NEWS - Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Disney to Triple Game Investment
Gamedaily is reporting that Disney Interactive is planning on tripling its spending on the worldwide videogame market over the next five years. Disney’s current CFO, Tom Staggs, believes that the company would be missing out on a huge opportunity were it not to pursue this avenue. Last year, Disney spent $100 million dollars on games, a number that should increase to $130 million this year. "Over the next five years or so we are ramping up to about a pace of $350 million per year in video game investment, principally consoles and handhelds," Staggs said during a press brief in London. "It is a market where there is real opportunity." In order to maximize revenue from its properties across all mediums, Staggs noted that 70 percent of Disney’s videogame development dollars will be on established content franchises. The remaining 30 percent will be used to help cultivate new intellectual properties from Disney. Staggs indicated Disney’s interest in the burgeoning world of online games. Later this year, the company plans on releasing a massively multiplayer game based off the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. Staggs also mentioned Disney’s interest in the opportunities offered by virtual worlds such as Second Life, although no specific plans were outlined.Source: http://www.ign.com
