Tiga to unite developers with book publishers

Tiga is to attempt to build links with developers and book publishers with its new Creative Industry Switch online initiative, which is due to launched at The Bookseller Children’s Conference next month.

The project hopes to benefit both sectors by encouraging deals that will see more children’s books re-imaged as video game properties. While a number of children’s books have inspired interactive adaptations, when compared to movies and television, there is still ample space to expand with regard to licensed deals.

As reported by The Bookseller, Tiga’s project manager Lorna Evans said: “There is great enthusiasm within the games industry to work with other creative industries, particularly publishing, and this initiative will help to get them talking to each other.”

Walker­ Books, a relative giant in the print publishing sector, recently hired Midway’s Paul Rhodes as its head of digital, which has been reported as a sign that the game and book industry’s are beginning the kind of convergence typified by the relationship shared by cinema and interactive media. Rhodes is quoted by The Bookseller as having stated that collaboration between the industries “makes a huge amount of sense".

Revolution’s Charles Cecil also talked up the possible fusion of industries: “Other people have great skills in the linear medium. It will do our industry enormous good if we can pull these industry parties in so they can teach us about their skills, but within the context of the interactive media."

The Bookseller Children’s Conference takes place on Thursday 1st October and will address a number of retail and digital initiatives.