Bischoff Hervey Entertainment Division Lands David Hasselhoff for Gaming

LOS ANGELES -- MX Digital, a game developer co-owned by Bischoff Hervey Entertainment Television (BHE TV) announced the upcoming launch of “The Hoff” series of games, starring pop culture icon and celebrity David Hasselhoff. The game is slated for a Valentine’s Day release online in the UK, with Hasselhoff appearing at promotional events and interviews in London. “We’re scheduled to do a meet and greet with players, and stream a live video interview on Facebook, Friday, 8 February,” noted Mr. Hasselhoff.

“We’re very excited about Mr. Hasselhoff joining our catalog of celebrity and branded content,” says Eric Bischoff, co-founder of BHE TV. “David is a perfect example of MX Digital Gaming's strategy of identifying relevant brands and introducing them to the market within unique, cutting edge games.”Established in 2008, MX Digital is a leading developer of interactive. With offices in Los Angeles, Buenos Aries, and Miami, MX develops and distributes games in more than 20 countries. With a heavy focus on proven brands, they are industry-leaders in game design, game marketing and promotion. “The Hoff” games are produced in coordination with London-based OpenBet, a leading games-platform and distributor reaching an audience of more than 25 million players in the UK alone.

The first two versions of “The Hoff” are aimed at the online casino market in Europe in the first quarter of 2013, an audience well known for their affinity for the star of Knight Rider and Baywatch.

The majority of industry analysts anticipate significant near-term growth for online gambling, both in the United States and worldwide, with growth rates of 40% per year already common in Europe. Globally, the sector is currently worth an estimated $380 billion per year.“The response 'The Hoff' has gotten in the marketplace has been phenomenal. Our pre-sales and distribution agreements have exceeded all our expectations. We originally planned to launch a single game, but ended up creating several spinoffs,” added MX Digital’s Director of Business, Ike McFadden.“Hasselhoff has a unique appeal to our audience, and his active participation in the game and the marketing has been a real differentiator for us. In addition to the game, he’s worked with us to produce exclusive songs and music videos to promote the project. 'The Hoff' looks likely to be one of the most widely-distributed games in the sector for this year,” added McFadden.In the past 12 months, the market for social gambling games has doubled to $1.6 billion worldwide, making it one of the fastest growing social game genres. Today it accounts for almost a quarter of total social gaming revenue globally.²Immediately following the European release, a social-media version of “The Hoff” will hit Facebook.MX Digital is represented by CAA in Los Angeles.

Source: Press Release

The Hoff to make an appearance at G2E

As well as attending G2E in person, David Hasselhoff (also known as The Hoff) will also make an appearance with OpenBet and MX Digital as part of the release of the branded slot and scratchcard games. Following the G2E welcome reception party, he will join OpenBet and MX Digital to meet and greet the gaming industry on October 2 between 1.30 and 2.30pm at booth 3965.Aimed primarily at the bingo and casino markets and available in numerous different skins, the main concept of the games will be to help The Hoff’s character along his quest of becoming a millionaire celebrity, including twists along the way. Various free spins and a super wild feature will also boost player retention and chances of winning the main prize.The Hoff will be united with various other celebrities on the OpenBet platform, including the rest of the cast of Baywatch and Hulk Hogan. Partnering with companies such as MX Digital, allows OpenBet to ensure that its content remains fresh and gives access to a world of showbiz celebrities.David Loveday at OpenBet commented: "The Hoff brand was an instant success with OpenBet casino and bingo customers. His iconic character lends itself perfectly to a wide range of players who enjoy playing celebrity-endorsed games. Working with the very best partners in the industry enables us to bring fresh, innovative and, most importantly, fun content to our customers."Actor, singer and producer David Hasselhoff added: “I am really excited to be working with the gaming industry. With the OpenBet and MX Digital team, we’ve created two great looking games that should excite players around the world.”Ike McFadden, director of business at MX Digital, said: "There is a real market for celebrity endorsed content and they don’t get much bigger than The Hoff. We have worked closely with David to create some truly engaging content and are confident that his larger than life personality will be easily transferred into these compelling online casino games."

Source: Intergame Online