LONDON, UK, February 24, 2003 — For 40 days and 40 nights, 12 biblical heroes and villains, played by 'ordinary' people in their own homes, will spend up to two hours each day battling it out in front of a worldwide web audience for the right to step onto Mount Ararat - and claim a handsome cash prize of 666 pounds ($1,692.00). Closing date for applications is Feb 28 2003.
Created by shippoffools.com, The Ark is a 3D world with the look and feel of a computer game. It sets sail on Easter Sunday 20 April 2003.
The launch site can be viewed at www.ship-of-fools.com/theark/ . The launch video can be viewed at www.ship-of-fools.com/theark/news.html
The Ark's divine dozen will play games, complete tasks, overcome crises, discuss big issues of the day and argue over whose turn it is to muck out the gorillas. They can even enter a crow's nest confessional to talk to "God" - who gives them directions and answers their prayers. Sometimes.
Every fourth day, one of the 12 shipmates walks the plank. They'll be nominated by their fellow saints but the web audience decides who takes a running jump, voting to keep in their heroes and cast out their zeroes. After 40 days and 40 nights at sea, 11 sinners will be swimming and just one winner walking - onto Ararat in a blaze of glory.
"For years priests and theologians have bemoaned the failure of religion to permeate popular culture. Well, watch out!" said Canon Andrew Walker, Professor of Theology and Education at King's College, London. "The Ark is bound to cause a splash. It might even precipitate a flood - of religious mania."
The Ark is under construction by www.specialmoves.com, the team behind the award-winning Osbournes website on MTV. They will create a unique interactive environment. Funding for the project has been provided by Jerusalem Productions.
"With more than 600 enquiries from would-be contestants the queue to play one of our divine dozen is getting longer and more colorful," says Simon Jenkins, editor of shipoffools.com. "The most popular choice of character so far is Mary Magdalene, closely followed by Job and Esther."
"Since we started shipoffools.com almost five years ago (1 April 1998) our aim has been to relate historic faith to popular culture," explained Simon Jenkins. "The Ark is playful, theological, interactive, innovative and a tad bizarre - all the elements for which the webzine has become renowned."
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