New York — When FarmVille can captivate more than 45 million virtual online farmers, so does Jimmy Buffett fans can hop directly to “Margaritaville Online” now thanks to the musician who is cooperating with game developer THQ on a free-to-play online social game, on Facebook and iOS devices (iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch) this fall.
Similar to the 45 million game enthusiasts playing Farmville and CityVille, this fall, as the casual online video game is targeting Buffet fans, known as ‘Parrotheads,’ who will be able to connect by playing his online video game on Facebook, iPhones and iPads.
Interestingly, the Margaritaville Online game, originally conceptualized on Buffett’s lyrics and books, is a free-to-play online social game, which will let users to virtually interact with Buffett’s characters, such as Captain Tony and Joe Merchant, embark on adventures, build their own island resorts, build a boat as well as a bar and create their own bands. Players can also earn virtual currency to buy “booty” and customize their games by spending real money.
“You can build a boat and you can build a bar. You gotta avoid the pirates. You can have adventures,” Buffett says. “You can go to Margaritaville.”
Similar to other online games, Margaritaville Online will enable players to earn virtual currency to buy in-game booty and expend real money to individualize their game more quickly. Buffett hopes to incorporate a feature that lets players parlay virtual goods into rewards at Margaritaville restaurants. “If you buy virtual cheeseburgers and margaritas to send to friends, that should earn you a real burger or beer at a restaurant,” he says.
Buffett appears to be counting on his one-hit wonder which has since generated lines of real-life restaurants, bars, and alcoholic beverages. The singer stated that the characters and destinations in the online game are based off his life and experiences.
Online social games became “the next new, new obsession,” Buffett says, but he waited “for the right time to come along and somebody who knows about (Margaritaville) and is a fan and who gets it. That is exactly what happened.”
Margaritaville Online will entice more than Parrotheads, says Scott Steinberg of TechSavvy Global. “Say ‘Margaritaville’ and it instantly portrays a picture,” he says. The name “stands out in a crowded field, when you can choose between Café World, Restaurant City and Treasure Isle. It may turn into the interactive equivalent of the virtual watering hole.”
Especially, Buffett’s music is in the game, and players can formulate their own band. Ultimately, he hopes to let players input performances into tracks to identify the ultimate Coral Reefer cover band.
Finally, Buffett envisages Parrotheads at his concerts “in a parking lot, tailgating, having a beer, grilling a dog and playing Margaritaville on their iPhones or on their Blackberrys waiting to get into the real show.”
Developed by Exploding Barrel Games, the awesome tropical environments will be in a fully captivating 3D world and feature a full catalog of Buffett’s music, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Producer Frank Marshall (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Indiana Jones and the Bourne films) also worked with Buffett on designing the online game.
Moreover, Buffett remains involved in the productivity process. “They come up with storyboards and lines, and I see the process. Then, I do what I do: Buffettizing. When I got the first ones and saw the characters drawn, I got to go to Margaritaville.”
Buffett, who is currently touring, will be at E3 at the THQ booth to promote the new game. “The Margaritaville laid back state of mind is inherently social, and THQ has captivated the spirit of that lifestyle in this game,” said Buffett. “With Margaritaville Online, fans across the globe can party together any time and any place.”