Family Channel has launched an online gaming competition aimed at engaging kids with its roster of popular games – and to highlight the net’s newly launched titles that are compatible with the Nintendo Wii console (www.family.ca/wii/wiigames.php). Kids will compete for the gaming crown and various prizes.

The ‘Game Off’ games (www.family.ca/gameoff) rolled out at the beginning of the year to let young gamers practise for the competition, which runs until April 28. The game page is Family.ca‘s most popular page, with titles that have been played more than a million times since the start of 2008. Family.ca itself reaches nearly one million unique visitors a month. There are 10 Game Off titles and more than 50 games hosted by the net.

Astral Television Networks director of interactive Barbara Bailie says one of the objectives of Game Off is ‘to get new users to visit the site and experience what Family.ca has to offer. The draw of this initiative, combined with the Wii-compatibility of the games, makes us confident that Game Off will set a new standard for gaming on Family.ca.’

The competition’s grand prize is an ultimate gaming station, which includes a big-screen TV, gaming chair and console. Gamers will control the level of prizing available. With every game played, the Prize-O-Meter will rise. The more players participate, the better chance there is of unlocking a new level of prizes, including DVDs, iTunes gift cards, iPod media players, cell phones and Xbox 360 consoles.