Interplay Forms Strategy Game Unit

Interplay Entertainment Corp., the Irvine-based computer game firm, has created a new division to focus on strategy games.

Dubbed 14 Degrees East, the unit will tackle an emerging market for the game publisher. The division is scheduled to release several games this year, including chess, poker and three Star Trek-themed titles.

The company has several units that specialize in types of games from Black Isle Studios’ role-playing games to Tantrum’s action “shoot-’em-up” titles.