Jack Black gets in the game, produces Brutal Legend with Tim Schafer

Jack Black, the star of movies such as "King Kong" and "Kung Fu Panda," had two passions growing up in Los Angeles -- rock music and video games.

Black played out his rock-star fantasy by starting a band, Tenacious D, and starring in the movie "The School of Rock." Now, he's tackling video games.

The 39-year-old has been secretly working on a game called Brutal Legend that will debut on Sunday at the Spike TV Video Game Awards, which Black will host.

A cross between a Styx concert and World of Warcraft, the game lets players take on the role of Eddie Riggs, an anti-hero who's transported back in time and asked to save an oppressed civilization. Eddie, voiced by Black, draws upon his dark and twisted imagination, plus his love of head-banging rock, to help battle evildoers.

The game was the brainchild of Tim Schafer, whose San Francisco studio, Double Fine Productions, created Grim Fandango and Psychonauts. Schafer invited Black to be part of the creative process three years ago, and Black accepted the offer.

We spoke with the duo earlier this week. Read an edited transcript of the conversation here.

-- Alex Pham

Top, screenshot of Brutal Legend, a game developed by Jack Black and Tim Schafer, by Double Fine Productions

Bottom, photo of Jack Black by Dan Steinberg / Associated Press

Comments

[Wow gold]

Jack Black has done some interesting stuff back in his day. I think this new idea of his might not be the best one , after all his music wasn't all that great...