Shockwave.com Introduces New Premium Online Gaming Service - Club Shockwave

Mar 24, 2009
By ViacomCBS Staff

New Service Provides Exclusive Access to Hundreds of Online Games, Puzzles and Cash Prizes

Shockwave.com, a unit of the Nickelodeon Kids and Family Games Group, today launches Club Shockwave -- an all-new premium online gaming service for adults. The new subscription-based service will offer members access to hundreds of exclusive skill games and puzzles and the chance to win cash prizes and to accumulate rewards for time spent online. Club Shockwave is available to the public beginning today for as little as $29.95 per year -- less than $2.50 per month.

"There has been explosive growth in online casual gaming in the past couple of years and people want to connect and be rewarded for the time they spend playing games," said Dave Williams, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Nickelodeon Kids and Family Games Group. "Club Shockwave provides extremely high production value games as well as real-world and virtual prizes, and allows users to share their experiences with friends, family and other casual game enthusiasts."

Club Shockwave members have unfettered access to online (browser-based) games of skill in a full range of categories including: classic board games, as well as puzzle, word, and strategy games. The service initially launches with 12 exclusive skill games and hundreds of exclusive puzzles. Users have the chance to win daily cash prizes up to $4,999, and one could win an annual grand prize of $25,000*. Additionally, the site offers extensive community features, and other rewards -- including tokens and trophies. Club Shockwave complements Shockwave UNLIMITED, which focuses on offering members access to premium downloadable games. All Shockwave UNLIMITED members will automatically have access to all Club Shockwave games of skill and features.

The launch of Club Shockwave coincides with a new stylized look for Shockwave.com, the world's original casual online gaming site, which enlivens the popular gaming destination for its more than 14 million monthly visitors (source: Omniture SiteCatalyst 2008). Featuring a refreshed look, Shockwave.com is now more personalized and social -- with ratings and reviews, membership and personal profiles.

"comScore says that today, 86 million Americans visit online gaming sites compared to 67 million in December 2007," added Williams. "The Club Shockwave launch, combined with the overall Shockwave.com redesign, is a powerful one-two punch that allows us to tap into this growing audience of gamers."

    Key Club Shockwave Features Include:
    --  Hundreds of Games: More than 400 online games, including a dozen
        Club-exclusive token-generating games and hundreds of puzzles, are
        available to Club Shockwave members. Categories include: new twists on
        classic board games, as well as puzzle, word, and strategy games.
        Progression, replay-ability, and accomplishments are integral to the
        Club Shockwave experience and are built into each game.
    --  Large Cash Prizes: Games have a chance to win up to $4,999 in daily
        prizes and an annual $25,000 cash jackpot.
    --  Awards and Achievements: Club Shockwave rewards members just for
        playing. Tokens are earned every time a member plays Club Shockwave
        games and can be exchanged for sweepstakes entries and instant-win
        scratcher games. Accomplishments within each game will also be
        rewarded with one of hundreds of different collectible virtual
        trophies, stored in a personal trophy case. The progressive nature of
        the Club Shockwave games offers users the chance to grow their skills
        and earn more rewards over time. New games and challenges will be
        introduced to Club Shockwave on an ongoing basis.
    --  Community Features: Personal member profiles, Shockwave Game Face
        (talking, animated avatars), chat features, friend lists, favorite
        games, game reviews, and high scores are among the features that
        connect each Club Shockwave member to the broader Shockwave community.

Shockwave.com, the original casual gaming destination, is the world's leading destination for online games, and serves the best in free interactive entertainment since 1998. Shockwave has a library of more than 400 games including action-packed arcade-style games, jigsaws and puzzle games, multiplayer games, downloadable games and more.

Shockwave is part of Nickelodeon Kids and Family Group's digital portfolio, which serves kids, tweens, teens, and parents, and focuses on the activities its audiences participate in most online: gaming, social networking and community and video. According to comScore (February 2009), Nickelodeon Kids and Family digital ranks as number one for total visits, page views longest time spent per visitor. The Nickelodeon Kids and Family Games Group is a division of Viacom Inc.'s (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B) MTV Networks.

Nickelodeon, now in its 30th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, magazines and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in more than 98 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 14 consecutive years. For more information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B).

*For full details and method of entry, visit Shockwave.com.

/Web Site: http://www.Shockwave.com

Joanna Roses for Nickelodeon Kids and Family Group
+1-212-846-7326
joanna.roses@nick.com