For Immediate Release:
January 6, 2005

Contact:
Dr. Alka Chandna 757-622-7382   

Vancouver, B.C. — In recognition of his success in creating a video game that makes compassion for animals a hot, competitive entertainment, Vancouver resident Johnathan Skinner, president of Veggie Games Inc., has won an international award from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). Skinner’s innovative and quirky "Steer Madness" has been named Best Animal-Friendly Video Game in PETA’s second annual Proggy Awards. Proggys are presented to people, companies, and organizations that exemplify animal-friendly progress in 21st century culture and commerce. Skinner will receive a plaque and will be featured on PETA’s award-winning Web site PETA.org.

Best described as "Grand Theft Auto" meets "Chicken Run," "Steer Madness" features Bryce, an escaped steer on a rampage. Bryce has more then a few things to be mad about, and players of this delightful 3-D action-adventure game find themselves breaking into cosmetics labs to rescue rabbits, hijacking chicken transport trucks to save the birds from the knife, and trying to make an entire city go vegetarian at a rate that the Meat Marketing Board can’t compete with.

Johnathan Skinner believes strongly in social justice. "Our games teach people how to respect the environment, the animals, and each other," he says.

"Johnathan Skinner’s kind and quirky game shows how caring coupled with action can defeat injustice." says PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk. "People love Steer Madness!"

Vancouver boasted another winner in PETA’s Proggy awards this year. Author Nicholas Read, who also garnered a Proggy last year for his book Saving Emily, won again in the category Best Children’s Book for his book One in a Million, the story of a brave dog’s struggle for freedom and dignity.

For more information and to view the entire list of Proggy winners, please visit PETA.org.