Apple-polisher left Mouse mighty

Posted on October 3, 2012 by Chris Morris

Oct. 5 marks the first anniversary of Steve Jobs’ death. And in the past year, the financial world — mindful of Jobs’ obsession with detail and ability to drive the Apple staff to innovative heights — has wondered about the company’s prospects without him. That also applies to Disney and Pixar. Apple may have been Jobs’ favorite child, but Disney (where he was the largest single shareholder after the company’s 2006 merger with Pixar) was a close second.

In the short-term, things are soaring. Disney shares are up roughly 70% since Jobs’ passing, while Apple has jumped 86%. Both companies work several years in advance on products and strategies, meaning Jobs’ fingerprints will be on upcoming releases for a fair bit longer (if only tangentially).

Library titles get 3D treatment

Posted on October 3, 2012 by Chris Morris

The resurgence of 3D in theaters and the growing number of 3D-capable TVs has dusted off an axiom in Hollywood: Everything old is new again.

Several studios are digging deep into their libraries to bring both recent hit films back for second theatrical runs in 3D and reviving old classics for 3D home conversions. And the trend isn’t showing any sign of slowing down.

Who’s Who in Wreck It Ralph

Posted on August 17, 2012 by Chris Morris

The video game generation is about to get its own big screen love letter.

On Nov. 2, Disney will release “Wreck-It Ralph,” the story of an arcade video game villain who tries to turn things around and become a hero. It’s getting plenty of buzz for its playful premise, but in gaming circles, the film is better known as “that movie with more gaming cameos than you can shake a stick at.”

Warren Spector’s lessons learned from Epic Mickey

Posted on July 11, 2012 by Chris Morris

Warren Spector has never been afraid to polarize gamers. He is, in many ways, the epitome of the “go big or go home” style of game making – and he’ll be the first to tell you that he’d rather fail in spectacular fashion than do something that bores him.

But there has never been a split like Epic Mickey. It was a game that was beloved by some and ripped to shreds by others. It was the best selling single-platform game in Disney’s history — but critics thumped Disney for leaving money on the table, citing the game’s decision to release exclusively on the Nintendo Wii and its post-Thanksgiving release date.

Gamemaker THQ gets delisting notice from Nasdaq

Posted on January 31, 2012 by Chris Morris

Video game publisher THQ, which has worked closely with several Hollywood studios throughout the years, is facing a delisting on the Nasdaq stock exchange.

The company, which has partnered with many Hollywood studios, including Dreamworks and Disney in recent years, has filed an 8K form with the Securities and Exchange Commission, announcing it has received a stock delisting notice from the stock market.

Disney’s Iger named to Apple board

Posted on November 15, 2011 by Chris Morris

Bob Iger, Disney president and CEO, is joining the Board of Directors at Apple.

The company today announced his appointment to the board as well as the company’s audit committee. At the same time, long-time board member Arthur Levinson (co-founder of Genentech) has been named chairman.

App Review: Disney Comics

Posted on July 7, 2011 by Chris Morris

Comics are a big part of Disney’s empire, so their entry into the eComic market was inevitable. Thankfully, they added a Disney touch to Disney Comics, making it useful and entertaining. Readers can flip through the comics at their own pace or enable a slideshow that focuses on one frame at a time, letting people see enlarged images and words. Some comics come with sound effects, as well. And the controls let people set the pace of the slideshow — as well as choose whether they want to hear sounds.

The selection of free comics is minimal, but they’re meant as an appetizer. The selection of comics that can be purchased inside the application is decent, but not complete. Disney plans to add two books per week, it says. Some users have complained about bugs and other errors, but updates to the app are intended to addressed this. It’s a good comic app with plenty of reasonably priced comics — though the ones at $2.99 and $3.99 are harder to justify.

Multitasking with Tron: Legacy

Posted on April 5, 2011 by Chris Morris

iPad owners who pick up a copy of today’s Blu-Ray release of “Tron: Legacy” will get a little extra with their purchase. The Mouse House is including its recently unveiled Second Screen feature with the disc, letting fans watch bonus features alongside the film.

First rolled out with the Blu-Ray release of Bambi, Second Screen meshes wonderfully with this special effects-infused sequel, offering viewers a blend of concept art, select filmmaker commentary and concept and storyboard images.

Steve Jobs re-elected to Disney board

Posted on March 23, 2011 by Chris Morris

Steve Jobs will remain on the board at Disney.

Investors voted Wednesday to re-elect the CEO of Apple (and one-time owner of Pixar), despite proxy advisors who lobbied against the action, citing continuing concerns about Jobs’ overall health.

Interview: Don Bluth’s Return To Games With Tapper World Tour

Posted on March 14, 2011 by Chris Morris

Don Bluth will be the first to tell you he’s a filmmaker, not a game maker. But despite the fact that he has just two titles to his credit, the Hollywood veteran has still managed to make a lasting impression on the video game industry.

Dragon’s Lair, in some ways, was the front runner for the modern graphics era. While Dirk the Daring & Co. were hand-animated, the title let players and developers know that games could be just as eye-popping as works on the big screen.

Chris Morris: Journalist

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