Genius Products in which Miramax founders, (Sin City but not The Boondock Saints) the Weinstein Brothers (Rambo 2008), have a 70% stake, is set to move into the world of games. The company will publish and distribute titles "across a variety of gaming genres", according to an announcement today.
So, what makes Genius think it can do well in games? The announcement tells us, "Genius’ management team has extensive experience in the video game industry". SPOnG had a look at Genius's management team and only John Mueller, the company's CFO, gets a mention of games in his biog. The rest seem to have been poached from Warner Bros.
Stephen K. Bannon, the chairman of Genius Products, said, “In 2008, we enter phase two of our aggressive growth strategy which will focus on revenue growth and improvements in margin through brand and content partnerships, content production, intellectual property ownership, and the acquisition of additional revenue streams. Our planned entry into video games is a great example of value creating, higher margin opportunities we will continue to aggressively pursue in 2008 and beyond.”
The phrase, "brand and content partnerships" sticks out at SPOnG. Genius currently distributes DVDs of The Weinstein Company Holdings' films, among others. Included in the list of films which the Weinstein Brothers' production company (or their associated studios) are involved in are the likes of Diary of the Dead, Rambo and Grindhouse. Oh - and did we mention that Genius distributes Sesame Street? Genius shouldn't struggle to find IP to draw on for its games. That said, its first title will be...
...A console adaptation of the internet game Line Rider, developed by InXile. The game will be released on the Wii, DS and PC this summer. If you've never cackled as you sent a little boy on a sled to his doom, here's the game in Genius's words - "Line Rider is built upon the simple premise of what happens when a boy and his sled are sent travelling along in a world drawn by the player." The company promises the game "will take players far beyond the original game with new game modes, new riders, new community features and new creative tools."
No Sesame Street just yet, then...
So, what makes Genius think it can do well in games? The announcement tells us, "Genius’ management team has extensive experience in the video game industry". SPOnG had a look at Genius's management team and only John Mueller, the company's CFO, gets a mention of games in his biog. The rest seem to have been poached from Warner Bros.
Stephen K. Bannon, the chairman of Genius Products, said, “In 2008, we enter phase two of our aggressive growth strategy which will focus on revenue growth and improvements in margin through brand and content partnerships, content production, intellectual property ownership, and the acquisition of additional revenue streams. Our planned entry into video games is a great example of value creating, higher margin opportunities we will continue to aggressively pursue in 2008 and beyond.”
The phrase, "brand and content partnerships" sticks out at SPOnG. Genius currently distributes DVDs of The Weinstein Company Holdings' films, among others. Included in the list of films which the Weinstein Brothers' production company (or their associated studios) are involved in are the likes of Diary of the Dead, Rambo and Grindhouse. Oh - and did we mention that Genius distributes Sesame Street? Genius shouldn't struggle to find IP to draw on for its games. That said, its first title will be...
...A console adaptation of the internet game Line Rider, developed by InXile. The game will be released on the Wii, DS and PC this summer. If you've never cackled as you sent a little boy on a sled to his doom, here's the game in Genius's words - "Line Rider is built upon the simple premise of what happens when a boy and his sled are sent travelling along in a world drawn by the player." The company promises the game "will take players far beyond the original game with new game modes, new riders, new community features and new creative tools."
No Sesame Street just yet, then...
Companies:
Genius
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Comments
Joji 10 Mar 2008 16:26
1/3
The movie men smell the scent of gamer bucks.
I'll give Spielberg, Woo and Bruckheimer a pass, but what are these chaps gonna bring to the table? They should be warned, it aint' as easy as dealing with films.
I guess I can understand in a way, why more film folk might look at games as an alternative outlet, especially after the recent writers strike putting many on ice.
I'll give Spielberg, Woo and Bruckheimer a pass, but what are these chaps gonna bring to the table? They should be warned, it aint' as easy as dealing with films.
I guess I can understand in a way, why more film folk might look at games as an alternative outlet, especially after the recent writers strike putting many on ice.
deleted 10 Mar 2008 20:48
2/3
If they tell us they are bringing the feel of a movie into gaming, then who cares because every film gone game whatever says this!, i smell a bunch of licenced crap coming soon to a console near you!!
Horatio 11 Mar 2008 13:37
3/3
A Rambo game with the Far Cry 2 or Cysis engine would be pretty cool. At least, I think it would be :-)
As a first game, Line Rider is an interesting choice for them though as it has no links to a film so would suggest that the new publisher isn't solely interested in the expected film tie-ins. That is unless they plan on a Line Rider film - the story of a young boy plucked from his bed one night and forced to die over and over whilst a divine power creates crazy line courses for the young boy to traverse in a one man sled....
As a first game, Line Rider is an interesting choice for them though as it has no links to a film so would suggest that the new publisher isn't solely interested in the expected film tie-ins. That is unless they plan on a Line Rider film - the story of a young boy plucked from his bed one night and forced to die over and over whilst a divine power creates crazy line courses for the young boy to traverse in a one man sled....