MTV Networks is expanding into the social gaming realm after having acquired San Francisco-based gaming developer Social Express.

New games will be based on original IP as well as shows and characters from MTV, Nickelodeon and MTVN’s other brands, with the first game to be introduced in the third quarter of this year. Social Express will also launch a publishing platform for indie game developers.

Social Express’s management team boasts former executives and developers from Apple, AOL, Yahoo! and Zynga, who will all be integrated into Nickelodeon Digital, with Social Express co-founder and CEO Tony Espinoza overseeing social gaming strategy and development as VP and GM of Social Gaming for MTV Networks’ Nickelodeon Kids & Family Group. Neil Souza, co-founder of Social Express and FoulPlay Media, is now VP of technology, social games

The acquisition of Social Express marks MTV Network’s first foray into the social gaming space and is the latest gaming initiative for the Nickelodeon Kids & Family Group, which has also launched AddictingGames on the iPhone with the AG iNetwork and introduced a virtual goods platform to the site in the past year.