Tag Archives: Asmodee

Asmodee Entertainment brings board game art work to life in Artovision partnership

Posted on by

Asmodee Entertainment has signed a new licensing partnership with Artovision to bring to life several of its tabletop gaming properties through Artovision’s innovative multi-dimensional art collectables. Under the deal, Artovision will develop pieces inspired by the artwork of Catan, Arkham Horror, Twilight Imperium, KeyForge, and Legend of the Five Rings.

Each property is known for their use of high quality illustrations throughout the game. The move is the latest in Asmodee’s ongoing assault on the pop culture licensing space as the board game giant continues to mine its IP portfolio for partnerships in the wider consumer products and entertainment space.

The development is reflective of the growing popularity of the tabletop gaming scene with many of the Asmodee titles going mainstream or finding new audiences throughout the lockdown period.

The partnership with Artovision will see boardgame artwork now produced as shadowbox and desktop artwork, bringing some of the brand’s most iconic pieces of art to life with a three-dimensional depth. Artovision’s shadowbox artwork combines four layers of full-colour art, each printed on optical grade cast acrylic and assembled within a durable frame.

“It is absolutely fantastic to see what Artovision is doing with iconic art pieces from the  worlds of pop culture. Bringing them to a multi-dimensional medium brings out details  and perspectives in a fantastic new way. I can’t wait to see the fans react to some of the  designs that the guys at Artovision are preparing at the moment,” said Alexander  Thieme, licensing manager at Asmodee Entertainment. 

Stuart Sandler, CEO of Artovision, added: “To work with such an immersive artwork portfolio  is truly amazing for us. Through our friends at Asmodee Entertainment, we are currently  working with the renowned Catan Studio and Fantasy Flight Games studios, creators of  the game franchises, to bring all of our experience in the medium to bear and create  some multi-dimensional art pieces to truly delight the fans.”

Klaus Teuber’s Catan is recognised as a highly visual and engaging game, known for the compelling art style of its box covers, board and other game components. Developed by Asmodee’s  Catan Studio, the modern classic celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2020/21 and enjoys a  great and growing audience all over the globe. 

Meanwhile, Twilight Imperium is a genre-defining strategy game set against the backdrop of a  sweeping, epic space opera with awe-inspiring, epic art to match. The cyber-noir setting  of Android sees mega corporations battling for dominance in an AI-enhanced future and  is, like Twilight Imperium, KeyForge and Legend of the Five Rings, a product of Asmodee’s  renowned Fantasy Flight Games studio.

KeyForge is the world’s first Unique Deck Game,  known for its deep, immersive melting-pot universe where anything is possible, with stunning card art central to its appeal.

The world of Rokugan, home to Legend of the Five  Rings, offers an epic fantasy vista and provides the backdrop for a range of beloved tabletop games.

The chosen properties stand out as some of the most beautifully  illustrated brands to be found anywhere in world, traits which make them a perfect fit  for Artovision’s innovate, ultra high-quality shadowbox and desktop artworks.  

The first products of this collaboration are due to launch in fall 2020. 

Asmodee Entertainment brings board game art work to life in Artovision partnership

Posted on by

Asmodee Entertainment has signed a new licensing partnership with Artovision to bring to life several of its tabletop gaming properties through Artovision’s innovative multi-dimensional art collectables. Under the deal, Artovision will develop pieces inspired by the artwork of Catan, Arkham Horror, Twilight Imperium, KeyForge, and Legend of the Five Rings.

Each property is known for their use of high quality illustrations throughout the game. The move is the latest in Asmodee’s ongoing assault on the pop culture licensing space as the board game giant continues to mine its IP portfolio for partnerships in the wider consumer products and entertainment space.

The development is reflective of the growing popularity of the tabletop gaming scene with many of the Asmodee titles going mainstream or finding new audiences throughout the lockdown period.

The partnership with Artovision will see boardgame artwork now produced as shadowbox and desktop artwork, bringing some of the brand’s most iconic pieces of art to life with a three-dimensional depth. Artovision’s shadowbox artwork combines four layers of full-colour art, each printed on optical grade cast acrylic and assembled within a durable frame.

“It is absolutely fantastic to see what Artovision is doing with iconic art pieces from the  worlds of pop culture. Bringing them to a multi-dimensional medium brings out details  and perspectives in a fantastic new way. I can’t wait to see the fans react to some of the  designs that the guys at Artovision are preparing at the moment,” said Alexander  Thieme, licensing manager at Asmodee Entertainment. 

