NEWS RELEASE

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

February 17, 1998

CONTACT: Bob Wattendorf (850) 488-0520

RADICA DONATES FISHING GAMES TO THE FWC

Radica Games Limited has donated 125 of their popular Bass Fishin' games to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

"These games will help excite kids about the fun of fishing and the great outdoors and will stimulate their interest in conserving Florida's aquatic habitats," said Bob Wattendorf of the FWC's Division of Freshwater Fisheries (Photo 1).

Radica's Bass Fishin' game was one of the top selling products in the U.S. toy industry last year. The game features motion technology that allows the player to use the game as a rod and reel. The player casts, feels the fish bite, sets the hook, and reels in the fish with a reel handle. More advanced features allow the player to position his boat relative to the wind, and select lure types and colors to be more effective, given prevailing conditions.

The FWC plans to use the games as educational tools in each of the four urban pond fishing clinic programs and at the Joe Budd Aquatic Education Center near Tallahassee (Photo 2).

"The games will be used in conjunction with aquatic education programs that teach kids the importance of a healthy aquatic environment and their role as stewards of these resources," Wattendorf said.