International pop-star and trademark hoarder Taylor Swift announced a partnership with Glu Mobile to develop her own mobile video game.
“I’m really excited to become even more rich,” Swift declared at the press conference. “I just got tired of achieving things in real life, ya know? I have so many awards, I had to buy a sixth house. I figured, ‘Hey, why not conquer the digital world as well?’”
The role-playing game, titled “Ace Attorney: Taylor Swift,” will see players navigating the treacherous waters of New York City’s legal world as an up-and-coming, twenty-something lawyer.
Swift said the game is inspired by her experiences dealing with trademark and copyright laws in an effort to maintain her intergalactic empire.
Players will be able to follow in Swift’s footsteps by trademarking cliched phrases and suing anyone who thinks them without giving proper credit.
The player’s goal is to increase his legal knowledge and reputation in order to become an Ace Attorney. Players may face challenges as they juggle relationships in and out of the courtroom.
“You may think a pretrial hearing is going to go well, but then trouble walks in the door. The opposing counsel ends up being the guy you met for drinks two nights ago,” Swift said. “Like, shame on me now, am I right?”
The game will feature Swift’s likeness in the form of an Ace Attorney specializing in trademark law. Swift’s character will assist players sporadically throughout their journey by sending them kittens or writing a motivational song.
Glu Mobile has prior experience with developing celebrity centric games. Their biggest success is 2014’s “Kim Kardashian: Hollywood,” where players tried to become A-list celebrities by going to events or releasing sextapes.
If players failed to generate fans, their characters stay on the E-list with Khloe Kardashian.
“Kim Kardashian: Hollywood” generated over $74 million during its first year despite Kim Kardashian’s lack of talent or any useful skills aside from having the last name Kardashian. Swift is expected to surpass Kardashian’s success.
Shortly after the announcement, Glu Mobile’s stock rose 29 percent, adding $75 million to the company’s market cap.
“We couldn’t be more excited to have Taylor Swift onboard with our latest cash cow,” Glu CEO Niccolo de Masi said at a news conference. “Not only does she bring her unique creativity, she also brings the money of her millions of fans.”
This isn’t the first time Glu Mobile partnered with a pop star. Last year, the company released “Katy Perry Pop” in a partnership with Katy Perry.
The game, much like Perry, performed well below expectations and was ultimately labeled as a disappointment by Glu Mobile executives.
“I’m not surprised,” Swift said on Perry’s failed app. “Band-aids don’t fix bulletholes.”
Swift also announced that she’s trademarking all app games, and she’ll sue anyone who tries to make another celebrity app game.
Players can look for the game later in 2016.
John Gavin Harp is a 20-year-old mass communication junior from St. Francisville, Louisiana.
SATIRE: Taylor Swift launches courtroom-set video game
By John Gavin Harp @SirJohnGavin
February 4, 2016
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