(23 April 2008 2:00 pm)

MUMBAI: Asian integrated entertainment company Zero Friction in association with Electronic Arts have announced the launch of Vixture (www.vixture.com).

This ia a console gaming championship with total prize money of Rs 5 million. It kicks off next month.

Unlike other parts of the world, gaming in India does not enjoy recognition as serious sport. Vixture will give a platform for budding Indian talent to showcase their skills. "The largest ever prize money offered by Vixture indicates the commitment of Zero Friction to gaming in India,” said Charu Sabale, Director, of Zero Friction’s India subsidiary.

Vixture will target more than 50,000 gamers from more than 500 top gameplexes to battle it out to secure a place among the 64 finalist teams shooting for the top spot in Mumbai in a three-day Vixture final to be held from 13-15 June, 2008.

Vixture will feature five games by Electronic Arts – Crysis, Need For SpeedTM ProStreet, EA Sports Cricket 07, EA Sports Fifa 08, and EA Sports Fight Night Round 3. While Crysis will involve all five players from the teams, other games will be single person shootouts. For the first time in India, gamers will have the opportunity to play Crysis®-the most sophisticated and exciting science fiction shoot game created worldwide, in a professional multi-gaming competition.

With the entry of global leaders like Electronic ArtsTM aided by the rapid spread of broadband, India is one of the fastest growing gaming markets in the world.

“This is a very unique opportunity to play five of EA’s top games in one of the largest gaming competition we’ve seen till now. Gaming in India is growing in leaps and bounds and we expect a great response from gamers from across the country and across genres”, said Ajay Khanna, General Manager, EA Games India, the Indian subsidiary of Electronic Arts Inc.

Vixture 2008 is also supported by EA Sports & MTV.