The esports company Dignitas, a division of New Meta Entertainment, has announced a partnership with the US Air Force. Under the agreement, the USAF becomes the Official Military Service Partner of Dignitas, and will work alongside Dignitas to showcase the entities’ shared competitive spirit through educational, inspirational, and interactive content featuring Dignitas professional competitive gaming athletes and content creators. Additionally, the organizations will create and host an online broadcast esports event to be held in the later half of the 2021 calendar year, continuing the success of the co-branded Dignitas and U.S. Air Force 2020 ‘Wingman Series’ Counter Strike: Global Offensive Tournament. “Dignitas is proud to work alongside one of the most technologically advanced and career-enabling brands in the world,” said John Spiher, VP of Partnerships. “Reflective of the Dignitas fanbase,… . . . read more
Technicolor Engages Brecht Group For Brand Licensing
Technicolor announced this week it has hired The Brecht Group to identify new licensing opportunities, and to facilitate its licensing operations in the US and Canada. Technicolor is a worldwide technology leader in the creation and seamless delivery of extraordinary entertainment experiences. By uniting industry-leading artistry with world-class innovation, the company and its family of creative studios help storytellers bring their most ambitious visions to life. In doing so, Technicolor has established several subsidiaries that help content creators build out video games, produce animated films and series, work in the production of live action films and series, and even aid in distribution of digital content. With a deep base in content creation, Technicolor Brand Licensing offers licensing partners the opportunity to benefit from the market awareness and brand loyalty from… . . . read more
Secret Creamery Unveils Tetris Ice Cream
Nevada’s Secret Creamery, one of only a handful of ice cream manufacturers in Nevada, is releasing seven signature brands based on the Tetrimino shapes from the video game Tetris. The deal with IP owner Tetris Holdings will see Secret releasing flavors like Raspberry Rhubarb with Blonde Brownie Chunks in the shape of classic Tetris pieces. Brian Mosko, founder and managing partner of Secret Creamery, joked that everyone should play with their food. “We’re incredibly excited to partner with one of the most well-known and beloved video game brands, and we can’t wait to hear everyone’s stories of playing Tetris,” Mosko said. “We’re expanding the experience a little further and bringing the sense of taste to this iconic game.” Secret Creamery is a well known artisanal ice cream makers in Nevada,… . . . read more
Subway Surfers
Building on the successful launch of its licensed Subway Surfers range in the United States and Canada last year, SYBO Games expanded rights worldwide to Sakar International, the leading wheeled goods manufacturer. This Fall, scooters, hoverboards, skateboards, helmets and protective gear based on the world’s most downloaded runner game will first arrive in Europe. The global licensing deal, brokered by Retail Monster’s US and UK teams, follows the US team’s North American deal between Sakar and SYBO Games’ SubSurf consumer and lifestyle brand. The first product debuted exclusively at Walmart in late 2020. “Subway Surfers DNA fits so perfectly with this category,” said Bobby Stewart, Head of Sales for Sakar. “Given the brand’s inherent global appeal, we are ready to deliver wheeled goods to fans and retailers around the world.”… . . . read more
Museum Installs World of Warships Video Games On HMS Belfast
Wargaming, the developer and publisher of the popular combat video game, World of Warships, has commandeered HMS Belfast to open a new gaming room for fans of the franchise, in a new partnership with Imperial War Museums. The video gaming room opened to the public July 8 in accordance with the UK’s pandemic reopening plan. Visitors are being invited to the newly refurbished World War II warship to immerse themselves in the world of naval combat, as they get hands-on with World of Warships and World of Warships: Legends on in-situ gaming PCs and video game consoles. “After an extended closure period of sixteen months, we are thrilled to be reopening HMS Belfast this summer and welcome visitors back onboard this magnificent warship,” said John Brown, the museum’s executive director of… . . . read more
Asmodee Appoints New Licensing Manager
Asmodee Entertainment is building on the success of its licensing efforts last year by appointing Etienne Bonnin as the company’s new senior manager of media development and licensing. Bonnin comes to the position after spending 15 years at Glénat Editions SA, the largest independent book publisher in France, where he was the Rights and Licensing Director. In that position, Bonnin supervised the licensing department and negotiated all licensing rights globally for all of Glénat’s books and comics. Asmodee Entertainment is a division of leading international games publisher and distributor Asmodee, and is responsible for bringing the company’s diverse portfolio of brands into all categories across entertainment and media. Asmodee Entertainment works with world-class partners to extend Asmodee’s leading intellectual properties into film and television, publishing, interactive games, location based-entertainment and… . . . read more
MDR Launches Global eSports, Interactive Entertainment Division
MDR Brand Management this week launched a global esports and interactive entertainment division called NIVO Management. NIVO operates as a standalone business, but the new division will benefit from the international footprint of MDR Brand Management, the company says. MDR now operates in 25 locations around the world. The company says NIVO Management is currently working on three strategic platforms. They represent elite professionals in contract negotiations; develop bespoke strategies to maximise brand opportunities, including sponsorship and endorsement deals; and provide holistic management support, utilizing an extensive network of specialist advisors, from nutritionists and performance coaches to private client and legal expertise. MDR says it created NIVO due to the growing demand for player-centric management that is transparent, and free from conflicts of interest. NIVO represents players across a wide portfolio… . . . read more
Cyber Group Producing First Final Fantasy Show For Kids
The venerable video game franchise Final Fantasy has been tapped for film and series content before, but for the first time, Cyber Group Studios of Paris is developing a version for children, aged from eight to 13. CGS says it has signed a deal with Square Enix, the game developer, to co-produce a new TV series based on the popular title Final Fantasy IX. Cyber Group will also be handling distribution, licensing agreements, and merchandise. Final Fantasy has a dedicated—perhaps even fanatical—fan base, so Cyber Group CEO Pierre Sissmann says the studio will work directly with the franchise creator, Hironobu Sakaguchi, to make sure the series remains true to the Final Fantasy canon. The show has not yet been picked up by broadcasters, but Sissman says production will begin by… . . . read more
Pokemon GO Developer Releasing Radical Transformers Game
Niantic, the software team that developed the viral Augmented Reality (AR) game Pokemon GO, is working with Hasbro and TOMY to develop a new mobile game based on the Transformers franchise. Called Transformers: Heavy Metal, the new game will see players battle with characters from the Transformers series in real world settings using the game’s AR features. The idea is similar to the concept behind Pokemon GO, in which Pokemon ‘trainers’ could find and capture wild Pokemon, and indulge in epic boss battles in real-life locations. John Hanke, CEO of Niantic, says the story concept behind Transformers is also ideal for a mobile AR treatment, and he expects there will soon be millions of fans prowling the world, pitting their robots against the competition. “Transformers is the perfect franchise for AR…. . . . read more
Esports Giant Launches Mobile Game Controller
ESL’s First Foray Into Mobile Gaming Hardware Offers Improved Connectivity for Ultimate Tournament Play ESL Gaming, the world’s largest esports company, has launched the first ESL controller for mobile phones in a partnership with RiotPWR, the leading mobile controller developer of mobile gaming hardware. The partnership with ESL and RiotPWR kicked-off earlier in 2021 with the announcement of the Rotor Riot Controller sponsorship of ESL’s Spring Season of the ESL Premiership. The deal was brokered by digital licensing agency Tinderbox, which is a division of the global licensing agency Beanstalk. The ESL Controller is compatible with iOS and Android devices and allows pros to level up their gameplay with the highest quality mobile gaming controller on the market. The ESL Controller is wired for latency-free gameplay and uses RiotPWR’s pass… . . . read more