UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., Jan. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- To complement the opening of action thriller "Smokin' Aces" on January 26, 2007, Universal Pictures created "Smokin' Aces: Second Life Assassin," which has now become one of the largest in-world events in Second Life history. The online phenomenon Second Life (www.secondlife.com) is a 3D world with "residents" from 100 countries around the globe.
"This game is a solid way for fans to become a part of the action of 'Smokin' Aces,'" said Doug Neil, senior vice president, digital marketing, Universal Pictures. "To see so many online gamers interacting with the film proves the power of the virtual world to not just promote, but to fully engage users in this movie."
The object of "Smokin' Aces: Second Life Assassin" is to acquire the highest bounty points by knocking off the competition, with a total of up to $1 million Linden (the in-world currency of Second Life) given away over the course of the game. Registered members of Second Life are invited to visit game headquarters in the lobby of the Nomad Hotel, the setting of the hit on Buddy "Aces" Israel. There, each player receives game instructions, a virtual starter weapon and his or her hit list of virtual targets. After a hit is complete, the assassin will assume his or her prey's list, thus giving more potential targets. To learn more about the game, visit www.virtualnbc.com.
On Wednesday, January 24, Aces' avatar, armed with deadly throwing cards and voiced by actor Jeremy Piven specifically for the game, entered "Smokin' Aces: Second Life Assassin" and raised the stakes of the game with a bounty of 10,000 points.
On Friday, January 26, the film's director, Joe Carnahan, will appear at the Nomad Hotel in Second Life for an interactive Q & A session. The session will be open to game players and Second Life residents alike.
ABOUT "SMOKIN' ACES"
"Smokin' Aces," (www.smokinaces.net) with an incendiary array of stars -- including Ben Affleck, Andy Garcia, Ray Liotta, Jeremy Piven, Ryan Reynolds, Peter Berg, Taraji Henson, Chris Pine, Martin Henderson, Jason Bateman and, in their motion-picture debuts, Alicia Keys and Common -- comes to theaters nationwide on January 26, 2007.
In these interlocking tales of high stakes and low lifes, Mob boss Primo Sparazza has taken out a hefty contract on Buddy "Aces" Israel (Piven) -- a sleazy magician who has agreed to turn state's evidence against the Vegas mob. The FBI, sensing a chance to use this small-time con to bring down big-target Sparazza, places Aces into protective custody -- under the supervision of two agents (Reynolds and Liotta) dispatched to Aces' Lake Tahoe hideout.
When word of the price on Aces' head spreads into the community of ex-cons and cons-to-be, it entices bounty hunters, thugs-for-hire, smokin' hot vixens and double-crossing mobsters to join in the hunt. With all eyes on Tahoe, this rogues' gallery collides in a comic race to hit the jackpot and rub out Aces.
Universal Pictures Presents, in association with StudioCanal and Relativity Media, A Working Title Production of a Joe Carnahan Film: Smokin' Aces, starring Ben Affleck, Andy Garcia, Alicia Keys, Ray Liotta, Jeremy Piven, Ryan Reynolds. The casting is by Amanda Mackey CSA and Cathy Sandrich Gelfond CSA. The music is by Clint Mansell; the costume designer is Mary Zophres. The film's editor is Robert Frazen; the production designer is Martin Whist. Smokin' Aces' director of photography is Mauro Fiore ASC. The executive producers are Robert Graf and Liza Chasin. The film is produced by Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner. Smokin' Aces is written and directed by Joe Carnahan.
ABOUT UNIVERSAL PICTURES
Universal Pictures is a division of Universal Studios (www.universalstudios.com). Universal Studios is a part of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production and marketing of entertainment, news and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80%-owned by General Electric and 20%-owned by Vivendi.
ABOUT SECOND LIFE
Second Life is a 3D online world with a rapidly growing population of over 2 million registered residents from 100 countries around the globe, in which the residents themselves create and build the world which includes homes, vehicles, nightclubs, stores, landscapes, clothing, and games.
Second Life is created by Linden Lab, a company founded in 1999 by Philip Rosedale, to create a revolutionary new form of shared 3D experience. The former CTO of RealNetworks, Rosedale pioneered the development of many of today's streaming media technologies, including RealVideo. In April 2003, noted software pioneer Mitch Kapor, founder of Lotus Development Corporation, was named Chairman. Based in San Francisco, Linden Lab employs a senior team bringing together deep expertise in physics, 3D graphics and networking.
Source: NBC Universal Digital Media
CONTACT: Doug Neil of Universal Pictures, +1-818-777-6031,
Doug.Neil@nbcuni.com; or Mary Ellen Mooney of NBC Universal Digital Media,
+1-212-664-6333, Maryellen.mooney@nbcuni.com; or Alex Yenni of Second Life,
+1-415-992-4434, secondlife@lewispr.com
Web site: http://www.nbcuni.com/
http://www.secondlife.com/
http://www.virtualnbc.com/
http://www.smokinaces.net/
http://www.universalstudios.com/
