Disney CEO Robert Iger announced that Playdom chief John Pleasants will soon be in charge of Disney Interactive Media Group's (DIMG) games division, while ex-Yahoo head of media James Pitaro will run the group's web content. Ever since Iger welcomed Playdom into the Mouse House earlier this summer for $763 million, the entertainment giant has been scrambling to cover its losses in interactive games and media, which totaled $65 million through January to March 2010.
In an excited official statement, Iger said to Variety, "John has shown incredible agility and skill in helping companies achieve success in the ever-shifting digital games business, while Jimmy has vast knowledge of the online world and has been hugely successful at creating and building audiences around branded online content."
Pleasants will still lead Playdom from outside of its San Francisco office on top of his responsibilities as chief of Disney's games division starting Oct. 18. It's safe to say that the man will have quite a lot on his shoulders, but what could this mean for social games from the big mouse in charge?
While Iger brought Pleasants on to oversee all of Disney's games, DIMG's focus will be on social and mobile games that can generate serious dough like Zynga's FarmVille and Angry Birds. We've already witnessed Disney's effect on Playdom games like Social City, but that was just the beginning. Pleasants' appointment to the elders of Disney will almost certainly mean social and mobile games backed by 100 percent Disney branding. While it's still not too late to steal my idea for a full-blown Magic Kingdom social game, this is Disney's chance to finally bring some original ideas to Facebook.
Hiển thị các bài đăng có nhãn disney. Hiển thị tất cả bài đăng
Hiển thị các bài đăng có nhãn disney. Hiển thị tất cả bài đăng
Thứ Bảy, 4 tháng 2, 2012
Thứ Hai, 9 tháng 1, 2012
Could Disney's Playdom be in worse shape than previously thought?
That's what a report by Business Insider looks to get to the bottom of, citing several anonymous sources. The report lists several bulleted claims by unnamed folks close to Playdom that range from a handful of high level execs have left the company recently to Playdom was forced to relinquish control over what games it made to Disney. And the House of Mouse is unsurprisingly reportedly not very happy about it.
"Six top executives at the VP level or above have moved on in the last three months including Playdom's Co-COO," one nameless source told Business Insider. Another source told the website that soon after Disney's $400 million plus acquisition of Playdom, the new parent company quickly "started to come in and ask Playdom to work on certain games and drop others," according to Business Insider.
Another notable takeaway from the report states that "voices within Playdom" said that they didn't see a value in pursuing Disney's lucrative brands within social games, because kids--Disney's target audience--doesn't pay up on Facebook. Other anonymous sources came to Playdom's defense, claiming that the company "is making three or four times as much money off its users as other social gaming companies," Business Insider reports.
Disney issued a response to Business Insider, reminding readers that Gardens of Time has been the company's most successful Facebook game, reaching top five status at one point. More importantly, the company was keen on letting players know that the first social game based on a Disney brand is coming. (We guess this one doesn't count then?)
This is certainly not the first time doomsayers have outed Disney and Playdom as headed for failure. There's no doubt the two companies have dragged their feet ever since joining hands.
"Six top executives at the VP level or above have moved on in the last three months including Playdom's Co-COO," one nameless source told Business Insider. Another source told the website that soon after Disney's $400 million plus acquisition of Playdom, the new parent company quickly "started to come in and ask Playdom to work on certain games and drop others," according to Business Insider.
Another notable takeaway from the report states that "voices within Playdom" said that they didn't see a value in pursuing Disney's lucrative brands within social games, because kids--Disney's target audience--doesn't pay up on Facebook. Other anonymous sources came to Playdom's defense, claiming that the company "is making three or four times as much money off its users as other social gaming companies," Business Insider reports.
Disney issued a response to Business Insider, reminding readers that Gardens of Time has been the company's most successful Facebook game, reaching top five status at one point. More importantly, the company was keen on letting players know that the first social game based on a Disney brand is coming. (We guess this one doesn't count then?)
This is certainly not the first time doomsayers have outed Disney and Playdom as headed for failure. There's no doubt the two companies have dragged their feet ever since joining hands.
Thứ Tư, 14 tháng 12, 2011
Gardens of Time nabs Best Social Network Game at GDC Online 2011
Playdom has apparently spotted a hit in Gardens of Time on Facebook. The hidden-object game was awarded Best Social Network Game at this year's Game Developers Choice Online Awards last week. Gardens of Time ran against strong competitors like CityVille (Zynga), Dragons of Atlantis (Kabam), FrontierVille (Zynga) and Ravenwood Fair (Lolapps).
According to Playdom, "the award honors the best game launched on a social network, judged in terms of overall depth, execution and quality." While hidden-object games certainly aren't a new genre, but they are new to Facebook, with Gardens of Time being one of the first to hit the platform and garner a healthy 11.1 million monthly players. And Playdom is celebrating.
