MoviePass opens Mogul fantasy league game to the public

Mogul, the fantasy film studio platform created by movie theater subscription service MoviePass, launched from private beta on Wednesday, the company announced. The platform is now available as a public beta for everyone.

The game is designed specifically for the Hollywood industry, where players own their own film studio and draft a team of actors, directors and films to earn points based on their performances. Mogul draws inspiration from daily fantasy sports, where players take on the role of team managers, forming teams made up of real-life athletes.

Today, the web version of Mogul is open to more than 400,000 users on the waiting list. The platform has also started going public.

About 5,000 users, including myself, have tested the platform. Although I’ve only experienced the pre-season, which lacks active gameplay and a leaderboard, I still have a general idea of ​​the mechanics. Overall, it was relatively easy to figure out, which I was surprised by, given my limited knowledge of fantasy sports.

Here’s how to play

After you create a name for your studio, you will receive a budget of 1 million “Mogul Coin”, the platform’s virtual currency (since you are not playing with real money). This initial budget is yours to use to assemble your team.

For example, the cost of the sequel “Wicked: For Good” is $100,000, and actresses Cynthia Erivo (who plays Elphaba) and Ariana Grande (as Glinda) cost $25,000 each. Director Jon M. Chu is also $25,000.

You have a week to finalize your selections, and you can make two free trades each week.

MoviePass founder Stacy Spikes told TechCrunch that the company tried to develop a game that simulates a real movie studio and “how you have to act like a mogul.”

So, when you make this trade-off, you have to be as strategic as a studio head would. For example, “Tron: Ares” star Jared Leto is currently facing allegations of sexual misconduct, and that could impact the film’s performance.

Spikes gave us some additional advice during our discussion. For example, it’s important to keep an eye on rising stars, because sometimes they’re the ones who will really take off. Also consider looking at Bollywood movies as they can be overlooked by people who only think of big franchises, like Marvel. Independent films can also generate significant returns.

Another key point to remember is that you are competing on the basis of net profitability rather than gross revenue. Timing is also crucial; It usually costs less to bet on a film early, while choosing a film closer to its release date may be more expensive.

Mogul runs on Sui, a layer 1 of the blockchain, which records every pick and trade. As users climb the leaderboard, they can earn digital collectibles, such as signed posters and memorabilia.

Currently, everyone will participate in the Global League. The fall season will last for 12 weeks, spanning October, November and December, coinciding with the awards season. In this first season, users have the opportunity to participate in a prize pool worth up to $100,000 worth of tokens, with the aim of encouraging more people to sign up.

MoviePass also awards exclusive in-app badges and founding member status to users who activate their accounts by 11:59 PM ET on October 31.

Plans to create private leagues between friends are currently being developed, along with an app for iOS and Android devices. By next year, Spikes claims a licensing deal may be in place, allowing you to compete for real money.