Fashion mogul and graffiti "artist" Marc Ecko is forming a new gaming division in his ever-growing company. The division, Game Daily reports, will concentrate on investment and development of next-gen video game properties.

When I spoke with Ecko last year he said he was very interested in getting into the gaming business, so this comes as no surprise.

In that interview he told me that he hoped to make his own publisher, something that could become its own brand:

ou know, so, you know, I just think the medium is an exciting place and I think it's the wild west of media culture and it's a place that I just, you know, I caught the bug, I...its so an amazing professional and creative experience, so, you know...just expect the unexpected. Without showing too much of, just don't expect like more. I don't think I'm gonna do a break-dancing game.

Ecko is expected to officially announce that he is forming Marc Ecko Entertainment tomorrow. The company will be headed up by Mike Lynch, who will concentrate on finding innovative games and then working with publishers to get them into stores.

GD reports that Lynch will be joined by Marc Fernandez and Shawn Rosen, both of whom have extensive game industry experience.

"Our goal is to expand creativity in videogames - we want to try brand new things," said Marc Ecko, Founder and Chief Creative Officer of MEE. "There are so many great ideas out there that either aren't getting the attention they need or are being completely ignored. We will work with the visionaries of the medium and get these inventive titles in the hands of gamers."

"Since the launch of Marc's first game, Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure, last year, we have begun cultivating new game concepts, funding interesting titles that were already in development, and keeping an eye out for progressive ideas," said Mr. Lynch, President of Marc Ecko Entertainment. "One of our initial projects is with a developer that was responsible for one of the biggest hits of 2006. We'll be announcing details on this game very soon."

I've heard some pretty interesting rumblings as well. Hopefully more tomorrow. Brian Crecente

Marc Ecko Expands Game Business [Game Daily]