Walt Disney Internet Group Acquires Minds Eye

The Walt Disney Internet Group has announced that it has acquired former console and current 'TV gaming' developer Minds Eye Productions, which are based in Milton Keynes, England. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Minds Eye has previously developed PC games such as Stratego and Thomas The Tank Engine, as well as console titles including quirky puzzle game Sheep and Empire Interactive-published license Starsky & Hutch. However, the company's more than 20 employyes have recently been concentrating on the interactive TV game market, particularly the UK-based Sky Active platform, which allows users of satellite TV boxes to play video games for a small fee. Disney launched a 'Disney Channel Play' service in 2004 in the UK, and Minds Eye produced many of the games available on the service, including Timon and Pumbaa's Bug Blast, Finding Nemo and Kim Possible: Robot Frenzy, leading to Disney's decision to acquire the developer outright. Mark Handler, executive vice president and managing director, Walt Disney Internet Group, International, commented: "Interactive TV gaming is a growing and exciting market, and Minds Eye is the leading UK developer. This acquisition allows us to build on our successful Disney branded iTV game service and shows our commitment to this market. We already have a great portfolio of interactive assets in Europe, and Minds Eye is a natural fit with our activities."