KOHNKE COMMUNICATIONS ANNOUNCES PROGRAM FOR NEXT WEEK’S GAMES PR SEMINAR

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Opening reception on November 3 at San Francisco's Fluid to include local media

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - October 29, 2004 - Kohnke Communications announced the final schedule for the "PR for Games" conference on November 4. Packed with keynotes, panel discussions, and cocktail receptions, the program includes strategic guidance, tactical advice, and controversial conversation for PR and marketing representatives in the games industry.

Topics on tap include PR's relation to retail success in the games industry, methods to achieve broadcast coverage for games, lessons from other industries and how to ethically represent games.

"We knew it would be tough to top last year's line-up," said Erica Kain, President of Kohnke Communications, "But we followed the advice of last year's attendees and packed the day with more, shorter panels, focused keynotes, and networking opportunities for this important group of people."

The conference takes place on November 4, 2004 at the Fairmont San Francisco. Limited media badges are available for reporters on assignment.

The complete schedule for November 3-4 is as follows:

Wednesday, November 3

8:00pm - midnight: Opening reception for attendees and local media at Fluid, one of San Francisco's premier lounges. 662 Mission Street, www.fluidsf.com

Thursday, November 4

8:00 - 8:50am: Registration and continental breakfast buffet at Fairmont San Francisco

8:50 - 9:20am: Opening Address from California Assemblymember Leland Yee

9:20 - 9:45am: Keynote - Lucy Bradshaw, Maxis - "The dynamic - and sometimes challenging - relationship between Product Development and PR"

9:45 - 10:35am: Panel - The Cover Pitch: How to Place your Game in the Most Revered Position in the Industry

10:35 - 10:50am: Networking Break

10:50 - 11:15am: Keynote - Neil Haldar, MGM - "The Impact of Hollywood Convergence on Public Relations for Games"

11:15 - 12:05pm: Panel - Marketing Challenges, and How PR Can Help

12:05 - 12:55pm: Panel - Representing Licenses: The Hollywood Connection

12:55 - 2:20pm: Lunch in the legendary Fairmont Tonga Room

2:20 - 2:45pm: Keynote - Ken Levine, Irrational Games - "No Man's Land: The Scary Space between Developers and PR"

2:45 - 3:35pm: Panel - How PR Relates to Retail

3:35 - 4:00pm: Structured networking session

4:00 - 4:50pm: Panel - Busting into Broadcast: How to Get Games on TV

4:50 - 5:30pm: Panel - Lessons from Other Industries

5:30 - 7:30pm: Cocktail reception in the Fairmont Fountain Room with music, beer, wine and hors d'oeuvres.

Panel Participants

• "The Cover Pitch: How to Place Your Game in the Most Revered Position in the Industry." Panelists include: Andy McNamara, Game Informer; Wes Nihei, Gamepro; Dan Morris, PC Gamer; and Tammy Schachter, Electronic Arts. The moderator is Sean Kauppinen, Gaming Public Relations Manager, Sony Online Entertainment.

• "Marketing Challenges, and How PR Can Help." Panelists include Karen Conroe, Ubisoft; Michelle Nino Schroder, Activision; Eugene Evans, Mythic Entertainment; and Steve Fowler, Sammy Studios. The moderator is John Keefer of GameSpy.

• "Representing Licenses: The Hollywood Connection." Panelists include Richard Leibowitz of Union Entertainment; Neil Haldar of MGM; Tracey Thompson of Great Dane Consultants, and Flint Dille of the Bureau of Film and Games. The moderator is Geoff Keighley, a writer for Entertainment Weekly.

• "Retail Results: How does Buzz Affect Sales?" Panelists include Hal Halpin of the Interactive Entertainment Merchants Association; John Cross, Store manager at Electronics Boutique; Tuyen Vo of Gplay; and Mike Sabine of IDG. The moderator is Aaron Boulding of IGN.

• "Busting into Broadcast: How to Get Games on TV." Panelists include Marc Franklin, Konami; Scott McGrew, NBC11; Larry Stern of EXTRA; Justin Keeling of G4TechTV and Dan Hsu of EGM. Tracey Thompson of Great Dane Consultants is moderating this panel.

• "Lessons from Other Industries." Panelists include Greg Ellwood, formerly of Paramount Pictures Interactive Marketing; Heather Hawkins, Manager, Brand Marketing and Business Development at Metreon - A Sony Entertainment Center; and Carter Lipscomb, Senior Manager, Industry Relations at AOL Games. PC Gamer's Greg Vederman is the moderator.

Registration

To register as an attendee, please call (415) 777-4000, or fax the form located at http://www.kohnkecomm.com/conference.php.

Registration is $299 per person through November 3, and $349 on the day of the conference. Walk-up registration is not advised, as the venue has limited space and may sell out.

About Kohnke Communications LLC

Kohnke Communications is a public relations agency specializing in games. With unparalleled experience and a location in the heart of the games community, the agency creates inventive, cost-effective campaigns to place your game in the limelight with both mainstream and games journalists.

The agency's services include: crisis consultation, media training seminars, product introductions and event management. In addition, the company offers Game Wire^TM, a specialized news distribution system.

For questions regarding the summit or for exceptional public relations service, please call (415) 777-4000.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Erica Kohnke Kain

(415) 777-4000

erica@kohnkecomm.com