Just as Disney cast a spell over billions of fans over the decades, so does the Buena Vista Games (BVG) group hope to enchant millions of Nintendo owners with exclusive Disney games for years to come. Will it be a wonderful world of Disney for gamers?
    

According to an online report from GamesIndustry.Biz, the Buena Vista Games group is set to open a new software division called ‘Fall Line Studio’ to make exclusive Disney titles for the Nintendo Wii and both portable DS models.

There’s clearly a lot at stake when creating any new game for any gaming platform, be it PC, games console or other mobile device, from dedicated console to mobile phone or even arcade machine.

The three main factors are Disney’s reputation for quality, wholesome family oriented products, the skill of Fall Line Studio in creating compelling Disney based gaming content, and Nintendo’s fierce reputation for solid and rewarding gameplay, which Nintendo and authorised games makers achieve on the Nintendo platform more often than not.

Not only will BVG’s new team create games based on existing Disney characters, they will also be creating new IP – always dangerous ground when dealing with an established and trusted brand.

No doubt Disney will be watching the BVG group and Fall Line Studio’s progress like a hawk.

Perhaps the hawk will be wearing a pair of Mickey Mouse ears, but a hawk it will be all the same.

BVG and it’s management clearly have high hopes for the new exclusive-to-Nintendo venture. Graham Hopper, the general manager of BVG, is reported to have said that: “This studio will be one of our centres of creative excellence and it gives us the ability to fully capitalise on our properties and expand our market share on Nintendo platforms.”

According to GamesIndustry.Biz, ex-Rainbow Studios boss Scott Novis will take on the role of vice president of Fall Line Studio for BVG. He said that: “BVG has an excellent management team, a can-do corporate culture and a treasure trove of great intellectual properties that make it exciting for us to start something new.”

Nintendo, Fall Line Studios and Disney have a long and hard path ahead of them for success. Taking an existing brand and doing a bad job is much worse than doing nothing at all.

We wish them every success, and hope to see some exciting content to really take advantage of the Wii and the DS’s unique abilities. Good luck!

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Entry was posted on Wednesday, November 8th, 2006 at 7:21 am under Technology.

Read more entries by Alex Zaharov-Reutt.
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