Gaia Online Gets Its Ghoul on with Halloween Hysteria

Online Hangout Hosts Hair-Raising Event Complete With Tricked-Out
Costumes, Mischief-Making and Graveyard Games
SAN JOSE, Calif.--(Business Wire)--
Each year at the end of October millions of Americans get dressed
up in the scariest, sexiest, creepiest or cutest costumes they can get
their hands on to celebrate the most anticipated holiday of the year -
Halloween, of course! Gaia Online, the leading online hangout of more
than 7 million users, is answering the call of teens and young adults
across the country, letting them show off their spooky side at its
weeklong virtual Halloween event - Halloween Hysteria.

In a recent survey of more than 150,000 teens and young adults,
Halloween was, hands down, the favorite holiday, with 87 percent of
the votes. Respondents love Halloween so much, more than 80 percent
wish it lasted for more than one night. Enter Halloween Hysteria.
Whether you are dreading the real world logistics involved with
Halloween; or if one night of haunted hijinx is not going to cut it -
there will be something for every ghost and goblin at Gaia Online's
Halloween Hysteria.

The eerie event will give loyal Gaians and newbies alike the
opportunity to choose from an endless selection of over-the-top
costumes, socialize and trick-or-treat with friends from all over the
country and play freaky Halloween-inspired games. In preparation for
the big day, users can decorate their in-world house and even cause
some mayhem in their neighborhood with virtual eggs and toilet paper.
And unlike the real world where you are likely to run into someone
rocking the same costume as you - oh the horror - in Gaia there are
thousands of possible costume combinations, guaranteeing a unique
fright night look.

"Halloween has always been an amazing holiday for this generation,
but bringing all the festivities to Gaia Online lets our users take it
even further," said Scott Kinzie, vice president of creative and user
experience, Gaia Online. "Last year our Halloween event attracted more
than 400,000 people, and this year with all the new costumes, games,
and mischief of Halloween Hysteria, we're expecting an even crazier
turnout."

The hysteria begins Thursday, October 23 and will haunt Gaia
Online all week long through Halloween on Friday, October 31. The
event, the virtual candy and the heart-pounding fear are all free.

To learn more about Halloween Hysteria and to start shopping for
your costume visit: www.gaiaonline.com/halloween2008.

About Gaia Online

Founded in 2003, Gaia Online is the leading online hangout for
teens and young adults. More than seven million visitors come to Gaia
every month to make friends, play games, watch movies in Gaia Cinemas,
Gaia's virtual theaters, and participate in the world's most active
online community. Gaia provides a fun, social environment that
inspires individuality and creativity. With everything from art
contests to discussion forums on poetry, politics, celebrities and
more, to fully customizable profiles, digital characters and cars,
Gaia is a place where teens can create their own space and express
their individual style. For more information, visit
www.gaiaonline.com.

Gaia Online
Melissa Rische
mrische@gaiaonline.com
or
Mullen for Gaia Online
Kalley Thomas, 978-468-8934
kalley.thomas@mullen.com

Copyright Business Wire 2008