Smokescreen

In September 2009, Channel 4 and Six to Start are launching Smokescreen – a story game about online privacy, identity and trust. In this 13-part web adventure, players must uncover a mystery on a fictional social network and in doing so will learn about some of the threats – and opportunities – posed by other people on sites like Facebook, MySpace and Bebo.

Smokescreen's gameplay takes the form of a cutting-edge simulation of familiar internet environments, with players exploring websites, social networks, receiving emails, IMing friends, and playing minigames.

This week, on Monday 27 July, Channel 4 and Six to Start are releasing the first of the13 missions to a select preview audience.

The backstory: A vicious new game, The Rumour Mill, is causing a stir on the White Smoke social network – but Max, the site's owner, thinks it might be a front for something worse. Can you work out who's behind it, and what they're up to?

Adrian Hon, Six to Start, says, “Smokescreen is a game about life online. Every time you hear about a teenager being hauled up at school because of their Facebook profile, or someone being conned out of their password on Twitter - that's what Smokescreen aims to explore. And because our game puts players in a simulation situation, we can give them an experience that is far more powerful and immersive than any other media."

To take part and play the game, head over to www.smokescreengame.com

Press contact

Rebecca Ladbury

Ladbury PR Ltd

07941 224 975

rebecca@ladburypr.com