Step Into My (American) Office

[fitbabits]

In a move which can best be summed up by a blank stare right into camera and a pithy response, MumboJumbo has just announced its working on a game based on the American version of The Office for PC, PSP and DS...

Here's the press release:

DALLAS, TX - June 20, 2007 - Premium casual games publisher MumboJumbo today announced a new relationship with the Universal Pictures Digital Platforms Group to develop a mass-market game based on the Emmy Award-winning television series "The Office." Developed and published exclusively by MumboJumbo, The Office game will be available for online download and across multiple game platforms, including PC, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable), and Nintendo DSTM, starting this fall.

"The cast and creators of 'The Office' have done a fantastic job delivering a show with a personality all its own," said Bill Kispert, vice president and general manager, Interactive, Universal Pictures Digital Platforms Group. "MumboJumbo is an innovator in the casual games space, and developing a game with them that combines the quirky characters and humor of the show with a proven, addictive game mechanic we think will be welcomed by fans and casual game players alike."
...continues below...

[fitbabits]

...continues...

"We are honored that NBC Universal has chosen us to be their partner for this exciting new project," said Mark Cottam, chief executive officer of MumboJumbo. "We look forward to working closely with their team to ensure that the thematic elements of 'The Office' are closely approximated in the development of the video game."

MumboJumbo has vast background in bringing beloved brands to games and will collaborate closely with NBC Universal to create an experience that will further engage fans of "The Office" in the franchise.

About MumboJumboTM

Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, MumboJumbo LLCTM is a worldwide publisher, developer and mass marketer of premium casual games for PCs and game consoles, including those manufactured by Nintendo, Sony Computer Entertainment and Microsoft Corporation. MumboJumbo games are downloadable at its website as well as key game portals operated by RealNetworksTM, Microsoft, Yahoo! and Big Fish, or purchased at retail through mass merchants, computer retailers and specialty outlets. MumboJumbo owns and operates three studios located in Dallas and Los Angeles, and publishes and distributes software through its subsidiaries in North America and the United Kingdom, as well as regional distributors worldwide. For more information please visit our website at www.mumbojumbo.com.

About Universal Pictures Digital Platforms Group

Universal Pictures Digital Platforms (UPDPG) is responsible for global digital product development, production, licensing, distribution, and growth strategy for the extensive catalogue of Universal's properties across new and emerging digital platforms, including mobile, video game consoles, personal computers, and other portable devices. With a worldwide mandate to help shape the digital future of Universal Pictures, the Group has offices in Universal City, California; London, England; and Tokyo, Japan.

Universal Pictures Digital Platforms Group is a unit of Universal Studios Home Entertainment and Universal Pictures. Universal Pictures is a division of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80% owned by General Electric and 20% owned by Vivendi.

About NBC Universal Television Distribution

NBC Universal is a leader in providing entertainment programming to the domestic and international marketplaces. The NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution division is responsible for the distribution of NBC Universal product to all forms of television within the U.S. and Canada. This includes distribution of current and library film and television product, including formats and non-scripted programming, in the pay, free, and basic markets, as well as the domestic syndication of first-run syndicated TV programs and theatrical and TV movie packages.

About the Series

"The Office" is executive-produced by Ben Silverman, Greg Daniels (who developed the series for American television), Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, and Howard Klein. The series is a production of NBC Universal Television in association with Reveille LLC. Since its premiere on NBC in March 2005, "The Office" has established itself as a genuine hit, earning prestigious television honors such as the 2006 Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series, 2006 Peabody Award, 2006 AFI Honor, Producers Guild Award, Writers Guild Award, SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy and 2006 Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy (Steve Carell). "The Office" airs Thursdays on NBC

About fitbabits

Born in Irvine, Scotland, fitbabits has led a rather interesting life. Part owned by his mother and Walker's Shortbread, fitbabits moved to the USA to pursue his dreams of becoming fertile.
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[violentp]

Step into my office.
Why?
Cause you're fucking fired!

20 points and todays internet winner for the reference.

[mkelehan]

I don't like press releases that give you no clue as to the genre of the game. This leads me to believe that the genre hasn't even been decided, so we'll see something totally whipped together.

