Majesco Enters PC Casual Market With Orchard

Publisher Majesco has announced that it is expanding its focus from casual DS and Wii titles to the PC with Orchard, a crop-growing and roadside stand simulation title from Zen Fashion developer BoomZap Entertainment, due for a holiday 2008 release. Majesco says the title will task players with salvaging a neglected family orchard and "turn it into the thriving business it once was." Players will "hire and manage workers, plant and harvest crops, construct processing and storage facilities, and advertise and sell products in your efforts to make a profit." The game will also allow players to "use the bounty of the orchard -- including strawberries, blueberries, cherries, grapes and apples -- to create 20 recipes from Blackberry Pie to Strawberry Fudge, all while striving to win awards and build your trophy collection." Majesco has seen a financial turnaround since exiting big-budget development to focus on casual console and handheld titles like Office Create's Cooking Mama, but Orchard marks its first foray into the PC casual space. Said operations executive VP Gui Karyo, "Targeted at casual gaming fans, Orchard integrates business and resource management with addictive simulation play that PC gamers will find both challenging and entertaining."