GOG.com, an online video game and movie retailer, recently partnered with Disney to release three of its classic video games. 'Aladdin,' 'The Lion King' and 'The Jungle Book,' all based off of the movies of the same name, were originally released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System between 1993 and 1994. Now, more than 20 years later, consumers can enjoy computer-friendly versions of the three games by purchasing them from GOG.com.
Though today many video games based off of movies are released in haste and tend to be shoddily done, the three games on GOG.com are almost universally acknowledged as excellent platformers. Part of that has to do with timing; 'Aladdin' the movie was released in 1992 and 'The Jungle Book' movie was released in 1967, giving the designers plenty of time to make impressive games ('The Lion King' movie came out in 1994, but the game is nonetheless highly regarded.)
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Retro Video Games
- The trend of re-releasing classic video games is still a viable market, especially combined with the nostalgia factor.
- Movie/game Tie-ins
- There is an emerging trend of releasing video games based on existing movies and Disney is a prime candidate for licensing.
- Multiplayer Gaming
- There is an opportunity to add multiplayer/cooperative game play to these classic games to engage modern audiences.
Where This Applies
- Video Game Retail
- Online video game retailers will benefit from expanding their classic game offerings for retro gamers.
- Movie Studios
- Movie studios can consider video game tie-ins for both classic and current movies.
- Gaming Software
- Companies specializing in game development software can offer plug-ins and upgrades to enable multiplayer or cooperative game play.
