Verizon Tourney Begins

NEW YORK -- It's time for online gamers of all skill levels to start their engines, as qualifying rounds for the first-ever Verizon PlayLinc TrackMania Tournament are under way.

Sponsored by broadband leader Verizon, video game developer Nadeo and game technology developer Super Computer International (SCI), the tournament features the popular, family-friendly racing game, TrackMania Nations. In the game, players compete by racing virtual cars around futuristic tracks, performing fantastic auto acrobatics with just a click of the arrows on the players' computer keyboards. The player with the fastest time around the track wins.

Registration and qualifying rounds last until Nov. 14. All registrants will receive a free download of TrackMania Nations, and the Verizon PlayLinc game browser that will connect them to other gamers to race against on six qualifier tracks.

"We've designed this tournament to be fast-paced, family friendly and, above all else, really fun," said Jason Henderson, games product manager for Verizon. "TrackMania Nations is easy to play and appeals to both experienced and amateur gamers. The PlayLinc game browser will make it easy for entrants to race against their competitors, talk to one another and keep track of how they're doing on their qualifier times. It's going to be a blast."

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ)