Game maker gives Archie a new platform
Comic character moving into interactive world
Moncton-based Gogii Games has joined forces with Archie Comics to create a new interactive game based on the comic-book world of Riverdale.
The interactive Archie game will be free to play and accessible to users in multiple languages and devices. Gogii Games operates out of a design studio in Moncton and has developed many games, including one based on Shannon Tweed, wife of Kiss bassist Gene Simmons.
Archie Comics is the world’s largest mass-market comic book company.
Archie Andrews, the red-headed all-american teenager from Riverdale, has been around since the 1940s. And even though the clothes and the hairstyles have changed with the times, Archie’s world has steadfastly revolved around his relationship with his two love interests — Betty and Veronica — his best friend Jughead Jones, rival Reggie Mantle, Dilton, Moose, Mr. Weatherbee, Miss Grundy and others. The characters have made the jump from comic books to TV shows and even a liveaction movie in 1990.
First published in 1941, the series has reached more than two billion people, tapping into a huge fan base eager for content.
“We’re excited and honoured to be partnering with Gogii Games,” Archie CO-CEO Jon Goldwater said in a news release. “They came up with a way to really bring the comics to life and to engage an entirely new and fervent fan base. We can’t wait for this game to go live across all platforms and countries.”
“On a personal level, I’m ecstatic to see my favourite childhood characters in a game,” said George Donovan, president and founder of Gogii Games. “I know this is going to be for the whole family. My parents and my kids know these characters. Archie is an icon, and we intend to create a virtual Archie’s universe worthy of the brand.”
With a full-time staff of more than 34 people, Gogii Games and their innovative team have been developing games since 2006. Considered leaders in the casual gaming sector, the company has been in discussions with Archie Studios for a few months.
Donovan adds, “The synergy between Archie Studios and Gogii was there right away. It’s incredible; I couldn’t imagine a better partnership.”
Donovan adds that support from the provincial government in New Brunswick was instrumental in securing the deal and beginning work on the project.
“We’re even more ecstatic and proud to be able to bring a licence of this calibre to work on from beginning to the end in our hometown of Moncton. For us, it’s quite a coup. And we couldn’t have done it without the support that we’ve received from the province.”
The Archie Comics game will be uniquely accessible to families and fans of the series, with a host of characters and locations available to build a virtual, expansive and engaging environment. The free-to-play title will be developed for multiple platforms, supporting ipad, iphone, Android and Flash, which means fans can access the game from a number of devices.