Lack of Twilight Game Losing Potential Millions

It seems like everything has a cheaply made, rushed out tie-in game these days. Hell, there’s even a Build-a-Bear Workshop game. But one major multimedia cash cow hasn’t really taken advantage of the videogame medium yet: Twilight.

Other than a Twilight themed edition of Scene It released in the UK on Friday, there really hasn’t been a game based on Stephenie Meyer’s will she, won’t she, vampires vs. werewolves teen melodrama.

In an interview with MCV, Games Investor Consulting analyst Nick Gibson said someone is missing out on a huge payday. “Given how hot a property it is, Twilight could easily present a seven-figure exploitation opportunity, especially if publishers look at taking it beyond retail gaming and considers network gaming,” Gibson said.

Gibson thinks the lack of a strong push for a game might have more to do with the license holders than the license itself. “It may well be that the rights holders aren’t aware of the potential benefits as they haven’t explored the games market before,” he said. “It’s not unheard of – although it is increasingly unusual in this day and age.”

One of the more interesting points Gibson makes is that whichever publisher does eventually pick up a Twilight game should consider skipping the Xbox 360 and PS3 altogether and focus on the Wii and DS versions, saying the more casual market is where he thinks the game would have the greatest success.

“The brand’s appeal could actually extend significantly beyond the expected teen girl market and into the 20- to 30-year-old female market, which has a very substantial crossover into gaming,” Gibson said.

It’s worth noting that BrainJunk Studios has acquired the license to develop a Twilight themed videogame, but little else is known at this point, other than that it won’t be an MMORPG and that Summit Entertainment is expected to publish. And they do still have time, as there are two more movies in the works, due to be released over the next few years.

So someone will probably end up making a good deal of money on a Twilight game. God save us.