MTV Networks Launch Video Game Division

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Only a few months after selling its lackluster Harmonix game division -- and closing its MTV Games division -- Viacom's MTV division is launching a new games effort built around shows from Comedy Central and Spike TV. 

The new MTV group 345 Games is a division of MTV Networks Entertainment Group. Dan Yang, senior vice president, strategy and business development of MTVNE, will also be general manager of 345 Games. The first two games to be launched are from Comedy Central's hit animated show "Ugly Americans" and Spike TV's "Deadliest Warrior: The Game," which has already sold nearly 400,000 downloads to date since its launch on both Xbox 360 and PlayStation.

This summer, two more titles will debut: Spike TV's "Deadliest Warrior: Legends" in July and Comedy Central's "Ugly Americans: Apocalypsegeddon" in August.

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MTV says the games will get on-air, off-air and Internet marketing support.

Viacom's MTV Games bought Harmonix, the developer of "Guitar Hero," for $175 million in 2006. MTV Games closed down five years later. Early on, the relationship was a big success. In addition to "Guitar Hero," the division then had big sales from the "Rock Band" franchise pulling in 16 million unit sales. Then "The Beatles: Rock Band" grabbed another 2 million in 2009.

But given the sometimes fickle nature of the game business, which witnessed a sharp collapse, in the third quarter of 2010, Viacom took a $299 million writeoff related to Harmonix. Viacom sold off Harmonix late last year -- and then closed its MTV Games unit in February of this year.

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