Rich Pickings: Kim's gonna make you famous

18 July 2016 - 10:29 By Sylvia McKeown

Kim Kardashian West stands, arms folded and lips pursed, on the latest cover of Forbes magazine, chosen for a reason you wouldn't normally associate with the reality television star - her business savvy.The magazine is profiling ''The New Mobile Moguls" and Kardashian has made $45-million (R640-million) from just one game, a game that rakes in more than $300-million a year.And that's before you add Kimoji, her Kim Kardashian Emoji app, into the calculations. At times the app was making more than $1-million a minute.The game, Kim Kardashian: Hollywood, was launched by Glu Games in 2014 for free download, but now costs R28.The aim of the game is to become famous. After helping Kardashian in a clothing store she invites you to a party, where you secure an agent and work your way from the E list to the A list by performing tasks - photo shoots, acting, hosting parties - with Kardashian to gain fans. The game allows you to customise your avatar with a pick of 29 different skin tones and you can love (and marry) anyone you wish, regardless of gender - as long as you're on the same fame level.The game makes more money if you're impatient: to complete the tasks you use "energies" - for example, eight energies for "the perfect smile" - and you go through these quickly.It takes five minutes to replenish your ''energies" but you can buy more.Some players prefer to wait - according to Wired magazine 30342 years have collectively been spent playing the game.The success of the game has led to Glu offering other celebrities to act as hosts or guides through the ''fame game".In the Kendall and Kylie game the aim is to "go viral". The Katy Perry Pop game reportedly failed to connect with fans and flopped in the app charts.Now there's a brand-new Britney Spears: American Dream game, which has been heralded as the best and most dynamic offering by Glu.Befriend Britney Spears in a coffee shop and have her help you fulfil your dreams of becoming a pop sensation - or blues or punk or folk for that matter.The choice is yours, for a cost...

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