November 1, 2010 – Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC (SCEA) is set to debut the second season of PlayStation®Network original competitive reality series, “The Tester™,” on Tuesday, November 2. The new season, produced by 51 Minds Entertainment – the reality programming veterans behind hit shows such as “The Surreal Life,” “Rock of Love,” and “Flavor of Love,” promises to be bigger and bolder with more “behind-the-scenes” with the cast, bigger challenges, and even longer episodes – requests that came directly from viewers of the first season.
Adrianne Curry, an avid gamer and winner of the first season of “America’s Next Top Model,” will join returning panelist Brent Gocke, senior release manager from SCEA, and host Meredith Molinari, model and host of multiple online music shows, this season.
Curry, Gocke and Molinari will be joined by six additional distinguished gaming industry guest panelists, including:
Stig Asmussen – Game Director for God of War®III
Ted Price – Founder and CEO, Insomniac Games
Greg Goodrich – Executive Producer of Medal of Honor, Electronic Arts
Michael McWhertor – Reviews Editor, Kotaku
Deborah Mars – Senior Producer, SCEA Santa Monica Studio
Travis Williams – Senior Producer, SCEA San Diego
These panelists will scrutinize the 12 new Season 2 cast members as they compete in grueling physical and mental challenges to win a job as an official PlayStation game tester for SCEA’s Quality Assurance department in San Diego, Calif., along with a $5000 signing bonus, a 46” 3D Bravia TV, and a limited edition ‘The Tester’ PS3™ system.
This Season also features the winner of PlayStation’s first-ever nationwide online casting contest. Mickey Paradis (aka 8bitmickey) from Denton, Texas, received a majority of the 350,000+ community votes from the more 28,000 registered participants to win a spot on the season 2 cast.
Throughout the season, as the cast members compete to win each weekly challenge and valuable prizes, viewers will also have the opportunity to win the same prizes by entering PlayStation’s ‘Download & Win’ sweepstakes. From a God of War III: Ultimate Edition (signed by Stig Asmussen), featured in tomorrow’s Season Premiere, to a PlayStation Move bundle and Sony HD HandyCam, all viewers have to do is download the episodes from PlayStation®Store and they are automatically entered into each week’s prize drawing. See the official rules here: http://thetester.com/download-and-win/rules/index.html.
“As PlayStation Network continues to build the foundation for a new entertainment platform, a key component is delivering compelling gaming lifestyle content to our fan base,” said Susan Panico, senior director, PlayStation Network. “The first season of ‘The Tester’ was well received with more than 2.5 million downloads, and we’re looking to significantly increase engagement from our fans in season 2.”
Starting tomorrow afternoon, “The Tester” is available for free download in both high-definition (HD) and standard definition (SD) formats from PlayStation Store and will also be showing in PlayStation®Home – Theater 6.
Season 1 is also still available on the PlayStation Store for those looking to catch up on the first season’s challenges and winner.
For a sneak peek of Season 2, cast and panelist biographies, more details on the ‘Download & Win’ sweepstakes, and additional information on “The Tester,” check out www.thetester.com.
Viewers can also follow “The Tester” on Facebook with the show’s new tab on the PlayStation Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/PlayStation. The new tab will allow fans to “Like” their favorite cast members and watch previews of each week’s new episode during the season.
