DC Comics has slot machine licenses with Playtech, Ash Gaming, and NextGen Gaming. NextGen’s slots were owned by Cryptologic and Amaya, previously.
DC Comics registered new trademarks in the gambling and entertainment categories this week for several of the comic book company’s most famous franchises. Trademarks for Man of Steel (Superman), The Dark Knight (Batman), Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, and Flash were registered for a variety of gaming systems.
Some are interpreting the registrations as a “protective strategy” rather than a new move into the gaming sector, though DC Comics has not tipped it hand on the matter yet.
DC Comics lawyer Christopher Jackson registered the new trademarks for online computer games, as well as casino-style and lottery gaming machines.
The gaming machine trademarks include video-based slot machines, reel-based slot machines, video lottery terminals, and dedicated gaming consoles. In short, it appears that DC Comics sought registration for a comprehensive set of electronic gaming machine options.
DC Comics Slot Machines
DC Comics has licensed its characters to a variety of slot machine designers over the years. IGT released a Dark Knight slot machine in the past few years. Playtech released a series of DC slot machines in the decade of the 2000s.
Playtech’s slots included Green Lantern, Man of Steel, Superman: The Movie, and Superman II. The latter two Superman slots included clips from the Christopher Reeve films from the 1970s and 1980s. A subsidiary of Playtech, Ash Gaming, has produced DC Comics video slots in the past few years, too.
Batman Slots by Ash Gaming
Ash Gaming produced several retro Batman-themed slots: Batman & The Batgirl Bonanza Slots, Batman and the Joker Jewels, Batman & the Penguin Prize Slots, Batman & Mr. Freeze Fortune, Batman and Catwoman Cash, and Batman & The Riddler Riches Slot Machine. The Batman slots from Ash Gaming were based on the 1960s Batman TV show, starring Adam West.
Ash Gaming is known for its licensed slots, including Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, X Factor, The War of the Worlds, Rubik’s Cube, and Monty Python slots. With its 6 slot machines in the series, the Batman slots are the most investment in a license by the UK game design company.
DC Slots by Cryptologic, Amaya, and NextGen Gaming
Cryptologic also released a number of DC Comics slot machines: Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman Jackpots, The Flash: Velocity, and Superman: Last Son of Krypton (Amaya).
Amaya Gaming bought Cryptologic, then sold the DC Comics slots line to NYX Gaming’s slots design studio, NextGen Gaming. When Scientific Games bought NYX Gaming recently, it purchased the license for the old Cryptologic slots for DC characters.
New DC Comics Gaming Franchises
The recent release of a Justice League movie might have motivated DC executives to seek new trademarks. Four of the five characters trademarked were in the DC Comics film. Green Lantern did not make it into the film, though some version of the character likely will appear in the sequel, as the boss villain might require another powerhouse hero. The Green Lantern movie was considered a disappointment at the box office, so the studio might not have wanted to add another character which would have required a lot of CGI effects.
Though the DC Comics movies have not matched the Marvel Comics franchises on the silver screen, they continue to make a lot of money at the box office, while other DC Comics projects are a hit. The CW network has a variety of DC Comics tv series (collectively called the Arrowverse): Arrow (Green Arrow), The Flash, Vixen, Legends of Tomorrow, and Freedom Fighters: The Ray. CW Seed features the Constantine web series, as well.
DC Comics Online Games
Meanwhile, DC Comics online and computer games have had a number of hits over the years. DC Comics Universe is an online MMORPG which launched in 2011 by Daybreak Games and WB Games. As 2017 turns to 2018, DC Comics Universe continues for XBox One, Playstation 4, Microsoft Windows, and Steam.
Injustice 2, DC Legends, Batman: Arkham Underworld, and Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate are just a few of the online games available on the DC Comics Games website. The site has 21 different DC Comics games, including properties like The Watchmen and Young Justice. The site also has Lego and Scribblenauts versions of the Justice League.
All of that is to say the registration of DC Comics gambling and entertainment trademarks could mean anything. DC might be ready to convert some of its online games into a slot machine. Playtech, Next Gen, or IGT might want to update or expand its slots catalogue. The Cryptologic slots are 15 years old and a little dated, so Scientific Games might want to devote a fraction of its vast resources to an update. Christopher Jackson’s legal filings could mean a lot of things.
