They will battle against each other and against Living Coasts’ resident experts for the title of Penguin Academy champion. The knock-out contest marks the launch of the new Discovery Zone at Torquay’s coastal zoo - an underground area featuring virtual penguins and a Cyber Seaside.

The video games contest runs from 11:00am to 2:00pm on Thursday 24th April – everyone visiting Living Coasts on the day can take part. The three best will go head to head to head in the final at 2:00pm. Prizes include computer consoles and games, Penguin Academy T-shirts and science games, giant cuddly toys, goody bags and car stickers.

Living Coasts’ Penguin Academy offers free gaming both online and on site – a combination thought to be a world first. Three touch-screen games consoles in the new Discovery Zone are aimed at 8 to 14 year olds but are fun for all ages.

Living Coasts director Elaine Lambert: “You can play the games on site or online. This means that you can play at home before you visit, play at Living Coasts and then play again afterwards. People can get their own virtual penguin, challenge their friends and compete to get on the leader board. We’ve added more things to do if the weather is poor, making Living Coasts a true all-weather visit.”

Penguins are the stars of five brand new computer games created by Plymouth-based multimedia company HMC Interactive. You can choose from adelie, chinstrap, emperor, gentoo or macaroni penguins. Four games can be played on site and online - Fish Feast, Polar Parade, Blaze-A-Maze and Hot Hatch’r. A fifth - Orca Attack – is available exclusively via the web site, www.penguinacademy.org.uk.

Being able to play both on site and at home is thought to be a world first. Mike Cobb of HMC Interactive: “While other places have linked exhibitions and web sites, Living Coasts is a first for multi-site gaming and a great example of cross-platform media.”

Fastest feet

There will also be a competition to find the fastest feet in the Bay on the coastal zoo’s new magic floor. Pat the Penguin will host the event and join in the fun. The Cyber Seaside interactive floor uses projections and movement-detection technology - children of all ages compete by jumping, running and stamping on images that change as they go.

There are four games - clearing seaweed from rock pools, dispersing an oil spill, collecting litter from a beach and freeing sea creatures caught in nets.

Living Coasts is the first UK zoo to have a magic floor and only the second attraction anywhere in the UK after Cadbury World in the Midlands. Elaine Lambert said: “Now children will be able to play at Living Coasts come rain or shine. The game detects your movement and reacts to it. When a section is completed, a big wave comes in and reveals the next scene. It’s amazing. The Cyber Seaside is a fantastic mix of learning and play – and it’s great exercise!”

Both the Cyber Seaside and Penguin Academy have been devised by HMC Interactive, an award winning multimedia production company based in Plymouth. They create digital interactive products for a wide range of industries from marketing to entertainment and pride themselves on bringing the extraordinary to life.