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Disney adjusts 360/PS3 battleplan

Disney adjusts 360/PS3 battleplan

CEO talks of increased challenges for high-end console games

Disney Interactive Studios will cut down on the number of PS3 and Xbox 360 games it invests in, as the group shifts its focus to embrace more casual platforms.

CEO Bob Iger (pictured) said that there remains a “huge opportunity” for Disney to enjoy healthy revenues in the game market, but the firm’s investment in high-end console games will be handled with caution.

“It is pretty clear that the higher end console games are a little bit more challenged in the world where not only they are more costly to produce and market, but there is just much more competition from casual games and games on platforms like the iPhone iTouch platform,” he said.

Iger went on to explain a change of strategy for Disney Interactive – an adjustment made in line with the firm’s sales results.

“Disney branded [games] seem to perform better on the Nintendo Wii and DS platforms,” he said, “and on the platforms that are not to the high-end console games. And so while we're going to continue to make games for the high end, we'll be very, very judicious in how many and which ones we choose.”

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Of those high-end games, Iger added himself to a long list of people impressed so far with the action racer Split Second – a PC, Xbox 360 and PS3 title in development at Brighton-based Black Rock Studios.

Iger also briefly mentioned the rebooted Tron title in development, and of course Warren Spector’s Epic Mickey project for Wii.

“But I would say that our focus is going to be little bit more diverse and a little bit less reliant on highest end console games,” he added.

m

posted by m Feb 10, 2010 at 10:49 pm
1
m

High end? 360s are cheaper than Wii. The problem is targeting the titles at the wrong platforms.
Kid friendly games on Wii, Adult games on 360/PS3.

Publishers seem a little confused by this.

The Wii isn't even like a simlar sku to the GC

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H

posted by H Feb 11, 2010 at 4:25 pm
2
H

X360 game budget = £12m, plus marketing + cogs
wii game budget = £2m, plus marketing + cogs

publishers aren't stupid, just making bets approriate to the license/property

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M

posted by M Feb 11, 2010 at 9:01 pm
3
M

They are stupid, there are loads of critically acclaimed bad selling games on the wii.
The games are not approprate to the platforms current market and they refuse to splash out on the marketing to even try and get the sales.

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