Contact Information: Contact: Jennifer Fader Terpin Communications Group Tel: (310)922-7507 jfader@terpin.com
Whyville Features Stacie Orrico in Virtual Concert for Tweens
Whyville Users Listen, Chat, Discuss in First of a Series of Virtual Performances Featuring Real-World Artists; Virtual Concert to Be Held on December 9, 2006 at 2 PM (PT) at www.whyville.net
| Source: Whyville
PASADENA, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- December 4, 2006 -- Whyville.net, a leading edu-tainment
virtual world for kids 8-15 will present pop/R&B singer Stacie Orrico in a
live concert on Saturday, December 9 at 2 PM (Whyville time). The concert
will last approximately 45 minutes. This virtual concert experience will
allow "citizens" of Whyville to enjoy all of the dynamic activities of an
actual concert in a safe online environment. With 3.4 million albums sold
by the age of 18, Stacie Orrico (now 20), is well known amongst kids and
tweens and will be previewing songs from her upcoming CD, "Beautiful
Awakening," which debuts in January 2007 on Virgin Records. Exclusive to
this concert, Stacie Orrico will play a special, a capella version of "I'm
Not Missing You."
Kids are encouraged to check with their parents and register on Whyville.net no later than December 6,
2006.
Over 6,000 Whyvillians are expected to attend Stacie's performance, which
will feature an interactive performance by the "real" Stacie Orrico, who
will appear in avatar form inside Whyville. Attending Whyvillians will be
able to chat with each other during the performance in Whyville's Greek
Theatre, a virtual theater designed to feature a variety of performances
and activities. In addition, the virtual "crowd" will be able to show their
admiration for Stacie and her music by clapping, chatting and in a virtual
world first, purchasing virtual merchandise and souvenirs that users can
then keep and use in Whyville.
Using "clams," Whyville's virtual currency, kids will be able to
participate in a virtual tailgate party, share their excitement about the
concert and even purchase and download Stacie's MP3 tracks and ringtones.
Adding to the excitement, kids will be able to submit questions and
comments to Stacie during the concert. Selected kids will join Stacie "on
stage" and ask their questions, live in front of thousands of their virtual
friends.
True to real world concert tradition, Stacie will make several virtual
costume changes during the show and auction off these virtual goods on Ebay. Whyville will co-sponsor a Scion
owner's activity -- a special "after-party" for kids who own a virtual Scion
in Whyville, and their passengers.
"We are thrilled to have Stacie Orrico involved with Whyville. She is a
terrifically talented singer and songwriter, who is very well known and
loved by Whyville's tween audience. This concert is spot-on with
Whyville's goal of edu-taining boys and girls," said Jay Goss, Chief
Operating Officer of Numedeon, Whyville's parent company.
Says Melissa Victor of Virgin Records, "Virgin Records is pleased that
Stacie is the first artist to kick off the Whyville virtual concert series.
Every one of us has a treasured memory of our first concert experience, and
it's wonderful that teens and tweens can enjoy a concert in the rich and
detailed virtual world of Whyville that has been tailored especially for
their needs and enjoyment."
About Whyville
Whyville (http://www.whyville.net) is
the leading edu-tainment virtual world for boys and girls, ages 8 to 15.
For eight years, the site has successfully created an environment that
engages children to learn while having fun. Inside Whyville, "citizens"
learn & play, socialize & recreate, govern & earn, write & design, eat &
dance, and much, much more. Numedeon, Inc., Whyville's parent company,
develops virtual worlds that promote learning through interactivity and
engagement. Numedeon's founders are scientists, who combined research
expertise in neuroscience with education experience from the
internationally recognized Caltech Pre-college Science Initiative to
conceive of an innovative way to harness the power of the Internet for the
purpose of engagement and education. In formal education parlance, the
education in Whyville is designed to be hands-on, inquiry-based and
constructivist, embedded within motivational settings among peers.