Kindle releases Big and Small app

Kindle Entertainment will launch an iApp for CBeebies' series Big and Small on Apple iTunes UK on April 1.

The app was developed by Ace Games and features video clips and songs from the series, as well as sound effects from the two main characters.

Kindle Entertainment has targeted the iPhone as an emerging platform for its IP.

Viz launches online portal for anime fans

San Francisco-based VIZ Media, which specializes in Japanese manga and animated content, has launched VIZ Anime, a free-to-use interactive website and viewing portal for some of the company's well-known animated series as well as new content, which will be added on a weekly basis.

VIZ Anime kicks off with more than 400 episodes from series such as Bleach, Buso Renkin, Death Note, Hikaru No Go, Honey & Clover, Inuyasha, Inuyasha: The Final Act, Naruto Shippuden and The Prince of Tennis. More series launching this year will be added to the site.

Interactive social networking tools, with the aim of fostering an online community, will allow VIZ Media anime fans to connect and discuss favorite shows and offer ratings and opinions of various episodes. New functionalities will be added regularly. Users will also be able to follow as many series as they like and choose to be notified each time a new episode is released, as well as keep track of the last episode they've watched.

Target inks more licensing deals for PlayStation IPs

London-based Target Entertainment has lined up several new Euro licensing deals for a number of Sony Playstation properties.

Impact International has signed a deal to create a range of products based on the action/adventure game Ratchet and Clank, including plush, beanies, keychains and bobbleheads. Impact will also develop figurines from Buzz!, the interactive, social quiz show game and one of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe's biggest franchises, across the EMEA territories. The licenses for both IPs cover the UK, Eire and the Middle East.

Licensing interest in PlayStation's older-skewing action games is also starting to build. DC Comics has signed a worldwide deal to produce figurines based on the action combat game Killzone, while in France, Talents Distribution now holds the apparel and accessories license for God of War in that territory.

Sony readies motion controller for PS3

Sony Computer Entertainment will release its much-anticipated PlayStation Move motion controller for its PS3 this fall.

The new controller offers a motion-based, HD gaming experience, and will be augmented with a sub-controller that can be used along with the primary controller for intuitive navigation of in-game characters and objects.

The combination of the PS3 system and PlayStation Eye will allow users to intuitively play as if they are within the game. PlayStation Move motion controller uses a three-axis gyroscope, a three-axis accelerometer, and a terrestrial magnetic field sensor, as well as a color-changing sphere that is tracked by PlayStation Eye camera to create 3-D illusions.

No pricing information has been released for the new product.

The controller has already caught the attention of third-party developers including Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, The Saul Zaentz Company and New Line Productions, which have just announced the launch of The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest videogame. The family-friendly game will be supported by the motion controller technology and is based on the films and literature of The Lord of the Rings trilogy. The title ships to North American retailers this fall.

NPD finds hours spent on online gaming are up by 10% this year

According to Port Washington, New York-based research firm The NPD Group, the average number of hours spent each week on online gaming in the US has increased by 10% since 2009 and an average of 20% of all games purchased by online gamers were digitally downloaded.

The average number of hours spent per week on online gaming has risen from 7.3 hours per week in 2009 to 8.0 hours per week in 2010.

According to the report, 71% of online gamers reported that they purchased or received games over the holiday season, which suggest that there was no significant decrease in that number over previous years.

Animax Tapped to Build Ty Girlz brand online

Plush manufacturer Ty Inc., home of Beanie Babies, has signed digital entertainment agency Animax Entertainment to manage the online work for its Ty Girlz brand.

The partnership launches today with a new online advertising-supported free-to-play virtual world targeting tween girls.

There are virtual goods, new online games and activities, support for micropayments and a new loyalty program. Original entertainment, licensed merch, online media and mobile devices and other social network platforms for moms and kids are all part of the program.

Introduced in April of 2007, the Ty Girlz brand launched with a line of tween-targeted fashion dolls; the virtual world dedicated to girls and can be found at http://www.ty.com.

Teletoon launches Stoked Interactive in time for new eps

Working together with long-time collaborators Fresh TV and broadcaster Teletoon Canada, marblemedia has launched Stoked Interactive (www.teletoon.com/stoked/en) to coincide with the March 4 premiere of new episodes and push to the second season premiere this September.

