Disney Interactive to launch Web site

[crazy4wdw]

Disney Interactive to launch Web site
July 13, 2007: 08:28 AM EST

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (AP) - Disney Interactive, the interactive entertainment affiliate of Walt Disney Co., said Friday it will launch an online network for video gamers called DGamer.

DGamer will allow video game players to interact and customize content that can be exchanged between their Nintendo DS portable handheld game consoles. Players can, for example, trade items or speed chat with other gamers using preset phrases and answers.

The feature, which is expected to be launched in North America in May 2008, will be integrated with Disney Interactive Studios' Nintendo video games, and will be accessible through the Disney.com Web site. The launch is expected to coincide with the release of the Nintendo DS edition of 'The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian,' which is being developed by Fall Line Studio.

 

[crazy4wdw]

Disney Gets Into DGamer

By Rick Aristotle Munarriz July 13, 2007

Disney Interactive Studios -- the interactive entertainment arm of Disney -- announced that it would be rolling out its DGamer interactive platform come May. When that happens, Disney video games sold for the Nintendo DS handheld system will allow players near a Wi-Fi connection to bond with other DS players around the world.

Yes, the DS has supported this for years. The difference here is that the online community will be managed through the recently remodeled Disney.com. DGamer, which will be a free feature on Disney's DS software releases, will allow members to share high scores, swap virtual accessories, and vote in polls.

Creating their own avatar, gamers will find that the social network has traces of the free Virtual Magic Kingdom game that Disney launched two summers ago. VMK players stroll through chat areas with parental controls, engaging in online games, and collecting virtual badges along the way.

DGamer will make the most of the dual-screen DS platform, with its scribbling stylus as an artistic accessory. The requirement to be within a Wi-Fi signal may prove restrictive for a system that is made for lugging around, but Disney is willing to give it a shot. There is too much to gain if the online community is successful. Disney's slicker -- and stickier -- Disney.com hub is on a roll these days. The site attracted 20 million unique visitors back in May, according to Web trend tracker Media Metrix.

Disney made a commitment to Nintendo last year when it decided to play a bigger role in putting out Disney-branded games. Yes, companies like THQ are still putting out Disney-licensed software, but Disney's master plan is to be a powerful in-house video game publisher and developer. To that end, Disney has been acquiring several small game developers, including this week's announced purchase of Junction Point Studios.

Disney is a natural for Nintendo and its talent for skewing toward younger audiences. The Disney-Pixar brands even combined to be the top-selling third-party software for the DS platform last year.

So let's see what DGamer can do to improve a Disney brand that seems to get even more relevant to the country's youth with every passing Disney Channel and box office winner.

 

[EUROPACL]

Disney Gets Into DGamer

Disney made a commitment to Nintendo last year when it decided to play a bigger role in putting out Disney-branded games. Yes, companies like THQ are still putting out Disney-licensed software, but Disney's master plan is to be a powerful in-house video game publisher and developer. To that end, Disney has been acquiring several small game developers, including this week's announced purchase of Junction Point Studios.

This has the stink of Go.com all over it....umm..all we need now is the purchase of Smurfs, Strawberry Shortcake and Heman for half a billion and they will be right on track for throwing away money.