ZEEK TAKES ON CHRISTMAS FIRM PRESENTS GAME SOFTWARE FOR THE HOLIDAYS.

Byline: Pam Park Staff Writer

Gangsta-caroling elves and Santa with a bullwhip are only part of the fun.

Zeek Interactive and company president Steve Zehngut bid a very twisted Christmas with its CD-ROM collection of holiday games and entertainment, ``Games From A Christmas Past.''

Miguel Iribarren, who covers the interactive entertainment sector for Wedbush Morgan, said holiday-themed gaming software is rare because it takes more than one season of sales to cover production costs. He added, however, that it's hard to tell how a low-profile novelty offering might fare.

``It's a tougher market to try and call,'' said Iribarren. ``You'll see smaller production type stuff but generally, trying to get enough revenue out of software, you won't see a lot of seasonal software.''

Zeek Interactive, based in Seal Beach, began in 1995 as a game company. It also produces content for clients such as Sony Pictures, Columbia TriStar Television, Universal Studios and Warner Bros. Online.

``They're very warped, but very smart and savvy,'' said Lynda Keeler of Redleaf Group, an investment group in Los Angeles. Keeler said she worked with Zeek when she ran Sony Pictures' Internet operations.

The work Zeek did for Sony had definite parameters, but Zeek went wild with their holiday messages, she said.

``Our team members always looked forward to their deviant Christmas cards,'' she said.

On Zeek's new CD-ROM - available through its Web site, www.zeek.com, beginning Nov. 15: The Three Elves A-Rhymin' segment features foul-mouthed elves with an attitude who reprise favorite Christmas carols and rap out stories about Rudy, the reindeer who snapped and bought an Uzi; Mrs. Santa and her jaded past; and the Santa Whammy, which doesn't paint the jolly old fella in a very favorable light.

Because of strong language and some violent content, Zehngut, who grew up in Woodland Hills, says the CD-ROM should be rated about the equivalent of a PG-13 movie.

A partial transcript: ``Santa Claus is fat and smelly; Spends the year fillin' up his belly. Fat old man drivin' us so hard, Slavin' away makin' Pokeman cards. Time is comin' when we're goin' to act up, Santa Claus is going to get smacked up.''

In the Santamagotchi game, or Santa as a virtual pet, the player takes over the care and feeding of the big guy, who frenetically runs around inside a jail cell.

Operation ElfGrab is a game featuring Santa in a helicopter trying to rescue his little helpers from an icy crevice and a threatening Abominable Snowman.

In Santa's Workshop, the player must assemble a toy within a time limit, or feel the sting of Santa's bullwhip.

If ``Christmas Past'' finds a following, expect the phenomenon to be short-lived, say analysts. Seasonal novelties sell well - but only for about one season.

``You need the next generation for the next year,'' said Elizabeth Pierce of Wedbush Morgan Securities, whose coverage includes Hot Topic, the Southern California retailer of apparel and somewhat off-color novelties. ``It's like Pet Rock. It can't go on forever.''

Staff Writer Rob Monroe contributed to this report.

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(1 -- 2 -- color) Above, elves rap out unflattering songs and stories about Rudy the reindeer and other seasonal characters. At left, Zeek Interactive's Christmas CD-ROM offers games and entertainment from Christmases past.