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Bruckheimer Will Make Videogames For MTV

As part of the exclusive deal with MTV Games, Hollywood producer Jerry Bruckheimer will set up a videogames incubation studio in Santa Monica, Calif., to create and develop titles. A videogame enthusiast, Bruckheimer says he wants to bring a "new look" to videogames in the same way he did to TV with his series "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation." He also produced "Pirates of the Caribbean," "Black Hawk Down" and other blockbusters.

The collaboration is part of a growing effort by MTV parent Viacom to participate in the fast-growing videogame business. Viacom last year acquired Harmonix--the company behind "Rock Band"--and it has committed to spending $500 million on games and interactive entertainment by the summer of 2009.

The new unit will be open to developing all kinds of games, from shoot-'em-ups to kids' titles, Bruckheimer says. Any games developed could lead to spinoffs in the movie and television worlds, says Van Toffler, president of MTV Networks music and logo group. But the MTV team won't develop games based on most of Bruckheimer's projects, as other companies own the rights to those.

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