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 Disney intends to release a mobile game that will interact with its Pirates of the Caribbean Online virtual world this September or October, according to a report from financial news site Forbes.
Launched in October 2007, Pirates of the Caribbean Online is a free-to-play title (with a monthly subscription option for premium content) based on the Disney film series. In the mobile game, players will be able to engage in short battles and earn virtual coins that can later be spent online, presumably in the MMORPG.
Disney also has a "Fairy Friend" mobile widget planned for Pixie Hollow, a forthcoming virtual world based on Disney's Tinker Bell fairy character. The mobile application allows users to create and care for a butterfly pet for their Pixie Hollow avatars, a feature not available in the online release.
The company is planning several other products to sync mobiles with its online site, such as a registration system for users to access their Disney.com profiles (due September), a digital storefront for purchasing games and other mobile goods, a "Speed Chat" messaging system for sending messages to other mobiles or PCs, real-time polls and trivia questions that follow Disney shows on TV, and more.
Disney is looking ahead to adapt to its 'tween users' cell phone needs and has already begun developing applications for the iPhone. An iPhone-specific version of the Disney site is also in the works.
Larry Shapiro, EVP of business development and operations for the Walt Disney Internet Group, commented that the company's mobile efforts are designed primarily to strengthen its other sectors: "It's about creating a connected media world. If you want to reach tweens, you need mobile."
By
Eric Caoili
2008-08-22 10:20:00
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