NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC GAMES

National Geographic first started as a magazine. It became very popular around the world so that it also started publishing a magazine for younger people called ‘‘National Geographic Kids.” Then in time it expanded to include Web sites and TV shows. In 2008, the company decided to expand again. What was next? Video games.

National Geographic announced that it would turn its material into video games. The games were for computers, game consoles, and handheld gaming machines. "Our content is extremely well-suited for a global gaming audience," said Paul Levine of National Geographic. Levine was in charge of the company's video games. National Geographic covers a lot of different information in its magazines and TV shows. Recently, the company's Web site featured articles about new kinds of spiders in the Chinese rainforests and Mars. There were also articles about underwater caves which hold the oldest skeleton in America. The articles cover history, science, and culture. Their video games covered those themes, too.

The first video game title was called "Herod's Lost Tomb." It was a simple hidden-object game built on a story in the magazine’s December issue and a television show about King Herod. The game required players to visit several locations. In each location, players searched for hidden objects.

The company was also working with companies like Namco Bandai Games America and Sony Computer Entertainment. These companies make video games. Together, National Geographic and these companies will publish and sell games for video game players like Wii and PlayStation 3. Namco Bandai's "National Geographic: Panda" challenges players to care for pandas onscreen. "Zoo Tycoon" puts players in charge of a zoo. Other games will focus on topics like the rainforest, Africa, and the environment.

The games helped teach players about science and history. "They are games, first and foremost," Levine said.