RATHER DASHING GAMES ANNOUNCED AS NEWEST DOWNTON ABBEY™ LICENSEE

NEW YORK (June 30, 2020)Downton Abbey has added a rather dashing new licensee in Spokane-based game maker Rather Dashing Games, who will be creating a new card game capturing the majesty and excitement of the Downton Abbey movie.

“My wife and I have been fans since the very first season so I’m thrilled at the prospect of adding my game design to the amazing world of Downton Abbey,” says game designer and Rather Dashing Games C0-founder Mike Richie.

Rather Dashing’s card game interweaves moments from the hit feature film in which both the upstairs family and downstairs staff work to get Downton Abbey ready for the imminent arrival of the King and Queen and defend the honor of Downton.

“The Downton Abbey movie featured some of Downton’s grandest, wittiest, and most dramatic moments and we love the idea of Rather Dashing using that as inspiration for a fun and engaging game which fans will enjoy playing with family and friends,” says Spotlight Licensing President Carole Postal.

Rather Dashing has designed its Downton Abbey game to be easy-to-learn and approachable enough for gamers ages 12 and up, while also offering enough competition, player interaction and mechanics to keep card game enthusiasts fully engaged. To win, players compete to capture cards depicting key moments of resolution, revelation and emotional closure from the movie. Players receive points according to the moments collected but, as Richie warns, players must beware the powers of the Royal entourage and keep in mind the game-changing potential of the Dowager herself! Rather Dashing’s Downton Abbey card game will launch in time for Holiday 2020 with a $29.99 MSRP.

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About Downton Abbey

Downton Abbey aired for six seasons on MASTERPIECE on PBS in the US and reached more than 26 million viewers in its final season, making it the highest-rated PBS drama series of all time.  A Carnival Films/MASTERPIECE co-production, the television series was written and created by Julian Fellowes and executive produced by Gareth Neame, Nigel Marchant, Liz Trubridge and Fellowes.  Downton Abbey is one of the largest UK drama exports of all time, seen in over 250 territories worldwide.  With 15 wins and 69 nominations, it is the most nominated non-US show in the history of the Emmys.  Also, the winner of three Golden Globes, a special BAFTA and four Screen Actors Guild Awards, the series has captured an extensive fan-base worldwide.  Downton Abbey the movie was released in 2019 and became the highest-grossing domestic film in Focus Features’ history. The movie was a Carnival Films production, with Focus Features and Universal Pictures International distributing.

About Carnival Films

Carnival Films is a division of NBCUniversal International Studios and one of the UK’s leading drama specialists. The company is responsible for the global television phenomenon and movie sensation Downton Abbey, which topped $190m at the box office and set a new opening record for Focus Features. Carnival’s current slate also includes Belgravia for ITV/EPIX, The Last Kingdom for Netflix, and the television adaption of Robert Harris’ novel, The Second Sleep. Other shows produced over Carnival’s history include Jamestown, Stan Lee’s Lucky Man, Poirot, Hotel Babylon, Whitechapel and Dracula, as well as award-winning mini-series such as Traffik, Any Human Heart, The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies and The Hollow Crown anthology. Carnival has received a host of national and international awards including Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes and BAFTAs, and has been recognised as the UK’s best production company at both the Bulldog Awards and Broadcast Awards.

About Rather Dashing Games

Rather Dashing Games is a Spokane-based company specializing in games that are family friendly but still rich enough to engage the more serious gamer.  Functioning as a sister company to Catalyst Game Labs, Rather Dashing Games seeks to promote gaming culture of all kinds with its playful, whimsical, yet “Dashing” culture. With games spanning thematic abstract and cooperative high fantasy to light Euro themes, Rather Dashing has a little something for everyone. For more information, visit www.ratherdashinggames.com  Rather Dashing Games… “Well Played!”

About Spotlight Licensing

Spotlight Licensing and Brand Management, Inc. (spotlightlicensing.com) is a New York City based boutique licensing agency specializing in representation of Entertainment, Art/Design, Digital properties and Character Brands including BOO The World’s Cutest Dog, Call the Midwife, Downton Abbey, ELMER the Patchwork Elephant,  The Last Kingdom, Little House on the Prairie, Precious Moments, and more.