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News November 5, 08:21 Eastern Time
ENFIELD, CONN. (Nov. 5) BUSINESS WIRE -Nov. 5, 1998-- Event Draws Support from Prominent Washington Lawmakers
Speaker Gingrich, Senators DeWine and Dodd
There's more strategy on the Hill than election tactics this time of year. In a move to bring the game of chess to children in the Washington DC area, LEGO Media International - a division of the LEGO Group - announced today that it will sponsor the LEGO Chess(TM) Challenge, a computer chess tournament to be held this Saturday, November 7 at the US Chess Center in downtown Washington DC. Children at the event will compete using LEGO Media's LEGO Chess, a fascinating new software version of the classic "Game of Kings" made especially for children.
"It is important that we use technology and other tools not only to teach children, but motivate them to learn," Speaker Newt Gingrich said. "Programs and activities that use creative approaches, like the LEGO Chess Tournament at the Washington D.C. Chess Center, encourage children to explore new avenues of learning." -- U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R -- GA)
"All my children have enjoyed LEGO(R) products over the years, and I'm pleased to see that LEGO Media has created products for computer play. My wife Fran and I have always been supporters of educationally based computer products for children, especially since our eleven-year old son Mark enjoys using our home computer. All the new LEGO Media products are imaginative, entertaining and high quality products that can be enjoyed by our entire family." -- U.S. Senator Mike DeWine (R - OH)
"So many children today spend their time staring vacantly at a computer screen, absorbed by brain-numbing games that offer no value other than endless violence and vacuous entertainment," Senator Chris Dodd said. "That's why I am so pleased that LEGO is expanding their line of children's products to include interactive building and logic games that are sure to capture a child's imagination and provide him or her with a safe environment in which to learn and play." -- U.S. Senator Chris Dodd (D - CT)
"One of the primary goals of the US Chess Center is to awaken interest in learning and achievement and to sharpen the intellectual capabilities of young people by teaching them the skills required to play chess," said David Mehler, Executive Director of the US Chess Center. "We're pleased that LEGO Media has decided to support our efforts with their sponsorship of the LEGO Chess Challenge." For more information on the US Chess Center, visit www.chessctr.org.
The 40 finalists for the event were drawn from tournaments which were held throughout the month of October at Washington DC-area public schools and at the US Chess Center. The children at the tournament will play LEGO Chess on Packard Bell NEC(1) Multimedia 945 personal computers equipped with Voodoo Graphics(1) video accelerators from 3DFX Interactive(1). Prizes will be awarded by FamilyPC Editor-in-Chief Robin Raskin, and will include US Savings Bonds, LEGO Media software and LEGO Play Materials. The grand prize winner will be awarded a $500 US Savings Bond, free copies of LEGO Chess, LEGO Loco and LEGO Creator, a trophy constructed from LEGO bricks and a personal computer from Packard Bell NEC.
"The US Chess Center has worked diligently to bring the game of chess to inner-city children in the Washington D.C. area," said Gregg Sauter, Director of Sales and Marketing for LEGO Media International. "We commend them for their noble efforts, and we're delighted to be working with them on the LEGO Chess Challenge."
LEGO Chess takes the most popular characters from the LEGO SYSTEM Wild West and Pirates themes and recasts them as pawns, rooks, bishops, knights, queens and kings. Using real-time 3D technology, LEGO Chess allows players to see their favorite LEGO characters animate and walk around the board. High-quality 3D animation is interspersed throughout the game, and an accessible tutorial hosted by the LEGO Chess king will teach novices how to play chess. Available for Windows 95/98 CD-ROM, LEGO Chess is currently available at retailers throughout North America for $29.99. About the Co-Sponsors: Packard Bell NEC (www.packardbell.com)
Based in Sacramento, Calif., privately-held Packard Bell NEC, Inc. is a top six supplier of personal computers in the United States and worldwide. The company designs, manufactures and markets a broad range of desktop, notebook and mobile computers and network servers under the Packard Bell, NEC and Zenith Data Systems brands. Packard Bell NEC's major manufacturing operations are in Sacramento; Angers, France; Livingston, Scotland; Sao Paolo, Brazil and Penang, Malaysia. For more information on Packard Bell NEC visit www.packardbell.com. FamilyPC (www.familypc.com)
FamilyPC is published by Ziff-Davis and is the leading source of information and inspiration for the booming family computer market. Ziff-Davis is a leading integrated media and marketing company focused on computing and Internet-related technology, with principal platforms in print publishing, trade shows and conferences, online content, market research and education. The Company provides global technology companies with marketing strategies for reaching key decision-makers. 3DFX Interactive (www.3dfx.com)
3Dfx Interactive develops high-performance, cost-effective 3D media processors, software and related technology that are designed to enable a highly immersive, interactive and realistic 3D experience across interactive electronic entertainment platforms - personal computers, coin-operated arcade system and location-based entertainment. Current 3Dfx Interactive products include the Voodoo family of accelerator chipsets, Voodoo 2(1), Voodoo Graphics(1) and Voodoo Banshee(1). Visit the company on the Web at www.3dfx.com. Note: (1) All brand, company and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
About LEGO Media International (www.LEGO.com) LEGO Media International was established in 1996 with worldwide headquarters in London, England. LEGO Media is responsible for the development, publishing and marketing of media products for children between the ages of two and sixteen. As part of the LEGO Group, LEGO Media has access to the unique brand recognition afforded by the LEGO Group as well as its strong marketing and distribution power in the children's market. LEGO Media International is a separate limited company in the UK and an incorporated company in the US. About the LEGO Group (www.LEGO.com)
The LEGO Group, a privately held, family-owned company, is based in Billund, Denmark. The company is one of the world's leading manufacturers of play materials for children, employing more than 9,400 people in 50 companies in 30 countries. The LEGO Group is committed to the development of children's creative and imaginative abilities, and its employees are guided by the motto adopted in the 1930s by the founder Ole Kirk Christiansen: "Only the best is good enough."
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CONTACT: LEGO Media International
Jeff James, 860/763-6898
jeffery.james@america.lego.com
or
Access Communications
Scott Wimbush, 212/462-2890
swimbush@ny.accesspr.com
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