MCV are reporting that the BBC is returning to the games market. The corporation are looking at bringing familiar brands – including obvious audience fit Doctor Who – onto DS, Wii, iPhone and online. Yes, Xbox and PS3 owners will have to do without Top Gear and In the Night Garden games – unless they arrive on Xbox Live and PSN of course. BBC Worldwide exec Neil Ross Russell explains the thinking behind the change of heart:
We are open to conversations with anybody in games about all kinds of business models to see how we can extract more value. Outside of Disney we have the most well-known line-up of children's characters around the world.
Ok, hype aside this makes all makes sense. I have two young children who are regularly hypnotised by the Cbeebies games. Dragging these kind of brands onto DS and the rest is a no-brainer. But let's face it, the track record for BBC branded games is mixed. Dr Who games have invariably been rubbish for example. Will things be different this time?
What about retro too? Surely there must be some value in older shows - maybe a Dad's Army RTS game? A Grange Hill kart racer with Zammo against Tucker? Anyway let's help them out. Which BBC "key IP" – or TV programmes to you and me – from the past and present do you think would make good games?
