Namco has run out of original ideas

[Trippy]

Namco Nabs Peanuts

Namco announced today that they have secured the interactive entertainment publishing rights to Peanuts, from United Media. The Charles M. Schulz comic strip, which debuted in 1950 and still runs in thousands of newspapers worldwide, is no stranger to different forms of media, such as the several different animated specials that have come out over the years. The license includes all of the Peanuts characters, and covers all current and upcoming game platforms through the year 2009.

"Peanuts is one of the most celebrated comic strips of all time, and Charlie Brown and his friends have firmly cemented their place as American icons of the highest order," said Jeff Lujan, Business Director at Namco. "We relish this opportunity to continue these beloved characters' storylines through the medium of games and are honored to introduce this cherished property to an all-new generation of gamers."

"Namco has proven its ability to translate franchises to the video game format with respect and care," said Jean Sagendorph, Licensing Manager at United Media. "Working with such a capable partner will allow us the opportunity to grow the Peanuts property in this popular category, as well as reach new audiences."

No specific titles were mentioned to be in development using the Peanuts license, nor any platforms that any potential Peanuts title would release on.

Old news but I hadn't seen this mentioned yet. And here's GUComics's take regarding this news.

[AOFanboi]

Resident Evil 5: You're in Raccoon City, Charlie Brown

[schild]

Namco can use all the silly licenses they want, as long as shit like this (quicktime movie) comes out in America.

[Velorath]

I'll be happy if we can get WWI flying Ace Snoopy as a hidden character in Soul Calibur III.


Edited to make the distinction that Snoopy himself wasn't the Red Baron.

[Merusk]

That would kick so much ass I'd stop bitching about it being PS2 only.

[Strazos]

I'm not sure if that looked like a good game, or a really shitty amalgamation of every Capcom/Namco license Evar.

[AOFanboi]

Namco can use all the silly licenses they want, as long as shit like this (quicktime movie) comes out in America.

Yes: Except some of the franchises mined for characters are little known outside of Japan.

I have a "RPG-very lite" Rival Schools title for my Dreamcast - this looks like it has way more RPG elements built in. And the chance to let Mitsurugi (from Soul Calibur") hack away the armor of the dude from Ghouls'n'Ghosts cannot be passed up.