'Phantom of the...Joystick', Lloyd Webber's Musicals Heading to Video Game Arena

Business website 'paidContent.org' is reporting that Andrew Lloyd-Webber's Really Useful Group is developing a range of video games based on the musical impresario's stage shows.

Really Useful reveals the website, has been speaking with half-a-dozen international game publishers, believed to include game titan EA, in the goal of developing titles over several years across consoles, PCs and mobile, as part of its aggressive multimedia expansion.

'Phantom' and Cats, may seem like strange concepts for games at first glance, but two industry shifts have inspired the urge to bring the titles to the gaming world, more female gamers in the traditionally male-dominated game consumer demographic, and the popularity of musically interactive titles like PlayStation's Singstar, mega smash Guitar Hero and Xbox's Lips. Guitar Hero will soon be launching a Beatles themed performance game.

The first Lloyd-Webber titles will let players audition for roles and sing along as characters in the composer's shows.

Really Useful Group started getting serious about digital with the addition of digital director Douglas Glen from BBC Worldwide last year.

Really Useful Group is now offering theatre lovers the ultimate interactive experience with the launch of a new and improved website. So whether its booking tickets for a West End show or ordering interval drinks it can all now be done at the click of a mouse.

The redesigned website (www.reallyuseful.com) offers musical theatre enthusiasts exclusive media-rich content as well as improved community and social networking features. The website also features enhanced B-to-B services for its production and licensing customers.

Douglas Glen, Head of Digital Strategy at The Really Useful Group, said "The new website is the definitive online destination for fans of Andrew Lloyd Webber and musical theatre. We also hope it will quickly become the industry leading services platform for our existing customers and international partners".

Glen overhauled the entertainment company's website in November then launched a YouTube channel in December, keeping up with current internet based media content hunger.

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Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.