Finnish developer Tunnel Ground is set to expand into North America and 50-million-player market in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) this summer with Void of Heroes, a new games and comics IP, and partners in the US and MENA region.
The Void of Heroes franchise includes the studio’s mobile apps and a comic published by Cosmic Times, Tunnel Ground’s US partner. By purchasing the printed comic, players can unlock new features, abilities and information that contribute to the plot of the game. The Void of Heroes app will also provide a sales channel for earlier comics from Cosmic Times.
The Void of Heroes business model will be further enhanced by an online marketing application based on social media sharing and QR code technology, combining print and digital media in order to provide information on products, gift code campaigns, the nearest retailers and forthcoming events.
Preview the Void of Heroes comic here.
Tunnel Ground’s MENA partner is MBC, a media giant that owns the eight most popular TV channels in the region, with a viewer base of 200 million people in 19 countries, and partners in China and Taiwan that include several telephone operators and device manufacturers. The MBC mobile game platform will introduce Tunnel Ground’s games to over 50 million players.
“We are thrilled (to sign) a US publishing agreement that we have been working hard for the past couple of years. We could not be in a better place!” says Tunnel Ground CEO Jukka Planman. “In addition to securing the publishing (contract), we have an intriguing in-game sales platform for physical products, (to further develop) the Void of Heroes comic and game. To our delight the technology and content will first see daylight in the main market for entertainment, the United States.”
Check out the latest tech demo:
Void of Heroes is slated for release in summer 2015. The core technology for Tunnel Ground’s Void of Heroes platform has been developed in a project funded by Tekes (the Finnish funding agency for innovation) and Finnish investors.
For more information visit www.voidofheroes.com. Follow the game on Facebook here and Twitter here.
About Tunnel Ground
Helsinki-based Tunnel Ground was founded in October 2012. The company creates episodic content for different media channels. Previously Tunnel Ground paperback comics have been published in Finland by LIKE Publishing, and the company has leading publisher and channel partners in China and Taiwan for its mobile games. Tunnel Ground mobile games and digital comics are also available as apps and ebooks internationally.
For more information visit www.tunnelground.com.
About Cosmic Times
Established in 2008, Florida-based Cosmic Times is a rapidly growing publisher with an acclaimed line of titles crossing multiple genres. The company also has a strong retail and advertising network, as well as continuous presence on the comic conventions circuit.
To learn more visit www.cosmictimes.net.
About MBC
Dubai-based MBC Group (Middle East Broadcasting Center) is the largest and leading private media company in the MENA region that enriches people’s lives through information, interaction and entertainment.
For more information visit www.mbc.net.
