Sebastian Haley | Games Beat

KISSopolis

KISS frontman Gene Simmons has revealed that he’s in talks with Rovio to develop a KISS/Angry Birds game.

In what specific capacity the two brands will mash up is unclear, as Simmons drops the bombshell almost flippantly during an interview with Industry Gamers.

“So Hello Kitty is one of the biggest brands on planet Earth,” said Simmons. “Now there’s KISS Hello Kitty, which we’ve already launched in 90 countries. We’re talking with Angry Birds, KISS and Angry Birds, which will become a deal. The KISS and the Archie world have now teamed up and the first issues of KISS Archie comic books hits the world this month. KISS golf courses are starting in Las Vegas right across from the Hard Rock.”

Last year at the MIPCOM convention in France, Simmons touted that there are now over three thousand KISS-branded products worldwide. “Everything from KISS condoms to KISS caskets. We’ll get you coming and we’ll get you going.”

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John Gaudiosi | Industry Gamers

Gene Simmons knows business as well as he knows rock n roll. In addition to selling over 100 million records and DVDs, he’s turned KISS into a licensing behemoth that includes over 3,000 items ranging from condoms to coffins. Now the star of the hit reality TV series, “Gene Simmons Family Jewels”, has entered the technology space with Ortsbo (Ortsbo.com). The rock legend has joined the digital language translation company, in part, because he speaks five languages (English, Hebrew, Hungarian, German, and some Japanese) and is learning Mandarin.

Simmons, who was at the Sundance Film Festival with comic book legend Stan Lee last week, talks about how Ortsbo, and technology, is changing music, and the world, and offers his thoughts on music video games in this exclusive IndustryGamers interview. Note near the end his comments on securing an Angry Birds game deal and that he’s in talks with Sony PlayStation as well.

IndustryGamers: What role can Ortsbo play in helping people learn new languages and connect with other cultures?

Gene Simmons: It is really a fascinating idea. If you have a moment today and you know anybody overseas or anywhere that speaks another language, all they need is a text device or an email device and you can use Orstbo for free. There’s nothing to join and it works with your online experience like Facebook, MSN, Twitter and it’s even in the Apple Store for iPad and iPhone. Once you’re in there you type in whoever it is that you want to communicate with and they will receive your texts or emails in real-time in their language. And you’ll receive responses in English. They don’t even have to be on Ortsbo to communicate with you. We already have 50 million unique visitors from over 170 countries.

IG: You mentioned Facebook, how can Ortsbo impact casual online gamers who play Zynga and other games online?

GS: Well, of course it’s the connection. Anywhere people try and communicate and have a language barrier we are now making those connections. Gaming, of course, but we’re also helping the military, and branching into education. Even in America you have something like 20 million “illegal” immigrants who have language difficulties, but everybody has a cell phone. If you’re in a third world country, even before food, you have a cell phone. That’s the amazing thing. Ortsbo is really going to help humanity, if I may be so bold.

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