BBCs games plan goes into Top Gear

Big names in gaming have joined BBC Worldwide as the firm prepares to announce its first wave of titles.

Former THQ and Disney Interactive exec Paul Joffe has joined as VP of production, while Ben Badgett is the firm’s new creative director – Badgett was previously director of gaming at Cartoon Network and worked as creative director for Vivendi.

I am trying to build a team that really understands how to get to the meat of the matter when it comes to brands,” BBC Worldwide’s EVP of Digital Entertainment, Robert Nashak, told MCV.

A range of BBC IP is set to get the video game treatment, beginning with Asylum’s Doctor Who games on Wii and DS this winter.

Nashak also name-dropped In The Night Garden, Lonely Planet, Strictly Come Dancing and Torchwood as ideal brands to crossover into games. He suggested that Doctor Who The Adventure Games could get a retail release, too.

But the main focus is currently on Top Gear, with a US format of the TV show set to launch this year.

Top Gear is a priority for us,” added Nashak. We are coming out with an American format of Top Gear. If that takes off, and I hope it does, then I believe that Top Gear will become a powerhouse global brand.”

Not all of these games will be retail launches, however, with mobile, browser and digital releases all planned.

Towards the end of the year you will start to see stuff on mobile and iPad,” he said.

People doing TV shows are really inspired by the fact we are taking gaming seriously.”