SuperSecret Selected as Finalist in GamesBeat 2009 “Who’s Got Game?” Competition

Online Social Gaming Company Targets Tween Market With Launch of SuperSecret.com in Spring 2009

SuperSecret, a San Francisco-based start-up that is building the next generation of online social gaming for kids, today announced that it has been selected as one of seven finalists in the GamesBeat 2009 Conference “Who’s Got Game?” competition. The company was selected from more than 50 applicants by a group of gaming industry experts and investors, including Dean Takahashi of VentureBeat; Kevin Bachus, co-creator of the Xbox; Jamil Moledina of EA Partners; James Cham of Bessemer Venture Partners; and Jay Eum, Managing Director at TransLink Capital.

“We’re very pleased to be picked as one of the companies to watch this year,” said Ted Barnett, co-founder and CEO of SuperSecret. “There is a tremendous opportunity to provide a better online experience to kids who are ready to move beyond Webkinz and Club Penguin but not ready for Facebook or MySpace. We’ve assembled an amazing group of developers, designers and partners who understand the forces driving the growth of the Internet, and are totally committed to creating online games that capture the hearts and minds of kids today.”

SuperSecret, which announced $10 million in Series A funding earlier this month, was founded on the premise that the Internet is no longer a supplementary channel to support toy launches and entertainment properties. Instead, kids are heading online in record numbers to find new ways to play, shop and connect with friends. To that end, SuperSecret is laser-focused on providing kids with age-appropriate and highly engaging social games that allow them to use their imaginations, test their skills and learn the basics of online interaction. The company involves kids at every step of the design process, while building out the industry’s most robust technology platform and partner network to support large-scale success.

The company’s flagship offering, SuperSecret.com, is currently in ‘sneak peek’ mode and is set to launch this spring. The breakthrough social game targets the tween audience with sophisticated graphics, advanced social capabilities and a compelling ‘aging-up’ metagame where kids ‘grow up’ from 10 to 18 as they make friends and explore new places.

The company’s proprietary World Builder™ platform allows it to quickly and easily expand SuperSecret.com game content to keep up with the imagination and skills of its tween audience. SuperSecret has already attracted major distribution partners based on the strength of its beta release, and tweens participating in the beta average 55 minutes per session.

“SuperSecret.com was developed hand-in-hand with tweens so it is full of the things they love. At the same time, it is also a safe environment where they can play, learn and socialize with friends,” said Tony Espinoza, co-founder and president of SuperSecret. “We’re seeing explosive adoption and amazing engagement in ‘sneak peek’ mode and looking forward, the combination of our World Builder platform and our approach to involving kids in every step of the design process will allow us to move quickly to keep SuperSecret.com fresh, dynamic and relevant.”

SuperSecret is led by Ted Barnett and Tony Espinoza, proven technology entrepreneurs who previously founded Internet calendaring service When.com and sold it to AOL. Barnett has also led groundbreaking projects at AOL, Ofoto / Kodak, Apple, and PF Magic, where he played an integral role in developing Dogz, the first virtual life PC game. Espinoza has worked for leaders like Electronic Arts, Apple, IBM, and Diamond Multimedia and most recently founded recording studio SF Soundworks.

About GamesBeat 2009

The Who’s Got Game competition takes place on Tuesday, March 24 in San Francisco at The GamesBeat 2009 Conference. The competition will highlight new gaming startups that have demonstrated the innovation and potential to shake up the industry and succeed in a hyper-competitive, shrinking economy.

At 5:00 pm on the day of the conference, each of the seven Who’s Got Game? finalists will have five minutes to present their products. The winner will be announced at a reception that evening. More information on GamesBeat 2009 and the full list of Who’s Got Game? finalists can be found at http://venturebeat.com/gamesbeat-2009/.

About SuperSecret

SuperSecret is a San Francisco-based start-up that is delivering the next generation of social gaming for kids. Led by technology and gaming industry veterans with experience at AOL, Apple, and Electronic Arts, SuperSecret stands apart for its strong market focus, innovative technology, and wide distribution network. For more information or to participate in the beta of its flagship social game for tweens, please visit www.supersecret.com.

Contacts

SuperSecret
Renee Newby, 757-651-6554
pr {at} supersecret(.)com