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CSI and Pirates of the Caribbean executive producer Jerry Bruckheimer has teamed up with a MTV Games to work on a number of new interactive entertainment products.
He told Reuters that he was bringing the same expectation-defying attitude to games that he did to films: "It’s no different than what we did with movies. We did ‘Top Gun’ when everyone said you couldn’t do an aviation movie because they all failed. We did a pirate movie when they said pirate movies aren’t going to work.
"We approach gaming the same way. We see things a little differently, that maybe other people wouldn’t see."
It’s Bruckheimer’s first foray into games – and is a much more ingrained connection than the likes of Spielberg’s team-up with established firms such as Electronic Arts: Bruckheimer will set up a new studio for original IP to be exclusively published through MTV Games. The original announcement of the deal describes the ‘game incubation studio’ as "a team of experienced video game experts, artists and
storytellers will seek out and deliver new game concepts and intellectual
property".
"Video games represent a new and innovative medium for what we’ve always tried to do, which is to tell great stories. But this medium is unique in that it gives the player control over how those stories unfold," said Bruckheimer in the announcement. "I look forward to working with MTV Games to create new original game stories, always looking for ways to innovate the medium."
"Jerry Bruckheimer and his innate talent for developing wildly successful entertainment properties that range from action, reality, drama, sports, and comedy are the perfect complement to our vision for MTV Games and the experience our audiences truly crave," added Van Toffler, president, MTV Networks Music & Logo Group.
"There’s a huge intersection between the fans of Bruckheimer films, our audience and gamers, making the potential for this partnership to be as explosive as one of his blockbuster films."
Execs from both MTV Games and Bruckheimer’s currently-unamed 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, EVP of programming enterprises and Bob Picunko, VP electronic games & interactive products will oversee the relationship for MTV Games.