Together with Teletoon Canada, marblemedia has built up the site to expand on the series' surfer culture vibe, which includes more indie music, irreverent quips and a chance to interact with the characters. Features currently available include a character-driven messaging activity, Meet the Groms and Stoked Radio. In development are new features that will allow the website to grow through to April 2010, when fans will be introduced to the Rippin' Remixer, a music video editing module, and Grom Life, a social simulation game where players become an original Grom.

Stoked Interactive is produced in association with Teletoon Canada and with the financial participation of Telefilm Canada and the Canadian Television Fund. This online experience, along with the television series, is available for licensing via Cake Entertainment.

Stoked follows six teens from across Canada who travel to Sunset Island, B.C. for a summer of sun, sea, sand and, most importantly, surf. Working at a luxury resort they find that their plans for an endless summer of surfing might not be all that they hoped when, instead of a surfer's paradise, they find a tacky tourist resort with rude guests, a run-down staff house and itchy, hideous uniforms.

For fans of the French version of the series, teletoon.com has launched a French version of the site (www.teletoon.com/stoked/fr).

Disney Interactive Studios releases Alice game

Alice in Wonderland, the video game from Disney Interactive Studios based on the new Tim Burton movie, is available at retail for the Wii, Nintendo DS and Windows PC.

The Wii and PC versions feature an upgradeable combat system, in which players collect "impossible ideas" to unlock Wonderland's secrets.

The DS version allows players to control a cast of Alice's friends to guide her and combat the legions of the Red Queen's army.

Nintendo DSi players will be able to use the system's camera to detect colors mapped to unlockable content when tasks are completed. Also included in the DS version is DGamer, the online community exclusive to Disney gamers on Nintendo DS, allowing players to connect with others and unlock additional items in their DS game.

Disney Interactive hatches new DS Club Penguin game

Disney Interactive Studios has announced the development of Club Penguin: Elite Penguin Force - Herbert's Revenge, the sequel to the 2008 Nintendo DS game based on Disney's MMOG Club Penguin.

The original DS game was released holiday 2008 and went on to sell 1.5 million units worldwide. The new title will feature mini-games and mission-based game play that reflects both ClubPenguin.com and the previous DS title.

The Club Penguin MMOG is available in more than 190 countries in English, Portuguese, French and Spanish versions.

The new title is being developed by 1st Playable Productions and will be available by this summer.

AGP kicks off global Strawberry sites, gets new marketing exec

American Greetings Properties has launched a new network of 14 websites across the globe for its iconic Strawberry Shortcake property and her new home, Berry Bitty City, mirroring the official US site at www.strawberryshortcake.com.

The network of sites offers a range of games, activities, downloads and videos, where girls can visit different locations in Berry Bitty City, with production services provided by North South Studios.

Meanwhile, Gabrielle Oliff has joined the American Greetings Properties team as marketing director. She comes to the company from The Beanstalk Group, where she served as brand director, and her resume boasts experience from HIT Entertainment and Fisher-Price in the areas of marketing, branding and licensing on IPS such as Seventeen Magazine, Winnie the Pooh, Thomas the Tank Engine and Angelina Ballerina. Her new position will see her responsible for building brand awareness and the licensing portfolio for AGP's portfolio of properties, including Strawberry Shortcake, Care Bears and Holly Hobbie.

People moves: Sesame names new media exec

Looking to leverage social media to extend Sesame Workshop's reach and influence, the nonprofit org has hired Daniel N. Lewis to director of new media communications.

His new position will see him responsible for creating and implementing comprehensive strategies in social media. Lewis comes to the Workshop as a consultant for new media, marketing and biz development, advising start-ups on executing partnership and distribution deals, audience development, community management, and search engine optimization. He was also general counsel and VP of business development for Wikia.

Global vidgame sales take a hit in 2009

Even the mighty video game industry had trouble keeping up in 2009, as overall software sales in the US, UK and Japan - its largest markets - saw an 8% dip last year.

The data comes from Top Global Markets, an integrated monthly report from The NPD Group, GfK Chart-Track Limited and Enterbrain. The 2% decline of software unit sales in Japan was softer when compared to the US and UK, which saw respective decreases of 7% and 14%.

NPD industry analyst Anita Frazier notes that year-over-year comparisons show declines, but the industry is still moving significant volumes unseen before 2008. She says that because of the large investment needed to produce software for the latest set of consoles, several publishers are talking about releasing fewer titles each year to allow their teams to focus on maximizing the success of each title. But the year-end data shows the number of titles entering the market is still growing (778 new titles in 2009, up from 764 in 2008).

