Companies Announce House M.D. For The PC and Nintendo DSTM and Murder, She Wrote For the PC
LOS ANGELES – June 2, 2009 – Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) – Casual games developer and publisher Legacy Interactive® today announced a licensing agreement with Universal Pictures Digital Platforms Group (UPDPG) to develop video games based on the popular television drama series House M.D. and the classic TV mystery series Murder, She Wrote.
Legacy is transforming the successful medical mystery series House M.D., into a compelling game for both the PC and Nintendo DS™ where players make life and death decisions in the role of their favorite physicians from Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital. In the game, players will take turns stepping into the shoes of the skillful staff of the Diagnostic Medicine department which includes Dr. Taub, Dr. Hadley (AKA Thirteen) and, of course, the maverick medical genius himself, Dr. Gregory House. Players are part of the diagnostic team that attempts to diagnose and treat a variety of patients with complex illnesses. The game consists of five unique cases that represent the rare and fascinating types of maladies that viewers have come to expect from the popular medical drama.
Murder, She Wrote will be adapted as a light adventure, hidden object game on the PC that evokes the feel and themes of the long-running television series. The game, which features five all-new mysteries, takes place primarily in the quaint New England town of Cabot Cove, Maine. Each case follows acclaimed crime novelist Jessica Fletcher, a sharp-eyed senior citizen with a nose for clues, as she unravels a series of puzzling murders. Each mystery is a standalone story with its own clues and beautiful locations ranging from Maine to Vermont to England. Helping Jessica solve the crimes will be other well-loved characters from the show, including Dr. Seth Hazlitt and Sherriff Mort Metzger.
“Legacy’s success in developing television franchises such as NBC’s Law & Order as games gives us confidence that they will again deliver engaging interactive experiences to fans of House M.D. and Murder, She Wrote,” said Bill Kispert, vice president and general manager, interactive, Universal Pictures Digital Platforms Group.
“Given the dynamism in the casual gaming sector and robust online distribution channels, we believe the timing is ideal to bring well-known TV franchises to videogames,” said Ariella Lehrer, President and CEO of Legacy Interactive.
About Universal Pictures Digital Platforms Group
Universal Pictures Digital Platforms Group (UPDPG) is responsible for global digital product development, production, licensing, distribution, and growth strategy for the extensive catalogue of Universal’s properties across new and emerging digital platforms, including mobile, video game consoles, personal computers, and other portable devices. With a worldwide mandate to help shape the digital future of Universal Pictures, the Group has offices in Universal City, California; London, England; and Tokyo, Japan.
Universal Pictures Digital Platforms Group is a unit of Universal Studios Home Entertainment and Universal Pictures. Universal Pictures is a division of NBC Universal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80% owned by General Electric and 20% owned by Vivendi.
About Legacy Interactive
Legacy Interactive is a developer and publisher of casual games. Entertaining customers since 1998, the company has built a reputation for developing intelligent, realistic and engaging games for a broad audience. Located in Los Angeles, Legacy is well known for its TV-based games, such as Law & Order and The Apprentice, as well as for its popular simulation games Pet Pals: Animal Doctor, Emergency Room and Zoo Vet. Through Legacy’s online casual game portal at www.legacygames.com, customers can download and try more than 500 casual games plus read and write reviews and share playlists of their favorite games. Legacy has ongoing distribution, marketing and content strategic partnerships with a number of companies, including Universal Studios, Ubisoft, Mindscape, Majesco Entertainment, 505 Games, JoWood, and Scholastic. Legacy Interactive can be found on the Web at www.legacyinteractive.com.
