Shockwave Thinks Online Ben Stein Game Is Winner.

BEN Stein, sporting a dark-blue blazer and a pink patterned Hermes tie, sat at a breakfast table in the Polo Lounge at the Beverly Hills Hotel with a handful of reporters, but he was the one asking most of the questions.

"Where did you go to school?" "Where are you from?" "What's the capital of Missouri?"

The actor and writer, best known for his Comedy Central show "Win Ben Stein's Money," was at the hotel along with Shockwave.com Chief Executive Rob Burgess to announce a Ben Stein game and e-card line that will be available on Shockwave by the fall.

Stein wasn't just questioning the reporters; he grilled his business partner Burgess like a police interrogator (or a venture capitalist). "How does your site make money?" was one of several questions.

The answer: Currently through advertising, sponsorship and other traditional Internet revenue streams. Within six months, Shockwave plans to syndicate some of its original content to other sites and license out its characters for other projects.

As questions bounced around the table, it was clear that both Stein and Burgess were excited about their new deal.

"Games are by far and away the most visited part of Shockwave.com, it's at least 50 percent," Burgess said.

The multi-player capabilities of the Stein game take online gaming to the next level, Burgess said. The as-yet-unnamed game will allow users around the world to select their rivals (even a cartoon Ben Stein, perhaps) in a question-and-answer game that will test users' knowledge in categories such as art history and geography.

The best of the best players will not just have "bragging rights," but could even gain an advantage to appear on "Win Ben Stein's Money." Prizes ("to be determined, not my money," Stein proclaimed) will also be doled out to top-scoring players.

The venture is not Stein's first foray onto the Internet; he currently writes an occasional column, "Monday Night at Morton's," offering a wry glimpse at Hollywood power dining, for E! Online. But the venture with Shockwave will be Stein's most hands-on involvement to date, as he will help develop and produce original content. Exact terms of the deal were not released, but Stein will receive stock options in Shockwave, one of the few thriving entertainment content sites.

Shockwave, which operates out of offices in Los Angeles and San Francisco, is in the midst of signing a number of high-profile deals with names like Stein, David Lynch and "South Park" creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker.