EA, Illumination Entertainment, and Universal have recently announced a multi-title deal on mobile games. Illumination’s writers, directors, artists, and animators will be working with EA to create games which resemble the animation style Illumination use in their movies.
“…[We] are excited that our filmmaking team is creating game content side by side with EA and Universal, we want to bring the same level of care and creativity to these games that we bring to our films.”
Chris Meledandri, Founder and CEO of Illumination Entertainment
Minions Paradise is the first game to come out of this new partnership.
“Illumination Entertainment creates entertaining and unexpected characters in its blockbuster films, such as the Minions, who are a global phenomenon. EA is excited to partner with Illumination and Universal Partnerships & Licensing to bring these delightful characters to life for millions of fans on mobile devices…”
– Frank Gibeau, Executive Vice President of EA Mobile
Minions Paradise will introduce a new minion called Phil. The game’s story follows Phil, who leads other Minions to build a tropical paradise after being shipwrecked on a tropical island. Players will build, craft and design this tropical island to their own ideas.
“…The Minions have entertained audiences across the globe since they were first introduced in 2010’s Despicable Me, and this new mobile gaming content will engage players by allowing them to build their own paradise alongside the Minions on the world’s most ubiquitous and accessible devices.”
Vince Klaseus, President of Universal
Minions Paradise amazingly will be free, and is expected in Summer 2015.
My take
Judging by EA’s recent ventures into mobile gaming, Dungeon Keeper Mobile which was also free, it didn’t go so well. Dungeon Keeper Mobile also allows players to build, craft, and design but not a paradise, instead your own dungeons. Unfortunately, when trying to mine out a new section for your dungeon you sometimes had to wait for 48 hours, or spend real money. If Minions Paradise turns out to do this also there will be a lot of broke parents.
Header image credit to BusinessWire.
