An interesting battle is brewing between a small game startup and a division of Paramount Pictures. Startup Exponential Entertainment launched its web site for entertainment trivia games earlier this year. Now Paramount’s Screenlife division is launching a site for its popular DVD trivia game brand, SceneIt?
SceneIt is today’s most popular DVD trivia game, with lifetime sales of more than $500 million. Now the SceneIt.com web site will offer the same kinds of Hollywood-based trivia games, like up-to-the-minute trivia quizzes and challenges. There are more than 145 custom quizzes based on big hit movies, including 17 puzzle games that test celebrity knowledge, 13 classic puzzles from the DVD games, and four new interactive puzzles. You can bookmark and save your quiz progress if you are interrupted. And you can make friends in a social network.
The interesting thing is that Exponential is run by Bill Kuper and Dave Long who also happen to be the founders of Seattle-based Screenlife (which they sold to Paramount). So this is kind of a grudge match. It makes sense for SceneIt? to go after the market. Exponential’s games have the lead, but they haven’t been in the market for long. So there is a chance that Screenlife can catch up and overtake Exponential, based on its better-known brand and marketing muscle.
With Screenlife’s SceneIt.com, you start as a Hollywood Hopeful character and embark on a quest to get on the Hollywood A-list. The more you play, the more you earn Glitz points, a virtual currency. You can use that to buy items in the Bling Store that are inspired by items worn by celebrities.
In the coming months, SceneIt.com will roll out user-generated content, including the ability to create challenges and quizzes. Also coming are entertainment web pages where you can read movie news and watch trailers. You can post your ratings, comments and reviews. And users will be able to form fan clubs.
SceneIt? launched in 2002 and has lots of custom versions based on trivia from properties such as Star Trek or The Simpsons. The DVD games have been translated into 12 languages across 29 countries.