NEW YORK, NY: November 8, 2000 -- On November 29, three New Yorkers will give up their jobs, their families, and their lives to live as fugitives. At stake: a $10,000 grand prize, awarded to the fugitive that survives on the streets of New York City for 17 days, from November 29 to December 15, without getting captured.

Survival won't be easy. Because in Hide/Seek/NYC, the viewers are the hunters. Any member of the general public with an eager eye, a keen mind, and a few minutes to spare can apprehend a fugitive — and potentially take home the $10,000 for themselves. Hide/Seek/NYC is presented by New York-based web navigation company SiteSherpa (www.sitesherpa.com).

"It’s a game where the entire city of New York gets to be the contestant," said Michael Basta, executive producer of Hide/Seek/NYC and vice president for business development at SiteSherpa. "It’s the only game that’s ever hit New York City that everyone can play, everyone can win, and it goes on 24 hours a day, seven days a week for 17 days."

During the 17 days, the daily lives of the fugitives revolve around tasks they must complete to stay in the game. Tasks send them to interact with famous New York City landmarks and local neighborhood haunts. One task might charge the fugitives with taking a photograph of themselves on the back of a lion statue in front of the New York City Public Library.

Viewers follow the game’s daily happenings on the Hide/Seek/NYC website, which offers clues to the fugitives’ daily tasks and interactive content that helps viewers track the fugitives. Website features include daily written and video diaries from the fugitives, bios, still photos, and commentary from the production staff and viewers.

"We're even going to keep tabs on the fugitives’ bank transactions," says Jonathan Van Gieson, producer of Hide/Seek/NYC. "If they go to an ATM at Astor Place, within minutes, the site will report it. They won't be able to stay in any one place too long."

Capturing a fugitive earns a viewer escalating cash prizes. The first fugitive captured carries a bounty of $500; the second, $1,000; and the third and final fugitive, $10,000.

Fugitives strive to complete Hide/Seek/NYC tasks before the other fugitives while remaining vigilant against the possibility of apprehension by a member of the public. If a fugitive remains uncaptured at the end of the 17 days, they take home the grand prize. If multiple fugitives remain standing, the fugitive who has amassed the most points – earned by completing tasks quickly – wears the crown and takes the cash.

Hide/Seek/NYC is presented by SiteSherpa, New York City-based creators of new web navigation software. SiteSherpa, a free browser companion download, helps people learn about the websites they visit and discover sites as they surf.

About Hide/Seek/NYC

Hide/Seek/NYC is a reality-based game set in New York City that pits three fugitives against each other and against the general public. Fugitives strive to complete tasks and evade capture, while viewers seek to track them down by following action on the Hide/Seek/NYC website and taking to the streets to apprehend them. There’s $10,000 waiting for the last fugitive standing or for the viewer who captures him. Hide/Seek/NYC runs for 17 days, from November 29 to December 15, 2000.

About SiteSherpa

SiteSherpa (www.sitesherpa.com) provides web navigation tools that facilitate more intelligent and entertaining Internet use. The flagship product is a free, downloadable browser companion that incorporates into a web browser and feeds relevant information about the site the user is visiting and links to related sites. SiteSherpa launches in beta in late fall 2000.