Press Release - Top Writers from The Simpsons, Futurama and Family Guy Join Forces with Machinima.com to Create the Machinima Comedy Lab

LOS ANGELES, Dec 18, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Machinima.com, the premier entertainment network for the gaming generation, today announced the creation of the Machinima Comedy Lab; a collaboration with fifteen leading episodic television writers from popular series--such as The Simpsons, Saturday Night Live and Seinfeld--to develop 15 original episodic comedy pilots for the Machinima.com network. Revolutionizing the digital content development process, Machinima.com is pioneering a cost effective way to create computer-generated online programming with professional Hollywood talent to incubate series that can migrate from the Internet to traditional platforms like broadcast and cable TV.

Machinima--a word derived from the combination of machine and cinema--is the term used to describe the creation of computer-generated video created in real time by leveraging video game engines and environments. Machinima became widely known by the entertainment industry in 2006 when the creators of South Park released the Emmy Award winning episode "Make Love, Not Warcraft," a large portion of which was created with machinima techniques inside the massively popular online game "World of Warcraft."

"Machinima.com lets us put our work in front of an audience that already knows and loves our style of writing and is embracing new forms of digital entertainment," said Bill Oakley, an Emmy-winning writer and past showrunner of The Simpsons. "We get to do what we love the most--write and create fun content while Machinima.com handles all the production, marketing and distribution."

The series will be distributed on the Machinima.com network, which served more than 38 million video views in November, is among the top five most-viewed channels each month on YouTube, and in less than 14 months, has become the seventh most subscribed YouTube channel of all-time. Machinima.com provides a revolutionary platform for creative talent to develop computer generated content using video games where all game components, including the characters, sets and environments can serve as a "virtual backlot" to quickly and inexpensively generate high-end original content in real time.

The Machinima Comedy Lab pilots will be created by top Hollywood writers, including:

-- Chris Cluess: Mad TV, The Simpsons, Beggars and Choosers, Cheers, SCTV

-- Bill Freiberger: Drawn Together, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, The Simpsons

-- Eric Horsted: Boondocks, Knights of Prosperity, Futurama, Home Improvement, Coach

-- Ken Keeler: Futurama, The Simpsons, Wings, The Naked Truth, The Critic, The Late Show

-- Stacie Lipp: King of Queens, Roseanne, Married With Children

-- Christina Lynch: Wildfire, The Dead Zone, Unhappily Ever After

-- Peggy Nicoll: WordGirl, Daria

-- Bill Oakley: Mission Hill, The Simpsons, Futurama

-- Max Pross & Tom Gammill: The Simpsons, Seinfeld, Monk, The Critic, Saturday Night Live, The Late Show

-- Mike Rowe: Family Guy, Futurama, Comedy Central Roasts, The Jaime Kennedy Experiment

-- Loren Segan: Wildfire, The Dead Zone, Spyder Games

-- Patric M. Verrone: Futurama, Muppets Tonight!, The Simpsons, The Critic, Pinky and the Brain

-- Maiya Williams: Mad TV, The PJs, The Wayans Bros., The Fresh Prince of Bel Air

"This is the future of comedy in new media - a fast and low cost way for writers to create shows that attract an existing audience," said Patric M. Verrone, an Emmy-winning writer and president of WGA West. "We're thrilled to break ground and forge a relationship that empowers independent production and gives writers both creative freedom and financial participation."

"As an emerging entertainment network, we're dedicated to bringing aboard top creative talent," said Allen DeBevoise, Machinima.com chairman and chief executive officer. "Machinima.com provides these writers with a new, evolving medium in which to reach the highly desired 18 to 34 male audience, showcase creativity and develop episodic pilots for multiple platforms."

