Tag Archives: news

Rovio and Topgolf Entertainment launch Angry Birds into select venues

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Eagle, Birdie, the rarely scored Albatross, whatever term you’d like to use, Rovio Entertainment is looking to go the distance in a new partnership with Topgolf Entertainment Group to bring the Angry Birds franchise to select Topgolf venues this autumn.

The partnership marks a new first for both the Angry Birds IP and Topgolf and is aimed at ‘delivering humour and fun for families and friends,’ by utilising Topgolf’s exclusive Toptracer ball-tracing technology to blend the physical act of hitting a golf ball with the digital game play of Angry Birds.

Taking on a variety of challenges, Topgolf guests will be able to partner with much-loved Angry Birds characters including Red, Chuck, and Bomb to demolish virtual structures placed on the Topgolf targets.

“As a company deeply-rooted in innovation, creating new and dynamic experiences is something we consistently deliver, and we know Angry Birds will be a game-changing addition to our existing gaming collection,” said Dolf Berle, Topgolf Entertainment Group chief executive officer.

“With the Angry Birds’ loyal fanbase, this offering is sure to deliver on an experience that makes our Guests feel like they are part of the highly acclaimed mobile game.”

Angry Birds started as a popular mobile game in 2009 and has since evolved into one of the world’s most loved entertainment brands, covering games, blockbuster movies, animated series, location-based entertainment and more. In total, Angry Birds mobile games have been downloaded over 4.5 billion times.

“This experience perfectly embodies the Angry Birds brand in terms of its accessible fun and all-round irreverence,” said Ville Heijari, CMO of Rovio Entertainment. “Added to that, what Topgolf has developed with their Toptracer technology is highly innovative and aligns with the physics-based challenges that can be discovered in Angry Birds mobile games. The resulting experience is a familiar but uniquely branded experience that we’re excited for our fans to take a swing at.”

Rovio and Topgolf Entertainment launch Angry Birds into select venues

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Eagle, Birdie, the rarely scored Albatross, whatever term you’d like to use, Rovio Entertainment is looking to go the distance in a new partnership with Topgolf Entertainment Group to bring the Angry Birds franchise to select Topgolf venues this autumn.

The partnership marks a new first for both the Angry Birds IP and Topgolf and is aimed at ‘delivering humour and fun for families and friends,’ by utilising Topgolf’s exclusive Toptracer ball-tracing technology to blend the physical act of hitting a golf ball with the digital game play of Angry Birds.

Taking on a variety of challenges, Topgolf guests will be able to partner with much-loved Angry Birds characters including Red, Chuck, and Bomb to demolish virtual structures placed on the Topgolf targets.

“As a company deeply-rooted in innovation, creating new and dynamic experiences is something we consistently deliver, and we know Angry Birds will be a game-changing addition to our existing gaming collection,” said Dolf Berle, Topgolf Entertainment Group chief executive officer.

“With the Angry Birds’ loyal fanbase, this offering is sure to deliver on an experience that makes our Guests feel like they are part of the highly acclaimed mobile game.”

Angry Birds started as a popular mobile game in 2009 and has since evolved into one of the world’s most loved entertainment brands, covering games, blockbuster movies, animated series, location-based entertainment and more. In total, Angry Birds mobile games have been downloaded over 4.5 billion times.

“This experience perfectly embodies the Angry Birds brand in terms of its accessible fun and all-round irreverence,” said Ville Heijari, CMO of Rovio Entertainment. “Added to that, what Topgolf has developed with their Toptracer technology is highly innovative and aligns with the physics-based challenges that can be discovered in Angry Birds mobile games. The resulting experience is a familiar but uniquely branded experience that we’re excited for our fans to take a swing at.”

National Hot Rod Association propels into new categories through latest licensing partnerships

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The National Hot Rod Association’s official licensing agency, JRL Group, has secured three new NHRA licensing partnerships that look to propel the growing consumer products and licensing programme into new categories and distribution channels.

