Digital Praise, Inc. Presents Adventures in Odyssey® and The Great Escape,
A Virtual Computer World where Values Count!
Latest Computer Game from Christian Entertainment Leader Lets Kids Play
with Characters From the Popular Focus on the Family® Audio Adventure Series
COLORADO CONVENTION CENTER, BOOTH 16058 / DENVER, CO (July 13, 2005) - Digital Praise, Inc., a leader in family-friendly entertainment software, today unveiled Adventures in Odyssey® and The Great Escape, the third in its line of exciting and fun computer games based on the hugely popular Focus on the Family® Adventures in Odyssey audio series. In The Great Escape, designed for children aged 8 to 12, players join Eugene and other Adventures in Odyssey characters as they explore a virtual PC world where high-tech threats exist and freedom is won through the virtues of respect, responsibility and obedience.
Adventures in Odyssey is one of the most popular series on radio. Broadcast across the U.S. on 2,000 stations each day, the program attracts 1.2 million loyal listeners who follow the series' leading characters Connie, Eugene and Whit as they experience life both within and outside the fictional town of Odyssey.
"Adventures in Odyssey and The Great Escape combines the fun and thrills of a top-notch computer game with life lessons about the value of good character," said Tom Bean, president and CEO of Digital Praise. "In this crazy, inside-out world of bits and bytes, your kids never quite know what to expect! If your family likes fast-paced arcade games, then they'll love Adventures in Odyssey and The Great Escape because it is stimulating, challenging, instructive, and a blast to play."
The plot of Adventures in Odyssey and The Great Escape begins with avid gamer, Michael, helping Mandy research a school report on computers. But "research" takes on a whole new meaning when Eugene invites them to the Room of Consequences for a hands-on lesson. Knowing Michael's passion for computer games Eugene asks, "What better way to learn about computers then to go inside one?" Mandy isn't so sure, "Is it safe?" But with a word of warning, "It's safe if the safety protocols are in place," and a whisk through the Room of Consequences portal, the kids begin their own odyssey. Things get ugly when Michael disobeys and deactivates the safety protocols. This thrusts them into a dangerous world of Trojan Horses, viruses, spam, data miners, and other nasty things that he and Mandy must eradicate in order to outwit the powers that be and retrieve pieces of valuable messages which give them wisdom and guide them toward reality and safety.
Helpful "e-mails" deliver messages based on Biblical themes that reinforce positive traits for developing boys and girls. "Eugene plays a subtle but pivotal role in helping players learn what it means to be of good character," notes Thea Gentile Smith, Digital Praise producer. "Things go haywire when the kids accidentally corrupt Eugene's e-mail folder, containing all of his favorite nuggets of wisdom. Players need to retrieve these pieces in order to escape. Along the way they learn that using time wisely, obedience, and moral character, helps their cause, while poor choices have negative consequences."
Adventures in Odyssey and The Great Escape was developed in cooperation with the writers of the Adventures in Odyssey audio series. The game itself, which features Hollywood-class production values, was created by Digital Praise expert animators, sound designers, engineers, and game designers, many of whom worked in the past at leading companies such as Disney Interactive, The Learning Company, and Atari.
Adventures in Odyssey and The Great Escape is designed for children ages 8 and up, priced at $29.95 USD (MSRP), and can be played on both Mac and Windows PCs. The game will be available September 2005 through leading Christian retailers in the U.S. and Canada as well as through online sources www.digitalpraise.com, www.whitsend.org, and www.amazon.com.
Retailers seeking ordering information can contact EMI CMG Distribution at www.emicmgdistribution.com and Navarre Corporation at www.navarre.com.
About Digital Praise, Inc.:
Digital Praise is an independent developer and publisher of award-winning family-friendly entertainment software for personal computers. The company produces faith-based and mainstream titles for families looking to enjoy interactive entertainment software with principled character-building themes and "just good clean fun." For more information, visit www.digitalpraise.com.
Press Contact:
Sarah Ryser
S&S Public Relations
847-415-9318
sryser@sspr.com
©2005 Digital Praise, Inc. All rights reserved. Digital Praise and FunWare are trademarks of Digital Praise, Inc. Adventures in Odyssey and Focus on the Family are registered trademarks of Focus on the Family. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.