'Game Over' for Many Disney Gaming Pros

Disney stages mass layoffs in its console gaming division

- by Bob McLain, January 25, 2011

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Despite the strong success of Epic Mickey, a 'console' game for the Wii, Disney has followed through on its unofficial plans to low-brow console games and focus instead of 'casual' games, especially those integrated with social media.

The follow-through came in the form of layoffs, hundreds of layoffs, affecting people employed by the company to develop and support cosole games.

Casualties include staff at Junction Point, where Epic Mickey was conceived, designed, and programmed, but do not include Junction Point head Warren Spector, the public face of Epic Mickey and probably of Disney's entire console gaming division, too.

Typically, when a large project like Epic Mickey is finished, some layoffs are inevitable, unless comparable projects are already underway. We can assume, given the scope of these layoffs, that Disney's rationale goes beyond shedding redundant staff and reflects instead the company's growing belief that console games are in decline.

Although it's never pleasant when people lose their jobs, I think Disney has the right idea. Console games are in decline. People still flock to buy entrenched titles like Halo and Call of Duty, but there are few 'must-buy' new titles on the market and the trend among gamers is to find their thrills on-line.

Disney is re-tooling its gaming division to take advantage of on-line and social media play. It will likely hire new talent more experienced in those fields. By summer, I bet we hear about some 'bold new initiatives'.

Good luck to Disney - and good luck, especially, to those turning in their ears.

Don't stop there! More Tidings Await...