TOKYO: Bandai Namco, one of the world’s largest gaming zone has decided to let other game developers to use its IP for creating new games. Bandai Namco has some of the world’s most popular gaming IPs.
When a video games developer or publisher ends up owning some very popular intellectual property (IP), they tend to guard it closely. Unfortunately, that can lead to a lack of games or indeed innovation using that IP, and gamers are the ones to suffer because of it. Bandai Namco seems to have realized this, and is doing something about the problem.
In total, 17 sets of gaming IP are now available for use outside of Bandai Namco. They include:
Adventure of Valkyrie
Battle City
DigDug
Dragon Buster
Galaga
Galaxian
Genpei Toma Den
Mappy
Pac-Man
Shadow Land
Sky Kid
Star Luster
The Tower of Druaga
Tower of Babel
Wagan Land
Wonder Momo
Xevious
Just as surprising as Bandai Namco deciding to do this is the lack of restrictions being placed on the IP’s use. Other Japanese developers can opt to create games for everything from browsers and smartphones to gaming handhelds, consoles, PC, and even newly emerging devices such as HDMI TV sticks. The content is also entirely up to the developer.
Of course, Bandai Namco intends to keep an eye on each project. A third-party developer will need to submit a proposal for a game and have it greenlit, but after that a hands-off approach will be taken. There will also be some kind of royalty/payment agreement that benefits both parties.
For gamers, it could mean a whole host of new and novel games using some of gaming’s best known characters. And for Bandai Namco there’s the opportunity to kickstart some of its IP that has seen better days in terms of new content on the latest gaming devices. Finally, it’s also an opportunity for some up-and-coming Japanese indie developers to get creative and potentially earn a lot of money in the process.
