New casual studio targets music-based games

Two US industry veterans have united to form a new games studio focused on making music-based games for a casual audience.

Called Music Video Games (MvG), the new operation is founded by David Warhol, president of video game studio Realtime Associates, and Vincent Bitetti, a former CEO of TDK Mediactive, which was sold to Take Two in 2004.

MvG will be "focused on delivering interactive entertainment experiences for both casual gamers and music fans" the two said in a statement announcing the studio’s opening.

"MvG has been created with the goal of bringing fun and easily accessible music games to an audience that has largely remained unnoticed to this point," said Bitetti, who is CEO of the new outfit.

Warhol, meanwhile, will be chief creative officer. The two have already signed up other industry vets to work with them as strategic advisors: music industry veteran Mark Goldstein, former SVP of business and legal affairs at Warner Bros Records, and interactive entertainment ‘guru’ Tim Walsh, formerly the SVP of international publishing, president of THQ Wireless, and a corporate officer at THQ.

Added Bitetti: "The music video game market and the online casual games market both continue to grow exponentially. MvG will provide games that will appeal to both demographics."