Главная страница «Первого сентября»Главная страница журнала «Английский язык»Содержание №13/2007
The Only Game in the Village - Whatevah!
LIFE THERE

THE ONLY GAME
IN THE VILLAGE – WHATEVAH!

Imaginative video games developers have got together to create their version of Little Britain, one of the most successful TV comedy shows in recent times.
The Little Britain TV show has been sold to 27 countries across the globe. It can be viewed on BBC Prime that is available in a considerable number of territories and many millions of homes throughout the world.
Now, Little Britain: The Video Game has arrived and is the brainchild of the Gamerholix company, based in Leeds, northern England. It masterminded the concept and also designed and produced the game, outsourcing the developmental duties to Sheffield-based Gamesauce, also in Yorkshire.
Gamerholix specialises in the design and development of original games and games based on licensed properties. Its managing director Elliot Gay, who has 25 years of games design and production experience, is also chairman of Game Republic, a regional alliance of high-tech companies operating in the sector.
Gamerholix and Gamesauce, both founder members of Game Republic, are not the only firms who have contributed to this cross-developed project – it was very much a case of “Computer says yes” for two other members of Game Republic, as well. Wakefield-based Pit Stop Productions was approached to write the music and record the voices of the show’s stars, Matt Lucas, David Walliams and Tom Baker, while Bradford-based Four Door Lemon created the sound engine for the game.
The Little Britain video game is a fun collection of mini-games presented in the style of an episode from the TV show. To win, players must work their way through a series of specially created sketches that feature plenty of scripted input from Matt Lucas and David Walliams, until the credits roll at the end. As you might expect, Tom Baker narrates throughout, allowing fans of the series to enjoy a “truly authentic Little Britain experience”.
“This is the first in what we hope will be a long line of commercially successful games using our new business model,” said Elliot Gay, managing director of Gamerholix.
Little Britain game. We are now looking forward to using the robust and proven technology on further titles in the coming year.”
The Little Britain game is published on Mastertronic’s Blast! label – the leading video game company aimed exclusively at the younger children’s market – and has gone on sale for PlayStation2 and PC, priced just under 20 pounds, with the PlayStationPortable version following shortly afterwards.
Game Republic receives funding from Yorkshire Forward and is part financed by the European Union.
From the moment that Little Britain series two aired on BBC Three, breaking all viewing figure records, to the hugely successful run on BBC One, it was clear that the cult show had crossed over into the mainstream.
Critics have lined up to heap unanimous praise on Lucas and Walliams with the show being described in turn as “legendary” and “catchphrase comedy at its very best … with characters that are surely destined to enter the comedy pantheon”.
It was a case of “champagne for everyone” as the show won a raft of awards, including two BAFTA awards for Best Comedy Performance and Best Programme or Series, and the prestigious Rose d’Or – as well as a clutch of British Comedy Awards.
To top it all, waxworks of two of the show’s most iconic characters, Lou and Andy, were recently unveiled at Madame Tussauds.

By Ray Cooling