Codemasters has acquired the rights to produce a series of games based on the 14 million selling Ology book series, MCV can reveal.

The deal with Templar Publishing will see the publisher convert best-selling encyclopaedia-style books such as Dragonology, Wizardology and Pirateology into games exclusively for the DS and Wii.

The Wii titles will be action-based, while the DS versions will resemble interactive books. The first title to be released will be Dragonology, which is expected in the second half of 2008.

It will feature the characters, folklore and anecdotes found in the original book, which is a mocked- up dragon manual.   

“Extending Codemasters’ reach in the family entertainment category, this alliance with Templar further demonstrates the continued growth and diversification of our portfolio,” said senior VP of brand at Codemasters Barry Jafrato.

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“With each title based on a popular fantasy theme and delivering a truly content-rich read, Dragonology, Wizardology and Pirateology are individually major entertainment properties that collectively deliver a perfect base on which to build original and creative gaming experiences.”  

Richard Scrivener, commercial and operations director at Templar Publishing added: “The Ology brand is a powerful contemporary franchise and we seek to work with high calibre creative partners. Right from the outset, we were impressed by the combination of Codemasters’ passion for the product and their global reach.”