The three new NHRA licensees crossing the line this season are JH Design with a new range of apparel and outerwear, Holland Bar Stool for home decor bar stools, tables, and neon wall clocks, and Authentic Street Signs with its stainless steel signs.

“We are very excited about these new licensing partnerships as we continue to leverage the NHRA’s rich heritage as well as its best-in-class reputation to deliver high quality products for loyal NHRA fans,” said Andy Lieb, president of JRL Group.

The NHRA is one of the world’s largest motorsports sanctioning bodies. Since its inception in 1951, the National Hot Rod Association has been the preeminent force in the world of Drag Racing and Hot Rodding. The NHRA fields race teams with over 11,000 horsepower that reach extreme speeds of over 300mph in just under four seconds.

The 24 national NHRA race event schedule is from February to November and airs on Fox Sports and FS1.

The NHRA Licensing Program will continue to focus on lifestyle products such as apparel and accessories, home decor as well as items for the garage for the auto enthusiast such as automotive accessories, automotive tools, appearance and other automotive related products.

National Hot Rod Association propels into new categories through latest licensing partnerships

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The National Hot Rod Association’s official licensing agency, JRL Group, has secured three new NHRA licensing partnerships that look to propel the growing consumer products and licensing programme into new categories and distribution channels.

The three new NHRA licensees crossing the line this season are JH Design with a new range of apparel and outerwear, Holland Bar Stool for home decor bar stools, tables, and neon wall clocks, and Authentic Street Signs with its stainless steel signs.

“We are very excited about these new licensing partnerships as we continue to leverage the NHRA’s rich heritage as well as its best-in-class reputation to deliver high quality products for loyal NHRA fans,” said Andy Lieb, president of JRL Group.

The NHRA is one of the world’s largest motorsports sanctioning bodies. Since its inception in 1951, the National Hot Rod Association has been the preeminent force in the world of Drag Racing and Hot Rodding. The NHRA fields race teams with over 11,000 horsepower that reach extreme speeds of over 300mph in just under four seconds.

The 24 national NHRA race event schedule is from February to November and airs on Fox Sports and FS1.

The NHRA Licensing Program will continue to focus on lifestyle products such as apparel and accessories, home decor as well as items for the garage for the auto enthusiast such as automotive accessories, automotive tools, appearance and other automotive related products.

World of Toys will return to Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair 2021 with new safety measures

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The 2021 Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair will once again play host to the popular international fair programme, World of Toys, created by Spielwarenmesse to make overseas trade fairs more accessible to companies. The international pavilion will be held at the Hong Kong show taking place at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in January next year.

Given the challenges the world is currently facing, the closing date for registrations has been extended to September 30th 2020. Companies appearing at the pavilion will have direct access to business contacts in the region. They also receive support from Spielwarenmesse eG in the technical and organisational aspects of showing at the event.

A total of 27 exhibitors (2019: 25) from 13 countries (2019: 12) took part in this year’s Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair. To ensure that exhibitors can continue to enjoy the benefits of a successful fair, this year’s event will require more organisation due to the current coronavirus situation.

Additional measures will include the expansion of the meeting and hospitality area to enable exhibitors to hold business meetings with visitors whilst still observing social distancing rules.

Companies taking part in the World of Toys programme receive an Allround Package. The comprehensive services include, among others, a complete exhibition stand with basic fittings and furnishings, the selection and recommendation of service partners, announcements in the exhibition organiser’s publications as well as marketing activities in the relevant media. Participation in the World of Toys Pavilion will be subsidised in 2021 by the HKSAR Government.

Further information and registration forms for the World of Toys Pavilion at the Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair can be found at www.world-of-toys.org/asia-pacific/hong-kong-toys-games-fair/.

World of Toys will return to Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair 2021 with new safety measures

Posted on by

The 2021 Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair will once again play host to the popular international fair programme, World of Toys, created by Spielwarenmesse to make overseas trade fairs more accessible to companies. The international pavilion will be held at the Hong Kong show taking place at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in January next year.

