Chicago, Illinois – Disney announces it’s latest acquisition of Wideload Games. Along with the buy of Wideload they acquire entrepreneur game designer Alex Seropian who founded Bungie studios. As reported from Kotaku.com, the buy of Seropian’s studio is following Disney’s acquisition of Marvel Entertainment last month for $4 billion.
Alex Seropian will oversee the creative development of six video game studios under the Disney Interactive label. Nice job Alex!
Disney Interactive is publisher of such games as Hannah Montana Music Jam and Club Penguin and Wideload Studios has published titles “Stubbs the Zombie Rebel Without a Pulse.” I never even heard of these games, but I know who Bungie is and what they are responsible for. The “Halo” franchise that was sold to Microsoft a little over three years ago and has since become a household word in the gaming industry.
Ok, now let’s look at this on paper.
Walt Disney’s money and media power…
Plus game developer and game studio manager extraordinaire Alex Seropian…
Plus the entire Marvel Universe and all it’s movie rights and game contracts that touch studios such as THQ and Gazillion…
Equals: Future gaming powerhouse.
I see some pretty big squares being taken on the chessboard. I am not saying that Blizzard and EA should start shaking in their shoes just yet, but expect something big coming from Disney in the near future. I am curious to find out what “Epic Mickey” will turn out to be.
Just one thing…no more Hannah Montana please, but a steampunk-style MMORPG created with Disney characters I will definately play. I don’t know about you, but I grew watching Disney cartoons and you really can’t beat Disney style art. After all, they are the grandfather of animation.
Thanks.
Play safe,
Frank