News
Mouse House gets sociable
Tim Green Jan 9 2008, 3:45pm
Disney is preparing to bring a stack of community elements to its European WAP portals.
The Walt Disney Internet Group has re-launched its UK website with a raft of community elements, and is preparing to do the same for its WAP portal.
The new site was developed following the successful revamp of the US web site last year. Similar web portal offerings will be launched in Europe shortly.
At its centre is a feature called Disney Extreme Digital, which lets children customise content while watching and sharing videos, exchanging messages, listening to music or playing games.
Cindy Rose, MD of the Walt Disney Internet Group EMEA, said: "The drive into community functions is a logical move for a company with as many ‘sticky’ brands as Disney, so it comes as little surprise that the company is now looking to replicate the strategy on mobile.
Mobile is an obvious next step for us, so we’ll look at all the possibilities whether it’s friend list, avatars, putting points in a virtual ‘backpack’ and so on."
Meanwhile, the company has increased its commitment to the mobile gaming space with the recruitment of former PlayStation, Orange and Infospace exec Alan Welsman. He’s been confirmed as WDIG’s new marketing director, and will look to consolidate the company’s activities on and off portal.
Disney’s forthcoming slate includes versions of hit movies such as Enchanted and Cars as well as ‘pure’ games titles like Bomberman (which will include a Bluetooth multiplayer component) and the highly-rated Critter Crunch.
