NBC Local Media in Philadelphia – WCAU TV/NBC 10, and Lunar Tide Communications, Inc. announced today a joint marketing, sales and content partnership that expands into one of the most rapidly growing consumer markets, video games. Additionally, this partnership is to grow a new gaming brand that has its foundation in America's Video Game Expo (VGXPO) and VideoGame.Net. NBC Local Media Philadelphia will also be working with Lunar Tide this summer to rollout a Video Game Design Camp and After School program, where attendees will learn how to develop video games and various animation and digital design techniques.

"America's Video Game Expo is an annual gaming destination - where gamers and industry insiders come together to celebrate videogames," stated Jennifer Johnson-Halpin, Director of VGXPO. "With NBC's Local Media involvement in VGXPO we expect to reach thousands of gamers and offer them an absolutely fantastic experience and provide them with content that they won't be able to find at any other gaming event."

The primary marketing relationship, that includes NBC Local Media in Philadelphia, NBC10.com, Digphilly.com and Lunar Tide, will focus on the upcoming VGXPO, where thousands of game fans and marketers will converge on the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. Taking place November 21st through 23rd, VGXPO is an event that provides companies in video game, technology, sci-fi, comic book and related fields an opportunity to showcase products to gamers and pop-culture fans. For gamers, VGXPO gives them an opportunity to experience the newest games and technology; encounter game industry legends; compete in tournaments; rock out at music concerts; compete in COS-Play contests; buy games; and meet with friends. Included in these events is the Intel Extreme Masters Continental Finals Americas gaming competition - an event with $80,000 in prize money. The winners will compete against the world's best teams at the Intel Extreme Masters Global Finals in 2009.

"Intel is thrilled to be involved with the exciting global growth of eSports and Electronic Sports League (ESL) to host the first Intel Extreme Masters Continental Finals Americas at VGXPO," said Tim Takeuchi, Marketing Manager of Intel Corporation. "The Intel Extreme Masters competition will showcase America's best Counter-Strike 1.6 and World of Warcraft teams and provide spectators the chance to see the amazing levels of performance from Intel-based PCs. We have no intention of sitting still in our quest to deliver an even better gaming experience and look forward to working with VGXPO to host the Finals in November."

VGXPO was designed from the ground up to be the perfect convention for game fans and marketers. Over the past three years, dozens of organizations have participated on the exhibit floor and as conference presenters. Some of VGXPO's past participants have included: NVIDIA, Dell, Intel, EA, Microsoft, MTV's Rock Band, Phillips, Panasonic, Atari, Comcast, The ECA, WIGI, Nyko, Electronics Boutique, Game Crazy, 1UP Network, CMP's Game Developers Conference, Nubi/Pelican, as well as many others.

"From our viewpoint, VGXPO, and videogames overall, provide us with the ability to engage an audience that we haven't been able to traditionally reach with TV," said Dennis Bianchi, NBC 10 President and General Manager. "Our goal with Lunar Tide, and VGXPO, is to draw a huge audience to the expo and to develop additional videogame marketplaces."

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