As a token of thanks to its loyal object finders, the developer is giving all Gardens of Time players an exclusive Fireworks Wagon decoration. (Click here to receive the gift.) Gardens of Time blazed the trail for hidden-object Facebook games in April 2011 to a peak of 14 million monthly players speaking 14 languages.
Of course, the game has, well, inspired other developers to get in on the action. To combat Playdom's head start in the hidden-object sub genre on Facebook, Zynga just announced Hidden Chronicles, though no release date has been given yet. Here's to Playdom hopefully bringing more untapped genres to Facebook (like secret agents?).
Are you a fan of Gardens of Time? Do you think the game deserved the award for Best Social Network Game?
According to Playdom, "the award honors the best game launched on a social network, judged in terms of overall depth, execution and quality." While hidden-object games certainly aren't a new genre, but they are new to Facebook, with Gardens of Time being one of the first to hit the platform and garner a healthy 11.1 million monthly players. And Playdom is celebrating.
As a token of thanks to its loyal object finders, the developer is giving all Gardens of Time players an exclusive Fireworks Wagon decoration. (Click here to receive the gift.) Gardens of Time blazed the trail for hidden-object Facebook games in April 2011 to a peak of 14 million monthly players speaking 14 languages.
Of course, the game has, well, inspired other developers to get in on the action. To combat Playdom's head start in the hidden-object sub genre on Facebook, Zynga just announced Hidden Chronicles, though no release date has been given yet. Here's to Playdom hopefully bringing more untapped genres to Facebook (like secret agents?).
Are you a fan of Gardens of Time? Do you think the game deserved the award for Best Social Network Game?
Disney My Store: Gree gets a Disney-branded game before Playdom?
Technically, yes: Japanese social gamers now have a game that features Disney's iconic characters before the Western world. According to Serkan Toto, Gree has announced Disney My Store, a mobile social game for feature phones that will allow players to create shops complete with Disney products like Mickey Mouse plush dolls and Lightning McQueen toy cars.
Earlier this year, Walt Disney Japan worked with DeNAto release Disney My Land on the Mobage mobile social game network, but now it's Gree's turn. Alright, so the game doesn't feature the characters in the flesh, so to speak, but it is a game centered around said characters. That's more than we can say for Disney in the U.S. and abroad when it comes to social games.
Disney My Store allows players to sell their Disney-themed goods to their friends, dress up avatars just like their favorite Disney characters and work in their friends' stores. Of course, players will get to send each other gifts and trade items to sell in their respective stores--of which 300 will be available at launch.
Serkan Toto reports that the game will also be used to advertise real-life Disney Store items, and that Walt Disney Japan will use the game to spread word of new Disney movies that hit theaters. In the U.S. and abroad, however, Disney Interactive has dragged its feet in bringing its insanely lucrative characters to social games. But since the company slapped its name on Playdom's recent Gnome Town to positive results, Disney Interactive announced that a number of Disney-branded games will hit Western social networks in the next year. Well, it's 'bout time.
Why do you think Disney waited so long to bring its brand into Western social games? What Disney character do you hope gets a Facebook game first?
Earlier this year, Walt Disney Japan worked with DeNAto release Disney My Land on the Mobage mobile social game network, but now it's Gree's turn. Alright, so the game doesn't feature the characters in the flesh, so to speak, but it is a game centered around said characters. That's more than we can say for Disney in the U.S. and abroad when it comes to social games.
Disney My Store allows players to sell their Disney-themed goods to their friends, dress up avatars just like their favorite Disney characters and work in their friends' stores. Of course, players will get to send each other gifts and trade items to sell in their respective stores--of which 300 will be available at launch.
Serkan Toto reports that the game will also be used to advertise real-life Disney Store items, and that Walt Disney Japan will use the game to spread word of new Disney movies that hit theaters. In the U.S. and abroad, however, Disney Interactive has dragged its feet in bringing its insanely lucrative characters to social games. But since the company slapped its name on Playdom's recent Gnome Town to positive results, Disney Interactive announced that a number of Disney-branded games will hit Western social networks in the next year. Well, it's 'bout time.
Why do you think Disney waited so long to bring its brand into Western social games? What Disney character do you hope gets a Facebook game first?
Thứ Ba, 20 tháng 9, 2011
Habbo Hotel maker names ex-Playdom exec CEO in social games push
You might have heard of the mega popular social network slash social game Habbo Hotel (pictured), but Finnish developer Sulake wants to turn "might" into "absolutely." The company just announced that it has hired former Playdom VP of global distribution Paul LaFontaine as CEO, Reuters reports. Sulake made the hire in an ambitious attempt to help the company break into the world of social gaming, and who would know the space better than a guy who was there from the beginning?
LaFontaine, who was largely responsible for publishing Playdom's--now owned by entertainment behemoth Disney--games will replace Timo Soininen as CEO of Sulake. "We have been turning that direction for two years and are now accelerating it with this new CEO," Sulake chairman Mika Salmi told Reuters.
