Joystiq

Disney's Interactive Media division reduces losses in Q3

Mike Schramm — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 21:30:00 EST

Disney's studio shutdowns may have had at least some of the desired effect: The Disney Interactive Media Group reports that the third quarter has brought decreased losses for the division year-over-year. The group remains the only division in the company operating at a loss, but revenues increased (thanks to Lego Pirates of the Carribbean and Cars 2, according to the studio) and losses decreased to $86 million a year.

Disney still blames most of the losses on the acquisition of social developer Playdom last year, but good news is good news. Hopefully this means an end to all of the layoffs around the division.

Disney's Interactive Media division reduces losses in Q3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 10 Aug 2011 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Ex-Cryptic CCO Bill Roper joins Disney Interactive Media Group

Griffin McElroy — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 12:10:00 EST

Bill Roper's cultivated an impressive resume during his tenure with the gaming industry, including executive positions with Blizzard North, Flagship Studios and Cryptic Studios. He left the latter developer -- his last place of employment -- last August, and today revealed his new home: The Disney Interactive Media Group, where he'll work as the vice president of the Marvel franchise.

Disney General Manager of Games Alex Seropian said, "With 17 years of experience in the worldwide gaming industry, we are confident that Bill has the creative vision necessary to help guide the next wave of development and product for DIMG's Marvel Games." We too are confident in Roper's abilities. And, considering his legacy, we can't wait to see how much dope loot he can squeeze into the next Spider-Man title.

Ex-Cryptic CCO Bill Roper joins Disney Interactive Media Group originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 22 Jul 2011 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Disney Interactive gets two new presidents

Justin McElroy — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Their names were John Pleasants and James Pitaro -- two hard-nosed CEOs from different sides of the track -- even though everybody who knew anything called them Jack and Jim. Jack grew up on the mean streets of EA until he gave 'em the clean sneak and shacked up with Playdom. Man, the team there was so green Kermit woulda tossed them a pity nickel, but he worked 'em into a lean crew the Mouse House just couldn't resist.

Pitaro, now he used to real choir boy, running sports over at Yahoo!. That was until someone from the media division looked at him the wrong way and he cleaned house over there so bad he was the only one left standing to see how spic 'n' span it was.

Now when the two of them took over as co-presidents of Disney Interactive way back at the beginning of October 2010, the two of them really started getting gashouse. Heck, there wasn't a fakealoo artist or roundheel left in that clip joint after Jack (who ran the games) and Jim (the online guy) were finished tuning them up.

Yep, they was about the best damn buttons I ever seen ... best I ever seen.

Disney Interactive gets two new presidents originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 06 Oct 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Disney Interactive Media experiences $295 million loss for year

Alexander Sliwinski — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:00:00 EST

The Walt Disney Company may be holding its own in this tough economic time, but its Interactive Media division, which includes Disney Interactive and Disney Online, ended the corporation's fiscal year with a $295 million loss. This follows the division's $258 million loss last year -- it is the only group in the company hemorrhaging cash. PaidContent quotes outgoing CFO Tom Staggs explaining the situation away, "We're making an investment (in self-published video games). We're currently in a loss situation and would like to see that reverse itself as we build out to scale."

Optimistically, next year could be better with the release of Split/Second and Epic Mickey ... optimistically.

Source -- Disney fiscal year results [PDF link]

Disney Interactive Media experiences $295 million loss for year originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Disney's games and internet divisions merging

Alexander Sliwinski — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 20:50:00 EST

Filed under: Business

Disney Interactive Studios and the company's Internet Group will merge into one unit, named Disney Interactive Media Group. Disney Interactive Studios has published games like Hannah Montana, High School Musical and Turok; meanwhile, the internet division was responsible for hundreds of online casual games and Pirates of the Caribbean Online. Clearly, the merger makes sense, and can be likened to when Sony Online Entertainment became part of SCEI.

Variety speculates the merger is so that Disney can report all its digital revenues in one spot, instead of games being lumped in with the consumer products. It doesn't appear many (if any) pink slips will be handed out in the unification, as these seemingly offline and online games divisions continue doing their separate things.

Source -- Disney Merging WDIG Group With Games Unit
Source -- AllThingsD Iger memo

Disney's games and internet divisions merging originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 05 Jun 2008 20:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments