Game-Based Learning

Epsom, 9th March 2009

Slitherine is once again at the forefront of the struggle to merge entertainment and education by joining this inaugural event of Game-Based Learning, as sponsors and keynote speakers.

Independent publisher Slitherine has a long history of developing and publishing history-based products, combining cultural and educational values and is proud to be present to support the conference at its opening event.

The conference will also be an opportunity to introduce to the press and educators, the videogame adaptation of the bestselling book series Horrible Histories™, written by Terry Deary and illustrated by Martin Brown. The series is present in 37 countries, has been translated into 31 languages and has sold well over 20 million copies worldwide.

The game, Horrible Histories™ Ruthless Romans, will release across Europe in May this year on the Nintendo Wii™, Nintendo DS™ and PC platforms.

Slitherine’s Marketing Director, Marco Minoli, said: “Being present at an important event such as Game-Based Learning is a source of great pride for us. We strive to release products with a heart to entertain and a soul to educate and it is great to see that, as the years go by, more and more people and organizations recognize the importance of this mission”. He also added: “The Horrible Histories™ title is our first production for a target audience of youngsters and it has been the most intriguing and challenging project we have put together. We are very proud of the final result’.

The conference is organized by Learning Without Frontiers, their founder Graham Brown-Martin, said:"the traditional assumption has been that learning and video games designed for entertainment don't mix and this might certainly be true if the entertainment is not truly compelling or the learning is passive and dull but in getting these elements right, by ensuring there is a great game that pulls you into its unique universe in a way that only videogames can to a world that is factually correct provides a seamless blend between fun, engagement and powerful learning. We're delighted that Slitherine are supporting this event and excited to hear from Terry Deary as he makes this important transition to the videogame world which is, after all, a part of so many young learners’ lives".

The event will see the extraordinary presence of Terry Deary, who will be speaking about the importance of entertainment in education and how he seamlessly blended these two key elements within his many books.

Terry Deary said : “I see no difference between entertainment and learning. If you try to “teach” somebody without making it fun then the young people will not learn very efficiently – schools have been boring children to sleep for a hundred years. But if you try to “entertain” them with something pointless then they will soon grow bored. Computer games are the perfect chance to entertain AND educate. They are the future and will be there long after schools (and teachers) have crumbled to dust”

The Conference takes place at The Brewery, London EC1 on Thursday 19th March and Friday 20th March.

[About Slitherine] - Slitherine is a privately funded and independent UK developer and publisher. Slitherine is dedicated to bringing highly playable and approachable strategy games to the mass market with a specific dedication to history of all ages. Slitherine Software is uniquely placed to deliver due to its experience within the industry and also the wider gaming community.

For Press Enquiry, please contact: press@slitherine.co.uk

[About Horrible Histories] - Horrible Histories™ is the world’s best-selling history series for children. The first books were published in 1993 and the series has gone on to sell over 20 million copies globally, in 37 countries and 31 languages. By focusing on the “nasty bits” of history, author Terry Deary’s irreverent humor and Martin Brown’s witty cartoons have made history accessible and entertaining for children of all ages.

Internet site - www.horrible-histories.co.uk

[About Scholastic] - Scholastic Corporation (NASDAQ: SCHL) is the world's largest publisher and distributor of children's books and a leader in educational technology. Scholastic creates quality educational and entertaining materials and products for use in school and at home, including children's books, magazines, technology-based products, teacher materials, television programming, film, videos and toys. The Company distributes its products and services through a variety of channels, including proprietary school-based book clubs, school-based book fairs, and school-based and direct-to-home continuity programs; retail stores, schools, libraries, and television networks; and the Company's Internet Site

Internet site - www.scholastic.com.

For Press Enquiry please contact Alyx Price - Group PR Director - aprice@scholastic.co.uk - +44 (0)207 756 7777

[About Terry Deary] - Terry Deary is the author of nearly 200 books in the UK mainly for children and teenagers. His books are sold in 40 languages from Russia to Brazil, Scandinavia to China. He was born in Sunderland, England, in 1946 and now lives in County Durham, in the North-east of England. Terry is a former actor, theatre-director and museum manager. In 32 years as an author his writing has included fiction for juniors and teenagers, and popular nonfiction series (Horrible Histories, being the best-selling with over 20 million worldwide.) In 2000 a Schoolsnet survey made him the most borrowed British author in school libraries while a Guardian survey of March 05 made him Britain’s fifth most popular living children’s author.

For more information see http://www.terry-deary.com/homepage/biog.htm