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Newton, PA Resident Wins Pennsylvania 'INVENT-A-GAME' CHALLENGE
Melody Wu, 11, wins Pennsylvania 'INVENT-A-GAME' Challenge for her game,
Machine Mania
 Stamford,
CT- December 3, 2009-By Kids For Kids Co. (BKFK) announces that Melody Wu, 11,
of Newton, PA has won the Pennsylvania 'Invent-A-Game' Challenge, a competition
where kids from Pennsylvania where challenged to invent a new video game. The
'Invent-A-Game' Challenge was a national competition sponsored by Best Buy and
EA with a Pennsylvania statewide prize awarded through the support of The Edison
Venture Fund and the United Inventors Association.
Melody's winning online game entry is called: Machine Mania. The main characters
in the game are you (the player), your boss and the customers. The main
components in Machine Mania are the machine parts (gears, motors, springs,
wheels, battery, electricity, etc.) The player's job is to be a mechanic. You
must use machine parts like tubes, springs, wires etc. to build machines, and
they actually have to work! Each part has a different amount of points. For
example, a spring might be fifty points since it is used less often, and a tube
could be ten points because it is used more often than a spring. Players are
also timed. Once you earn money, you can use it to buy more parts or even other
players' machines.
As the Pennsylvania State winner, Melody won a special $1,000 prize. She was
also automatically entered into the national version of the contest. Ultimately,
the grand prize winner of the national competition was Dan Slutz, 17, of Canton,
Ohio for his game "Rhythm," which immerses players into the world of music.
Melody Wu commenting on her award said: "I had so much fun in this competition
because I have always been interested in machines and games! Through this
competition, I created a game to get people interested in machines and building
stuff."
Norman Goldstein, the founder and CEO of BKFK, said: "We congratulate Melody on
her winning video game submission, which proves an innovative and fun way for
kids to learn about machines and the building process."
The Pennsylvania Invent-A-Game Challenge was presented by Best Buy and EA.
Participating sponsors included the United Inventors Association and the Edison
Venture Fund.
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Media Contacts:
By Kids For Kids Co.
John Forrester
(323) 702-3684
media@bkfk.com
-Notes to Editors:
About By Kids For Kids Co.
By Kids for Kids® (BKFK®) is a youth marketing and media company partnering with
the world's leading corporations to provide a platform to foster, share,
showcase, and commercialize youth innovation and entrepreneurship. Their mission
is to inspire, motivate and stimulate the innovative spirit within all young
people.
The closely held Stamford, CT-based Corporation has been dedicated to making
youth ideas a reality since 2003. Through its website (www.bkfk.com)
and its social community (Idea Locker™), online competitions, TV show (Think
Big™), Magazine (Possible™), press, and education outreach, the company engages
youth in the US and around the world. BKFK® youth-created products are available
nationally and serve as a testament to the power of youth innovation and social
entrepreneurship.
More information about the company and its successes helping young innovators,
is available online at www.bkfk.com
About Best Buy Co., Inc.
With operations in the United States, Canada, Europe, and China, Best Buy is a
multinational retailer of technology and entertainment products and services
with a commitment to growth and innovation. The Best Buy family of brands and
partnerships collectively generates more than $40 billion annual revenue and
includes brands such as Best Buy, Audiovisions, The Carphone Warehouse, Future
Shop, Geek Squad, Jiangsu Five Star, Magnolia Audio Video, Napster, Pacific
Sales Kitchen and Bath Centers, The Phone House and Speakeasy. Approximately
165,000 employees apply their talents to help bring the benefits of these brands
to life for customers through retail locations, multiple call centers and Web
sites, in-home solutions, product delivery and activities in our communities.
Community partnership is central to the way we do business at Best Buy. In
fiscal 2008, we donated a combined $31.8 million to improve the vitality of the
communities where our employees and customers live and work. For more
information about Best Buy, visit www.bestbuyinc.com.
About Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is the
world's leading interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, the
Company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive software worldwide for
video game systems, personal computers, cellular handsets and the Internet.
Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA SPORTSTM, EATM,
EA SPORTS Freestyle TM and POGOTM. In fiscal 2008, EA posted GAAP net revenue of
$3.67 billion and had 27 titles that sold more than one million copies. EA's
homepage and online game site is www.ea.com.
More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can be
found on the Internet at http://info.ea.com.
EA, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS Freestyle and POGO are trademarks or registered
trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. All other
trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
About United Inventors Association
The United Inventors Association is the world’s leading center for
inventor/entrepreneur education. Founded in 1990 and based in upstate NY, the
UIA was established as an umbrella association supporting and networking local
and regional inventor organizations. UIA membership now has expanded throughout
the USA and abroad to include individual inventors and innovators, academia,
small and medium enterprise, service providers and non-profit companies. For
more information about UIA, please visit its website at
www.uiausa.org
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