MUMBAI: Turner International India has entered into an exclusive partnership with Zapak Digital Entertainment, the Reliance ADAG company, to market and distribute Cartoon Network’s popular Multiplayer Online Games (MOGs).
The partnership will see, among others, the launch of Ben 10 Omniverse: Rise of the Heroes and a new version of Toon Football.
As the exclusive marketing and distribution partner for these Cartoon Network’s games, Zapak will provide support to Ben 10 Omniverse: Rise of the Heroes and Toon Football via promotional activities, gaming tournaments and customised retail promotions across Zapak Gameplexes and private cafes across 35 cities.
Zapak will promote the two games heavily on Zapak.com. In addition, Zapak will also act as a premium payment partner integrating the games into payment channels including credit and debit cards and electronic coupon purchase in Zapak gameplexes.
As part of the deal, Turner will leverage Zapak’s promotional channels to expand the reach of Cartoon Network’s online gaming experience nationwide. Zapak will also support the launch of CN Coins game cards, the toon currency designed for the youth gaming space in India.
CN Coins will be available at more than 100 Zapak’s gaming café networks – Zapak Gameplex along with 500 other private cafes across 35 cities in the country for consumers to access and enjoy these games.
In Cartoon Network’s kids’ lifestyle survey New Generations, results showed that 34 per cent of kids aged 7-14 who surf the net list playing multi-player online games as their favourite activity, followed by 19 per cent who listed individual online gaming as their favourite online activity.
Director for Turner Entertainment Interactive Media executive director and TurnOut Ventures GM Benjamin Grubbs said, “India is a priority market for us so our partnership is a win-win for both Turner and Zapak. The alliance expands the distribution of Cartoon Network games and associated payment options as it leverages Zapak’s enviable network of promotional channels.”
Reliance Big Entertainment CEO Digital business Rohit Sharma added, “The kids aged 15 and below contribute to over 20 per cent of traffic on Zapak.com. They serve as one of the stickiest users on the site. Ben 10 is an extremely popular Cartoon Network toon star amongst kids in India while Sports has always been one of the most popular genres of gaming. Hence this partnership with Turner for Ben 10 Omniverse: Rise of the Heroes and Toon Football is to offer the very best to our growing kids segment. With the launch of the first time ever Toon currency - CN Coins game cards, we believe that it will give the smart kids in India a chance to manage their transactions wisely.”
