Monday, October 26, 2009

Leading strategy game publisher signs multi-title digital distribution deal with Matrix Games

Matrix Games ( www.matrixgames.com ) and cdv Software Entertainment USA ( www.cdvusa.com ) have signed a publishing agreement to bring multiple acclaimed cdv Software Entertainment titles to the Matrix Games community. The deal marks the fruition of cooperation between the two publishing companies and stands as a tremendous opportunity for both companies to offer high-quality strategy games to fans of the genre.

David Heath, Director of Operations at Matrix Games, said, "We're thrilled to be working with cdv and very pleased to be adding their titles to our catalog. It's been a pleasure working their great staff and we feel that this deal will bring more enjoyable, top-tier products to gamers around the world."

"Given our success in publishing strategy titles and Matrix Games' excellence in serving the strategy and wargaming communities, it's only natural for our companies to work together on making these great games available to a wider audience," added Tom Gross, CEO of cdv Software Entertainment USA. "We're thrilled to be working together and this deal is a great thing for both companies and consumers."

For more information about cdv Software Entertainment USA and their products, please visit - www.cdvusa.com

Monday, October 19, 2009

Benjamin Launches New E-Book Business Imprint

William A. Benjamin, founder of science publisher W. A. Benjamin, Inc. announced today the formation of TBG Publishing, LLC (TBG). The new e-book imprint will specialize initially in venture investment analysis and development books, directories, and databases for entrepreneurs and venture investors that are delivered from their website, http://www.venturecritical.com/.

Citing the increased interest and demand for venture industry information and instruction being delivered electronically to the investor's desktop, Benjamin explained that his new firm will capitalize on its founder's 40 years of venture development experience including nine startups, most of which were acquired by larger companies including McGraw-Hill, Pearson, and Thomson.

Benjamin said, "The new online paradigm in content aggregation and delivery is now being focused into - and delivered by - more formal, organized channels, which was the missing ingredient. We have designed a new online publishing model to fit this low-cost marketing opportunity, and intend to pursue aggressively one or two vertical markets where constant updating and resource referencing is crucial to the user." He added that "The mission of the new TBG imprint is to provide, via the internet, business model development data and expert instruction to entrepreneurs and investors that will improve the dismal rate of success for venture startups, which is now less than 40 percent."

TBG's first title, "SUCCESSFUL STARTUPS: An Essential Guide to Business Venture Analysis and Development," will be released October 1 and is considered a gateway publication and introduction to the more specialized series of e-books to follow. Benjamin indicated that his firm is in negotiations with several online distributors to deliver this first title over the internet and via an electronic reader. Print copies are also being stocked by Amazon, Google and the established chain of retail and wholesale distributors.

HarperCollins To Publish Dinosaur King Books

HarperCollins announced a licensing deal with 4Kids International for international publishing rights in the hugely popular children's animation series, Dinosaur King.

Targeted at boys aged 6+, Dinosaur King is transmitted daily on Disney XD and GMTV where it regularly reaches over 150,000 viewers. The series focuses on mysterious dinosaur cards which are scattered all over the world. Whoever finds and controls these cards can bring dinosaurs back to life and use them in battle. Max, the 12 year old son of a world famous palaeontologist, and his friends are in a race against time to collect these cards and battle the evil Alpha Gang who are also after the cards. The brand already has an established licensing portfolio that includes toys, trading cards, posters, apparel and video games.

The HarperCollins publishing programme will launch in April 2010 and will include story, activity, sticker activity, annuals and 3D formats. Territories covered in the deal include English language rights in the UK, Eire, ANZ and South Africa.

Commenting on the deal, HarperCollins Category Manager, Richard Haines said "We are hugely excited about the acquisition of Dinosaur King. The ever popular subject of dinosaurs combined with a clever mix of fact, fiction and aspirational characters lends itself perfectly to a publishing programme with huge consumer appeal."

Tuesday, October 06, 2009

Peace Arch Entertainment, Producer Barnet Bain Acquire Screen Rights to Children's Book

Peace Arch Entertainment Group Inc. has teamed with Emmy nominated producer Barnet Bain (What Dreams May Come, Homeless to Harvard) to acquire screen rights to Eckhart Tolle and Robert S. Friedman's children's book, Milton's Secret: An Adventure of Discovery through Then, When, and the Power of Now.

Tolle, a Canadian spiritual teacher and the best-selling author of The Power of Now and A New Earth, which have sold more than 11 million copies, wrote Milton's Secret with Friedman as his first work of fiction.

The story, being adapted as a live-action family film, centers on a boy who discovers that his obsession with pre-teen fears, shaky parental relationships, confidence issues and mistreatment by his schoolmates are preventing him from finding true happiness through living in the Now. Donald Martin (Dim Sum Funeral, The Christmas Choir) is writing the screenplay.

Bain, who most recently directed The Lost & Found Family, acquired by Sony for release this fall, says, "We get to tell this inspiring story and, at the same time, help as many people as we can-kids and parents-to stop stressing and start living."

"We're delighted to be able to bring to life this extraordinary first fiction work from Eckhart and Robert," Peace Arch Entertainment CEO John Flock says. "In this age of anxiety, its lessons will ring as true to movie-goers as they have to the countless fans of Eckhart's best-selling books."

Milton's Secret was co-authored by Friedman, president of Hampton Roads Publishing Company, and co-published by Hampton Roads and Namaste Publishing in Vancouver.

Peace Arch Entertainment and Barnet Bain Films will produce, with Tolle, Friedman and Constance Kellough serving as executive producers.