THE ESCAPIST?S ZERO PUNCTUATION, WEB?S MOST VIEWED VIDEO GAME REVIEW SERIES, NOMINATED FOR A STREAMY AWARD

THE ESCAPIST’S ZERO PUNCTUATION, WEB’S MOST VIEWED VIDEO GAME REVIEW SERIES, NOMINATED FOR A STREAMY AWARD
International Academy of Web Television Recognizes Zero Punctuation for
Best Animation in a Web Series

DURHAM, N.C. -March 18, 2009-

WHAT: The International Academy of Web Television, an independent non-profit organization whose membership is comprised of leaders in the field of web television, web video and the digital entertainment industry, recognizes The Escapist’s first-of-its-kind video game review series, Zero Punctuation and Executive Producer Russ Pitts with a nomination for a Streamy Award (www.streamys.org). The Streamy Awards, co-hosted by a consortium of leading new media companies – Tubefilter, Tilzy.TV, and NewTeeVee, is the first awards program of its kind to recognize outstanding achievement in Web television arts and sciences.

Russ Pitts and Alexander Macris, president and CEO of The Escapist are available for comment on the nomination of Zero Punctuation as Best Animated Web Series.

“It is a great honor for The Escapist to be recognized by an esteemed committee of our peers at the International Academy of Web Television,” said Alexander Macris, president and CEO of The Escapist. “Since inception of our online destination designed to be an interactive community for and by video game enthusiasts, we have made it our goal to be a pioneer of high quality features and analysis that goes far beyond the short news and reviews driven site format. Executive producer and director of video content Russ Pitts and his online video production team have outdone themselves with insightful editorial selection of our in-depth content. Zero Punctuation is a great example of intelligent, thought-provoking commentary that appeals to our highly engaged, savvy and diverse consumer audience.”

“We’re extremely pleased and proud to be nominated in the company of so many talented and ground-breaking video producers,” said Russ Pitts, Executive Producer of Zero Punctuation and Director of Video Content for The Escapist. “Ben “Yahztee” Croshaw has created a revolutionary work in Zero Punctuation, one that promises to change the way videogames are rated and discussed for years to come.”

WHEN: Russ Pitts and Alexander Macris, president and CEO of The Escapist, are available for comment beginning March 18, 2009. Scheduling is determined upon each request.

The Streamy Awards Ceremony takes place on March 28 at 7:30 pm PDT at the historic Wadsworth Theatre in Los Angeles. The ceremony will be streamed live online around the world at Streamys.org.

About The Escapist
Founded in 2005, The Escapist (escapistmagazine-com.go-vip.net) is a leading video gaming destination offering video game enthusiasts high-quality, innovative and exclusive content. The mouthpiece of the gaming generation, The Escapist aims to capture and celebrate the contemporary video gaming lifestyle and the diverse video game culture by way of in-depth features and thought provoking articles authored by leading video game authorities, as well as cutting-edge video shorts, engaging forums and robust and innovative social media elements tailored to its audience. Honored with both a Webby Award and People’s Voice Award in 2008, The Escapist is responsible for the web’s most viewed video game review series, Zero Punctuation, in addition to introducing the first-of-its-kind Internet Film Festival for Gamers and the March Mayhem game developer competition. The Escapist is part of Themis Group, Inc.’s online media arm Themis Media, and currently generates over 25 million page views each month.