The indie studio that bravely challenged the formidable Monster Energy has emerged victorious and is now set to bring its acclaimed survival horror game, Dark Deception, to the silver screen. According to Deadline, Glowstick Entertainment has secured a deal with So It Goes Entertainment, an indie production company, to adapt the game into a feature film.
Game Success and Adaptation
Dark Deception, a horror game reminiscent of classic Resident Evil titles, immerses players in a labyrinthine hotel teeming with terrifying monsters. The game has achieved remarkable success, boasting sales of over six-and-a-half million copies and attracting 58 million players worldwide. Created by Glowstick CEO Vincent Livings, the film adaptation will be crafted by writers Adrian Speckert and Cory Todd Hughes. Details regarding casting and directorial choices remain undisclosed.
Glowstick’s journey has not been without its challenges. The studio previously found itself in a legal tussle with Monster Energy over the use of the term “monster” in its game title, Dark Deception: Monsters & Mortals. Livings took to social media to voice his concerns about the legal threats and the unreasonable settlement proposed by Monster, which sought to prohibit the studio from using the word “monster” in any future game titles.
“It’s well known that Monster Energy is a notorious trademark troll,” Livings remarked at the time. “Unfortunately, they’re at it again. For a company that targets gamers with their drinks, they also attempt to bully and bankrupt game studios through extensive litigation. Their lawyers are currently pursuing us because of the word ‘Monsters’ in our title, claiming our game is confusingly similar to their energy drink.”
In a show of resilience, Livings expressed his commitment to confront Monster Energy in court rather than capitulate. He even shared documentation publicly to assist others facing similar legal challenges from the beverage giant.
Fortunately, the dispute reached a favorable conclusion when the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) ruled in Glowstick’s favor, granting them the right to use “monster” in their titles. “Great news,” Livings announced in August 2023. “We’ve officially won our trademark battle against Monster Energy. The USPTO board ruled in our favor today. ‘Monsters & Mortals’ belongs to us! They will never own the word ‘monster’.”