Stuart Sandler, CEO of Artovision, added: “To work with such an immersive artwork portfolio  is truly amazing for us. Through our friends at Asmodee Entertainment, we are currently  working with the renowned Catan Studio and Fantasy Flight Games studios, creators of  the game franchises, to bring all of our experience in the medium to bear and create  some multi-dimensional art pieces to truly delight the fans.”

Klaus Teuber’s Catan is recognised as a highly visual and engaging game, known for the compelling art style of its box covers, board and other game components. Developed by Asmodee’s  Catan Studio, the modern classic celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2020/21 and enjoys a  great and growing audience all over the globe. 

Meanwhile, Twilight Imperium is a genre-defining strategy game set against the backdrop of a  sweeping, epic space opera with awe-inspiring, epic art to match. The cyber-noir setting  of Android sees mega corporations battling for dominance in an AI-enhanced future and  is, like Twilight Imperium, KeyForge and Legend of the Five Rings, a product of Asmodee’s  renowned Fantasy Flight Games studio.

KeyForge is the world’s first Unique Deck Game,  known for its deep, immersive melting-pot universe where anything is possible, with stunning card art central to its appeal.

The world of Rokugan, home to Legend of the Five  Rings, offers an epic fantasy vista and provides the backdrop for a range of beloved tabletop games.

The chosen properties stand out as some of the most beautifully  illustrated brands to be found anywhere in world, traits which make them a perfect fit  for Artovision’s innovate, ultra high-quality shadowbox and desktop artworks.  

The first products of this collaboration are due to launch in fall 2020. 

The Asmodee Group is opening its games portfolio up to interactive and video game developers

Posted on by

The Asmodee Group, a powerhouse in tabletop gaming and board game entertainment, is looking to bring its portfolio of brands and IPs into the interactive video games and digital games market.

In the firm’s latest move, it is opening the floodgates to developers in the video gaming sector, eyeing partnerships for physical game brands within its portfolio, including the likes of Dobble (Spot It), Ticket to Ride, Pandemic, Braintopia, Small World, KeyForge, or heavyweight titles like Legend of the Five Rings and Twilight Imperium.

The boardgame goliath is urging developers looking for publishing partnerships, including development and marketing supports, to connect with Asmodee Digital via the unit’s COO Nicolas Godement. Developers and publishers looking to create interactive titles under license meanwhile, are being guided towards the Asmodee Entertainment team.

With more than 250 Asmodee games and IPs in the company catalogue, there are many exciting new opportunities for developers and publishers in the interactive games market.

“Asmodee has established a world-leading platform for developing and publishing authentic and compelling digital versions of the best board and card games,” said Nicolas Godement, Asmodee Digital’s COO.

“Now, while we can’t wait to disclose some of the exciting titles we have been working on, and to sign new ones, we also look forward to working with the experienced licensing team at Asmodee Entertainment to further expand the range of interactive games based on our sterling array of Asmodee properties.”

Andy Jones, head of Asmodee Entertainment, added: “This is a fantastic opportunity for developers, publishers and of course, Asmodee Entertainment to enter into many new licensing partnerships and further explore the wealth of Asmodee titles through interactive games across all platforms and genres.

“We encourage developers and publishers to get in touch at licensing@asmodee.com, and meet up with us at GDC in March.”

Pokémon soars at UK and German retail as both toys and trading cards ‘enjoy best year ever’

Posted on by

Sales of both the Pokémon Trading Card Game and toys from Wicked Cool Toys soared at retail across the UK and Germany throughout 2019, according to the latest figures revealed by NPD.

The Pokémon Company has reported year on year sales that ‘continue to be substantially above the market average’ for Pokémon in what has become somewhat of a regular achievement for the brand in recent years.

According to figures recorded by the NPD Group Toys retail tracking service, total UK toy sales for Pokémon in 2019 were up 24.1 per cent against an overall market downturn of 7.1 per cent, while Germany recorded a remarkable 100.6 per cent increase in sales against market growth of just 3.3 per cent.

The Wicked Cool Toys range is distributed in the UK and Ireland by Character Options and in Germany by BOTI.

Meanwhile, in Strategic Card Games (SCG), Pokémon continues to be the category market leader with the number one slot in both the UK and Germany. UK sales were up 30.8 per cent – almost double the total market, which grew by 17 per cent, while in Germany the increase was an impressive 98.8 per cent, which helped the market to achieve total growth of 71.7 per cent.

