Category Archives: Video Games

9th Impact and Tilting Point team up for Big Brother: The Game II

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Banijay Brands is extending its deal with award-winning game development studio 9th Impact for the globally interactive Big Brother mobile game. 9th Impact has partnered with leading free-to-play games publisher Tilting Point for the upcoming launch of Big Brother: The Game II on December 16.

The multiplayer online reality TV game is available worldwide for Apple and Android devices and PC download. With a life-changing prize fund up for grabs, players can become virtual housemates, experiencing life as a Big Brother contestant. They must make strategic choices to remain in the house and ultimately become victorious.

Lex Scott, Commercial Director, Gaming & Gambling at Banijay Brands, says: “Following the success of Big Brother: The Game I, we are delighted to extend our partnership with 9th Impact. Bringing in Tilting Point’s publishing expertise, we are set to supercharge the upcoming game, and entertain Big Brother fans around the world with this unique and immersive experience.”

9th Impact have created new house designs, games and mechanics, such as house juries, for Big Brother: The Game II, and the new tournament is introducing more gameplay innovation, including real life auditions.

The new game has two modes: Housemate and Spectator.  The game is free to download, and the Spectator mode is free with optional purchases. To become a Housemate the player must use a Token to enter the House, which is an in-app purchase, or audition to get an existing Housemate to sponsor their Token entry.

Big Brother: The Game I ran for 288 days and ended with Amy from Delaware beating 33,724 rival contestants, to walk away with a $33,000 grand prize.

Big Brother first aired in the Netherlands over 20 years ago. Since then, over 500 series have aired across 69 markets, producing over 28k episodes. Over 7,000 housemates from around the globe have spent over 35,000 days in the house, with over 5,000 live evictions. The format continues to deliver hit primetime ratings in long-running markets such as the US, Canada, Brazil, Italy and Israel, while continuing to evolve, with high-profile comebacks in Australia and Benelux.

Marvel Future Revolution receives top honour in Apple’s App Store Awards

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MARVEL Future Revolution, the latest collaboration between Netmarble Corp. and Marvel Entertainment, and Marvel’s first open world action RPG on mobile platforms, has been recognized as the ‘iPad Game of the Year’ in Apple’s App Store Awards 2021.

“To be recognised with this prestigious award is immensely humbling, as we really strove to make a first-of-its-kind game for Marvel that connected players from all over the world,” says Joe Lee, Executive Producer at Netmarble.

“We were up against apps and games judged on delivering exceptional quality, cutting-edge design and intuitive usability, as well as advanced application of Apple’s unique technologies, making this especially rewarding.

“Thanks to our talented team of developers, our highly collaborative relationship with Marvel, and the long hours put in by our entire team at Netmarble, we were able to bring our shared vision to life. We can’t wait to show you what’s in store for MARVEL Future Revolution in 2022.”

Netmarble and Marvel recently showcased a first look at Magik, MARVEL Future Revolution‘s upcoming ninth playable Super Hero, officially revealing that her world premiere would be on December 15, 2021. More details on this new character and other upcoming content will be announced in the near future.

Developed by Netmarble Monster, MARVEL Future Revolution is the second collaboration between Netmarble and Marvel Entertainment, and a successor to the long-running hit mobile game MARVEL Future Fight, enjoyed by more than 120 million people worldwide.

MARVEL Future Revolution is available now as a free download on the App Store and Google Play.

Ryan’s World game ‘Ryan’s Rescue Squad’ coming to PC and consoles next year

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Outright Games and pocket.watch have teamed up for new video game Ryan’s Rescue Squad, coming to consoles and PC in 2022. The game is based on global kids’ phenomenon ‘Ryan’s World’, whose YouTube channels receive over 1 billion views per month from over 48 million subscribers..

The side-scrolling platform adventure features two-player local co-op travel across slime-filled planets to rescue Ryan’s friends, who have been captured by the evil Dark Titan and his wicked allies Robo Combo and Packrat.

This announcement follows the first ever Ryan’s World FanFest real-time live streaming event that took place on Saturday 27 November. The stream was free to view globally for all of Ryan’s 30M+ fans and was an interactive event featuring puzzles and challenges, photo booths, downloadable content and Voice-Activated Emojis.

