Photo: Jimmy Buffet's game Margaritaville Online now availible on Facebook and Apple iPad
Taking the name from his famous song, iconic singer Jimmy Buffet has launched the Facebook and iPad game “Margaritaville Online” give users the opportunity to “escape to a tropical paradise inspired by the lifestyle of author and singer.”
The musician collaborated with game developer THQ on a free-to-play online social game, available on Facebook and Apple iPad.
“You can build a boat (and) you can build a bar. You gotta evade the pirates. You can have adventures,” Buffett says. “You can go to Margaritaville.”
Like other online games, Margaritaville Online will let players earn virtual currency to buy in-game booty and spend real money to customize their game more quickly. Buffett hopes to incorporate a feature that lets players parlay virtual goods into rewards at Margaritaville restaurants. “If you buy virtual cheeseburgers and margaritas to send to friends, that should earn you a real burger or beer at a restaurant,” he says.
Over the years, the singer has been approached with all manner of online ventures. As Margaritaville grew into a multibillion-dollar business of its own with more than a dozen restaurants and hotels, as well as food, beer and liquor products, Buffett “carefully lifeguarded” it as an entertainment property.
Online social games became “the next new, new thing,” Buffett says, but he waited “for the right time to come along and somebody who knows about (Margaritaville) and is a fan and who gets it. That is exactly what happened.”
Social games have become natural stages for musical stars. Last week, Lady Gaga launched a limited-edition destination in FarmVille, where players got an early listen to her new album. Last year, Dr. Dre brought his music to Mafia Wars, and Kiss brought a live concert audiocast and makeup-wearing avatars to Nightclub City. “It’s like in the old days, when you had a host of touring acts and you could see a lot of people out there,” Buffett says.
So fix yourself a margarita (recipe below), have fun with the game, and enjoy what warm weather you have left this year.
Mexican Margarita
2 oz tequila
1 1/2 oz orange liqueur
2 oz sweet and sour mix
1 oz lime juice
2 oz orange juice
1 splash of lemon-lime soda
2 olives
