Veteran Hollywood Producer To Make Original Shows For Xbox

New York Times:

Microsoft, seeking to expand offerings on its Xbox 360 console, has reached an agreement with a company headed by Peter Safran, the veteran Hollywood producer and talent manager, to produce original shows for distribution on the system.

Through his Safran Company, Mr. Safran represents clients like the actor and producer Sean Combs ("Monster's Ball"), the actor and writer Nia Vardalos ("My Big Fat Greek Wedding") and the filmmakers Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer ("Epic Movie"). Mr. Safran founded the company in 2006 after leaving Brillstein-Grey Management.

Speaking by telephone last week, Scott Nocas, global marketing manager for programming of the Xbox Live entertainment service, said he expected similar deals to follow. "We definitely look at this as the first of many," said Mr. Nocas.

In an interview at his office in Los Angeles last week, Mr. Safran said his first round of programs would all be scripted, as opposed to reality shows, and would probably run under 10 minutes. He said he planned initially to focus on genres, like comedy and horror, that appeal to the Xbox 360 audience, which is heavily concentrated from the ages of 14 to 34, and tends to be more male than female. The first shows are expected to be available to viewers by the fall.

Microsoft's previous forays in digital entertainment include a two-year-old initiative, MSN Originals, to provide original shows for the Web, and an ill-fated foray more than 10 years ago in which it poured about $100 million into Internet shows like the comedy "475 Madison," about an advertising agency, then quickly canceled most of them.

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Comments

[protagonia]

Enough shooter games. We have made our kids nuts with this.

[jinjinpinti]

That's all well and good, but what we REALLY need are many more XBox 360 video games geared toward the older player. Games like Morrowind, Oblivion and Two Worlds are tailor made for older people, but you could die waiting for the next title in between all the gung ho, guns and tunnels, kill, kill, kill, murder, murder, murder, teenage boy machismo, horror wierdo crap they pump out ad nauseum. The video game console people are missing out by not producing enough games geared towards the huge, older retiree demographic. They haven't realized that we have the money, the time and with some better advertising depicting elder peers playing the above noted types of action/adventure/role playing games they could expand their market threefold. Also, how about a game wherein you win the lotto bigtime and get to purchase and enjoy (your game character) all the things and experiences you've ever dreamed off right in your own mortgaged hovel? I've spent some time in gamer stores seeking a new game experience and have noticed quite a few other white haired heads doing likewise to no avail.

[LoRiseAntlers]

I've just gioven up on there being anything I want to play on the 360 or the PS3.I've giot my PS1 and Turbografx 16 hooked up to the TV nowadays.A little Military Madness goes a long way.