ION Game Conference 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SEATTLE, Washington, April 30, 2008 - It's only logical to conclude one of the world's best conferences for online game developers with a closing keynote address from the chief executive of one of the world's leading developers of online, downloadable game content. Alex St. John, CEO and co-founder of WildTangent, the largest privately held game property in the U.S., will deliver the closing keynote at the end of the final day of the 2008 ION Game Conference. The 2008 ION Game Conference, a high-level game industry event focused on the business and development of online games, will take place in Seattle, May 13-15 at the Seattle Marriott Waterfront Hotel.

St. John's keynote address, "The PC Gaming Comeback," will focus on opportunities provided by the PC/online gaming model, and highlight the challenges the console market will face moving forward. The discussion will closely examine key differentiators between the two platforms, and the role that community and social gaming play in the equation. He will also demonstrate the economics for making premium games free online, supported by advertising, and how this model can generate more revenue than retail models.

"Alex has established himself as a forceful voice for out-of-the box thinking for online game development and distribution," said Peter Freese, director for the ION Game Conference. "He's just the kind of voice we need to give some final food for thought to developers after taking in the ION experience."

WildTangent is the leading online game publisher with the most ubiquitous gaming platform on the Internet today. Prior to founding WildTangent in 1998, St. John was one of the principal creators of Microsoft's DirectX technology, which became the foundation for all Windows multimedia applications, 3D graphics, media players, as well as thousands of PC and Xbox games. Alex is widely considered to have his finger on the pulse of the gaming industry and is a frequent speaker at industry events.

"Emerging trends among enthusiast and casual gamers indicate a sea change in the gaming industry at large," St. John said. "We're finding that more and more consumers-especially young audiences-are spending an increasing amount of time playing games online from their laptop or PC. In fact, research tells us that gamers spend more time playing on a PC than they do on any console, which highlights the immense opportunities for developers and publishers of PC and online games."

St. John joins 110 online game industry leaders speaking at almost 70 sessions at the 2008 ION Game Conference. To take a look at the complete agenda planned for attendees, visit http://www.ionconference.com/agenda.php.

Two weeks remain before the supercharged networking and information-sharing of the 2008 ION Game Conference commences. An attendee pass at the 2008 ION Game Conference permits access to all keynotes, all sessions and panels, the expo area, lunches and snacks, as well as conference parties.

The ION Game Conference is an annual Seattle-based game industry event designed for an experienced international attendee audience or those who strive to network and learn about new online game development and business trends. Visit the official website at http://www.ionconference.com for the latest news and information about the 2008 ION Game Conference. For more information about the global and diversified advisory board supporting the ION Game Conference, visit http://www.ionconference.com/advisors.php.

To keep informed about the latest news about ION and the online game industry, sent straight to your e-mail Inbox, sign up for the free ION Connection newsletter at http://www.ionconference.com/signup.html. To network and share news with fellow members of the online game development community, join up with the ION Network here: http://ionnetwork.ning.com.

ION is Powered By:

2008 ION GAME CONFERENCE SPONSORS: Aria, Big Fish Games, BigWorld, Dolby, Eidos, enterpriseSeattle, GNi, Goodwin Procter, iovation, Kelley Drye, MindArk, Omni Interactive Audio, Parature, PlaySpan, PLAYXPERT, PowerUp Games, Solid State Networks, Sony Online Entertainment, Terremark, Testronic Laboratories and Vivox.

2008 ION GAME CONFERENCE PARTNERS: Association of Virtual Worlds, China GC Networks, DFC Intelligence, MPOGD, Pearl Research, Stratics, Themis Group and Thisisgame.

About WildTangent

WildTangent is the fastest growing online game property in the world with more than 30 million unique monthly gamers, offering more than 500 of the most popular online and downloadable games from the world's top developers and publishers including its own WildTangent Game Studios which publishes Polar Pool, Polar Bowler, Penguins, Fate and many more.

The WildTangent games console ships directly on the desktops of leading PC manufacturers including Dell, Emachines, Gateway, HP and Toshiba, giving it a huge global footprint of connected game playing consumers.

WildTangent offers gamers the opportunity to purchase premium games outright, pay per session with WildCoinsT, or engage with advertising to play for free. Advertisers include 20th Century FOX, Warner Brothers, Paramount, EA, Sony Playstation, Nintendo, Toyota, Honda, P&G, Unilever, Clorox and many others.

For more information visit www.wildgames.com

About Evergreen Events

Evergreen Events, Inc., ( http://www.evergreenevents.org/), is an independent Seattle area-based producer of conferences and events for the interactive entertainment industry. Evergreen Events is dedicated to the enrichment of both established and aspiring professionals through innovative first-class events offering exceptional content that is compelling, educational, and cogent. Our directors and advisors bring over a century of collective successful experience and involvement in the game industry.

###

ION Game Conference Art Assets:

http://www.ionconference.com/logo_art.html

Alex St. John biography:

http://www.ionconference.com/speaker.php?id=83762

Alex St. John high resolution photograph:

http://www.ionconference.com/speakers/full/alex_stjohn.jpg

Press Contact:

Paul Philleo

Marketing Communications Advisor

Voice: 408-702-2697

E-mail: paul@ionconference.com

Ashley Allman

Barokas Public Relations for WildTangent, Inc.

Voice: 206-344-3133

E-mail: Ashley@barokas.com