About Machinima.com

Machinima.com is the premier entertainment network dedicated to the gaming generation with the best and most extensive original machinima content. Machinima-a word derived from the combination of machine and cinema--is the term used to describe the creation of computer-generated video created in real time by leveraging video game engines and environments. Machinima.com is comprised of highly-engaged gamers and content creators and is the seventh most subscribed YouTube channel and serves more than 38 million videos views per month. Companies from the film, gaming and consumer industries are using Machinima.com as an advertising platform to launch new video games and movies and to reach gaming and film enthusiasts around the world. Current Machinima.com advertisers include: EA, Hewlett-Packard, Intel, Microsoft, NVIDIA, Paramount Pictures, Sega, Universal Studios; Warner Bros. and others. To learn more, visit www.machinima.com or its YouTube channel.

Patric Verrone is represented by Joel Wright of Paradigm Talent Agency and Bill Oakley is represented by Michael Rosenfeld of CAA.

SOURCE: Machinima.com

Allison & Partners
Emily Murphy, 310-496-4470
machinima@allisonpr.com

West of Ireland Storytellers: Raise Awareness of PROJECT CHILDREN through Presentation of Holiday Classic - Second Life

West of Ireland Storytellers:
Raise Awareness of PROJECT CHILDREN through
Presentation of Holiday Classic

West of Ireland, Second Life – The talented West of Ireland Library staff is dedicated to promoting quality literary works from around the world with special emphasis on works from Irish and Celtic sources. The Library’s staff of Storytellers will be joined by other notable WOI personalities to form a cast of eleven readers to present Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol for two performances only: Sunday, December 14 at 11am (slt) and Monday, December 15 at 7pm (slt) at the West of Ireland Library and Cultural Center.

All the performers are volunteers and donations are accepted to support Project Children, a real world non-profit positively affecting the lives of children in Northern Ireland: Second Life activity, with meaningful Real Life results. "A Christmas Carol is my absolute favorite Christmas tale” shared Aoife Lorefield, Storyteller and creator of this adapted version, “It's is a story about how changing our hearts can change lives ... what better way for the West of Ireland Library to celebrate these holidays and support Project Children?"

Popular Storyteller Shandon Loring is currently slated to voice the famously flinty and curmudgeonly “Ebeneezer Scrooge”, and will be joined by Storytelling regulars Aoife Lorefield, Derry McMahon, Elder Priestman, Caledonia Skytower and others. Also joining in the merriment will be popular DJs including Spyot Denima as “Fred”, Dave93 Nieuport as “Christmas Present”, and Keira Colclough as “Belle” and “Tiny Tim.” West of Ireland CEO Sioban McMahon will voice “Christmas Past.”

Storyteller Aoife Lorefield has written an adaptation from Dicken’s original with an eye and ear to capitalizing on the musical “Carol” nature of the classic tale. Lorefield’s adaptation focuses less on individual characters, with the exception of a few main significant voices such as Scrooge, and more on the choral aspect of the storytelling.

The success of the library staff’s group/choral story reading of Bram Stoker’s Dracula in October, with capacity audiences for the two performances, inspired them to take on this new project for the December Holidays.

For information on the West of Ireland Storytelling: www.irelandslstory.blogspot.com blogspot.com>

The West of Ireland is a Second Life simulation (sim) created to support the programs of the South Texas Celtic Music Association (STCMA), a recognized 501(c)3 nonprofit organization in the United States. Additionally, the West of Ireland has been approved by Linden Labs, the creators of Second Life, as a certified nonprofit.

The mission of the West of Ireland is to promote Irish and Celtic culture within Second Life and raise awareness of Project Children, while providing guests and community members with an entertaining and welcoming environment and to raise funds for Project Children.

For information on the West of Ireland sim: www.irelandsl.org

Project Children is an international organization that takes children from Northern Ireland on summer trips to stay with host families in the United States. Catholic and Protestant children are brought together in a calm and multi-cultural environment in an effort to overcome the stronghold of prejudices that have burdened Northern Ireland for so long. The STCMA raises funds for Project Children at its annual Celtic Music Festival and through the Second Life West of Ireland sim to pay the transportation costs for children participating in Project Children.

