South Park on your XBOX 360

As much as MTVN has been busy trying to move gaming into TV shows and vice versa, they're also exploring the possibility of distributing TV content by using consoles as a platform. I'm imagining some kind of Viacom/Microsoft variety of YouTube, where the former releases its programming over the latter's infrastructure. — read on

EA, MTV, and Harmonix

Apparently, EA, MTV, and Harmonix (which is also MTV, but whatever) announced at "an invite-only press event" that they came up with some brilliant idea "the details of which will be revealed at a later date." Sigh. — read on

MTVN + GameTrailers.com: Game Head

At the risk of uncritically passing along press releases, I noticed MTV's new idea to integrate GameTrailers.com into its video game television show 'Game Head.' While there is not much to report beyond the obvious, it is a good example of the way in which games are, and are not, being appropriated by traditional media companies. — read on

CBS invests $7 million in Electric Sheep

Electric Sheep, a company that develops 3-D properties in virtual worlds like Second Life, received CBS's support in its recent round of financing. Apparently the virtual world adventures of MTV Networks (split up or not, I'm sure they all still email each other) have persuaded the company to pursue this venue more aggressively.

— read on

NBC Universal + EA: iVillage.com

After reporting earlier that NBC Universal is collaborating on an online BattleStar franchise with Sierra Online, they're now also targeting women. Together with EA, the company is looking to create a co-branded games channel featuring casual games from EA's Pogo.com. Apparently iVillage has 16 million members, and Pogo.com claims another 14 million as well as being the number 1 gaming site for 25-54, according to ComScore Media Metrix. — read on

Ubisoft becomes movie studio

While I'm analysing the various ways in which media companies are moving in on the opportunities of game space, it cannot come as a surprise that game companies are moving in the opposite direction. Ubisoft announced that it is going to spend almost $383.9 million in building a 3,000-person, Montreal-based team with the sole purpose to "make movies." — read on

American Idol online… (King.com + FremantleMedia [RTL Group/Bertelsmann])

After "Deal or No Deal," "1 vs 100," "Who Wants to be A Millionaire," and "Big Brother" a company called King.com now also has the license for "American Idol." Extending the existing brand into online game space, King.com is really just giving you a more-or-less interactive (someone say iTV?) version. — read on

Sprint + Namco: Scene It

It says "the first mobile game to integrate video into the game play in North America" so it must be true. Regardless, I recall playing Scene It at a friend's house (hi Shauna) and am having a hard time imagining why and how I could play this on my cellphone. I thought the screaming and sitting in a room together were the most entertaining parts, and not so much the bits and pieces of film. press release — read on