Given the challenges the world is currently facing, the closing date for registrations has been extended to September 30th 2020. Companies appearing at the pavilion will have direct access to business contacts in the region. They also receive support from Spielwarenmesse eG in the technical and organisational aspects of showing at the event.

A total of 27 exhibitors (2019: 25) from 13 countries (2019: 12) took part in this year’s Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair. To ensure that exhibitors can continue to enjoy the benefits of a successful fair, this year’s event will require more organisation due to the current coronavirus situation.

Additional measures will include the expansion of the meeting and hospitality area to enable exhibitors to hold business meetings with visitors whilst still observing social distancing rules.

Companies taking part in the World of Toys programme receive an Allround Package. The comprehensive services include, among others, a complete exhibition stand with basic fittings and furnishings, the selection and recommendation of service partners, announcements in the exhibition organiser’s publications as well as marketing activities in the relevant media. Participation in the World of Toys Pavilion will be subsidised in 2021 by the HKSAR Government.

Further information and registration forms for the World of Toys Pavilion at the Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair can be found at www.world-of-toys.org/asia-pacific/hong-kong-toys-games-fair/.

Sinking Ship Entertainment taps educational toy firm Safari Ltd for Dino Dana toys

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The family and kids’ production and distribution company, Sinking Ship Entertainment has secured a new toy deal for its Emmy award-winning series Dino Dana with the educational toy company Safari Ltd. The firm specialises in authentic, hand-painted figures.

Safari Ltd is on a mission to teach children the importance of nature and conservation through play. Its new partnership with Sinking Ship will see the toy company launch two dinosaur figures this Christmas via Amazon, as well as a collaboration on future items.

“We are honoured to be partnered with such a legendary production company like Sinking Ship and we are thrilled to bring Dino Dana toys to the market,” said Kevin Idoni, director Of e-commerce. “Dino Dana is one of the best outlets for kids to learn about dinosaurs today, and Sinking Ship’s passion to expand on this education with dinosaur figurines was a no brainer for us, we cannot wait to get started.”

“We are excited to be working with the Safari Ltd. team on this new partnership,” added Kate Sanagan, head of sales and distribution. “Their excellent reputation and experience in the educational toy space was a big draw for us, and we think they are the perfect choice to bring Dino Dana dinosaur toys into the world.”

The Safari deal comes on the heels of the earlier news that the Dino Dana Field Guide, published in May 2020, hit a number number one bestseller status in a few Amazon categories. The Dino Dana brand has been growing steadily, most recently with the launch of Season four and feature film.

Winners of the 2020 Licensing International Excellence Awards revealed in virtual awards ceremony

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The winners of the 2020 Licensing International Excellence Awards have been revealed in the industry’s first virtual awards ceremony that brought together nearly 1,000 executives from around the world for the celebrations.

Hosted by Handcraft VP and stand-up comic Marshall Mizrahi, the event saw licensing powerhouse Martha Stewart inducted into the Licensing Hall of Fame.

It also played host to a showcase of this year’s six international Rising Stars in Krystyna Braxton (NFL Players Inc.); Allison Cimino (RockLove); Carolina Garcia Souza (Cinecolor Colombia, representative of The Walt Disney Company); Gao Qiang (Tencent); Hannah Stevens (The Point.1888); and Louis Yenik (Crunchyroll). 

Newly redesigned trophies for both the main Awards and the Hall of Fame were also unveiled at the event, designed by Alternatives and PowerStation Studios, respectively. 

The 23 Awards winners hail from around the globe, including companies from Brazil, France, Germany, Korea, the UK and the US, and were unveiled by 10 leading licensing executives who each brought their own special flair to the event.

The Coca-Cola Company and Sesame Workshop each “took home” multiple trophies – Coca-Cola swept the Food & Beverage categories, winning Best Product for its Coca-Cola-flavoured Tic Tacs in partnership with Ferrero, and picking up the prize for Best Food & Beverage Brand of the Year. Sesame Workshop’s “Sesame Street” was named Best Live-Action Entertainment or Character Brand and also won for its “A Cautionary Tale” promotion with Squarespace. Meanwhile, Wildbrain CPLG was crowned as the first winner in the newly added Best Licensing Agency category. 

