Crash Zone is an Australian children's science fiction television series which aired on the Seven Network from 1999 to 2001. It was produced by Australian Children's Television Foundation, in association with the Disney Channel, and ran for 26 episodes. The series starred five high school students, "high-tech whiz kids" of varied backgrounds, who are hired by the president of the Catalyst software company to save her failing business. The premise of the series was unique in that it was one of the first series to examine the early use of the internet as well as the video game industry and artificial intelligence.
The Dream Team
Feb 13, 1999
After Mike, Pi, Bec, Marcello and Ram all receive a coded message on the Net, they set about decoding it. Once decoded all the kids find themselves meeting Alexander 'Alex' Davis who is the head of Catalyst a new software company. She offers them all an after school job, testing out the new video games, however Ram (who Alex thought was older) is too young and isn't aloud to stay. The job begins and the kids meet Virgil, an interesting AI loose on the system.
Identity Crisis
Feb 20, 1999
Virgil has a breakdown - or rather something close to it - an identity crisis! The kids are testing a new game called 'Trillin' when it all happenes. Alex, who hadn't known Virgil was 'floating around' reckons he might be a spy for a rival software company. Of course at the mention of that Virgil gets defensive and asks the kids to help him prove to Alex that he is NOT a spy. The real problems then begin because Virgil can't remember who exactly he is! All comes well when they discover that it was Alex herself who created Virgil - he just grew a bit with time.
Undercover
Feb 27, 1999
Virgil is in trouble again (once again trying to help). Alex is missing a necklace worth a lot of money and since it goes missing at Catalyst, everyone becomes a suspect. Pi, who is still keeping her real idenity secret, feels she needs to prove her innocence, this is where Virgil tries to help (by downloading detective stories off the NET). Meanwhile, Marcello's younger sister Sam gets lost on the streets keeping the kids busy.
Big Business
Mar 6, 1999
Ram has a new invention, a game converter. Marcello gets the bright idea to start making money off them, but when Ram finds out that Marcello was taking him for a ride, he ends the 'partnership'. Out on his own Ram sells a converter to a girl called Louise. Her TV blowes up and she blames Ram. Now Ram has her dog Predator on his case and he needs a way out.
It's Only Words
Mar 13, 1999
Catalyst has come under attack, by a computer virus, and Alex stands to lose everything including the new game ""Trillin"". While that is going on Bec is mad with Mike after some of his friends made racist comments towards her, and he didn't stand up for her. With them not talking it puts the rest of the team on edge, and while Mike apologises over the incident, Bec is still hurt.
Secrets and Lies
Mar 20, 1999
Bec's in love, but not really, she gets involved with a 'net romance'. However, the team finds out who's really behind all the letters...none other than Virgil. Knowing that Bec would be highly humiliated when she finds out, Pi tries to find a way to avoid it.
Truth Hurts
Mar 27, 1999
What's it like to be a girl? Pi and Bec both have very different ideas when it comes to teenage romance. Alex asks the girls to design a game (which they title ""Boyfriends"") which will appeal to girls. Mike thinks it might just be the thing to get his parents back together. However things don't go the way anyone planned, or hoped.
No News Is Good News
Apr 3, 1999
Alone at Catalyst makes a fine time for the team, but of course something has to happen, Kimberely arrives. She says she's a news reporter and soon flatters Mike to the point where he thinks she can do no wrong. The others though aren't so easily convinced and come up with one conculsion: she's a spy! It's Pi who saves the day and gets rid of Kimberely (after proving that she was indeed a spy), however the consquence is that Pi's mothers finds her at Catalyst and Pi's big secret is finally revealed.
Birthday
Apr 10, 1999
How would you like to be in a game? That's exactly what Bec does by turning all the team into gnomes in her new game. She gives the others a copy to see if they can get through to the end (playing themselves of course). At the same time Marcello's birthday is fast approaching and his father is acting a bit strange. Marcello gets it into his head that his father is planning on killing himself because of being out of work for so long. With Pi's secret out she's gone quiet and depressed, convinced that the other's will only ever see her as a rich kid. And all have trouble with figuring out Bec's game...the key to winning staring them right in the face.
Leap of Faith
Apr 17, 1999
Pi and Mike? You wouldn't think so but this episode brings them together. Leo Moore has a game, Mike doesn't trust him mainly because he seems to like Pi. When Mike finds out that Leo didn't create the game, but stole it he enlists Pi to help save Alex from a big embarrassment.
Heroes
Apr 24, 1999
Brad Kane. Marcello thinks that Brad could provide him with the break he needs. Still low after Alex dismissed his idea of a new computer game, Sunijim representative Brad Kane approaches him with a deal. Meanwhile, Mike is disappointed when he meets his comic hero creator, who turns out to be not as heroic as he thought.
The Shadow
May 1, 1999
After Marcello hacks into Alex's system Catalyst is put on high alert. Unable to give himself up, J.D Moon (hacker legend) is bought in to find the culprit. Of course it doesn't take long before J.D. gets closer to the truth and Marcello gets nervous. The rest of the gang have to decide whether to help Marcello or not. But when Alex finds out the truth, Marcello gets his marching orders.
The Outsider
May 8, 1999
Sunijim manage to 'capture' Virgil not long after he confides in Ram. Marcello, wanting to get back into everyone's good books, sees this as the perfect way to redeem himself. With the rest of the crews help, Marcello gets into Sunijim and tries to rescue the trapped Virgil from Brad Kane. When things go wrong, they then have to rescue not only Virgil, but Marcello as well.
