The yellow carpet was rolled out, margaritas and other libations flowed and costumed characters mingled with a crowd celebrating the 400th episode of the Simpsons at the 20th Century Fox studio lot last week.
The star-studded outdoor affair got under way during “one of the hottest days of the century,” Simpsons creator Matt Groening said, as a firestorm raged in Griffith Park in Los Angeles, one of the largest urban parks in North America.
Fox pulled out all the stops for the event with a 400th episode cake, costumed Marge Simpsons acting as cocktail waitresses, multiple make-your-own fajitas tables, open bars and novelty items ranging from chocolates imprinted with characters to “Drink Duff at Moe’s” coasters.
Before the sun set, Groening was joined on the yellow carpet by Yeardley Smith, Nancy Cartwright, Hank Azaria and other stars for the flashing cameras, TV news crews and their microphones.
Mobile game delayed
Across the lot, Electronic Arts Inc. held a press conference with the writers of the hugely popular animated sitcom to formally announce the new Simpsons game that will be released for gaming consoles in late fall. EA previously was scheduled to announce plans on the mobile game it’s developing for a launch date coinciding with the July 27 release of “The Simpsons Movie,” but all parties held off on a formal announcement for the time being.
Bryant Bustamante, senior producer at EA Mobile, was on hand, however, and offered some exclusive insight into plans for the mobile game and details on when and where it might show up in the mobile scene.
The mobile Simpsons game is expected to be released worldwide near the release of the wildly anticipated film and will be available on all major carrier decks as a downloadable game, Bustamante said. But the storyline and dialog will not be based on the movie, he added.
EA has been collaborating with Gracie Films, 20th Century Fox and its gaming console division since it began drawing up ideas for the development of the game last year. Writers of the show also contributed to the storyline for the mobile game.
“We all love the Simpsons,” he said. “We’re trying to create something for the casual player, the casual fan.”
Look Marge, one hand!
Under that approach, the company is aiming for a one-handed experience, he said.
The new mobile game will follow a unique story line enhanced for the mobile platform. As Homer Simpson, players will be asked to prevent a major meltdown at the nuclear power plant in Springfield as they cross paths with many of the characters from the show.
The mobile game will be compatible with Java and Brew technologies initially, and it could become compatible with Microsoft Corp.’s Windows Mobile sometime down the road.
The Simpsons has enjoyed a heavy presence in mobile since 2003, with multiple reincarnations of ringtones, wallpapers, animated picture messages, screensavers and re-purposed content from the hit show all making their way to the small screen.
