Disney Online Creates New Team Focused on Online Virtual Worlds, Communities and Games.Steve Parkis to Lead Disney Online Studios NORTH HOLLYWOOD, Calif. -- Disney Online, part of the Walt Disney Internet Group The Walt Disney Internet Group (WDIG) oversees several websites owned by The Walt Disney Company and its subsidiaries. [1] The division's Disney Online unit operates disney. , announced today the creation of a new team that will focus on building, operating and publishing an expansive line-up of games, virtual worlds and online social communities, Disney Online Studios. Steve Parkis, a Disney Online veteran, has been promoted to senior vice president and will lead the newly formed group, reporting to Paul Yanover, executive vice president and managing director of Disney Online. The formation of Disney Online Studios combines the talents of several of Disney Online's pioneering Internet teams in order to accelerate development of new immersive online entertainment for kids and families. Among the groups joining the team are the creators of the award-winning Disney.com XD (www.disney.com/xd) following the 2007 launch of the highly interactive broadband destination that combines games, video and community elements. The newly formed group will also include Disney Online's Virtual Reality Studio, a group that started in Disney's Imagineering division before moving online to create ground-breaking virtual worlds including Disney's Toontown Online Toontown Online (more commonly known as Toontown) is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game created by The Walt Disney Company and billed as the first such game intended for kids and families. (www.toontown.com) and recently launched Pirates of the Caribbean Online  This article or section contains information about an unreleased video game.The content may change substantially as more information becomes available. (www.piratesonline.com). In addition to the existing resources, there will also be a significant expansion of the development, community, operations and publishing teams to more fully address growing opportunities in the online games and community space. "Online games and community continue to be a key focus of our entertainment content," stated Yanover. "As the number one ranked site for kids and families, Disney.com reaches more than 27 million unique visitors A count of how many different people access a Web site. For example, if a user leaves and comes back to the site five times during the measurement period, that person is counted as one unique visitor, but would count as five "user sessions. a month(a), and far and away the top reason guests come to our site is for games and other interactive online entertainment." Parkis will lead the Disney Online Studios team in publishing content that spans virtual worlds, casual online games, interactive and creative activities, and social communities. The team will publish both internally and externally developed initiatives that utilize existing Disney characters This is a currently incomplete list of Disney characters:
Aesop semi-legendary fabulist of ancient Greece. [Gk. Lit.: Harvey, 10] Münchäusen Baron traveler grossly embellishes his experiences. [Ger. Lit. . Taking on an expanded role within Disney Online Studios will be Mike Goslin, vice president of Virtual Worlds and one of the lead developers of Toontown and Pirates of the Caribbean Online, who has been appointed to guide the development of online virtual worlds and communities. "Since the company's inception, Disney has specialized in creating worlds where characters interact to tell amazing stories
Amazing Stories magazine, sometimes retitled Amazing Science Fiction ," Yanover said. "We believe this new team will continue that tradition of bringing Disney characters and franchises to life. Both Steve and Mike bring a wealth of experience, creative talent and vision to this exciting new space." In addition to expanding and growing Playhouse Disney For the Playhouse Disney in other countries, see Playhouse Disney around the world. Playhouse Disney is the brand name for Disney Channel's preschool programs, often airing as its own channel outside of the United States. Preschool Time Online, Pirates of the Caribbean Online and Toontown, Disney Online Studios has previously announced development on virtual worlds built around the Disney Fairies franchise, which will be launched later this year, and the animated film "Cars." Already more than 4.5 million personalized fairies have been created at DisneyFaries.com, which will ultimately become the gateway to the virtual world. The team is also actively looking to build and publish more virtual worlds and an expanded array of online games, interactive activities and social environments for kids and their families. Disney's portfolio of Virtual Worlds also includes Club Penguin Club Penguin is an online game developed by New Horizon Interactive and later bought by Disney. The game is designed for children ages six to fourteen, though available to anyone. , which was acquired in August 2007. Club Penguin, headquartered in Kelowna, British Columbia British Columbia, province (2001 pop. 3,907,738), 366,255 sq mi (948,600 sq km), including 6,976 sq mi (18,068 sq km) of water surface, W Canada. Geography , Canada, is managed by co-founder Lane Merrifield and reports directly to Steve Wadsworth, president of WDIG WDIG Walt Disney Internet Group WDIG Walt Disney Imagineering Glendale (California) . (a) Source: ComScore MediaMetrix January 2008 About Disney Online Disney Online (www.Disney.com), a division of the Walt Disney Internet Group, produces the number one kids' entertainment and family community destination on the World Wide Web. Launched in 1996, Disney.com is the online gateway to all of the company's Disney-branded entertainment initiatives, providing comprehensive access to, and information about Disney movies, travel, television, games, mobile, music, shopping and live events. Disney.com also features Disney XD, a highly interactive broadband experience, that lets Disney.com guests create their own customized online channel with games, videos, music, and chat - all of which can be enjoyed simultaneously in an immersive environment. In addition, Disney Online develops and publishes a range of online products and services including Pirates of the Caribbean Online, Disney's Toontown Online, Playhouse Disney Preschool Time Online, Disney Game Downloads, Disney Game Kingdom Online, Disney Connection and Hot Shot Business. The Walt Disney Internet Group (WDIG) is a unit of The Walt Disney Noun 1. Walt Disney - United States film maker who pioneered animated cartoons and created such characters as Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck; founded Disneyland (1901-1966) Disney, Walter Elias Disney Company (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange : DIS). |
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