"Pirates" helmer Gore Verbinski backstabs Disney over video game tie-ins

The Cut Scene isn’t at D.I.C.E., as I’m saving my travel budget and editors’ good will for GDC in two weeks.

But it looks like I missed at least one good controversy today, when “Pirates of the Carribbean” director Gore Verbinski (pictured at left on the "Pirates" set) used his keynote address to trash Disney’s videogame efforts with the franchise he helmed, both on consoles and with an MMO.

Here’s a summary from MTV’s multi-player blog:

He criticized “Pirates” studio Disney for what he described as their initial disinterest in making a massively multiplayer online game about the world in the movies, a project that he thought would extend the experience of the first “Pirates” movie for big-time fans. It wasn’t started for years and then was made without his direct involvement. He suggested that may have been “a breach of contract.” Of the “Pirates” action games released for consoles, he said, “They are considered merchandising. The same as a poster or a little wind-up doll.”

We’re very pleased with the quality of the games Disney has developed around the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise and with the customer acceptance of those games, which has been strong and growing.

Kotaku, which called his Verbinski’s keynote address “often clueless,” adds:

Verbinski attacked the current publisher-developer business model, affirming that "Games are not merchandise." He spoke of his own struggles with game development, saying "With the Pirates of the Caribbean games, the business model killed the potential for something really unique." He explained "I'm not hiding my disappointment, because I know the fanaticism could have driven that world. Five years ago, while adult audiences were dressing up in pirate garb to attend the cinema, I lobbied heavily for an MMOG for Pirates to no avail, because it wasn't in their business plan."

For those pondering the weight of Verbinski’s comments, it’s probably worth noting that he had to check with moderator N’Gai Croal to make sure that there really are three major videogame consoles.

But anyway, Disney Interactive Studios, which publisher last summer’s “Pirates of the Carribbean: At World’s End” console game and Disney Internet Group, which is handling “Pirates of the Caribbean Online” issued a brief joint statement when asked about Verbinski’s comments:

We’re very pleased with the quality of the games Disney has developed around the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise and with the customer acceptance of those games, which has been strong and growing

For a different perspective on the games, check out Variety’s reviews of “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End” and “Pirates of the Caribbean Online.”