Ryan’s Rescue Squad will be released next year on Nintendo Switch, Playstation 4, Playstation 5, XBox Series X, XBox One and PC.

 

Surge Brands named as North American licensing agent for mobile game Epic Seven

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Leading global licensing agency Surge Licensing has been appointed as North American licensing agent for the fan favourite and community-driven anime RPG Epic Seven “E7”, developed by Super Creative and published by Smilegate Megaport.

E7 is an 2D anime-inspired epic featuring over 1,000 stories and 234 collectable characters, in which players explore and adventure through the Land of Orbis, attempting to prevent its demise. Surge Licensing has been retained to develop a merchandise programme across multiple categories, including toy, publishing, apparel, table-top games, and digital products including NFTs and more. The launch is anticipated in Q2, 2022 across retailers and direct-to-consumer platforms.

With an 18–34-year-old adult demographic, E7 is played in over 145 countries and has topped growth charts in all of the major territories. The game was recognised as a “Top 10 RPG Game of 2020” by the Apple App Store and is a Top 3 grossing RPG on Android. In 2018, E7 was awarded the “Best Mobile Game” in the Korea Game Awards and “The Game of 2018” in the Google Play Store. E7 boasts a loyal fan base with over a billion minutes played every month.

“E7 is an adventure unlike anything seen on mobile, with anime-inspired production values that rival television and film production quality,” says Elan Freedman, Surge Licensing EVP.  “With a loyal and engaged fanbase of hundreds of thousands in the US alone, we’ll be able to leverage the game’s plethora of characters and rich backgrounds to create a robust L&M program to further engage players with the brand as it continues to build its user base on a global scale.”

Founded in 1986, Surge Licensing is an IP incubator, which identifies, nurtures, and grows brands into multi-platformed entertainment and consumer product licensing programs. It has developed a number of pop culture’s best-known properties, including the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Street Sharks, Axe Cop, Feisty Pets and more.

FunCraft and Sanrio partner for new mobile game Hello Kitty – Merge Town

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Interactive entertainment company and mobile games publisher FunCraft, together with Sanrio, has announced the global launch of Hello Kitty – Merge Town, a puzzle and merge decoration game that brings a renowned cast of characters and town to life for the ultimate Hello Kitty and Friends gaming experience.

Based on the globally recognised Hello Kitty and Friends universe, Hello Kitty – Merge Town is the first Hello Kitty and Friends experience to combine casual puzzle gameplay with a deep narrative on mobile devices. Players have the opportunity to interact with their favorite characters including Hello Kitty, Tuxedosam, My Melody, and more as well as explore Hello Kitty’s freshly imagined town.

“We are thrilled to bring Hello Kitty and Friends to life. We can’t wait for players and fans to interact with the characters they love like never before,” says Michael Martinez, CEO and Co-Founder at FunCraft. “Hello Kitty – Merge Town expands the diverse set of experiences our talented teams are building for gamers worldwide with a globally beloved universe. We will deploy our core strengths of creative gameplay and personalized user experiences.

“Hello Kitty has cultivated one of the most passionate and devoted fan bases in entertainment and we sought to stay true to the brand when creating Hello Kitty – Merge Town, offering players one of the most aesthetically and narratively immersive Hello Kitty and Friends experiences to date. Our teams have been working with tremendous passion to deliver the ultimate gaming experience for fans around the globe.”

“Hello Kitty – Merge Town is a fantastic Hello Kitty experience,” adds Silvia Figini, Chief Operating Officer Sanrio – EMEA, India and Oceania, Mr Men – Worldwide. “We are truly thrilled with the care and attention FunCraft brought to this world and can’t wait to see how players interact with Merge Town in the years to come.” 

With a deep and engaging narrative from award-winning writers, players will learn the secrets and stories of Hello Kitty’s town. FunCraft has created an elaborate town for players to explore, with distinct elements for fans to recognise and enjoy. Players unlock new neighborhoods for Kerokerokeroppi, Kuromi, Chococat, and more. With an abundant combination of items to discover and hundreds of engaging puzzles to solve, Hello Kitty – Merge Town gives players the ability to play a quick session on the go or enjoy a marathon play experience.

