The Beanos Dennis Gnasher And Walter Join Minecraft

The Beano's Dennis, Gnasher and Walter join Minecraft By Emily Thomas Newsbeat reporter

Minecraft players must be aware of "softy Walter", his stinky pants, and other nasty characters.

The PC version can now include Walter, Dennis The Menace, and Gnasher, a dog from The Beano.

Gnasher's players can make a sausage and pull all of Dennis’ best pranks like stink bombs or catapults.

It's part in the Beano’s larger plans for digital expansion and was created through a partnership between Frima Studios, a Canadian multiplatform games developer, and the cartoon.

Mark Cotton, who leads the Beano's digital transformations, told Newsbeat, "If you speak to any 7-11-year-old child Minecraft is pretty much their greatest passion.

Mark says that the game is an "extension of the comic" and an attempt to make The Beano a "more overall experience" for kids.

"Roughly 32,000 comics were sold each week at the Beano - this is still a very healthy amount," he said.

But it's much less than the two-million copies sold at peak magazine sales.

"We are very aware kids today have a passion for digital," says Mark.

"We need to make The Beano a 360 brand where Dennis & Gnasher can be found wherever kids are."

"So, we're working hard on a variety of initiatives over three to six more months." minecraft

Some of these initiatives include puzzle apps and interactive comics.

DC Thompson, The Beano's publisher, has already expanded the brand to a TV show and a photo-sharing app as well as a YouTube channel.

Grand Theft Auto?

The comic has been in existence since 1938 and has many adult fans. The Beano characters could also make an appearance on adult games such as Grand Theft Auto's Dennis the Menace.

"No. Mark says that this is not something we would focus on right now.

"We are focusing on the 7-11-year-old digital product. At the moment digital is all about engaging with children and understanding their passions.

They have been consulting a group 10 7-11-year-old Beano and Minecraft enthusiasts throughout the entire development process.

Minnie the Minx

"We basically asked kids, 'If you put Beano into Minecraft, what would you imagine?'

"This was the first stage of what they imagined. Their imaginations are far more expansive than we can imagine at the moment.

"But they wanted pranks, they wanted Walter, they wanted Gnasher, they wanted to dress up as Dennis, and that's what we've given them.

"We'll continue talking to them. Our goal is to expand this and to create Beanotown, allowing kids to be creative.

"Minecraft gives power to children, which is why it's so popular." We can't force the children to do something, and they would reject it.

Are there any other characters who might be allowed to see in?

Mark says, "We certainly want to extend it."

"The obvious character and those the children have been asking for is Minnie The Minx, so that's what would we probably look at next."