MTV Goes Gaming 2.0

MTV, which has lost its top slot in the music business to videogames, continues to embrace the medium. Beginning November 14, the MTV networks will broadcast 40 hours of videogame programming to coincide with the launches of PlayStation 3 and Wii. MTV's Gamer's Week 2.0 will include specials on the PS3 and Wii, as well as "Gears of War: Race to Launch," which features local developer Epic Games.

The network will offer content across all of its TV channels, as well as online via its new gaming portal. There will even be 20 segments available via MTV Mobile to play on cell phones. It's a huge push for the network, which has recently purchased its own game developer in Harmonix (maker of "Guitar Hero II") and bought up gaming sites like Gametrailers.com and Xfire.com. Both of those sites will be part of the festivities. And MTV is working on several "Guitar Hero" segments, including a full show around the hit franchise.

November and December typically account for over half of the game sales in the U.S. each year. This month will be especially important with two next generation console launches. The fact that MTV has decided to make this an annual event shows that gaming IS a part of pop culture today...and that's not going to change.