vandamourians, battle ferocious
pirates, and acquire new ships and upgrades to help you achieve your
ultimate goal of bringing peace to the seas created by students at
Digipen Institute of Technology.gdconf., GDC Mobile, GDC Asia, Game Developer magazine,
Gamasutra. With this program every child
has the potential to succeed at handwriting.

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"2006 will see The Game Factory publish its most compelling range of
entertainment video games and software for young gamers.E. For more corporate and product information, please visit
http://www .igf. 2 pencil or crayon. The Smartboard emulates a real-life
tutor by rewarding a child's work with encouraging phrases.

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Expands into Nintendo DS(TM), PlayStation 2(TM) and PC formats in 2006

NEW YORK, Building off its success as an
international publisher of video and computer games based on leading
international children's characters, The Game Factory today announced a
significant expansion in its 2006 product portfolio at the 2006 American
International Toy Fair.

The Independent Games Festival Announces Lineup for Student Showcase

The finalists in the modding competition include:

* IGF Best Mod -- 'Half-Life 2': Dodgeball: Source, Dystopia, Eclipse,
Hidden: Source, Plan Of Attack

* IGF Best Mod -- 'Neverwinter Nights': Bitter Harvest, Hythum II: The
Halls Of Kilgirn, Rose Of Eternity -- Chapter 1, Runes Of Blood, The
Hunt

* IGF Best Mod -- 'Unreal Tournament 2004': Dragonfly Variations,
HamsterBash, Path Of Vengeance, The Awakening, The Soulkeeper

* IGF Best Mod -- 'Doom 3': Last Man Standing , Doom3 [CC]

"The rise of quality in independent student games continues to astound,"
Simon Carless, IGF chairman, said. "And in adding the modding competition,
we're delighted to highlight another vibrant independent gaming scene.com)
Through its market-leading portfolio of trusted information brands in the
technology, healthcare and lifestyles industries, CMP Media has earned the
confidence of more professionals and enthusiasts in these fields than any
other media company . "Learning the basics, from how to hold a pencil properly to
letter recognition and correct letter and word placement, is essential and
must be emphasized at an early age to achieve school success . Through five different products, including the Write + Learn
Smartboard, VTech uses its proprietary "Write it Right" writing recognition
technology to encourage continued development of handwriting skills while
using a progressive technique to move a child effortlessly from using their
finger to a chunky stylus and finally a pencil.
VTech Electronics North America, LLC is based in Arlington Heights, Ill.

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Young gamers
are required to take control of each of the popular young dinosaurs as
well as Littlefoot's Grandpa and venture through 6 exciting
environments.
The GDC is the largest and most important professional development event
for the games industry .99

Write + Learn(TM) Desk
Writing Tool: Crayons and Stylus - 4 years + Up
The Write + Learn Desk is an interactive, stand-alone drawing desk that
helps to teach core preschool skills through engaging games and
activities.
For comfortable creating, the Write + Learn Desk comes with a child-sized
stool, and for learning on-the-go, the desk's snap-off legs can easily be
removed.

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In collecting items for the
party, Franklin has to progress through 10 different platforms
navigating his way around clever traps and solving puzzles to advance .
"Teaching children to form and recognize letters is the beginning step in
developing a successful handwriting technique," said Dr. It
also gives teachers the opportunity to make the program an integral part of
their lesson plans as it is flexible and easy to merge into their daily
activities. The drawing area lets children doodle away as they
listen to silly sounds and music.

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16 additional mini-games can be unlocked and
played in the main mode. Ages 5+; GBA Suggested retail of $19.
The game takes full advantage of the newest Nintendo DS abilities --
while the top screen shows 3D character animation, the subscreen shows
character status, level information and special controls.

The IGF Modding Competition acknowledges the most innovative and creative
modifications in independent game development, including Half-Life 2,
NeverWinter Nights, Unreal Tournament 2004 and Doom 3. More information about
the finalists and their respective titles can be found at http://www.com, the Independent Games Festival, the Game Developers Choice
Awards, and GDCTV. And, the
prevalence of computers in the classroom is making it easier for learning
proper handwriting skills to fall by the wayside. The series ranges from
creative artboards and lightboards to letter books and desks, each providing a
hands-on approach to help children explore writing and drawing.
ERP: $19.com

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cmpgame. ERP: $24.