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Perplex City Worldwide Treasure Hunt Concludes in Dramatic Fashion as Winner Arrives at London Offices to Claim $200,000 Prize

Amateur Archeologist Finds Hidden Cube After 2 Year Long Search

LONDON, Feb. 8, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- The search is finally over! Mind Candy, creators of Perplex City (www.perplexcity.com), the puzzle-based worldwide treasure hunt, announced today that the long sought-after Receda Cube (a priceless artifact stolen from Perplex City) has been found. For the last two years, more than 50,000 registered Perplex City players in 92 countries have collected cards, solved puzzles, come together in online and physical gatherings, and scoured the planet for clues to the elusive Cube's location.

Today, in an epic showing of his deductive prowess, 38 year old Andy Darley, a qualified amateur archaeologist, succeeded in unearthing the Cube which was buried in Wakerley Great Wood, England (approximately 110 miles north of London) to claim the $200,000 reward.

"It's been a long time coming," said Michael Smith, CEO of Mind Candy. "We've been fascinated watching so many players get involved and really immerse themselves in the community as well as the game. Alternate Reality Games is a brand new kind of entertainment, so I think the incredible response is very encouraging for the future of the genre."

The journey to the cube involved piecing together clues that were present in almost every form of media available, including web sites, books, voicemail, text messages and, of course, the puzzle cards themselves. Andy Darley arrived at the Mind Candy office, cube in hand, at 12:40PM local time, February 8. Upon delivery of the Cube, Mr. Darley was rewarded with the $200,000 prize. He had traveled from Feltham, England in order to retrieve the Cube and return it to its rightful owners.

"Of all the 50,000 players, from all these different countries, I never thought for a moment I would be the person to find The Cube. I was playing for the puzzles, and the stories, but it wasn't until only a few days ago that I thought I was in with a chance. As I pulled the Cube from the sticky, wet clay, and even after I'd found it, as I was waiting to return The Cube, all I could think about is how bizarre the whole thing really was."

During the course of the first season, various live events were played all over the world. One event took place this past August in San Francisco, California. In the largest alternate reality gaming live event in history, hundreds of players took to the hilly streets solving puzzles and gathering clues that were scattered throughout the city. A hi-tech first-of-its-kind RFID game played out as well. For these types of innovations and others, Mind Candy is proud to be a finalist in the SXSW 10th Annual Web Awards in the Amusement Category.

With this event wrapping up Perplex City: Season One, plans for Season Two are getting underway. Michael Smith continued: "Andy Darley's dedication and enthusiasm in finding the cube has really galvanized us in our preparations for Season Two."

Michael Smith, Adrian Hon (Head of Story), and Mr. Darley are available for interview.

About Mind Candy

Mind Candy is a media and entertainment company that specializes in puzzles -- from Sudoku style logic puzzles at one extreme, to global, cross-media, treasure hunts, at the other. Mind Candy's particular focus at the moment is on the rapidly expanding fields of Alternate Reality Games (ARGs) and Cross Media Entertainment (XME).

Images available at: http://www.mindcandydesign.com/media

CONTACT:  Sandbox Strategies
          Rob Fleischer
          (212) 213-2451
          rob@sandboxstrat.com