Extempo Introduces Lenny Pochnik, the First Truly Interactive Character in Web Entertainment.SAN JOSE San Jose, city, United States San Jose (sănəzā`, săn hōzā`), city (1990 pop. 782,248), seat of Santa Clara co., W central Calif.; founded 1777, inc. 1850. , Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 20, 1998--Extempo today presented Lenny Pochnik, the first truly interactive character in Web entertainment and the only "live" character in the episodic rock and roll Web murder mystery "Paul is Dead "Paul is dead" is an urban legend alleging that Paul McCartney of the British rock band The Beatles died in 1966 and was replaced by a look-alike and sound-alike. Evidence for McCartney's death consists of "clues" found among the Beatles' many recordings, most of which are (PID (1) (Process IDentifier) A temporary number assigned by the operating system to a process or service. (2) (Proportional-Integral-Derivative) The most common control methodology in process control. )." Created by LaFong, with funding from MSN (1) (MicroSoft Network) A family of Internet-based services from Microsoft, which includes a search engine, e-mail (Hotmail), instant messaging (Windows Live Messaging) and a general-purpose portal with news, information and shopping (MSN Directory). and MGM Interactive MGM Interactive is a national company owned by Hollywood Studio, MGM. , PID will run on MindSpring in 60 twice-weekly episodes through March, 1999. As the abrasive and paranoid PID Web Master, Lenny pops up a Java chat window to taunt, harangue, and provoke PID participants whenever he feels like it. If a participant passes Lenny's test for rock and roll correctness, he may favor them with a secret clue to the unfolding mystery of rock legend Paul Lomo's death. Consistently good behavior Orderly and lawful action; conduct that is deemed proper for a peaceful and law-abiding individual. The definition of good behavior depends upon how the phrase is used. in a series of chats will earn Lenny's favor and an invitation to join in his scheme for solving the Lomo mystery. Built with Extempo's Imp Character Technology(TM), Lenny Pochnik demonstrates unique capabilities for creating characters whose roles and personas rival those of film and TV and who also can interact with Web visitors in natural language, conversation and gesture. Imp Characters don't merely act their part in a Web entertainment. They actively draw participants into the story. "I've seen the future of interactive characters...and it's talking to me!" said John Sanborn of LaFong. "The work that Extempo did for LaFong/MSN/MGM on "Paul is Dead" was exceptional. The creation of the Lenny Pochnik bot-character enhanced our vision and gave the project the kind of "life" that pushes the rock and roll murder mystery over the top. Everyone who "meets" Lenny loves him, even if they hate him. And that kind of strong reaction is what everyone is looking to bring to Web entertainment." Lenny Pochnik ushers in a new paradigm New Paradigm In the investing world, a totally new way of doing things that has a huge effect on business. Notes: The word "paradigm" is defined as a pattern or model, and it has been used in science to refer to a theoretical framework. in interactive entertainment. PID participants browse around several Web sites, including Lenny's, at their leisure, learning about Paul Lomo and his band Miasma miasma noxious exhalations from putrescent organic matter; the basis for an early concept of the origin of epidemics. , checking out new evidence introduced in each episode, and trying to discover what really happened when Lomo was found drowned in a hotel swimming pool in 1984. But PID participants also get to talk to Lenny himself -- if and when he is in the mood to talk to them. A participant may please Lenny or enrage en·rage tr.v. en·raged, en·rag·ing, en·rag·es To put into a rage; infuriate. [Middle English *enragen, from Old French enrager : en-, causative pref. him or, worst of all, just bore him. But no matter what a participant does, Lenny notices and responds in character. And Lenny doesn't forget. If somebody gets on his good side or his bad side, there will be payback next time. Thus, each participant becomes a player in their own unique experience of the PID story. "Most people don't realize at first that Lenny is not a real person," said Extempo CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. Barbara Hayes-Roth. "After they get to know him, it no longer matters. Like all good actors, Lenny inspires a willing suspension of disbelief Suspension of disbelief is an aesthetic theory intended to characterize people's relationships to art. It was coined by the poet and aesthetic philosopher Samuel Taylor Coleridge in 1817 to refer to what he called "dramatic truth". . People get so immersed in their conversations with him that they don't care if he is real or not -- they just want to go deeper into his story." Look for Lenny's first appearance at the end of the scene called "Clue Theory?" in Chapter 1 of "Paul is Dead" at www.paulisdead.com. After that, it's up to Lenny whether he wants to talk to you or not. About Extempo Located in San Jose, Extempo makes interactive characters to staff the Web. Extempo's Imp Characters offer easy and natural interaction through conversation and gesture, along with the color and warmth of their distinctive personas. Imp Characters bring compelling functional, human, and social qualities to applications in e-commerce, learning, and entertainment, creating a two-way learning relationship between a company and its customers. Visit Extempo's Web site at www.extempo.com. Note to Editors: Imp and Imp Character are trademarks of Extempo Systems Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
CONTACT: Extempo Systems Inc.
Barbara Hayes-Roth, 408/557-6758
bhr@extempo.com
http://www.extempo.com
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