Planetwide Games' marketing VP chats about creating an online community experience that unites fans of comic books, Mexican wrestling and Jack Black.
Entertainment Spot: Tell us what the Nacho Libre Comic Book Creator is and how it works.
Mark Politi: Nacho Libre Comic Book Creator software is an innovative interactive entertainment application that enables fans to use their imaginations -- and actual Nacho Libre movie content -- to create their own Nacho Libre comics and comic books, which can then be posted to a blog or social network, emailed to a friend or printed as an actual comic book. Comic Book Creator users can drag and drop images, icons, tag line symbols, audio clips and artwork into a selection of over 500 different layout and design templates, and then combine their creation with the storyline to make their own Nacho Libre comics.
Entertainment Spot: Do you have a background in comics? How does your company, Planetwide games Inc., fit into the comic book picture?
Politi: I had previously produced licensed comic-based merchandise for comic book companies and motion picture studios. Planetwide Games Inc. is a video game and software publishing company. The company has established itself as a provider of innovative software applications, proprietary online technology and video games. The Company's applications, games and self-publishing platform for user generated content easily integrates into DVD home entertainment products, music CD's, internet portals and other entertainment properties, like the Nacho Libre film.
Entertainment Spot: How did the idea for the Nacho Libre Comic Book Creator originate? Could you explain the strategy behind this product?
Politi: The Nacho Libre Comic Book Creator project came about after Sandi Isaacs, vice president of interactive at Paramount Pictures, presented a trailer of Nacho Libre, which was in pre-production, in early 2006. We quickly realized how much the Nacho Libre story related to a comic book and graphic novel story line, and so we thought it would be great to release a Nacho Libre Comic Book Creator Drag n' Drop Comics version of our software.
Entertainment Spot: Who is the target audience for this software? Was there the idea that this would help capture the comic book audience for the movie?
Politi: The target demographic for the Nacho Libre Comic Book Creator is anywhere from eight to 80.We have young teenagers buying it to create their comic pages containing tag lines from the movie. We have parents buying the product because they fondly remember the Mexican wrestling stars of the 70s and 80s and finally a movie has shown Lucha Libre in its full in its true form. We also have older adults who are still very fanatical about Mexican wrestling and are buying the software to show what Mexican wrestling, and Nacho Libre, is all about to their grandchildren.
Entertainment Spot: Is this the first movie-branded game of this type that you've developed?
Politi: Nacho Libre is the first of our many upcoming licensing partnerships with film studios and comic book companies. The movie, which stars Jack Black, just naturally lent itself to the comic book genre.
Entertainment Spot: How is the Comic Book Creator being promoted-- both within and outside the Paramount Nacho Libre campaign?
Politi: There's a link on the official movie website to a trial download of the software. In addition, we have been interviewed by media, such as the Hollywood Reporter, Teen People, Computer Gaming World and CNET, regarding the product. In fact, CNET stated that the coolest thing they saw at E3 was the Comic Book Creator software. Diamond Comics is distributing our Nacho Libre Comic Book Creator to 5000 comic book stores across the U.S. and Canada.
Entertainment Spot: Is there a primary goal for the Comic Book Creator, like increasing hype around the movie, or jumpstarting a following for this genre of game?
Politi: Our goal was to provide the fans of Nacho Libre and Jack Black with an interactive entertainment experience that extends the enjoyment they first encountered in the theater while watching the film. Comic Book storytelling has long been a part of Americana. Many people have seen, read and collected comic books and graphic novels for most of their lives. But very few have been able to create and share the comic book stories with one another-- other than a select few professional comic book artists and writers. Now, anyone can truly create Nacho Libre comic book pages, and they can be printed, posted online and shared with friends.
Entertainment Spot: What else is on the horizon for Planetwide Games?
Politi: We have just signed a licensing deal for the Comic Book Creator with the National Geographic Society. We have also signed a deal with a yet-to-be-named comic book company for versions of the software with their characters. Stay tuned for more updates from the team at Planetwide Games and the Comic Book Creator software.
Mark Politi is vice president of sales and marketing at Planetwide Games. For more information, you can contact him at 800-560-2993 or email him.