NEWS Kingmaker: Fable’s crown jewel
Thousands download geo-based game app as Microsoft pushes Molyneux’s latest towards the mainstream by James Batchelor
THE FABLE III Kingmaker smartphone app is leading Microsoft’s marketing rally for the upcoming RPG. The game rewards players for planting virtual flags in a digital civil war between Fable III’s two factions. Any gold earned in Kingmakercan then be transferred to the Xbox 360 when Fable IIIlaunches next week.
A partnership with GAME means that anyone who pre-orders the game from the national chain will bag a bonus 15,000 gold. The firm’s stores serve as Kingmaker treasure points for the app’s users.
REGAL CAMPAIGN PRINT
Kingmaker has promoted Fable III to thousands of smartphone users
A widespread print campaign will target Xbox 360 owners in a variety of key specialist gaming publications, with more planned for men’s lifestyle and national press closer to launch, including The Sun, T3 and SFX.
PC sales boom for Excalibur by James Batchelor
CONTACT SALES expects its business to grow by 25 per cent this year, courtesy of the PC software market. The UK company owns the Excalibur Publishing and First Class Simulations labels and has released a wide range of PC titles over the course of the year. Contact Sales MD Robert
Stallibrass claims a string of popular simulation games has been the key to the company’s growth.
8 October 22nd 2010
“Excalibur’s success is built upon a range of strong sellers rather than individual blockbusters,” he told MCV. “Our business will grow 25 per cent this year – all based on PC titles.” Contact Sales has also been boosted by a new UK distribution agreement with Gem.
While not an exclusive
deal, Stallibrass says that the “results have been excellent so far”. Contact Sales: 01869 338833
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Our success is built upon a range of strong sellers rather than individual blockbusters. Robert Stallibrass, Contact
“ ONLINE
Ads will appear across lifestyle and gaming sites, with several site takeovers planned for Friday, October 29th. A Village Maker pre- order mechanic allows fans to create a character and unlock a new quest.
The response to Kingmaker is phenomenal – over 50,000 people have signed up.
Stephen McGill, Microsoft
The unique marketing tool has already pulled thousands of potential gamers. “The response has been phenomenal – over 50,000 people have signed up, which is a fantastic result,” said Microsoft’s director of Xbox and Entertainment Stephen McGill.
“With mobile technology constantly improving and more people purchasing a smartphone, it’s possible to engage with people in other interesting ways.
“Mobile gaming has proven to be a huge success and we are pleased to offer a Fable IIIexperience on the go through Kingmaker.” The app is part of Microsoft’s drive to make Fable IIIa mainstream hit, earning it a place in what creator Peter Molyneux calls “the triple-A club”. “It will always be my consistent dream to break into that club,” he told MCV. Fable III is due for release on October 29th.
Microsoft: 0870 601 0100
TV/MEDIA
Microsoft has invested in a large-scale TV campaign that will comprise 30-second and 20-second ads. These trailers will run on all major satellite channels around launch, as well as Channel 4 and Five.
TripleACodes signs Age of Conan deal
by James Batchelor
DIGITAL distributor TripleACodes has inked a new deal with MMO developer Funcom. The company is now an official distributor for Age of Conanproducts across Europe, such as game clients and subscription codes. It will also distribute
Funcom’s first expansion pack for the MMO, Rise of
the Godslayer, which was released back in May. The MMO deal marks the first time TripleACodes will be distributing Polish and Russian language digital products.
“This new partnership strengthens our strategy for only signing with triple- A publishers,” said sales and business director Marcus Whitney.
www.tripleacodes.com
www.mcvuk.com
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