A number of companies supported the Licensing International Small Business Global Grants Fund by taking space in the Awards Program, which was made available digitally Monday. Thanks to their contributions, the Grants Fund has raised more than $110,000 to help small businesses in the licensing community impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. 

“This year marks the 35th anniversary of the International Licensing Awards, and while we had of course looked forward to celebrating in person, this virtual gathering was an amazing event,” said Maura Regan, president, Licensing International.

“Perhaps more than ever it was important to celebrate the incredible creativity and innovation of our industry. Seeing the very best work of this industry on display, alongside some of the dynamic executives who drive it, was a powerful reminder that, in the wake of uncertainty, the power of trusted brands and well-known licenses is more critical than ever before.”

The 23 2020 Licensing International Excellence Awards winners are:

Best Licensed Products

  • Apparel/Footwear/Accessories – Vans for David Bowie Apparel & Footwear Range
  • Appliance/Automotive/Housewares/Electronics – Pro-Ject Audio Systems for The Beatles Turntable
  • Toys/Games/Novelties for ages 0 to 8 – WowWee for Pinkfong Baby Shark Song Puppets
  • Apps/Software/Video games – Story Toys / Touch Press for LEGO Duplo World App
  • Food/Beverage – The Coca-Cola Company / Ferrero for Coca-Cola Tic Tac
  • Health and Beauty Aids – Lipsmacker for Crayola Lip Care Line
  • Home Decor – Dreamtex Ltd for National Geographic Recycled Bedding
  • Publishing/Back-to-School – Party City – Pantone’s 2019 Color of the Year Partygoods & Tableware
  • Toys/Games/Novelties for ages 8+ – LEGO for Stranger Things Lego Set

Best Licensed Brands

  • Art/Designs/Celebrity/Fashion Brand – V&A by Victoria & Albert Museum 
  • Digital/ App/ Video Game Brand – Brown & Friends by LINE Friends
  • Corporate Brand – Cat by Caterpillar  
  • Entertainment/Character Brand: Animated – Peppa Pig by eOne / Hasbro
  • Entertainment/Character Brand: Live Action – Sesame Street by Sesame Workshop
  • Food/Beverage/Restaurant Brand – Coca-Cola by The Coca-Cola Company
  • Sports/Collegiate Brand – Rugby World Cup by World Rugby / IMG

Other Awards

  • Best Licensed Promotion – Squarespace & Sesame Street “A Cautionary Tale”
  • Best Licensed Collaboration – SpongeBob Squarepants x Nike x Kyrie Irving
  • Best Experiential or Location-Based Initiative – The Very Hungry Caterpillar at the Royal Horticultural Society
  • Best Retailer for a Character/Entertainment Initiative – Galeries Lafayette for Batman 
  • Best Retailer for a Corporate/Lifestyle/Sports Initiative – NBA Stores Brazil 
  • Best Licensing Agency – Wildbrain CPLG
  • The Newcomer Award – Harrogate Tipple Ltd for Downton Abbey Gin & Whisky

 

Fortnite takes on Apple and Google as the gaming sensation is removed from app stores

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Video gaming phenomenon, Fortnite has been removed from both Apple and Google’s app stores after the game’s publisher Epic Games introduced a new method of making in-game purchases that avoid the tech giants’ own payment platforms.

Launched on Thursday this week, the games developer issued an update that meant players who purchase in-game items such as skins and weapons through its direct payment process would receive a 20 per cent discount, encouraging them to make their purchases outside of Apple and Google’s systems.

“Currently, when using Apple and Google payment options, Apple and Google collect a 30 percent fee and the up to 20 percent price drop does not apply,” the company wrote in a blog post published this week. “If Apple or Google lower their fees on payments in the future, Epic will pass along the savings to you.”

