The Manchurian Candidate coming to mobile phones
by Kit

Wednesday, July 7 2004

Prizes provided for players who defeat the game.

Wireless gamers across the country can now portray the lead character of Paramount Picture’s "The Manchurian Candidate,” Ben Marco, in the new “The Manchurian Candidate” Voice Recognition game, presented by Paramount Pictures and featuring prizes provided by Kyocera Wireless. The game gives players a taste of this highly anticipated psychological thriller before it hits theaters July 30.

Portrayed in the movie by two time Oscar(r) winner Denzel Washington, decorated Major Ben Marco’s world is becoming a living nightmare. Is he crazy? Are his nightmares real, or is everyone else out to get him? Fans will get hidden insights through their telephones in this world of brainwashing, conspiracies and political intrigue when the game finds them each day and they help Marco find his way through the psychological mysteries.

Beginning today, contestants can register at www.manchuriangame.com, the official movie web site, www.ManchuricanCandidateMovie.com, or at Kyocera’s www.SliderStyle.com for a chance to win an exclusive screening of the new movie in their hometown or a Kyocera Slider SE47 wireless phone. The game begins July 7 and will conclude July 28. All players will be entered into a sweepstakes for the Grand Prize of a special screening of “Manchurian Candidate” and a Kyocera Slider SE47 phone. Additionally, another 50 entrants will receive their own Kyocera Slider SE47.

During a pre-determined time period each day, players will help Ben Marco and other characters in the movie in their quest to gain information about his unit’s mysterious experience during Desert Storm. Players prompt characters’ next moves with their own voices; a wise choice moves players ahead in the game, a poor choice puts them on the “Danger” path, and two poor choices eliminates the player from the game. Contestants are able to restart the game play by returning to www.ManchurianGame.com.

“‘The Manchurian Candidate’ is one of the most anticipated movies of the summer,” said Gerry Rich, president worldwide marketing, Paramount Pictures. “This Voice Recognition game will provide moviegoers with an exciting and entertaining early look into its story and characters.”

“This is a fun, easy-to-play game that will get people excited about the movie through a device they’re quite attached to – their mobile phones,” said Don McGuire, VP of global marketing, Kyocera Wireless Corp. “Mobile phones have become such a large part of people’s lives that it’s a natural connection to involve them in movie marketing. We’re thrilled to be a part of what’s sure to be one of the summer’s biggest hits.”

Academy Award winners Denzel Washington and Meryl Streep, along with Golden Globe and Emmy nominee Liev Schreiber, mesmerize a whole new generation of audiences in Academy Award winner Jonathan Demme’s “The Manchurian Candidate.” Set against the backdrop of a heated presidential election, this timely and prescient psychological thriller follows one man’s battle to preserve our democratic process from the threat of a subversive conglomerate.

The game, written by “The Manchurian Candidate” co-screenwriter Dan Pyne, puts players in the plot of the movie with story messages (no spoilers!) and audio pulled directly from the film. Players can then choose from a number of options to advise the movie character or ask for a clue.

The game is broken up into two levels. Those players who’ve made the right decisions throughout Level 1 progress onto Level 2, where the scenarios, missions and decisions become even more intense and challenging. Level 1 includes calls from various characters in the film such as FBI Special Agent Goldring, who’s after Marco and may be part of the conspiracy; Colonel Garrett, who’s suspicious of Marco’s stories; and Raymond Shaw, a member of Marco’s Army unit and VP candidate; and many others. Level 2 is exclusively with Al Melvin from Marco’s Desert Storm unit, and Delp, who may be Marco’s only hope.

--- Kit