Vivendi Universal Establishes New Game Development Studio

Posted on August 16, 2002

Vivendi Universal Publishing (VU Publishing) announced the formation of Black Label Games, Inc., a new development studio that will publish PC and console-based interactive entertainment products for the company's global games division, Vivendi Universal Games (VU Games). The new studio will develop titles based on original intellectual properties, as well as content licensed from external strategic partners. Black Label Games joins VU Games' roster of game studios, which includes Blizzard Entertainment, NDA Productions, Sierra Entertainment and Universal Interactive.

"Black Label Games will target the rapidly growing audience for 'Teen-to- Mature-rated' games," said Ken Cron, CEO of VU Games. "Through Black Label, we will focus on delivering innovative, high-quality titles to satisfy the growing consumer appetite for increasingly sophisticated content."

The first titles due under Black Label Games include The Thing, an action and horror survival game that is a sequel to John Carpenter's 1982 film of the same name; The Lord of The Rings: Fellowship of the Ring based on J.R.R. Tolkien's worldwide bestselling literary saga; and Enclave, a third-person action RPG from Conspiracy Entertainment for the Xbox video game system from Microsoft.

Torrie Dorrell, formerly Vice President of Marketing for Universal Interactive, has been named General Manager of Black Label Games. Dorrell will report to Jim Wilson, President of Universal Interactive, who will oversee the new studio in addition to his current responsibilities. Wilson reports to VU Games' North American President & COO, Luc Vanhal.