MUMBAI: UTV Ignition, the gaming subsidiary of UTV Software Communications, has locked in a minimum guarantee (MG) of $10 million for its third person action adventure game El Shaddai.

The company has signed merchandising, licensing and co-marketing deals for the game with two Japanese firms, Edwin (jeans company) and Bandai Toys.
 
Developed out of UTV‘s studio in Japan, the game will first launch in that country on 28 April as no big title releases make their appearance during that period.

For U.S. and Europe, the company is in the final stages of closing a co-publishing deal with a minimum guarantee. The revenue from game sales from these territories will be in addition to the MG of $10 million. 
 
El Shaddai will retail on gaming consoles supported by Sony and Microsoft at a price tag of $81 per unit. UTV expects the combined sales in Japan to cross 500,000 units.

The game has 50 to 60 minutes of graphics, backed by a storyline for a motion picture. UTV is targeting ancillary revenues from the motion picture rights.