Peter Jackson to focus on computer games

Peter Jackson has said he is "getting a little bored with films" as he turns his hand to producing computer games.

The Oscar-winning director was speaking as he announced he had signed a deal with Microsoft to make several titles for its new Xbox 360.

"I do not have to keep delivering stories as movies - there are other things I can do," he revealed, casting doubt on his future as a conventional filmmaker. "More and more I'm looking forward to the release of games and not movies.

"I am more and more excited about games. Technology is at a point where we can blend a lot of film storytelling with interactive entertainment."

Jackson and his wife Fran Walsh have launched Wingnut, a banner for their interactive ventures, and are first to work on a spin-off to hit game Halo.

What their later projects will involve is unclear but they are thought to be looking at more sophisticated plots and developed interaction.

Shane Kim, Microsoft Game Studio's vice-president, explained: "I don't want to classify it as a game. I'm hoping to stretch the definition of interactive entertainment to go beyond the game."

He added that he wanted to broaden the game genre to a new, unexplored level. "I feel like we haven't figured it out, to be honest," he commented. "Hopefully, we'll come up with the secret code to unlock all that potential."