Both Apple and Google retaliated to the move by removing Fortnite from their app stores within hours of the announcement. Apple said Epic had taken the “unfortunate step of violating the App Store guidelines”, while Google, in a statement issued yesterday, said that “we have consistent policies that are fair to developers to keep the store safe for users.

“While Fortnite remains available on Android, we can no longer make it available on Play because it violates our policies.”

Epic Games was quick to react to Apple’s removal with a lawsuit against the company, calling it a “behemoth seeking to control markets, block competition, and stifle innovation.” It said that its goal was to “end Apple’s unfair and anti-competitive actions.” Epic is not seeking monetary compensation but injunctive relief “to allow fair competition in these two key markets that directly affect hundreds of millions of consumers and tens of thousands, if not more, third party app developers.”

“Apple and Google run the operating systems of pretty much all of the phones in the world. That means they get to choose who can run apps on their stores, and who can’t. They also get to set the charges,” said the BBC’s technology reporter, James Calyton.

Many developers believe this 30 per cent charge of in-app purchases is unfair, and Epic Games is hoping for new rulings that would change the way Apple and Google run their app stores.

Epic Games has since taken the fight within the Fortnite game itself with the launch of an information campaign. At 1pm it played a video inside Fortnite that directly attacked Apple’s practices. The video was a parody of Apple’s 1984 commercial, as a colourful Fortnite player runs into a room where black and white figures are watching a video featuring a large talking apple. The players then uses her unicorn staff to destroy the screen. Epic then directed players to use the hashtag #FreeFortnite to show their support.

In a statement, an Apple spokesman said that Epic’s direct payment feature was not reviewed or approved by Apple.

“Today, Epic Games took the unfortunate step of violating the App Store guidelines that are applied equally to every developer and designed to keep the store safe for our users. As a result their Fortnite app has been removed from the store.”

Thursday evening saw Epic also file a lawsuit against Google.

In a statement, Apple said the rules were applied equally to every developer but added that it would try to work with Epic to bring Fortnite back, but not without noting that:

“Epic has had apps on the App Store for a decade, and have benefited from the App Store ecosystem – including its tools, testing, and distribution that Apple provides to all developers.

“Epic agreed to the App Store terms and guidelines freely and we’re glad they’ve built such a successful business on the App Store. The fact that their business interests now lead them to push for a special arrangement does not change the fact that these guidelines create a level playing field for all developers and make the store safe for all users.”

 

Octane5 to talk brand staying power in latest webinar with Caterpillar

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Octane5 is preparing to dive into the weeds with the corporate licensing powerhouse Caterpillar this month, in the fourth instalment of its ongoing webinar series of fireside discussions with leading names and brands across the licensing industry. The series kicked off in May this year as a means to maintain communication throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.

On Thursday, August 20th, Octane5 will be joined by Kenny Beaupre, brand advocacy and licensing manager at Caterpillar to tackle topics including just how an industrial equipment company become one of the most recognisable and powerful brands in licensing.

Caterpillar is the recent recipient of a 2020 Licensing International Excellence Award, taking home the win in the Corporate Brand category. Topics up for discussion will include, what gives a brand staying power? How do some brands get permission from their fans to move from their core permission naturally? And what does it take to run a world-class licensing programme?

Also joining the webinar will be Linne Kimball, VP Strategic Partnerships at The Life is Good Company, sharing how Life is Good leverages licensing to help vulnerable kids.

“We’re all working and communicating differently this year and the team at Octane5 has tried to support our remote work environment with educational offerings,” said a representative from Octane5.

“In May, Octane5 started their free monthly webinar series to provide insights into some area of licensing best practices. The August webinar features Kenny Beaupre, head of licensing at Caterpillar, to talk about building a powerhouse brand.”

For more info on Octane5 webinars, check out their LinkedIn page, www.Octane5.com or email info@octane5.com to be added to their mailing list of upcoming webinars.