Movie themes for online gambling

News on 20 Aug 2009

The trend toward movie-themed online casino games now appears to be firmly established, with most of the major software developers clinching deals for licence rights to use popular movies in their new game developments.
Latest deal in this line is between Freemantle Media and the giant MGM studios in the United States, and it could see casino-style Internet games derived from hits like Robocop, and Clint Eastwood ‘spaghetti Western’ classics like A Fistful of Dollars and The Good, The Bad And The Ugly.
The Broadcast Now.co.uk information site reveals that Freemantle’s approach to MGM is part of a wider strategy to engage with rights holders to turn well-known characters and franchises into revenue-making online games.
“Fremantle recently acquired a minority stake in interactive games developer Ludia, and already capitalises on some of its own brands through casino-style games based on The X Factor, Blankety Blank and The Price Is Right,” Broadcast Now reports.
“It also recently launched its first interactive immersive downloadable game based on American Idol, and will release a game based on Baywatch later this year.”
Fremantle Media head of ventures Paul Kanareck said securing the MGM contract had been a coup for the UK-based division, and proved the appetite content owners – both at home and abroad – had in finding alternative revenue streams.
“MGM is a perfect example of the type of partnerships we are looking to replicate in other markets,” he said. “It has brands that people have grown up with, and which have strong themes such as Westerns, ancient Egypt and science fiction. All translate well into games across a range of platforms.”

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