Disney's Coup: Dan Trudge to Become VP of Propaganda Games

"Dan comes to Disney Interactive Studios with tremendous leadership experience in overseeing large development teams that release industry-leading products," said Disney Interactive senior VP of global production Jean-Marcel Nicolai. "Dan will play a crucial role in the continuous evolution of Propaganda Games as a premier game development studio."

For over ten years, Disney Interactive Studios has published content for a variety of platforms including: Handheld platforms (Nintendo DS, Game Boy, etc.), video game consoles (Wii, Xbox 360, Playstation, etc.), and Personal computers.

Among the strengths of Disney Interactive Studios is its portfolio of best-selling games that appeal to a diverse audience base. Disney Interactive Studios develops its games in six unique development studios: Avalanche Software based in Salt Lake City, Fall Line Studios also based in Salt Lake City, Propaganda Games in Vancouver, Black Rock Studios in England, Junction Point Studios in Austin, and Gamestar in China.

Trudge will take over the 130-person Disney Interactive Studios' Propaganda Games, which includes alumni from NBA Street, Def Jam, Battlefeild, Quake, and Need for Speed Underground. Last year Disney Interactive Studios' Propaganda Games developed the first-person shooter Turok. Turokwas designed using the Unreal Engine 3 development framework, and was released for both the Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3.

Prior to accepting the position with Disney Interactive Studios, Trudge accumulated over 13 years of video game development experience including high level roles at Exile Interactive, Relic Entertainment, Morgan Media, and BioWare.

Before joining Disney Interactive Studios' Propaganda Games, Dan Tudge produced Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood (2008), SEGA of America, Inc., Mass Effect (2007), Microsoft Game Studios, Impossible Creatures (2003), Microsoft Game Studios, World Series Baseball 2K3 (2003), SEGA of America, Inc.,World Series Baseball 2K2 (2001), SEGA of America, Inc. and the soon to be released Dragon Age: Origins.

After substantially cutting the Propaganda Games' workforce, Disney Interactive is sending a clear message with the acquisition of Dan Trudge: Propaganda Games is not going anywhere. Though the leadership has changed, and the studio has been restructured, it is clear Disney Interactive plans to continue operating Propaganda Games.

As for the two yet-to-be named games currently in development at Disney Interactive Studios' Propaganda Games the future seems a bit less bleak. Though still far from certain.

Dan Tudge, www.mobygames.com

Disney Interactive Studios Names Dan Tudge Vice President and General Manager, Propaganda Games, msnmoney.com

Company, www.disney.go.com

Propaganda Games, www.propagandagames.go.com

BioWare executive producer joins Disney, www.gamesindustry.biz