Screentime launches Underbelly video game
The production company behind the Underbelly franchise has added a new product with mobile device game Underbelly: Skirmish.
Created by game and transmedia producers The Project Factory with game developers Epiphany Games for series producers Screentime, the game is available on iPhones, iPads, and soon to be launched on Android.
The game pits a police special task force against crime syndicate The Rough Company with the gamer either playing the role of police commander or crime boss.
Guy Gadney, of the The Project Factory told Mumbrella: “We’ve been friendly with Screentime for a while and they were realising the audience wanted a game of Underbelly. The whole thing came about organically and it built from there.
Refresh me again as to why a drama series based on real events becomes a game.
*tumbleweed*
I think this is a real missed opportunity. I guess it’s probably easier to make a mobile based game, but the graphics and gameplay look horrendously boring. This could have been implemented in to an amazing first person shooter on additional game platforms (PS3/Xbox/PC) albiet I’m sure the cost would have been significantly more.
But the thought of running around Australian cities, with white cop cars, and our landmarks would get any Aussie gamer excited I think! The story lines throughout all of the Underbelly series have always been terrific, and morphing that into a game where would could select the criminal or law enforcement paths would provide hours of terrific game play.
For each series that is made, an expansion pack could be created (see GTA franchise) and this could have been a huge revenue stream for Underbelly franchise.
There’s already an app for running around Australian cities following an Underbelly story – see Razorhurst.com.au