Nintendo Wii games dominate the top-five video game titles, but they couldn't nudge the popular Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, which sold 11.86 million units at US retail, from the top spot. It was followed by Wii Sports Resort (7.57 million, US), New Super Mario Bros. Wii (7.41 million, US), Wii Fit Plus (5.80 million) and Wii Fit (5.44 million).

DHX Interactive brings Living Stories to iPhone

It looks like Living Stories will soon come to life on the iPhone and iPod Touch, as DHX Interactive launches a series of preschool-targeted animated storybook apps.

Hans Christian Andersen's The Princess and the Pea and King Midas are the first in the lineup, now available at the iTunes App Store for US$1.99 and feature full English-language narration with illustrations. Readers can also record their own voices to narrate the books.

Complete Control gives Dora and Diego an online makeover at NickJr.co.uk

Looking to create a more engaging online experience for preschoolers and their parents, Dora and Diego's websites at www.nickjr.co.uk have gotten an overhaul to improve site structure and overall navigation.

Nickelodeon UK collaborated with kids interactive prodco Complete Control, which saw a redevelopment of the subsections shows, fun & games, and make & do, incorporating a more user-friendly interface, as well as creating a "super footer" solution to improve search engine performance, resulting in traffic to Dora website increasing by 457% since its re-launch.

Other properties to receive a similar update this month include Angelina Ballerina and Peppa Pig.

Sesame launches Elmo iApp

Elmo's Monster Maker App is the second Sesame Street iPhone/iPod Touch app to hit the market from The Workshop.

Produced with design and innovation consultancy Ideo, the App lets users make their own monster and send it to a friend. Upon completion, Elmo will dance and play with the monster.

Elmo's Monster Maker App is available for US$3.99 at the iTunes App Store.

guru and zinc Roe team up on Justin Time

Currently in production on preschool series Justin Time for Family Channel Canada, Toronto-based guru studio has partnered with kids interactive house zinc Roe to develop an online interactive component based on the series.

guru is looking build an online and mobile components for a 2011 launch, with the series set to debut in spring 2011.

Ben 10 and Top Trumps get new iApp

Turner Broadcasting EMEA and Winning Moves are joining forces to bring two of their brands together on a new iPhone App.

The Ben 10 Top Trumps iApp is now available for download at the Apple app store. Top Trumps is the first iPhone app released by the game's makers, and the branded game already exists as a physical games pack, having sold more than 600,000 units in the UK.

The app is developed by Acrossair, makers of the Nearest Tube and TVGuide.co.uk apps, and will include a pack of 30 character cards, which lets users play against their phone or a Bluetooth multiplayer version.

For more information visit: http://www.cartoonnetwork.co.uk/ben10toptrumps

THQ and Sony team up on Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune vidgames

Thanks to a new deal between Agoura Hills, California-based THQ and Sony Pictures Consumer Products, game show properties Jeopardy! And Wheel of Fortune will be joining the gameco's Kids, Family and Casual games lineup.

The two-year licensing agreement gives THQ the exclusive worldwide rights to develop and publish games based the game show IPs for the Nintendo Wii, DS, DSi, along with options for additional platforms. It plans to release the first games later this year.

Disney and Common Sense Media join forces on kids digital safety

A new partnership between Disney and Common Sense Media will see the two working together to build an internet and digital safety campaign for kids, tweens and parents.

Included in the initiative is a PSA and website featuring characters from Disney's Phineas and Ferb, which will support CSM's Rules of the Road for smart and safe digital media use, with tips on guarding privacy and protecting online identities, balancing cyber time thinking before texting or posting material online.

The PSA will air tonight on Disney Channel and Disney XD in the US and then go into daily rotation on both channels. Disney Online has also created a companion website at www.disney.com/commonsense, which will include the PSA and a guide for parents to teach responsible online behavior.

People moves: Tribal Nova ups exec to CEO

Eric Brassard will be stepping up to helm the role of Montreal, Canada-based virtual world company Tribal Nova.

Brassard's been with the company since 2008 as EVP of marketing, and his nomination to CEO comes as Tribal Nova turns its focus on Woozworld, a virtual world created and controlled by kids ages nine to 15 worldwide, and Tribal Nova Kids, which develops and markets online gaming and VOD services or children aged three to nine.

Under the new structure, the exec ranks are also getting a shuffle. Pierre Le Lann will step up as EVP, strategic partnerships, and Guillaume Aniorté will serve as president of Tribal Nova Kids. Meanwhile, Brassard will also act as president of the Woozworld division.