May 1, 2008 10:56 AM, by Richard Tedesco

Fans of NBC's enduring “Law & Order” series can now assume all the principal roles in the crime drama, investigating, solving and prosecuting a murder case on their mobile phones.

“Law & Order: Celebrity Betrayal” is the latest incarnation of the multi-series franchise, offering mobile game afficianados some 18 hours of play to figure out who killed a Los Angeles nightclub singer. Players examine the evidence at the crime scene, interview witnesses, identify the perpetrator and ultimately take the case to trial. The overall game, developed by LimeLife, includes mini-games that enable the player to sort out the crime and score additional points.

“It's really ripped from the headlines, as a ‘Law & Order’ episode might be. It's very true to the show,” says Jeremy Laws, senior vice president of mobile and broadband for Universal Pictures Digital Platforms Group.

NBC has previously aimed at a college-age audience with mobile games created around “The Office,” “Heroes” and, most recently, Bravo's “Top Chef” series, according to Laws. But NBC figures to draw an older, upscale audience skewing female for its crime game, reflecting the show's audience appeal.

Laws says NBC expects to draw loyal fans of the series, as well as the casually curious who may try the game and gravitate to the show. “If the ‘Law & Order’ name is on those phone decks, I think it's great marketing for the show,” he says.

The “L&O” game is already a hit for T-Mobile, where it became one of the top sellers as a one-time download ($6.99) or a monthly subscription ($2.99). It's also available through AT&T, and will eventually be available on all mobile carriers.

Game development took nearly one year, with the cost in the “mid-hundreds of thousands,” according to Laws.

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