In 2007, Disney Interactive Studios business grew rapidly as it acquired and founded new gaming studios, bringing its total to five internal developmental groups, as well as adding legendary video game pioneer Warren Spector to its creative team. It also posted strong growth in publishing and licensing revenue, with sales of more than 20 million Disney-branded games. The group also successfully launched its first original intellectual property, Spectrobes, on the Nintendo DS platform. The gameplay optimizes many innovative features on the DS, including microphone, touch screen and WiFi capabilities. Proving a hit with gamers, it sold more than 850,000 units worldwide and a sequel is planned for 2008.
For the first time, Disney Interactive Studios has also teamed up with Walt Disney Imagineering to design special, in-park programs supporting the launch of video games inspired by the third Pirates of the Caribbean film. Nintendo DS players with the new Pirates video game were programmed to find wireless "X Marks the Spot" hotspots throughout Disneyland and Walt Disney World, allowing them to download free new content and game features directly to their game consoles.
Disney Interactive Studios is currently developing Dgamer, a connected community of Disney gamers. Set to debut on the Nintendo DS The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian game, Dgamer will bring Disney game fans together on its first-ever multiplatform-connected community to chat or trade items over the Internet via the Dgamer channel on Disney.com or directly on Nintendo DS devices.
Interactive gaming is a key priority for DCP. More than 20 million copies of Disney-branded video games sold in 2007, and more exciting titles are slated for 2008 including Prince Caspian on Playstation 3.
