ORLANDO, Fla., Nov. 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- SeaWorld® announced today the company's first mobile game, Turtle Trek™ now available from the App Store℠.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121129/FL20668 )
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20091201/FL19045LOGO )

Turtle Trek is a free game download for the iPhone and iPad. Players guide an adventuresome sea turtle on a quest across the beach and into the water to find friends.  They help the plucky sea turtle navigate through the perilous seascape and conquer a variety of challenges, some dangerous and some light-hearted.

With help from friendly characters such as Shamu the killer whale and Nyah the green sea turtle, players collect treasures and fill virtual sticker books with an array of ocean friends met during their trek. SeaWorld engaged Sleepy Giant through its Flying Grom label to create the new game.

Turtle Trek provides hours of fun and immersive action, and also offers an educational benefit by sharing fun facts about real sea animals.  Players encounter dozens of sea creatures but when they meet a special "Ocean Friend," they gain a collectible virtual sticker for their Trek Book. At the touch of a finger, this virtual sticker opens to reveal interesting facts and photos about the actual ocean animal that the character resembles. These facts are kept easily accessible and can be shared with family and friends. 

Since 2011, SeaWorld has recently begun expanding its popular brand into new media and entertainment platforms such as mobile games, movies, television and new lines of licensed consumer products.

"SeaWorld has a 50-year history of creating entertainment experiences that inspire people to connect with animals, and this type of entertainment is a natural extension for our company," said Scott Helmstedter, Chief Creative Officer of SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. "It is engaging and fun, but also instills a greater understanding of some of the ocean's amazing animals."

The game is the first to be offered under the new partnership between SeaWorld and Sleepy Giant. Sleepy Giant's Flying Grom label is focused on working with brands to create compelling, family-oriented interactive experiences.  

"We are thrilled to be working with SeaWorld, an exceptional brand and partner.  SeaWorld has a rich history of providing entertainment, education, and conservation in everything they do, and 'Turtle Trek' extends that tradition with fun and learning," said Matt Hannus, CEO of Sleepy Giant.

While Turtle Trek offers a free opportunity to download and play, additional purchasable content is available. A portion of proceeds from the purchasable content will be donated directly to the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund.

The game's name and theme reflect the newest attraction at the SeaWorld Orlando theme park, also called "TurtleTrek." The attraction blends up-close  encounters with live sea turtles and manatees with the world's first 3D, 360 degree domed theater. In this attraction, guests get a turtle's eye view of the world as they are surrounded on all sides – and even above – by the hyper-realistic 3D film that is journey of a special sea turtle named Nyah. 

About SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment    
One of the most respected companies in the themed entertainment sector, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment has a 50-year legacy of creating innovative entertainment experiences that blend imagination with nature.  It is best known for its 10 U.S. theme parks, attractions that play host to 24 million guests each year and include the beloved SeaWorld, Busch Gardens and Sesame Place brands. Since 2011, SeaWorld began expanding its popular brands into new media and entertainment platforms to connect people to nature and animals through movies, television, and digital media. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment also is a global leader in animal care and welfare. The company cares for more than 67,000 animals, contributes millions to conservation on every continent, and operates one of the world's most respected marine wildlife rescue programs.

The SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund is a registered non-profit conservation foundation that supports conservation around the world. The Fund commits 100 percent of donations to on-the-ground wildlife conservation efforts, and SeaWorld covers all of its administrative costs.

About Sleepy Giant and Flying Grom
Sleepy Giant is the leading games-as-a-service provider for game developers and publishers on all digital platforms. The company partners with creative development teams and forward-thinking entertainment companies to fund, design, launch, operate, and grow franchises. Sleepy Giant is based in Newport Beach, CA, with offices in Chicago, IL.  Learn more about Sleepy Giant at www.sleepygiant.com.  

Flying Grom is a publishing label managed by Sleepy Giant.  Flying Grom provides live management, marketing, and community growth to projects focused on a youth audience.  Learn more about Flying Grom at www.flyinggrom.com.  

SOURCE SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment