Championship Gaming Series and National Amusements Bring Live Pro Gaming Action to the Big Screen
A first for the gaming and theatre industries, this unique Championship Gaming Series Qualifying Event to be held May 11-12 at The Bridge Cinema de Lux in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA and Dedham, MA - May 9, 2007 - The Championship Gaming SeriesTM (CGS), the first worldwide professional gaming league, and National Amusements, Inc., a world leader in the motion picture exhibition industry, announced today plans to bring competitive gaming to the big screen.
A first for interactive gaming and theatres, the larger-than-life experience begins when CGS brings competitive pro gamers to The Bridge Cinema de Lux in Los Angeles on May 11-12, 2007. The Bridge will be transformed into a live gaming arena and deliver an entirely new type of entertainment experience for gamers and fans as players battle it out to qualify for the upcoming CGS Combine and Official 2007 Draft. The event is free to all spectators.
Players will compete on custom built staging and will be featured front-and center in the theatre auditorium. Spectators can watch the electrifying action unfold in high definition on the 20-foot by 36-foot silver screen. A unique split-screen presentation will display gameplay, scoring, and live commentary from CGS play-by-play announcers. Gaming fans will also enjoy comfortable extra-wide "Ultra Leather" seats and digital surround-sound. The program is being produced by renowned television sports producer Mike Burks and is being presented in conjunction with National Amusements' CyGamZ, the leading gaming arena.
Both CGS and National Amusements are leaders in their industry. CGS has revolutionized competitive gaming by establishing the first worldwide professional gaming league, with a $5 million payroll and TV coverage in over 100 million homes worldwide. National Amusements is transforming the movie-going experience by developing unique and alternative entertainment experiences at their theatres including live entertainment, comedy, restaurants, and most recently introducing CyGamZ, the leading interactive gaming arena.
"This is an exciting time for pro gaming and for the transformation of our theaters into community entertainment destinations," said Bob Steele, vice president of business development. "CyGamZ is pleased to be working with CGS on this unique event, the first of what we expect will be a continuing series of programs with global expansion opportunities."
"CGS is dedicated to providing groundbreaking sports entertainment experiences for our players and fans," said CGS Commissioner and CEO Andy Reif. "We are truly breaking new ground here with National Amusements and CyGamZ by bringing high-level gaming competitions to the big screen. No one has ever seen anything like this and we're looking forward to creating a bigger-than-life pro gaming experience."
"It's a privilege working with National Amusements and CyGamZ. They are both best-in-class partners," added Reif.
To register for the CGS Qualifying Event at The Bridge, or for more information, please go to www.thecgs.com/thebridge.
About Championship Gaming Series
Headquartered in Los Angeles, CA, the Championship Gaming SeriesTM (CGS) is the first worldwide professional video gaming league. Launching in 2007, CGS features teams of the world's best gamers from North America, Latin America, the United Kingdom, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia. The league will distribute entertainment content to more than 100,000,000 households worldwide via DIRECTV in North America and Latin America, BSkyB in the UK, and STAR in Asia and Australia. CGS Founding Partners include Mountain Dew, Xbox 360, and IGN Entertainment.
About National Amusements, Inc.
National Amusements, Inc., is a world leader in the motion picture exhibition industry operating more than 1,500 screens in the U.S., U.K., Latin America and Russia. National Amusements delivers a superior entertainment experience in theaters around the world under its Showcase, Multiplex, Cinema de Lux, and KinoStar brands. Based in Dedham, Massachusetts, National Amusements is a closely held company operating under the third generation of leadership by the Redstone family. National Amusements is also an equal partner in the online ticketing service, MovieTickets.com, and is the parent company of both Viacom and CBS Corporation. For more information about National Amusements visit www.nationalamusements.com
About CyGamZ
National Amusements CyGamZ, is the ultimate interactive gaming arena, at the Showcase Cinemas Ann Arbor located in Pittsfield Township, Michigan. A first for the theatre industry, this cutting-edge entertainment concept brings interactive gaming to a whole new level, featuring state-of-the-art equipment and games that will blow-away even the most skilled and competitive, hard-core gamers, but also offering a safe, enjoyable family-friendly atmosphere for all ages. CyGamZ will also host major game tournaments and attract top gamers from across the nation. For more information about CyGamZ visit www.cygamz.com
Media Contact:
Championship Gaming Series
Christian Averill
Fleishman-Hillard
212-453-2341
christian.averill@fleishman.com
National Amusements/CyGamZ
Wanda Whitson
Director Corporate Communications
781-461-1600 x336
wwhitson@nationalamusements.com