Hello Kitty – Merge Town is available globally and localised in Japanese, Korean, Spanish, and 8 other languages. It’s available now as a free download on Android devices via Google Play and iOS devices via the App Store. The launch trailer can be viewed here. 

 

PUBG MOBILE announces Liverpool Football Club collaboration

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PUBG MOBILE has announced a collaboration with Liverpool Football Club, which will add branded outfits and items for players to unlock. This relationship is the first time PUBG MOBILE has collaborated directly with a football club. Players will have the opportunity to earn the free and exclusive in-game Liverpool FC gear through participating in and completing a series of classic mode games.

Drew Crisp, Senior Vice President, Digital, Liverpool FC, says: “In an increasingly digital world, we pride ourselves on being able to innovate and engage with our fans on the vast array of digital platforms they favour. With the realm of online gaming growing and evolving amongst our fans, PUBG MOBILE is the perfect platform to connect with them in a different but very relevant context – intertwining the world of online gaming and football through the power of games and play. This is a great opportunity for supporters to embrace their love of the club and interact with LFC on one of their favourite platforms, bringing together the physical interactive nature of football into the digital interactive world of gaming.”

“In PUBG MOBILE, teamwork is a core principle to those who seek to win,” says Vincent Wang, Head of PUBG MOBILE Publishing, Tencent Games. “In collaborating with Liverpool Football Club, a team renowned for their courageous camaraderie, we have found a perfect partner. As we continue to strengthen our current bonds and develop prominent partnerships with iconic industry leaders, we look forward to further integrating the world of football into PUBG MOBILE.”

Michael Rocha-Keys, CEO at EMW Global agency, which brokered the deal, adds: “PUBG MOBILE and Liverpool Football Club are two of the most exciting and successful brands in the world at present, and the innovative partnership they’ve formed together will be a landmark moment for the sports and mobile gaming industries.”

The collaboration between PUBG MOBILE and Liverpool FC is part of the new Version 1.6 update, bringing new content, game modes, and several exciting collaborations to the game.

PUBG MOBILE is available to download for free on the App Store and Google Play Store.

PUBG MOBILE is based on PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS, the phenomenon that took the world of interactive entertainment by storm in 2017. Up to 100 players parachute onto a remote island to battle in a winner-takes-all showdown. Players must locate and scavenge their own weapons, vehicles, and supplies, and defeat every player in a visually and tactically rich battleground that forces players into a shrinking play zone.

 

Developer Tilting Point creates new cooking competition game based on Banijay’s hit show MasterChef

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Developer Tilting Point has created a new fast-paced cooking competition game based on Banijay’s hit show MasterChef.

MasterChef: Let’s Cook! is available exclusively on Apple Arcade, Apple’s game subscription service that offers access to a growing collection of over 200 games, featuring new releases, award winners, and favourites from the App Store, all without ads or in-app purchases.

Players of MasterChef: Let’s Cook! must choose ingredients, slice, prepare, plate and serve delicious dishes, competing against other players from around the globe. The MasterChef jury evaluates dishes based on the player’s performance and speed. There are opportunities to complete and unlock new recipes, challenges, and mini-games along the cooking journey.

MasterChef is the world’s most successful cookery television format (Guinness World Records), with 64 local versions to-date. Recently hitting a milestone 500 seasons aired globally, MasterChef consistently attracts huge audiences internationally. With more than 90 licensees around the world, the MasterChefbrand also extends into a range of successful commercial activities, with millions of consumer products sold, an extensive publishing range, and live experiences from restaurants to cruises and tours.

MasterChef brand is controlled by Banijay Brands, part of Banijay. The company’s other global brands include Peaky Blinders, Survivor, Temptation Island, Deal or No Deal, Big Brother and Mr Bean.

G FUEL launches Party Punch flavour to mark Sonic the Hedgehog’s 30th Anniversary

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Sega of America and G FUEL, The Official Energy Drink of Esports, has announced the latest flavour innovation in the G FUEL Sonic the Hedgehog collection: Party Punch.

Created in celebration of Sonic the Hedgehog’s 30th anniversary and inspired by the Sweet Mountain stage in Sonic Colors: Ultimate, G FUEL’s Party Punch tastes like fruity cereal, has only 15 calories and contains 140 mg of caffeine plus proprietary energy and focus-enhancing complexes for supersonic stamina.