Pokémon generates over 50 per cent of the total revenue of the top 14 best-performing SCG brands in the UK, and more than triple that of the 14 next best-selling brands combined in Germany. The Pokémon TCG is distributed by Asmodee in the UK and by Amigo in Germany.

“In another fantastic year for Pokémon, we are delighted to see an ever-growing appetite for our product,” said Mathieu Galante, licensing director (EMEA) for The Pokémon Company International.

“Wicked Cool Toys’ innovative and extended toy range is really connecting with fans, coupled with huge demand for tie-in products from the hugely popular Pokémon Detective Pikachu film. We also enjoyed great success from yet another first this year with our new video games Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield, when the first partner Pokémon plush were available to buy from selected retailers on the same release date as the VG for the first time ever.

“With an even bigger toy line to showcase at this year’s key top toy shows, which we expect to do just as well, we are very excited for 2020.”

Simon Benton, vice president of Pokémon TCG sales for Europe, added: “We had one of our best-ever years at retail in 2019 with exciting consumer promotions and highly impactful permanent and temporary space solutions that capitalised on the incredible TCG content and elevated Pokémon brand profile throughout the year.

“With the first Pokémon TCG: Sword & Shield expansion launching at retail on February 7th, supported by major retail promotions and media campaigns, 2020 will see TCG sales achieve new records. We’re looking forward to a successful year with our distribution and retail partners and thank them for their ongoing support.”

The global phenomenon of Pokémon was first launched in Japan in 1996 as a role-playing game for Nintendo’s Game Boy system and reached the United States and Europe in 1998–99.

Pokémon has since grown into one of the most popular entertainment properties in the world, encompassing video games, the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG), mobile games and apps, animation and movies, Play! Pokémon competitive events and licensed products.

It is recognised as one of the most successful video game franchises of all time with more than 340 million video games sold worldwide. In addition, more than 22 billion TCG cards have been shipped to 77 countries in 13 languages, while the mobile game sensation Pokémon GO has received more than one billion downloads globally since launching in 2016.

More than 1,000 episodes of the animated TV series span 22 seasons, licensed for broadcast in 169 countries and regions in more than 30 languages.

LMI plays the licensing game with Asmodee’s best-seller Dobble

Posted on by

Asmodee’s number one selling brand, Dobble is exploring a life outside of party gaming thanks to a new partnership with LMI, a UK licensing agency that will identify opportunities to expand the reach and audience for the IP through licensing partnerships.

Andrew Maconie and the team at LMI have been appointed as the licensing agent for the UK, Eire and Benelux and are now already busy identifying and planning the brand’s development.

Having sold 21 million games worldwide and been named the UK’s best selling game has given the Dobble game a firm platform from which to build a wider brand.

In the UK, Asmodee has been the country’s most effective marketer in the Family Games category and now stand as the top-ranked manufacturer in the overall Games category – progress made thanks in no small part to titles like this one.

The partnership has been announced as Dobble now celebrates its 10th birthday this year.

Alex Green, managing director of Asmodee UK, said: “We are delighted to have LMI on board to help take the Dobble brand even further. The game has come from humble beginnings to become a household name and we can’t wait to see it thrive with new opportunities as a result of this partnership.”

The development is part of new campaign from Asmodee UK which will see it launch a new Family Games range at Toy Fair next week, showcasing ‘best in class products that excel at bringing all ages together around the tabletop for shared fun.’

The Family Games range will be led by Dobble 360, lending the title a 360-degree twist. Like all of the Family Games portfolio, Dobble 360 will benefit from comprehensive marketing support, including a huge TV and digital ad campaign.

Also featured are Ticket to Ride London, the bite-sized edition of the millions-selling Modern Classic board game that lets players rush around the capital for points in just 15 minutes, and the hugely popular BrainBox range of educational games, which deliver learning and memory challenges based on a variety of topics.

The collection is completed by the hilarious dexterity challenge of Crazy Eggz, the shadow-puppetry creativity of Picture Show and the magnetised sailing adventure of Bermuda Pirates.

The creation of the Family Games range follows similar groupings of key products by Asmodee for clear marketing focus, including the Modern Classics, Party Games and newly rebranded Quick Play titles.

Visitors can find Asmodee at Toy Fair on Stand E109 but should also keep an eye out for a second stand on E15, where some of Asmodee’s standout brands will be celebrated, including Dobble, Catan and BrainBox.