November 1, 2021, Knutsford, United Kingdom: The platform game, Alex Kidd, first appeared in Alex Kidd in Miracle World on the Sega Master System 1st November 1986 and has been a fan-favourite ever since - but it wasn’t until over three decades later that Merge Games - in conjunction with the developer, Jankenteam were able to revitalise and rebirth the experience for release earlier in 2021.
Merge Games had come to Sega’s attention by successfully distributing the retail version of the mega-hit Streets of Rage 4, in collaboration with DotEmu. It was this release that also gave the six-person dev team - Jankenteam, who were long-standing Alex Kidd fans - the impetus to come to Merge with and share their dream of remaking the game. The idea was to recreate, rebuild and modernise a deluxe version of the game whilst sticking faithfully to what fans had treasured about Alex Kidd for 30 years.
Following a visit to Sega’s HQ in Japan to license the long-dormant IP, Merge Games developed a complete strategy for full production, marketing and commercial success using the company’s deep expertise in creating bespoke routes to market, which put quality front and centre and exploited all available digital, retail and collectable opportunities.
The team were determined to faithfully include all the original content and levels and combined this with striking new art, improved boss fight systems and different modes. Extra levels were created to expand the lore of the original title to bring a fresh dimension to Alex Kidd in Miracle World. The game included a Retro Mode specifically to bring back the nostalgia from the Master System classic, allowing players to switch back to a recreated version of the original graphical style, to the new Boss Rush Mode which provides nonstop Rock Paper Scissors action, the DX version of Alex Kidd in Miracle World includes a wealth of extra content to expand on the original Master System version. Comprising an array of other updates such as improvements to combat, movement mechanics and new menu systems, Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX adds a new level of fluidity to the original classic!
Through Merge’s statistical analysis of the Alex Kidd franchise over the previous 30 years, plus profound knowledge of current market trends the team were able to provide tailored international PR and marketing to support the game’s commercial release.
Since the game was released on June 24th Merge Game’s is on track to break 200,000 units sold by Christmas and continues to tap into a niche market of passionate retro fans.
“It was a pleasure to work with Sega and Jankenteam reviving this retro classic” said Luke Keighran, Managing Director, Merge Games “The success of Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX has given Merge a blueprint in this niche, and we intend to continue to drive that objective and look at other potential franchises we can resurrect.”
ART ASSETS: https://drive.google.com/drive/u/1/folders/1JDH-ARYG_VBUhpIfOx7emm5sNWTzW9JC
For further information, please contact:
Stefano Petrullo – Renaissance PR
+44 (0) 7828 692 315
Sophie Carter – Renaissance PR
+44 (0) 7810 848 320
Emily Britt – Renaissance PR
+44 (0) 7530 081 191
About Merge Games Ltd.
Merge Games is a global video game publisher, developer and distributor based in Manchester, UK. The company publishes and distributes games worldwide for PC, consoles and streaming platforms, including Dead Cells, Streets of Rage 4, Spirit of the North, Cloudpunk, Aragami and Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX. Merge is also developing its own survival game, Smalland, in house. In 2021, Merge Games was acquired by Zordix AB (publ). For more information, please visit www.mergegames.com
About Zordix
Zordix is a multinational developer, publisher and distributor of computer games headquartered in Umeå, Sweden, whose business idea is to develop and publish games to console and PC in the global market. Acquisitions of other companies, long-term investments in the IP and investments within the framework of its own publishing business are the main ingredients of Zordix's growth strategy. The group as a whole has over a 25-year period contributed to over 60 launched games in a world market and today consists of three studios that develop games, their own publisher and a distributor.
About Jankenteam
Jankenteam is a Spanish development team created for the occasion by: Programmer Daniel Parrado Ortega, Game Designer José Sanz, Art Director Héctor Toro, Producer Ramón Nafria and Audio Composer José Ramón “Bibiki” García