Habbo Hotel, for the uninformed, is a social network-meets-social game in which about 10 million monthly visitors interact in a world designed to hearken back to the good old days of 8-bit gaming. Players create their own rooms in collective hotels normally restricted to countries of origin or native language, and play mini games, decorate and share gifts with other hotel denizens. Of course, like any social game, players can buy premium items using real money.
Judging from the fact that prospective players can already connect to Habbo Hotel through Facebook Connect, and that Sulake has made their interest in traditional social games clear, Sulake making games for Facebook is certainly a possibility. Alright, with the crazy money everyone seems to be raking in on Facebook, this is most likely exactly where the company is headed. And LaFontaine will lead the charge--watch out, Zynga and EA, Habbo is looking hinder your hottest games.
Have you ever played Habbo Hotel before--what do you think of it? Do you think Sulake and Habbo Hotel will make waves in the Facebook gaming world with LaFontaine? Sound off in the comments. 2 Comments
LaFontaine, who was largely responsible for publishing Playdom's--now owned by entertainment behemoth Disney--games will replace Timo Soininen as CEO of Sulake. "We have been turning that direction for two years and are now accelerating it with this new CEO," Sulake chairman Mika Salmi told Reuters.
Habbo Hotel, for the uninformed, is a social network-meets-social game in which about 10 million monthly visitors interact in a world designed to hearken back to the good old days of 8-bit gaming. Players create their own rooms in collective hotels normally restricted to countries of origin or native language, and play mini games, decorate and share gifts with other hotel denizens. Of course, like any social game, players can buy premium items using real money.
Judging from the fact that prospective players can already connect to Habbo Hotel through Facebook Connect, and that Sulake has made their interest in traditional social games clear, Sulake making games for Facebook is certainly a possibility. Alright, with the crazy money everyone seems to be raking in on Facebook, this is most likely exactly where the company is headed. And LaFontaine will lead the charge--watch out, Zynga and EA, Habbo is looking hinder your hottest games.
Have you ever played Habbo Hotel before--what do you think of it? Do you think Sulake and Habbo Hotel will make waves in the Facebook gaming world with LaFontaine? Sound off in the comments. 2 Comments
Thứ Năm, 15 tháng 9, 2011
Club Penguin fires a salvo of fun with Puffle Launch for iPhone [Video]
Parents, secure the iPhones and iPads. If Club Penguin isn't going to slide onto Facebook anytime soon, we'll take the next best thing: the iPhone. Puffle Launch, first released as a mini game within the kids world of Club Penguin over a year ago, launches onto iPhone tomorrow, Sept. 15. The game, which will be available for the paltry price of $.99, puts players in control of Daredevil, one of the many Puffles available in the existing Disney-owned web game.
Just like in Club Penguin, kids can fire Daredevil from a cannon, careening into obstacles and collecting Coins. Better yet, those Coins can be transferred to kids' existing Club Penguin accounts to buy new items from the web game's store. As players advance through the game's many daring and dangerous aerial courses, they will eventually have to face the Crab Boss.
According to a Club Penguin representative, Puffle Launch is already played by 150,000 kids daily, and a new Puffle is adopted every second in the kid-friendly virtual world. (That amounts to more than 20 million of the little balls of love adopted in 2011 already!) With statistics like that, color us baffled as to why Club Penguin has yet to hit Facebook, especially considering the amount of preteens that are already active on the social network.
Hopefully, this is just the beginning of Club Penguin's expansion beyond its little home on the web and onto new platforms (aside from Nintendo's stable of consoles). Check out the game's trailer below, but you might not want to show the kids just yet, unless you're willing to buy it on every iOS device in the house.
Are you excited that Club Penguin has finally made it to iOS? Where or how else would you like to see the Club Penguin franchise go? Sound off in the comments. Add Comment
Just like in Club Penguin, kids can fire Daredevil from a cannon, careening into obstacles and collecting Coins. Better yet, those Coins can be transferred to kids' existing Club Penguin accounts to buy new items from the web game's store. As players advance through the game's many daring and dangerous aerial courses, they will eventually have to face the Crab Boss.
According to a Club Penguin representative, Puffle Launch is already played by 150,000 kids daily, and a new Puffle is adopted every second in the kid-friendly virtual world. (That amounts to more than 20 million of the little balls of love adopted in 2011 already!) With statistics like that, color us baffled as to why Club Penguin has yet to hit Facebook, especially considering the amount of preteens that are already active on the social network.
Hopefully, this is just the beginning of Club Penguin's expansion beyond its little home on the web and onto new platforms (aside from Nintendo's stable of consoles). Check out the game's trailer below, but you might not want to show the kids just yet, unless you're willing to buy it on every iOS device in the house.
Are you excited that Club Penguin has finally made it to iOS? Where or how else would you like to see the Club Penguin franchise go? Sound off in the comments. Add Comment
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