MTV, Jerry Bruckheimer Strike Video-Game Partnership

Producer to Work with Cable Programmer’s MTV Games Unit

By Alex Weprin -- Broadcasting & Cable, 12/19/2007 11:00:00 AM

MTV and producer Jerry Bruckheimer signed an agreement to form a partnership to produce original video games.

Bruckheimer will work with MTV Games to conceive, develop and create new games under the media company’s banner. Bruckheimer will open a development studio within MTV Games.

MTV only recently entered the video-game market, but it did so with quite a splash. “Rock Band,” which was co-developed with game studio Harmonix, has become a phenomenon, taking home scores of gaming awards and garnering superb reviews and sales.

Earlier this year, MTV announced that it would invest more than $500 million over the next two years in its interactive and video-game business. The deal with Bruckheimer is an extension of that proposal.

“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,” said Van Toffler, president of MTV Networks Music & Logo Group, in a statement. "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."

Bruckheimer has produced dozens of feature films, including the Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy, National Treasure, Armageddon, Con Air and The Rock. He also produces a number of television series, including CSI, CSI: NY, CSI: Miami and The Amazing Race.