A&E Unveils Sopranos Cross-Media Experience

So, it turns out that even a mob boss from Jersey can’t resist the sweet smell of cross-media gaming. In January, when the hit HBO series The Sopranos begins a syndicated run on A&E, it will be accompanied with a “real-time online experience” touted as “fantasy sports meets scavenger hunt,” according to a press release ARGNet received yesterday. The Sopranos A&E Connection game will be played online, but will involve real-world game pieces found in different locations, such as billboards and magazine ads. While the game has already launched (it was possible for players to start collecting game pieces beginning on December 15th), new players can register at the trailhead web site before the action really gets going on January 10th, 2007 – the night the first two episodes of Season One debut on A&E. Even more exciting for the ARGNet faithful — we have a unique opportunity for a few lucky readers to win fabulous Sopranos prizes!

Before we get to the giveaway, though, we really should look at what the game has to offer. The thirty-six game pieces, found in the real world or on the Internet, “represent different characters, objects and settings in the show.” When a player finds a game piece on the ‘net, capturing it is as easy as a click of the mouse. When it comes to the real-world pieces found on and in various media, players will have to snap a photo of the piece and send it into a specific game email address, where “a unique imaging technology designed by leading visual search and recognition technology company” will recognize the piece and add it to the player’s collection. Now I don’t know about you, but that sounds pretty darn cool to me, provided that it works without too much of a problem — technology has a funny way of not working the way it is intended.

As players collect game pieces, they are able to place them on a game board which is open to the player’s design and strategy. The game board becomes important once Season One’s syndication schedule begins — every week, A&E will broadcast two Sopranos episodes back-to-back starting at 9 pm EST. According to the press release, “the way pieces are arranged on the grid-like game board effects how many points players score as each piece will earn points based on the number of times the character appears on the actual television show.” As the weeks go on, players can rearrange their game pieces to maximize the number of points earned through the airings of the television shows. As points accumulate, so do players’ chances to win prizes — up for grabs are PlayStation 3s, digital cameras, and a grand prize of $100,000. Official rules can be found at the Suitcase of Cash web site.

As for our giveaway, we are happy to offer a chance at four (4) wonderful prizes — two (2) Sopranos Season 6 DVD box sets ($70 retail) and two (2) Sopranos t-shirts. To enter and qualify for the prize drawing, send us an email at our special address [email protected]. Please note the following rules and regulations:

1. Include your full name and mailing address. This is an absolute must, as we will need to verify details before we arrange shipping of the prizes. We will keep all specific mailing address information confidential.
2. There is a limit of ONE entry per person. Entries will count towards all four prizes, and entries are eligible for ONE prize only.
3. This giveaway is open to both U.S. and non-U.S. participants.
4. Staff of ARGNet and their families are not eligible for the prizes.

We will be accepting entries until noon (12:00 pm) Central time, on Wednesday, December 27th. Four (4) random draws will be made for the four prizes. Winners will be contacted shortly thereafter.