Second Season of Syfy's WCG Ultimate Gamer Returns to TV This August

NEW YORK, May 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Syfy, in partnership with World Cyber Games and Samsung, announced that WCG Ultimate Gamer will return for a second season of eight episodes beginning in August. WCG Ultimate Gamer pits the top video game players in the US against each other to test their skills in a range of video game and real-life challenges while seeing if they can survive living together as housemates. Only one gamer will emerge victorious to claim the title of Ultimate Gamer.

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This season offers an exciting twist as everyone can help select the final cast member in an online contest starting May 17th. Fans can vote for their favorite contestant at www.WCGUltimategamer.com. Participants will be able to choose a 12th contestant from a list of three finalists, enabling fans of each gamer to rally support for their favorite prospective champion.

Produced by ITV Studios for Syfy, each of the one-hour TV episodes will focus on in-game and real-life challenges for the dozen rivals living together in Los Angeles, while they compete for $100,000 in cash, an ultimate Samsung Electronics prize package, the chance to become the face of the WCG - representing the organization at events around the world - and bragging rights as the best all-around gamer. Last year's winner Mark "Applesauce" Smith traveled to China, Mexico and around the U.S. as he represented World Cyber Games and WCG Ultimate Gamer.

The challenges in WCG Ultimate Gamer include dramatic video game battles using Samsung's leading edge technology and real-life scenarios inspired by best-selling games. Over eight weeks, the next Ultimate Gamer will need to demonstrate top-notch skills while excelling under the pressure of head-to-head elimination rounds and successfully navigating the drama and twists of this unique reality TV show.

During the first season, contestants faced large-scale real-life challenges that took them beyond the game. For example, in the episode featuring the game "Rock Band," the gamers had to form a band, create a look, learn to play a song by The Donnas, and then perform it using real instruments in front of a live audience as the band judged their performance.

Another challenge featured gamers showing off their slam dunk skills in front of basketball legends, including NBA Slam Dunk Champion Spud Webb, three-time NBA Finalist Darryl Dawkins, and four-time Olympic Gold Medalist Lisa Leslie. The twist—the entire contest took place over a swimming pool. The first season is available for viewing on Hulu.com.

This season, the final contestants will face off at the prestigious 10th anniversary WCG 2010 Grand Final competition and festival taking place at the Los Angeles Convention Center, September 30th – October 3rd 2010. The WCG Grand Final is the world's largest gaming festival, held annually with more than 1.5 million participants from around the world.

WCG Ultimate Gamer is executive-produced by Michael Agbabian and Dwight D. Smith (Phenomenon, Gameshow Marathon and Last Comic Standing) for ITV Studios.

Syfy is a media destination for imagination-based entertainment. With year round acclaimed original series, events, blockbuster movies, classic science fiction and fantasy programming, a dynamic Web site (www.Syfy.com), and a portfolio of adjacent business (Syfy Ventures), Syfy is a passport to limitless possibilities. Originally launched in 1992 as SCI FI Channel, and currently in more than 96 million homes, Syfy is a network of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies. (Syfy. Imagine greater.)

World Cyber Games Inc. (WCG) is the organizer of the longest running global videogame tournament and festival, celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2010. With a yearlong competition spanning online, regional and national qualifying matches, elite gamers ascend to represent their countries at the WCG Grand Final, a thrilling high-pressure challenge to crown the world's best gamers. More than 1.6 million players from 65 countries competed for a spot in the WCG 2009 Grand Final in China. Entertainment capital Los Angeles will host this exciting competition in 2010. To showcase the passion and competitive spirit of gamers, WCG also produces the hit reality show WCG Ultimate Gamer, which premieres a second season this summer. For more information visit www.wcg.com.

ITV Studios, Inc. is one of the largest international producers for the US market and a major force in acquiring, developing and producing reality and scripted programming for US networks. Since launching in 2004, ITV Studios (formerly known as Granada America) has become a leading producer of reality and scripted programming in the US with a slate of successful formats in production with major US networks, including Hell's Kitchen and Kitchen Nightmares for Fox, Celebrity Fit Club for VH1, Four Weddings for TLC, I'm a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! for NBC, WCG: Ultimate Gamer for SyFy, Danger Coast for CMT, Steven Segal: Lawman, and The First 48 series' for A&E. ITV Studios is a world leader in television production and distribution, with international production centers in the UK, Germany and Australia as well as America and programs distributed to over 155 territories worldwide. Our US hit TV show, Nanny 911, has been sold to more than 60 countries.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2007 consolidated sales of US$103.4 billion. Employing approximately 150,000 people in 134 offices in 62 countries, the company consists of four main business units: Digital Media Business, LCD Business, Semiconductor Business, and Telecommunication Business. Recognized as one of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is a leading producer of digital TVs, memory chips, mobile phones and TFT-LCDs. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.

SOURCE World Cyber Games Inc.