This
story announces a new partnership between MTV Networks and Hollywood
producer Jerry "Boom Boom" Bruckheimer to create video games. As described in
the official press release, this is a way of telling you you've been
super-served: "Gaming is a focal point of MTV Networks' overall vertical
entertainment strategy of super-serving its core audiences with engaging
experiences across multiple platforms," and in a fascinating sign of the times,
the release also includes credits for the lawyers and agents involved in
brokering the deal. As for the gaming implications, the announcement mentions
new game concepts and IPs, innovation, and even dares to toss in the phrase "unique
games," but specifics are not provided at this point, and no target platforms
are mentioned. Here's a bit:
NEW YORK, Dec. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- MTV Games,
a division of Viacom Inc.'s MTV Networks, today announced an exclusive deal with
internationally renowned motion picture and television producer Jerry
Bruckheimer to develop and create new and original video games, marking his
first official foray into the gaming world. As part of this landmark agreement,
Bruckheimer will build a game incubation studio with MTV Games, where a team of
experienced video game experts, artists and storytellers will seek out and
deliver new game concepts and intellectual property.
[…]
Executives from both MTV Games and Bruckheimer's gaming studio will work
together on all phases of development -- from concept to platform -- as well as
on the production, distribution deals and marketing elements, with the potential
that some of the game concepts could migrate to other entertainment media
including film and TV. Jeff Yapp, Executive Vice President, Programming
Enterprises and Bob Picunko, Vice President Electronic Games & Interactive
Products will oversee the relationship for MTV Games.
MTV Networks will support this venture across all its broadcast and digital
platforms including CMT, MTV, Spike and VH1. Gaming is a focal point of MTV
Networks' overall vertical entertainment strategy of super-serving its core
audiences with engaging experiences across multiple platforms. In August of
2007, the company announced that it will invest more than $500 million over the
next two years in the development and distribution of its Interactive
Entertainment and Video Game business.