Pop Idol video game rights awarded to Codemasters
PlayStation 2 and PC "Pop Idol" titles set to be the mass-market games of the year.
The interactive video game publishing rights to Pop Idol, the smash-hit reality television entertainment show, have been secured by Codemasters, the global computer and video game publisher, under licence from FremantleMedia and 19 Entertainment.
The deal will see Codemasters launching a Pop Idol video game for PlayStation 2 and PC CD this autumn in the UK. The game is set to launch as the second Pop Idol series enters its gripping run up to the finals.
The music-based rhythm-action Pop Idol game lets players create, style and train a Pop Idol contestant and compete as a singer all the way to the finals.
The game features 40 top-ten music tracks for the virtual contestants to perform for the judges. Players will receive comments on their singing performances from the TV shows' judges – including a computer-generated Simon Cowell, complete with his colourful commentary. (See Notes for game information).
It is anticipated that the Pop Idol title will become the mass-market video game of the year and be Codemasters' biggest video game launch in the company's 17-year history.
The game will be targeted at a mass-market audience of 7 – 17-year olds, a massively untapped but very active gaming audience. Pop Idol audience research indicates that over 70% of all 4-15-year olds watching television at the time saw the final, and of those 70% play games (Source: TGI).
The Pop Idol format has become a phenomenon in every territory it has launched in. In the UK, Pop Idol reached almost 14 million viewers, the final telephone vote hit a UK record-breaking 9 million calls, and now there are over 20,000 applications to be a contestant in Pop Idol 2.
The PlayStation 2 and PC title is being created by Hothouse Creations and Codemasters acquired the project under its business development and acquisitions programme.
Says Gary Rowe, Codemasters' Head of Business Development: "To secure one of the most talked about, most watched, most fascinating entertainment brands of recent years is a major landmark in Codemasters' acquisition strategy. With the gaming market now a mass-market entertainment platform, the Pop Idol title will have a massive impact."
Dom Wheeler, UK Licensing Manager at Fremantle Brand Licensing comments: "The Pop Idol video game is a hugely exciting project for us and we're delighted to have Codemasters as our publishing partner. Codemasters has an excellent heritage for bringing hugely popular big-brand video games to market. We strongly feel that working with Codemasters and Hothouse Creations, we have a game that truly reflects the shows and gives everyone the chance to enjoy the Pop Idol experience."
Says Mike Hayes, Codemasters' Group Marketing Director: "To have video games based on the ratings-dominating Pop Idol series and to launch them with such perfect timing is a major coup; the games' launches will be major events in the mass-market gaming calendar. The power branding of Pop Idol, combined with an excellent music rhythm based game has immense appeal to the far-reaching gaming audience on PlayStation 2 and PC."
Codemasters will launch Pop Idol in the UK this autumn for PlayStation 2 and PC. A first look at the game will feature at E3, this May in Los Angeles.
To keep up to date on the game, visit Codemasters' Pop Idol online site at www.codemasters.com/popidol
Codemasters will also publish American Idol, a US version of the game, based on the US TV series.
The deal will see Codemasters launching a Pop Idol video game for PlayStation 2 and PC CD this autumn in the UK. The game is set to launch as the second Pop Idol series enters its gripping run up to the finals.
The music-based rhythm-action Pop Idol game lets players create, style and train a Pop Idol contestant and compete as a singer all the way to the finals.
The game features 40 top-ten music tracks for the virtual contestants to perform for the judges. Players will receive comments on their singing performances from the TV shows' judges – including a computer-generated Simon Cowell, complete with his colourful commentary. (See Notes for game information).
It is anticipated that the Pop Idol title will become the mass-market video game of the year and be Codemasters' biggest video game launch in the company's 17-year history.
The game will be targeted at a mass-market audience of 7 – 17-year olds, a massively untapped but very active gaming audience. Pop Idol audience research indicates that over 70% of all 4-15-year olds watching television at the time saw the final, and of those 70% play games (Source: TGI).
The Pop Idol format has become a phenomenon in every territory it has launched in. In the UK, Pop Idol reached almost 14 million viewers, the final telephone vote hit a UK record-breaking 9 million calls, and now there are over 20,000 applications to be a contestant in Pop Idol 2.
The PlayStation 2 and PC title is being created by Hothouse Creations and Codemasters acquired the project under its business development and acquisitions programme.
Says Gary Rowe, Codemasters' Head of Business Development: "To secure one of the most talked about, most watched, most fascinating entertainment brands of recent years is a major landmark in Codemasters' acquisition strategy. With the gaming market now a mass-market entertainment platform, the Pop Idol title will have a massive impact."
Dom Wheeler, UK Licensing Manager at Fremantle Brand Licensing comments: "The Pop Idol video game is a hugely exciting project for us and we're delighted to have Codemasters as our publishing partner. Codemasters has an excellent heritage for bringing hugely popular big-brand video games to market. We strongly feel that working with Codemasters and Hothouse Creations, we have a game that truly reflects the shows and gives everyone the chance to enjoy the Pop Idol experience."
Says Mike Hayes, Codemasters' Group Marketing Director: "To have video games based on the ratings-dominating Pop Idol series and to launch them with such perfect timing is a major coup; the games' launches will be major events in the mass-market gaming calendar. The power branding of Pop Idol, combined with an excellent music rhythm based game has immense appeal to the far-reaching gaming audience on PlayStation 2 and PC."
Codemasters will launch Pop Idol in the UK this autumn for PlayStation 2 and PC. A first look at the game will feature at E3, this May in Los Angeles.
To keep up to date on the game, visit Codemasters' Pop Idol online site at www.codemasters.com/popidol
Codemasters will also publish American Idol, a US version of the game, based on the US TV series.
