Women in Games International Hosts Mixer in Los Angeles

Thursday, November 2, 2006---Los Angeles, CA---Women in Games International, a non-profit organization in the interactive entertainment industry, announced today its debut WIGI Community Mixer in Los Angeles. The networking event is Tuesday November 14th, 7:30 - 9:30 pm. Admission is free and requires an advance RSVP.

Belinda Van Sickle, President of GameDocs and Online Community Coordinator for Women in Games International, is the local host and emcee. Complimentary food and beverages, supplied by Acapulco Restaurant, will be provided for all guests. This unique industry networking event is proudly sponsored by Autodesk, D3Publisher, GameDocs, Pandemic Studios, Sessions Online School of Design and TechHunters.

Mixer attendees from the Los Angeles area will have a chance to win free door prizes from game publishers THQ and D3Publisher, including Scooby-Doo, Cars, Finding Nemo, Sponge Bob Squarepants, Monster House, The Incredibles, Destroy All Humans and WWE Wrestling from THQ, and Work Time Fun, Naruto Clash of the Ninja 1 and 2, Naruto Ninja Council 1 and 2, Practical Intelligence Quotient, and Flushed Away from D3Publisher.

Van Sickle offers, "I'm pleased to be fostering community among women working in the video games industry. Through the generous support of Women in Games International, I've been able to put together an online community of nearly 200 members and set up the Los Angeles mixer. We've already received strong support from the industry through our sponsors and lots of great ideas for future community building projects."

The WIGI Community Mixer in Los Angeles will be held at Acapulco Restaurant at 385 N. La Cienega Blvd. in Los Angeles, one block north of the Beverly Center. Admittance is free, but an advance RSVP is required. RSVP online today via e-vite link at http://www.womeningamesinternational.org/register.html.

Women in Games International 2006 sponsors include title sponsor Microsoft Game Studios, series sponsors Microsoft Casual Games, Game Developers Conference (GDC), International Games Developers Association (IGDA), Mary-Margaret.com, Girls in Games, ThemePark Studios, WomenGamers.com and BusinessWire.

About Autodesk

www.autodesk.com

www.the-area.com

Autodesk, Inc. is a Fortune 1000 company, wholly focused on ensuring that great ideas are turned into reality. With seven million users, Autodesk is the world's leading software and services company for the manufacturing, building, infrastructure, wireless data services and media and entertainment fields. Autodesk's solutions help customers create, manage and share their data and digital assets more effectively. As a result, customers turn ideas into competitive advantage by becoming more productive, streamlining project efficiency and maximizing profits.

About D3Publisher

www.d3publisher.us

D3Publisher of America, Inc. is a publisher and developer of interactive entertainment software. A subsidiary of D3, Inc., with headquarters in Tokyo, D3Publisher of America's strategic focus is on licensed and original titles from leading third-party developers that appeal to mass-market consumers or gaming enthusiasts. Based in Los Angeles, D3Publisher of America distributes and publishes software for personal computers and the major console platforms including Game Boy® Advance, Nintendo GameCube, Nintendo DSÔ, PlayStation® game console, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, and the Xbox® video game system from Microsoft.

GameDocs

www.gamedocs.com

GameDocs specializes in video game packaging and manuals and other industry production, writing and editing. They also offer full-service localizations, game writing and print buying. They have a core competency and years of experience in these areas, freeing their customers to do what they do best, make great games. GameDocs employees have produced printed materials for hundreds of titles in every major video game genre across all major platforms. They offer advertising industry marketing savvy along with video game industry technical know-how.

About Pandemic Studios

www.pandemicstudios.com

Pandemic Studios consistently delivers outstanding entertainment for Playstation 2, Xbox, and the PC. Over the past 8 years, Pandemic has grown into a company of over 250 highly skilled programmers, designers, and artists working on a wide variety of high-profile titles for consoles and PCs at their offices in California and Australia. Pandemic works with major licenses, recruits the world's best development talent, and builds strong relationships with the industry's leading publishers, including THQ, LucasArts, Electronic Arts, and Activision. In the past 18 months alone, Pandemic has released a series of six best-selling hit titles, including this fall's Star Wars Battlefront II TM , and critically acclaimed favorites Mercenaries TM , Full Spectrum Warrior TM , and Destroy All Humans TM .

About Sessions Online Schools of Art and Design

www.sessions.edu

Sessions.edu, Inc. was created with the goal of bringing new media design education to graphic and web designers worldwide, through online education. Once a pioneer and now a leader in the design education industry, Sessions' has delivered classes to students in over 100 countries. Sessions offers certificate programs and courses in graphic design, Web design, multimedia, business marketing design and digital art. Sessions begins offering an accredited Certificate Program in Game Art beginning late November 2006. Sessions is accredited by the Distance Education Training Council and is the first of two online schools licensed by the New York State Department of Education.

About TechHunters

www.techhunters.com

TechHunters assists companies' senior management and their Human Resource executives in accessing the talent marketplace. Their client-specific recruitment solutions and "boutique firm" approach enable them to provide personal attention, backed by the leverage of deep resources, a service-oriented methodology and an outstanding reputation. TechHunters services a variety of business sectors including: new media, technology, gaming, wireless, Internet, software, entertainment, marketing, advertising, consumer products, e-commerce and private equity, among others. A sampling of major companies they have serviced include: Activision, Buena Vista Games, eBay, Disney Mobile, Hot Topic, Yahoo!, InterActive Corp., AOL, Shopzilla and Motorola, to name a few.

For more details regarding Women In Games International, contact PR Committee Chair Fiona Cherbak at fcherbak@womeningamesinternational.org, visit their web site at www.womeningamesinternational.org, or contact Morgan Ogburn, ThemePark Studios, 512/916-9633 or morgan@themeparkstudios.com, for more information.