TOKYO -- Game giant Capcom plans to launch a unit to manage its U.S. licensing biz, with an eye to developing Hollywood pics with Capcom characters, as well as games with the American characters, the company said on Friday.

 The company has no specific pic projects in the works yet, but expects to spend from $8.5 million to $25 million on the licensing biz, including acquisitions of rights to U.S. characters for use in Capcom games.

"Of course, we have plenty of characters of our own, but we also want to develop new ones with U.S. partners for our games," a Capcom spokeswoman said.

 The first game will be based on "Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law," a toon featuring a superhero-turned-lawyer that was broadcast on the Cartoon Network's Adult Swim programming block from 2001 to July 2007. High Voltage Software is developing the game, with Capcom set to release in November. Capcom intends to release two or three games annually based on American characters and made in cooperation with U.S. game developers. 

 Founded in 1979, Capcom is no stranger to the biz, having produced two pics based on its "Resident Evil" series, among others. A third, "Resident Evil: Extinction," is skedded for release in September by Sony Pictures. 

© Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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