Now this is interesting. With the amount of celebrity and notoriety that Erik Prince brings to the table, this would make financial sense to actually produce a video game. These things are huge money makers, and by having Mr. Prince’s blessing for such a thing, could really elevate the interest in the game and equate to sales.
I compare it to football players or sports coaches endorsing video games. These folks are inserted into the story and visual effects of the game, and give the player a feeling that they are actually playing for that team. It is also why players love first person shooter games that are endorsed by former special forces troopers. Call it the John Madden Effect. lol
So what kind of money are we talking about for video games? Just look at how much money Call of Duty: Black Ops made? It set a record on it’s first day of release, making 360 million dollars! As of February of this year, the total amount earned was well over a billion dollars! Who knows where it is at now and you get the picture.
The other thing I wanted to mention is that video games rival movies these days, for the amount of money they make and for the entertainment value. A game like this can also give Mr. Prince a chance to do some serious strategic communications by showing every player that plays this game, exactly the kind of complex environments companies like this operate in. Video games, like movies, can also benefit from any publicity associated with the thing. So events in the UAE, or wherever, are actually excellent means of driving up the brand name called ‘Blackwater’. –Matt
Infamous Real-Life Mercenaries To Star In Blackwater, The Video Game
By Owen Good
June 8, 2011
Blackwater Worldwide, the real-life mercenary team linked to the killing of civilians and noncombatants in Iraq during US operations there, will be the subject of a Kinect-supported video game coming to the Xbox 360 later this year.
Published by 505 Games and titled, simply, Blackwater, the game is being produced in consultation with the private security contractor’s founder, the former Navy SEAL Erik Prince.
A news release called it “an intense, cinematic shooter experience”, set in a fictional North African town, in which players, as Blackwater operatives, battle two warlords’ factions to protect the city.
“This game and its immersive Kinect-based approach will give players the chance to experience what it is like to be on a Blackwater team on a mission without being dropped into a real combat situation,” Prince said in a statement issued by 505. The game was developed with in conjunction with former Blackwater members “to ensure accuracy of moves, gestures and gameplay,” the 505 release said. “The game also features a selection of officially-licensed weapons for your soldier to choose from.”