February 3, 2010 (CAP PR Wire) — Microgaming (www.microgaming.com), the world’s largest provider of online gaming software, has announced that it has signed a multi-year licensing agreement with Warner Bros. Digital Distribution, to create a series of cutting-edge, graphic rich video slots, based on the popular The Lord of the Rings movie trilogy, for internet gaming to adults in countries where online gaming is permitted.
The agreement gives Microgaming permission to develop online video slot games using animation material, themes and characters from the motion pictures The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.
This deal illustrates Microgaming’s commitment to license the right brands, at the right time. It is a strategic and timely decision to secure exclusive, online video slot game rights to a trilogy that generated $3billion in worldwide box office and was nominated for a total of 30 Academy Awards®; of which they won 17, including Best Picture.
Roger Raatgever, CEO of Microgaming said, “We’re excited about creating state-of-the-art video slots from the best movie trilogy of the decade. We look forward to bringing The Lord of the Rings into the online gaming sphere, where our expertise in game quality and speed to market will ensure its success. The Lord of the Rings has a huge entrenched fan base with over 97% awareness of the film franchise, as well as phenomenal and unprecedented home video success.”
The announcement comes hot on the heels of the launch of Microgaming’s latest flagship branded video slot, Hellboy, which promises to be hugely successful amongst the player community.
For further information please contact:
Duncan Skehens / Lizzi Malley / Lyndsay Haywood
Lansons Communications
020 7490 8828
[email protected] / [email protected] / [email protected]
Peter Binazeski
Warner Bros. Digital Distribution
(818) 977-5701
[email protected]
About Microgaming (www.microgaming.com)
Since the company developed the first true online Casino software over a decade ago, it has led the industry in providing innovative, reliable gaming solutions. Thanks to an unrivalled R&D programme, that averages 60 games per year and a unique ‘partnership’ approach to working with operators;
Microgaming software powers over 160 market-leading online gaming sites.
The company’s front and back-end software supports multi-player, multi-language games – over 450 of them, all uniquely branded and provides platforms for land-based and wireless gaming. Microgaming powers the world’s largest Progressive Jackpot Network and has paid out over €265million. In May 2009 it created the biggest ever online jackpot winner with a single payment win of €6.37m.
As a founding member of eCOGRA, Microgaming is at the forefront of an initiative focused on setting the highest standards in the gaming industry, and leads in the areas of fair gaming, responsible operator conduct and player protection. Microgaming has been awarded eCOGRA’s Certified Software Seal following a rigorous onsite assessment to ensure that the development, implementation and maintenance of the software is representative of industry best practice standards Microgaming licensees are therefore eligible to apply for the eCOGRA Safe & Fair Seal.
About Warner Bros. Digital Distribution
Warner Bros. Digital Distribution (WBDD) manages Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group’s electronic distribution over existing, new and emerging digital platforms, including pay-per-view, electronic sell-through, video-on-demand, wireless and more. WBDD also oversees the WBHEG’s worldwide digital strategy, partnerships in digital services and emerging new clients and business activities in the digital space.
About Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group brings together Warner Bros. Entertainment’s home video, digital distribution, interactive entertainment/videogames, direct-to-DVD production, technical operations and anti-piracy businesses in order to maximize current and next-generation distribution scenarios. WBHEG is responsible for the global distribution of content through DVD, electronic sell-through and VOD, and delivery of theatrical content to wireless and online channels, and is also a significant worldwide publisher for both internal and third party videogame titles.