April 21^st, 2006 (4:00pm) - Nintendo and AOL.com are in hot pursuit to pick one lucky video game fan to fly to Los Angeles to be the first in the world to play Nintendo’s next home console, code-named Revolution.

After signing up at www.aol.com/nintendo-first-to-play, three finalists for Nintendo’s First-to-Play Sweepstakes will attend Nintendo’s international media briefing on May 9 prior to the start of the Electronics Entertainment Expo, the most important video game industry event of the year. The winner will appear on stage to experience the new console in front of thousands of top industry insiders and reporters.

"No consumer has ever played this new Nintendo system before," says George Harrison, Nintendo of America’s senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications. "But more importantly, no one has ever interacted with video games in this way before. Our next home console will revolutionize how people play and experience video games."

The new Nintendo console will open the world of video games to new audiences through the use of its innovative controller. Shaped like a remote control, it allows users to direct the action on the television screen through the motion of the controller itself.

"As one of the leading game destinations on the Web, we are thrilled to partner with Nintendo to give our AOL Games community the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be the very first person to play the highly anticipated Revolution console," said Ralph Rivera, Vice President & General Manager, AOL Games.

People can enter the sweepstakes between April 21 and April 28 by registering at www.aol.com/nintendo-first-to-play. Entrants do not need to be members of AOL. Three finalists chosen at random will fly with one guest each for a two-night stay in Los Angeles. The three finalists will enjoy VIP seating at Nintendo’s media briefing in Hollywood at the Kodak Theatre, home to the Oscars. One of the finalists will be selected at random to step onto the stage and usher in the new era of video games. Entrants must be 18 or older. For more information about Nintendo’s First to Play Sweepstakes, visit www.aol.com/nintendo-first-to-play.