LPWire: ABC Goes Over the Top With Innovative "Alias Underground Game"

ABC Goes Over the Top With Innovative "Alias Underground Game"
Online Game Brings Hit Series and Exploding Online Gaming Community Together

ABC invites fans and new viewers of the network’s hit drama series “Alias” to access ABC.com and download the “Alias Underground Game” for free. Now available to the burgeoning online gaming community, ABC.com visitors will experience first-hand the danger, intrigue and espionage involved in a typical day for double-agent Sydney Bristow.

In a television industry first, ABC’s all-new episodic online game integrates a television show with key advertisers, working together to produce an experience that fans will want to play again and again. “We’re always looking for innovative ways to increase awareness and tune-in,” said Mike Benson, senior vice president, Marketing, Advertising and Promotion. “’Alias’ is a signature show for our network, and ‘Alias Underground’ is intended to complement on-air viewing, while appealing to new audiences.”

Alias series sponsors, Ford and Nokia, will serve as co-sponsors of the 3-D action game, which will feature key products integrated into game play. Ford and Nokia will also offer sweepstakes prizes to players, who are entered automatically when the game is downloaded. The “Alias Underground Game” is expected to sustain interest in the series between episodes while building anticipation and tune-in for the next show. It is available for free and only by visiting ABC.com.

“Making this game happen involved a truly unique collaboration among ABC, show creator, J. J. Abrams, our advertisers, Disney Interactive and our other partners,” said Benson. “In developing this game, we wanted to bring an added value to the more passive on-air viewing experience with active participation during and between episodes. We anticipate this game to be viral and addictive.”

The “Alias Underground Game” launched with two missions, “Agent Training Mission” and “Turkish Embassy Mission.” A third mission, “Raid on SD-6,” will launch following the “Alias” season premiere on Sunday, September 29 (9:00-10:00 p.m., ET/PT), with a new mission available approximately every five weeks throughout the 2002-03 season. A total of ten missions will be offered. While watching original episodes of “Alias,” players will gather codes and information that can be placed into the game during the week. Players then watch the next “Alias” original episode for more clues, thereby continuing game play. Tuning in to “Alias” regularly does facilitate game play; however for viewers who miss episodes, play can continue.

While playing the “Alias Underground Game,” gamers will also use spy technology such as fingerprint scanning gloves, eyeglass cameras and safe-cracking devices, as well as voice prompts from SD-6’s gadget guru, Marshall. Also featured in the game are select video clips from the show, theme music and effects provided by J.J. Abrams. Adding to the spy fun will be incredible communication and transportation technologies courtesy of game sponsors Ford and Nokia. Among the gamers’ spy tools will be a Ford Focus outfitted with detection and defense features and a Nokia 7210 phone equipped with mission objectives and communiqués from SD-6. Gamers can also receive wireless updates via their real-life Nokia phone, alerting them when new missions are available for download. 

In the first two games, players can expect a first class education in espionage. “Agent Training Mission” is designed to teach potential new agents the basics of the spy biz, learning combat training, laser detection, sharp-shooting exercises and other necessary tricks of the trade. In “Turkish Embassy Mission,” the Turkish ambassador hosts a birthday party for his wife. The players’ mission is to find and remove secret documents from the ambassador’s safe without being detected by the guards or other party guests.

“Alias” centers around grad student Sydney Bristow, who is an agent for SD-6, a supposed top-secret division of the CIA that is in actuality not a government agency but an enemy of the United States. She becomes a double agent with the real CIA in order to put SD-6 out of business. The series stars Jennifer Garner as Sydney Bristow, Victor Garber as Jack Bristow, Ron Rifkin as Arvin Sloane, Michael Vartan as Michael Vaughn, Lena Olin as Irina Derevko, Bradley Cooper as Will Tippin, Merrin Dungey as Francie Calfo, Carl Lumbly as Marcus Dixon, Kevin Weisman as Marshall Flinkman and David Anders as Mr. Sark. “Alias” was created by J.J. Abrams, who executive-produces the series along with John Eisendrath and Ken Olin. The series, which is filmed in Los Angeles and premiered on September 30, 2001, is from Touchstone Television.

--Posted September 13, 2002
Source: ABC Television Release