For information on Project Children: www.projectchildren.org org>

West of Ireland Storytellers: Raise Awareness of PROJECT CHILDREN through Presentation of Holiday Classic - Second Life

West of Ireland Storytellers:
Raise Awareness of PROJECT CHILDREN through
Presentation of Holiday Classic

West of Ireland, Second Life – The talented West of Ireland Library staff is dedicated to promoting quality literary works from around the world with special emphasis on works from Irish and Celtic sources. The Library’s staff of Storytellers will be joined by other notable WOI personalities to form a cast of eleven readers to present Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol for two performances only: Sunday, December 14 at 11am (slt) and Monday, December 15 at 7pm (slt) at the West of Ireland Library and Cultural Center.

All the performers are volunteers and donations are accepted to support Project Children, a real world non-profit positively affecting the lives of children in Northern Ireland: Second Life activity, with meaningful Real Life results. "A Christmas Carol is my absolute favorite Christmas tale” shared Aoife Lorefield, Storyteller and creator of this adapted version, “It's is a story about how changing our hearts can change lives ... what better way for the West of Ireland Library to celebrate these holidays and support Project Children?"

Popular Storyteller Shandon Loring is currently slated to voice the famously flinty and curmudgeonly “Ebeneezer Scrooge”, and will be joined by Storytelling regulars Aoife Lorefield, Derry McMahon, Elder Priestman, Caledonia Skytower and others. Also joining in the merriment will be popular DJs including Spyot Denima as “Fred”, Dave93 Nieuport as “Christmas Present”, and Keira Colclough as “Belle” and “Tiny Tim.” West of Ireland CEO Sioban McMahon will voice “Christmas Past.”

Storyteller Aoife Lorefield has written an adaptation from Dicken’s original with an eye and ear to capitalizing on the musical “Carol” nature of the classic tale. Lorefield’s adaptation focuses less on individual characters, with the exception of a few main significant voices such as Scrooge, and more on the choral aspect of the storytelling.

The success of the library staff’s group/choral story reading of Bram Stoker’s Dracula in October, with capacity audiences for the two performances, inspired them to take on this new project for the December Holidays.

For information on the West of Ireland Storytelling: www.irelandslstory.blogspot.com blogspot.com>

The West of Ireland is a Second Life simulation (sim) created to support the programs of the South Texas Celtic Music Association (STCMA), a recognized 501(c)3 nonprofit organization in the United States. Additionally, the West of Ireland has been approved by Linden Labs, the creators of Second Life, as a certified nonprofit.

The mission of the West of Ireland is to promote Irish and Celtic culture within Second Life and raise awareness of Project Children, while providing guests and community members with an entertaining and welcoming environment and to raise funds for Project Children.

For information on the West of Ireland sim: www.irelandsl.org

Project Children is an international organization that takes children from Northern Ireland on summer trips to stay with host families in the United States. Catholic and Protestant children are brought together in a calm and multi-cultural environment in an effort to overcome the stronghold of prejudices that have burdened Northern Ireland for so long. The STCMA raises funds for Project Children at its annual Celtic Music Festival and through the Second Life West of Ireland sim to pay the transportation costs for children participating in Project Children.

For information on Project Children: www.projectchildren.org org>

Press Release for the Second Pride 2009 “Coming Out” event - Second Life

Details:
13. December 2008
2.00 to 4.00 p.m. SLT (Europe Friendly Time)
6.00 to 8.00 p.m. SLT (America Friendly Time)
Atlantis 2100 SIM
Benefactor of Second Pride 2009 is Amnesty International

Description:

Second Pride 2009 is happy to announce that on 13th December 2008 the
“Coming Out” event to introduce us to the Second Life residents and the LGBT
community will take place on the new Atlantis 2100 SIM. In addition a tribute to
the last years sponsors will be held at these occasions.

We have decided to run two events. One in which we serve in a more European
friendly time zone and one in a more US American friendly time zone..

