lUnAtIc
06-05-2007, 12:55 AM
Link:
http://biz.gamedaily.com/industry/feature/?id=16369
Newly Formed Brash Entertainment Receives $400 Million
Brash Entertainment, led by former Massive Inc execs, 300 producer Thomas Tull and others, is looking to change the way movie-based video games are made. The company has raised $400 million in funding and will be making multiple games based on the horror franchise Saw (pictured). More within...
In March we reported (http://biz.gamedaily.com/industry/feature/?id=15587) on a new video game company, Brash Entertainment. At the time it appeared that 300 producer Thomas Tull had raised $150 million in funding. Brash officials, however, quickly followed up to tell GameDaily BIZ that the amount of funding would be significantly more.
Indeed. Today Brash said that it's secured $400 million from a syndicate led by ABRY Partners LLC, and including New York Life Capital Partners III, LP, Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance, and PPM America Private Equity Fund II, LLP. Brash founders Mitch Davis, Nicholas Longano—both former Massive Inc. execs—Thomas Tull and Bert Ellis hope to "transform the way great film creativity is brought to life in games."
The company said it already has more than 40 licenses through partnerships with five major film studios, and twelve games in production. Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group will officially act as the distribution arm for Brash's video games, "mobilizing its dedicated sales force and capitalizing on the opportunities created by each film's theatrical and DVD releases to achieve dramatic global impact."
"Brash is founded on the simple premise that top Hollywood creativity plus top game talent should equal great games," said Brash Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO Mitch Davis. "We are laser focused on delivering high-quality games. The other aspects of our business are left to the experts -- best of breed partners we've tapped for their specific expertise."
"We are very excited about working with Brash as they grow into a major force in the gaming space," added Kevin Tsujihara, President, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group. "We believe that our global game distribution services fit perfectly with the Brash strategic mission."
Thomas Tull, Chairman and CEO of Legendary Pictures, whose recent 300 was lauded for its video game-like qualities said, "To me, great movies and great video games, if well-made, can be two equally dynamic mediums. Both are immersive: both offer pure escapism. As a lover of films and an avid gamer, I find the opportunity to more closely align these two art forms very exciting."
In addition to the abovementioned founders, Brash's management includes Chief Financial Officer, Bill Chardavoyne, Chief Creative Officer, Larry Shapiro, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Yasmin Naboa, Senior Vice President, Business Affairs & General Counsel, Patrick Sweeney and Vice President, Communications, Tiffany Spencer.
Brash's producers have worked on a number of hot video game properties in the past, including God of War, F.E.A.R., Mercenaries, Silent Hill, The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay, Star Wars: Battlefront, Tony Hawk Underground, Justice League Heroes, Medal of Honor, The Incredibles, SOCOM II, Twisted Metal, Gran Turismo 4, and Spider-Man 2.
Brash would appear to have a wide variety of content as well. The company said it has licenses to develop games for upcoming children's animated films, action-packed thrillers and horror films. One of the first projects the company has revealed is a series of games based on the blockbuster horror franchise Saw from Lionsgate. The Saw films have grossed more than $400 million worldwide and have sold more than 15 million DVDs.
Lionsgate Vice Chairman Michael Burns commented, "The Saw franchise is a proven brand in the film space, and it's important to us that the story translates to both the film and game experience in a way that is meaningful and exciting to both movie fans and gamers. The Brash team respects film IP, is passionate about games and cares about quality just as much as we do. They will partner with the best game developer for the project, and then we will all work together in close collaboration."
http://biz.gamedaily.com/industry/feature/?id=16369
Newly Formed Brash Entertainment Receives $400 Million
Brash Entertainment, led by former Massive Inc execs, 300 producer Thomas Tull and others, is looking to change the way movie-based video games are made. The company has raised $400 million in funding and will be making multiple games based on the horror franchise Saw (pictured). More within...
In March we reported (http://biz.gamedaily.com/industry/feature/?id=15587) on a new video game company, Brash Entertainment. At the time it appeared that 300 producer Thomas Tull had raised $150 million in funding. Brash officials, however, quickly followed up to tell GameDaily BIZ that the amount of funding would be significantly more.
Indeed. Today Brash said that it's secured $400 million from a syndicate led by ABRY Partners LLC, and including New York Life Capital Partners III, LP, Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance, and PPM America Private Equity Fund II, LLP. Brash founders Mitch Davis, Nicholas Longano—both former Massive Inc. execs—Thomas Tull and Bert Ellis hope to "transform the way great film creativity is brought to life in games."
The company said it already has more than 40 licenses through partnerships with five major film studios, and twelve games in production. Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group will officially act as the distribution arm for Brash's video games, "mobilizing its dedicated sales force and capitalizing on the opportunities created by each film's theatrical and DVD releases to achieve dramatic global impact."
"Brash is founded on the simple premise that top Hollywood creativity plus top game talent should equal great games," said Brash Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO Mitch Davis. "We are laser focused on delivering high-quality games. The other aspects of our business are left to the experts -- best of breed partners we've tapped for their specific expertise."
"We are very excited about working with Brash as they grow into a major force in the gaming space," added Kevin Tsujihara, President, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group. "We believe that our global game distribution services fit perfectly with the Brash strategic mission."
Thomas Tull, Chairman and CEO of Legendary Pictures, whose recent 300 was lauded for its video game-like qualities said, "To me, great movies and great video games, if well-made, can be two equally dynamic mediums. Both are immersive: both offer pure escapism. As a lover of films and an avid gamer, I find the opportunity to more closely align these two art forms very exciting."
In addition to the abovementioned founders, Brash's management includes Chief Financial Officer, Bill Chardavoyne, Chief Creative Officer, Larry Shapiro, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Yasmin Naboa, Senior Vice President, Business Affairs & General Counsel, Patrick Sweeney and Vice President, Communications, Tiffany Spencer.
Brash's producers have worked on a number of hot video game properties in the past, including God of War, F.E.A.R., Mercenaries, Silent Hill, The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay, Star Wars: Battlefront, Tony Hawk Underground, Justice League Heroes, Medal of Honor, The Incredibles, SOCOM II, Twisted Metal, Gran Turismo 4, and Spider-Man 2.
Brash would appear to have a wide variety of content as well. The company said it has licenses to develop games for upcoming children's animated films, action-packed thrillers and horror films. One of the first projects the company has revealed is a series of games based on the blockbuster horror franchise Saw from Lionsgate. The Saw films have grossed more than $400 million worldwide and have sold more than 15 million DVDs.
Lionsgate Vice Chairman Michael Burns commented, "The Saw franchise is a proven brand in the film space, and it's important to us that the story translates to both the film and game experience in a way that is meaningful and exciting to both movie fans and gamers. The Brash team respects film IP, is passionate about games and cares about quality just as much as we do. They will partner with the best game developer for the project, and then we will all work together in close collaboration."