National Geographic launches videogames unit

National Geographic is launching an in-house videogames division and has signed partnership deals with Sony Computer Entertainment and Namco Bandai. National Geographic Games (NGG), a unit of National Geographic Ventures (NGV), will publish and develop online and mobile games, as well as titles for a number of leading games consoles.

The games will be based around National Geographic's themes of the environment, wildlife and history and will be tied to the magazine publisher's existing output. The first NGG title, Herod's Lost Tomb, will be released in December and relates to December's issue of National Geographic Magazine and TV output about the biblical figure King Herod, which is due for broadcast on the National Geographic Channel.

A free Flash version of Herod's Last Tomb will be available online as well as downloadable versions for the PC and iPhone. National Geographic's agreements with Sony and US games firm Namco will also see titles produced for the Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS and PlayStation 3.

"The launch of our games division furthers National Geographic Venture's cross-platform strategy of creating and distributing unique consumer experiences and content on multiple platforms and devices," says Ted Prince, the CEO of NGV. "National Geographic Games extends our mission globally and makes the National Geographic brand more meaningful to a broader audience."

The games division will be led by Paul Levine, the current SVP of NGV's platform group and SVP of corporate strategy at National Geographic Global Media. Joining as SVP for the games unit is former Take-Two Interactive executive, Chris Mate.

In July, National Geographic made its first move into online games, signing a deal with RealNetworks to launch science and nature-themed games on its website. In October 2007, the firm created its Global Media to oversee its magazine, book publishing, television, film, music, radio, digital media and maps units.