The National Academy of Video Game Testers andReviewers Corp.® (NAViGaTR), a 501(c)(6) non-profit organization, has
announced the first video game themed cruise aboard Carnival Cruise
Lines. This special weekend cruise takes place November 14 – 17, 2008
(Long Beach, California, to Ensenada, Mexico), and features a
performance by Video Games Live ™ as seen on the 2007 Spike TV Video

Game Awards.

post_date by JackWall and Tommy Tallarico and performing Mario®, Zelda®, and other
classic video game scores, Video Games Live ™ is the largest touring
video game music concert in the world. Blurring the line between video
games and other screen arts, an orchestra and choir perform with
synchronized video and lighting, live action, and unique interactive

segments to create an explosive one-of-a-kind entertainment experience.

"TheNAViGaTR Cruise is all about bridging the gap between gamers and
non-gamers and bringing games to new audiences," said Thomas J. Allen,
President of NAVGTR Corp. "At once classical and cutting edge, Video
Games Live is the perfect entertainment for the whole family, because
you don’t have to be a gamer to enjoy beautiful, majestic music.
Hardcore gamers will recognize every note, while other family members
will discover it just as they would discover Mozart or Vivaldi. Having
performed on some of the most prestigious stages around the world
including the Hollywood Bowl, the Kennedy Center, and the Royal
Festival Hall, Video Games Live shares our goal of breaking down walls
to show that the artistry and creativity of video games is just as

prestigious as that of other traditionally respected media."

Othercruise activities include game competitions and special gaming and
celebrity guests including Academy Award® winning actress and
record-breaking Emmy® winner Cloris Leachman. "We’re so honored to have
Cloris on board," said George Wood, Chairman of the Board for NAVGTR
Corp. "Cloris is a great example of a woman who has it all and just
wants to have fun in life, and she just might give some of those young

gamers a run for their money."

NAViGaTRwill be unveiling a special audience participation game show featuring
hilarious physical activity in a virtual reality experience. Parents
will finally understand their kids’ obsession with video games, as the
live show will feature comedic sound effects and outrageous gameplay

competition among passengers and Leachman.

Leachmanis most recently known for playing Grandma Ida in "Malcolm in the
Middle," Mrs. Norris in Scary Movie 4, the prison warden’s secretary
who spanks Adam Sandler in The Longest Yard, Great "Gam Gam" in the
Broken Lizard film Beerfest, the reclining granny that Billy Bob
Thornton thinks is dead in Bad Santa, and the boozy, tackling
grandmother in Spanglish. Leachman is best known as Phyllis in The Mary
Tyler Moore Show, Old Frankenstein’s former girlfriend Frau Blucher in
Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein, and the lonely housewife who hooks up
with a high school student in The Last Picture Show, her Oscar®-winning

performance.

Also makingappearances will be YouTube’s Hardcore Granny, the tough-talking,
gun-wielding Internet sensation. Hilariously unsaintly at age 71, she’s
been to the frontlines of (virtual) wars and lived to tell the tale to

CBS, The Washington Post, Business Week, G4, MTV, and the Village Voice.

Onboardactivities will include easy, light play for elder generations playing
with their grandkids. "The multi-generational mix is a growing trend
for both games and cruises," said Allen. "The mainstream media
constantly reports on senior citizens discovering the Nintendo Wii®,
and National Geographic Kids and Cruise Lines International Association
(CLIA) research shows that one third of cruising grandparents are

taking their grandkids."

"TheNAViGaTR Cruise has something for everyone," said Wood. "We really want
to show the positive aspects of the video game medium, from the
artistry of its music, to the social and cooperative aspects of its
multiplayer entertainment, to its therapeutic applications that have

real world benefits."

As seenon ABC News, Dr. Albert "Skip" Rizzo will demonstrate how gaming
technologies are used to rehabilitate stroke survivors, distract
children from pain during surgery, and help veterans of Iraq deal with

post traumatic stress disorder.

Thecruise will also benefit industry charities. 10% of cruise proceeds
will be split between the International Game Developers Association and

the Game Audio Network Guild.

Cruisefares begin at $455. Tickets are on sale to the general public through

June 15, 2008. To make a reservation, call 1-800-688-8031 or visit www.avatoy.com.Fare rates are per person based on double occupancy and do not includeport processing fees, fuel supplements, and government taxes, or

gratuities and optional insurance.

Throughannual awards, television specials, videos, and other future plans, themission of NAVGTR Corp. is to preserve the history of the medium as
well as honor the creative and technical individuals who have paved the
way for new ideas and innovations. In addition to the annual awards
show, NAVGTR Corp. also distributes the historical archive series,

"Gaming in the Clinton Years."

Thegeneral voting body of more than 1,150 journalists and writers includescontributors for such varied outlets as About.com, Atlanta
Journal-Constitution, Austin American-Statesman, NBC, CNN, CNN.com,
CNNmoney.com, Chicago Sun-Times, Computer Gaming World, Contra Costa
Times, Digital Journal, ElectricPlayground.com, FHM, GamersTemple.com,
GamingTarget.com, Gannett News Service, Gear, HappyPuppy.com, Kids
& Computers, LA Weekly, Los Angeles Times, National Post, New York
Times, Marquee, PC Gamer, Philadelphia Inquirer, PlanetPong.com, Salon,
San Jose Mercury-News, USA Today, USAToday.com, Wired News, Wizard
Magazine, WOW Weekly, ZDNet, Detroit Free Press, National Public Radio,
Public Radio International, Play Magazine, Electronic Gaming Monthly
(Ziff-Davis Media), Evergeek Media, The Ottawa Citizen, The Vancouver

Sun, The Regina Leader-Post, and hundreds more.

B-roll video is available upon request from "info at navgtr dot org"

Links:

A list of the contests:

http://www.avatoy.com/id33.html

Cloris Leachman

http://www.avatoy.com/id36.html

Hardcore Granny

http://oghc.blogspot.com/

Video Games Live

http://www.videogameslive.com/index.php?s=info

Dr. Albert Rizzo – Virtual Iraq

http://www.wjla.com:80/news/stories/1007/464459.html

IGDA Charity

http://www.igda.org/

G.A.N.G. Charity

https://www.audiogang.org/

NAViGaTR Awards

http://www.navgtr.org/

NAViGaTR Cruise

http://www.avatoy.com/

NAViGaTR on YouTube – 1,000+ Videos

http://www.youtube.com/navgtr

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