EA, Spielberg to develop three new video games

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Oscar-winning director Steven Spielberg and Electronic Arts, the world's biggest video game publisher, said on Friday they are teaming up to develop three original video game titles.

Spielberg, a video game enthusiast and co-founder of DreamWorks SKG, will work with EA's Los Angeles studio on the concept, story and design of the new game franchises. Terms of the multiyear, exclusive agreement were not disclosed.

Neil Young, vice president and studio head at EA Los Angeles, said that Spielberg and EA's developers are aiming to deliver titles that take advantage of new technology in upcoming gaming consoles, while delivering more engaging and novel play and entertainment.

"Who is a better person to tackle that challenge with than Steven Spielberg?" Young said.

EA will own the intellectual property and the games, which it will develop, publish and distribute. Spielberg -- who directed such films as "Schindler's List", "Saving Private Ryan" and "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" -- gets the first crack at turning the games into film or television productions.

DreamWorks had produced video games for a time under its DreamWorks Interactive division, but EA bought that property in 2000. The unit, which created the World War II "Medal of Honor" game series, is now known as EA Los Angeles.