The following schedule will take place

- General arrival and welcoming of the visitors

- Chairman of Second Pride is giving a welcome speech with a thank you note to
the last year’s sponsorship. In addition he will give a rough idea of the
theme of Second Pride 2009 and the main event in May 2009

- Short introduction of the different departments
- Secretary
- Finances
- Building
- Membership / Customer Service
- Booking Events
- Security
- Marketing

- Unveiling of a special remembering project of the Second Pride sponsorship

- Invitation to the party and dance floor

Please feel free to contact Marc Montague from the Second Pride 2009 Marketing
Department for further information or if any questions have arisen.

Marc Montague
Second Pride 2009
marketing@secondpride.com
IM: Marc Montague

Press Release for the Second Pride 2009 “Coming Out” event - Second Life

Details:
13. December 2008
2.00 to 4.00 p.m. SLT (Europe Friendly Time)
6.00 to 8.00 p.m. SLT (America Friendly Time)
Atlantis 2100 SIM
Benefactor of Second Pride 2009 is Amnesty International

Description:

Second Pride 2009 is happy to announce that on 13th December 2008 the
“Coming Out” event to introduce us to the Second Life residents and the LGBT
community will take place on the new Atlantis 2100 SIM. In addition a tribute to
the last years sponsors will be held at these occasions.

We have decided to run two events. One in which we serve in a more European
friendly time zone and one in a more US American friendly time zone..

The following schedule will take place

- General arrival and welcoming of the visitors

- Chairman of Second Pride is giving a welcome speech with a thank you note to
the last year’s sponsorship. In addition he will give a rough idea of the
theme of Second Pride 2009 and the main event in May 2009

- Short introduction of the different departments
- Secretary
- Finances
- Building
- Membership / Customer Service
- Booking Events
- Security
- Marketing

- Unveiling of a special remembering project of the Second Pride sponsorship

- Invitation to the party and dance floor

Please feel free to contact Marc Montague from the Second Pride 2009 Marketing
Department for further information or if any questions have arisen.

Marc Montague
Second Pride 2009
marketing@secondpride.com
IM: Marc Montague

WOW - World Of Warcraft Breaks Up Marriage

From SLReports.net

David Pollard may be a repeat offender as a Second Life Cheater, but perhaps he would have stayed nearer to the hearth had his Real Life wife been more interested in Real Life, as opposed to spending as much as 20 hours a day playing the Fantasy MMPOG World of Warcraft.

Pollard, 40, admitted he had been having an online affair with a woman from The United States, and the pair's characters are now engaged in Second Life. But he insisted that his real marriage had been a "bit of a joke", and that his affair was prompted by his wife's addiction to World of Warcraft. He said: "I was having this online relationship with this girl in America. It was nothing really major, but then Amy found out about it and went mad, and said 'how could you do this, you bastard? Amy never did anything around the house. She just played World of Warcraft all the time. If I wanted to spend time with her I had to ask, but it was always too much trouble for her to come off the game to spend time with me, so the marriage was a bit of a joke."

Read More

WOW - World Of Warcraft Breaks Up Marriage

From SLReports.net

David Pollard may be a repeat offender as a Second Life Cheater, but perhaps he would have stayed nearer to the hearth had his Real Life wife been more interested in Real Life, as opposed to spending as much as 20 hours a day playing the Fantasy MMPOG World of Warcraft.

Pollard, 40, admitted he had been having an online affair with a woman from The United States, and the pair's characters are now engaged in Second Life. But he insisted that his real marriage had been a "bit of a joke", and that his affair was prompted by his wife's addiction to World of Warcraft. He said: "I was having this online relationship with this girl in America. It was nothing really major, but then Amy found out about it and went mad, and said 'how could you do this, you bastard? Amy never did anything around the house. She just played World of Warcraft all the time. If I wanted to spend time with her I had to ask, but it was always too much trouble for her to come off the game to spend time with me, so the marriage was a bit of a joke."

Read More