Legal Niches

Playboy Gets into Game Publishing

By james_fudge

Playboy, the magazine everyone reads for its wonderful articles, is making a move into publishing videogames. The house that Hef built announced that it has started a publishing label and will roll out its first game - Poisonville - via its website. The publishing label is being helped by a partnership with German publisher Bigpoint. Poisonville, a gang-themed online action game, went open beta yesterday. Bigpoint has spent a reported €2 million ($2.5 million) to date on the title.

While Playboy didn't divulge too many details about the new label (like what it will be called), it did say that it wants to target the demographic that loves its publications: the 18- to 35-year-old male. The company also said that it is actively seeking other opportunities.

While Playboy has never ventured into the murky waters of game publishing before, it is certainly comfortable with its brand being associated with video games. Then again, it's tough to be uncomfortable with videogames when your magazines feature hot and spicy centerfolds..

Full post as published by GamePolitics.com on August 26, 2010 (boomark / email).