World Book, a publisher of nonfiction children's book series, core reference and digital learning platforms, announced a licensing partnership with Ion Game Design to develop and market a line of board games under the World Book brand. The partnership was brokered by JRL Group, World Book’s exclusive brand licensing agency.
The history-themed board games will include:
Vendel to Viking – a game of strategy set in the Vendel era, the period that led to and served as a foundation for Nordic culture. This standalone game is a prequel to Ion's previous release, Pax Viking.
Pax Viking Junior – a variant of the game Pax Viking but made for a younger audience. Pax Viking is a game about the lesser-known eastward journeys Vikings undertook. It focuses more on trading, networking and empire-building than the traditional image of Vikings as raiders.
The board games series, powered by World Book’s extensive library of content, will cover such subjects as world history, natural science and the solar system.
“We are delighted to partner with such an iconic educational brand as World Book,” says Besime Uyanik, chief executive officer, Ion Game Design. “By tapping into their vast library, Ion Game Design will have endless opportunities to create informative, inspiring and challenging new board games.”
This partnership, among others, is the beginning of a wide array of World Book-branded educational products to be sold online and in stores.
“This exciting new licensing program is creating new opportunities to extend our brand name," says Jean Lin, vice president sales and marketing, World Book. "We look forward to our partnership with Ion Game Design and to delivering educational products that inspire curious minds everywhere.”
The games are available for pre-order now, and sold in stores in the fall globally.