MoviePass opens fantasy league game Mogul to the public

Mogul, a fantasy league gaming platform created by MoviePass, has officially transitioned from private beta to public access. This innovative platform is tailored for film enthusiasts and industry insiders, allowing players to create their own film studios and assemble teams of actors, directors, and films to accumulate points based on their performance in the real world. Inspired by the mechanics of daily fantasy sports, Mogul invites users to take on the role of studio executives. The web version is now available to the over 400,000 users who were on the waiting list, following a successful pre-launch phase that saw around 5,000 testers engage with the platform. Although the pre-season experience lacked full gameplay and a leaderboard, it provided a glimpse into the straightforward mechanics of the game, even for those unfamiliar with fantasy sports. Upon signing up, players create a studio name and receive a budget of one million “Mogul Coin,” the platform’s virtual currency. This allows users to draft their ideal teams, with prices for films and talent varying. For example, acquiring the sequel “Wicked: For Good” costs $100,000, while stars like Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande are valued at $25,000 each. Players have a week to finalize their lineups and are allowed two free swaps weekly, requiring strategic decision-making akin to what real studio heads face. Stacy Spikes, the founder of MoviePass, emphasized the importance of strategic thinking in gameplay, especially in light of current events affecting film performances, such as allegations against actors like Jared Leto. He also highlighted the potential of emerging stars and the profitability of independent and international films, which can often be overlooked in favor of major franchises. Mogul operates on the Sui blockchain, ensuring transparency in selections and trades. As users compete, they can earn digital collectibles, including signed memorabilia. The inaugural fall season will run for 12 weeks, coinciding with the awards season, and features a prize pool of up to $100,000 in tokens to incentivize participation. Additionally, players who activate their accounts by October 31 will receive exclusive in-app badges and Founding Member status. Looking ahead, MoviePass is working on developing private leagues and plans to launch an iOS and Android app next year, with promising prospects of incorporating real money competitions in the future.