[Slowpc]

Step into my office.
Why?
Cause you're fucking fired!

20 points and todays internet winner for the reference.

There's something about Mary??? ;)

[violentp]

There's something about Mary??? ;)

You sir, are my best friend today.

[Slowpc]

woohoo!!! ;)

[Ravana]

I love the show, but how on earth can you translate this into a game? There can't be missions, because well, nothing ever really happens in Dunder Mifflin. Unless you just wander around the building eavesdropping on hilarious conversations. Or perhaps you play the part of the cameraman?

comedy options:
FPS with main character Agent Michael Scarn tracking down and slaying Toby
GTA clone where you deliver paper
"The Office" themed deck for windows solitaire

About "this post"
This post is written by award nominated poster Ravana, and is distributed by the Internet to international and domestic web browsers via evilavatar.com, a leading right-wing Sony propoganda source for emerging African nations. evilavatar.com is 80% owned by shit posters and 20% pwned by 1337 m4d p0st1ng skillz

[Steele Johnson]

One of my favorite shows, but it has got to be one of the stupidest ideas for a game ever. Throw some money my way and I'll design a game that people might want to play.

[Slowpc]

Oh, you heard right. Bobble-head versions of your favorite Dunder Mifflin employees from NBC's The Office will be available for you to play in MumboJumbo's new video game coming out in the fall. The Office game will be accessible as an online download for your PC, PSP, or Nintendo DS. It will play similarly to how Diner Dash does, but would also feature audio and video content from the show.

Playing as Jim, you will have to interact with the other employees at the Scranton office and (I guess) do your job, though I've never really seen Jim do his job on the show. Of course, it's too bad you can only play as Jim. A Trivial Pursuit game based on Dwight's "FACT"s could have been the shit.

Kim Phu

Just for those that might want another idea or something. From ******

[Disgustipated]

Another fucking show that doesn't fucking translate into a fucking videogame.

See: Napoleon Dynamite.

[Pretzel]

There was a Napoleon Dynamite game? Crazy. Just to make that even wierder I'm going to assume it was a turn-based strategy game.

What other shows can we come up with that really wouldn't work as videogames?

[Ravana]

Deadwood

wait, that would be goddamn awesome.

[Tyler Durden84]

like i posted a while back.
What's next? A Desperate Housewives game?
A Pimp My Ride game?

[fitbabits]

like i posted a while back.
What's next? A Desperate Housewives game?
A Pimp My Ride game?
Pimp My Ride has already been done, unfortunately (http://www.metacritic.com/search/process?sort=relevance&termType=all&ts=pimp+my+ride&ty=3&x=0&y=0).

[Wraith]

Love the show. Doubt the game will be worth playing. But I suppose they'll make money off it from casual/non-gamers, simply due to the show's popularity.

I think someone could have made a passable minigames collection with the license, but bobbleheads...ehh.

Joystiq's headline for the story:
The Office video game sounds easy: "That's what she said."

[Rock Bandit]

You people have no imagination. Just because it's based on the show doesn't mean it actually has to have anything to do with the show! Like the Home Improvement game where Tim fought fire-breathing velociraptors.

[kid cabelgo]

like i posted a while back.
What's next? A Desperate Housewives game?
A Pimp My Ride game?

Both already exist.

Here's the housewives one:

http://buenavistagames.go.com/desperatehousewives/

Gaze ye upon the link and despair!

[MaiXu]

That can't even pick the funny version of The Office to turn into a game!

Wouldn't want shovelware shit like this touch the Gervais/Merchant classic anyway,

[Tyler Durden84]

Both already exist.

Here's the housewives one:

http://buenavistagames.go.com/desperatehousewives/

Gaze ye upon the link and despair!

i know they exist. i was being sarcastic. i hope that Hollywood doesnt flood the market with shitty games based on something that shouldnt be a game or even thought of as a game. i would just cry if this game sucked. not that im looking forward to it, but it would ruin my perspective on the show.
much how fight club became a game. im still searching for the part of me that died that dark and terrible day.