Notes

The Beano's Dennis, Gnasher and Walter Join Minecraft

The Beano's Dennis, Gnasher and Walter join Minecraft By Emily Thomas Newsbeat reporter



Minecraft players must keep an eye out for "softy" Walter and his stinky pants.
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You can now add Walter, Dennis, the Menace and Gnasher from The Beano to the PC version of the game.



Gnasher can be transformed into as a sausage by players, and all of Dennis his tricks, including catapults and stink bombs, can be used.



It's part of the Beano's larger plans to expand into digital and its game has been born from a partnership between the cartoon and Frima Studios, a Canadian multiplatform game developer.



Mark Cotton, who is responsible for digital changes at Beano Mark Cotton, the Beano's digital leader, told Newsbeat that Minecraft is "their biggest passion and most passionate love"



Mark states that the game is an extension of the comic and a way of making The Beano "a more holistic experience" for kids.



"Roughly 32,000 comics are sold each week in the Beano - so still an impressive number," he says.



But it's still far less than the two million copies sold at the height of the magazine's popularity.



"We are well aware that kids today have a passion for digital," says Mark.



"We must create The Beano a 360 brand that is where Dennis and Gnasher are everywhere the kids are, rather than expecting them to come to our store.



"So we're working on a variety of initiatives in the next three to six months."



Some of those initiatives include puzzle-based apps as well as an interactive comic and an "action 3D game for children".



DC Thompson, The Beano's publisher, has already expanded the brand to a TV show and a photo-sharing app and YouTube channel.



Grand Theft Auto?



The comic has been around since 1938, and has many adult readers. It's possible that the Beano characters be featured in any adult games - Dennis the Menace in Grand Theft Auto perhaps?



"No. Mark says, "No.



"We are focusing on the 7-11-year-old digital product. In the present, digital is all about connecting with children and understanding their passions.



They've been working with 10 Minecraft and Beano enthusiasts aged 7-11 during the development process.



Minnie the Minx?



"We mostly asked children"If you were to put Beano into Minecraft What do you think?'



"This was the first step in imagining what they desired. Their imaginations can go far beyond what we are able to do right now.



"But they wanted pranks They wanted Walter They wanted Gnasher They wanted to dress as Dennis, and that's what we've offered them.



"We'll keep talking to them. We'd like to extend this and build Beanotown and let kids be creative.



"Minecraft is so beloved because it gives power to kids. If we try to restrict the kids and tell them what they should do, they'd reject it."



Are there any other characters who might be allowed to see in?



Mark says, "We certainly want to extend it."



"The obvious character and the one that the kids have been asking for is Minnie the Minx so that's what we'd likely take a look at next."


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