Area company at the forefront of online gaming and is owed by a Woman

A soon-to-be-released Gartner report is predicting that “advergaming”– simply defined as games that incorporate marketing content–is set to surge in the months ahead. The report, previewed at last week’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, suggests that these games help increase brand and product awareness, customer loyalty, and time spent at an advertiser’s web site more effectively than other online marketing devices and programs.

(PRWEB) March 17, 2004

One of the hottest games on the Internet is the product of a Maryland company, drawing players from 65 countries every month. In 2002 S & E Diversified Services of Fort Washington introduced a 2-D on-line golf game. In October 2003 the company unveiled a 3-D version, and now more than 5,000 websites use the game to increase traffic and encourage repeat visitors. In addition, schools, churches and other non-profit organizations sell a CD version of the game as a fund-raiser, or use the on-line version as a “pay to play” fundraiser.

“We believe very strongly in helping the community and giving back, which is why we developed two versions for groups to use as fund-raisers,” said Saundra Jackson, S & E’s CEO. “We can also customize the game for larger groups, or enable them to sell advertising that appears within the game as an additional fund-raiser.” Corporations, too, can buy advertising on the online version, for as little as $100 per month. Companies can add a version of the game to their own websites, or link to a game on S & E’s servers. S & E can also design a company’s website, or portion of a website, built around the game.

Dubbed “advergames” within the industry, recent newspaper and magazine articles tout the games as the next big thing in Internet marketing, with Jupiter media estimating 68 million people will play online games in 2003.

S & E, in fact, has been at the forefront of the industry, starting with a trivia game which wound up on 2,000 websites, experimenting with a racing game in 2001 and seizing on the golf market in 2002. “We offer a variety of ways to use the game,” Jackson explained. “Companies can

buy it outright or license it for a monthly fee. They can buy advertising on it or have it customized with their logo or other company information. We can even supply tickets to play that they can hand out, or they can organize a prize giveaway around it as a sales contest or other incentive. “It’s an incredibly versatile marketing tool.”

To see and play the game, visit the 2D game at http://www.cybergolf4u.biz or 3D game at http://fondnessmemories.com. For more information, email cybergolf@cybergolf4u.biz.