Disney To Acquire Chicago Videogame Maker Wideload

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<ORG>Walt Disney Co.<ORGID value="NYSEIS" /></ORG> (DIS) will buy <LOCATION>Chicago</LOCATION>-based videogame developer Wideload Games and create a vice president of creative title at its video gaming division for the company's chief executive and founder.
Terms of the deal weren't disclosed.
Wideload, which has 25 full-time workers, is developing a family console game scheduled for release in 2010 from Disney. The studio will focus on creating new intellectual properties that target a broad audience.

Wideload CEO
Alexander Seropian</PERSON> will oversee creative development across Disney Interactive Studios, which is reportedly merging with Disney's digital media group. Seropian also founded Bungie Software - acquired by <ORG>Microsoft Corp.<ORGID value="NASDAQ-NMS:MSFT" /></ORG> (MSFT) in 2000 - and helped create the popular Halo series of games at Bungie</P>

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• Main Disney News Page

Disney hires "Halo" video game creator
By Leah Zanolla
Sep 10, 2009

The Walt Disney Co. has purchased Wideload Games, the company behind the popular "Halo" video game franchise. Alexander Seropian, co-creator of "Halo", will join Disney Interactive Studios in the newly created role of Vice President of Creative. Seropian will relocate to California, while the Wideload headquarters will remain in Chicago.

"Alex has built his reputation around the power of original thinking. In leading the studio that created Halo, he helped turn great storytelling, exceptional design and polished gameplay into the 'killer app' for Xbox," Graham Hopper, executive vice president and general manager of Disney Interactive Studios.
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I like that they are buying smaller developers instead of buying huge companies. As the Marvel deals expire they can leverage that property thru BVG.