The drink is now available for customers in the U.S. and select other countries to buy in powdered form in 40-serving tubs and limited-edition collector’s boxes, which include one 40-serving tub and one 16 oz shaker cup.

“What better way to celebrate 30 years of Sonic than with a party?” says Michael Cisneros, Manager of Licensing at Sega of America. “We’ve partnered with G FUEL to bring the celebration home with an all-new party punch flavour that will keep you moving. Toss some confetti, make some noise, and party like it’s 1991. We can’t wait for Sonic and G FUEL fans to give it a try.”

Party Punch is the third flavour that G FUEL and SEGA have co-developed and launched, with the first two flavours being Sonic’s Peach Rings and Sonic’s Chili Dogs.

G FUEL Party Punch is available now at gfuel.com.

 

 

StoryToys announces New LEGO DUPLO Marvel collaboration for preschool app

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Team17, a global games label, creative partner and developer of independent video games and edutainment apps for children, has announced that its subsidiary StoryToys has partnered with the LEGO Group and Marvel Entertainment on the LEGO DUPLO MARVEL mobile app.

The new app will allow preschoolers to join Spidey, Captain America, Ghost-Spider and other heroes for learning adventures and imaginative play. Each activity will feature a play experience where kids can help their favourite Marvel hero save the day by shooting webs with Spidey and his Amazing Friends or rescuing a kitten with Captain America.

The LEGO DUPLO MARVEL app is aligned with the Headstart Early Learning Outcomes Framework to ensure it meets the developmental needs of 2–5-year-olds. Each activity will feature fun and engaging challenges to support learning and development skills including early maths, creativity, reasoning and problem-solving.

The LEGO DUPLO MARVEL app launches worldwide in 28 languages initially, with more to come in 2022. The app is now available for pre-order on the App Store and Google Play and will launch in December 2021. The LEGO DUPLO MARVEL app will be free to download and include additional content to purchase.

StoryToys has produced apps with many leading children’s brands, including LEGO, Disney, Pixar, Penguin, Warner Bros, Sesame Workshop, Hasbro and Nickelodeon. Key titles include LEGO DUPLO WORLD, Disney Coloring World, and Hungry Caterpillar Play School.

ZAG Games signs deal for first official Miraculous Ladybug console game

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Following the debut of its first game for Roblox, ZAG Games, a division of independent animation studio ZAG, has signed with U.S. game publisher GameMill Entertainment and French game developer Magic Pockets to create the first official Miraculous – Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir console game.

Based on the global hit TV series that airs in over 120 countries, the as-yet untitled action-adventure game will be available in stores and digitally in time for Christmas 2022.

“We’re looking to create a highly immersive experience featuring various gameplay elements while empowering players of any age to enjoy a new Miraculous Ladybug experience,” says Elinor Schops, ZAG’s VP, Gaming Experience. “The original game script will align closely with the television series, and we are confident that Magic Pockets and GameMill will bring their expertise, dedication, and passion to the game that will have fans the world over adding it to their holiday ‘22 gift lists.”

Most recently, the new Miraculous adventure quest role-play game for the Roblox platform – the first game based on a TV series to be developed on Roblox – launched on May 3, 2021, exceeding over 245 million plays to date. Miraculous RP: Quests of Ladybug & Cat Noir passed 100 million visits in the first seven weeks, with 88 per cent of players giving the game a “thumbs up.” The game exceeded one million daily active users in its first week of beta, with a rolling seven-day average of 1.2 million users, representing almost three per cent of Roblox platform’s global daily active user base.

ZAG is also in development on a Miraculous bubble shooter game with game developer and publisher CrazyLabs for the company’s second mobile game for the property, Miraculous Ladybug Puzzle RPG. Slated for a Q1 2022 debut, this new take on bubble shooter puzzle games combines RPG elements that feature challenging fighting levels designed for a new generation of players. In the game, users will form their own superhero team starring the show’s characters.

Season four of the Miraculous™: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir animated TV series started to roll out in over 120 countries during spring/summer 2021, and ZAG is currently in production on a US$100 million+ animated feature to premiere in 2022.  Miraculous is the winner of 19 awards, including the 2018 Teen Choice Award for Choice Animated Series.