Development Cycle: Games

Abstract

The children’s audience for Disney’s Blast (1997–2006) was varied. To appeal to different interests, Disney Online designed a series of “channels” for players to tune into.1 Each of these online channels had their own theme and featured original animation and games. The Pets and Animals Channel focused on presenting arcade and puzzle games to do with animals, like Penguin Bounce. Chat Studio Channel featured Shoutouts for sharing birthday wishes and other community based events. Zoog Disney Channel featured unique games based on the popular children’s TV show. One of the most popular of these channels was the Weird and Wacky Channel. A brainchild of Michael Bruza, Chris Coye, and Newton Lee, the comical channel featured Blooper Market and Adopt a Beast, among others. Blooper Market offered printable labels for spin-off comic products such as Aquaflesh, Macaroni and Fleas, Shampbell, and Smello. Adopt a Beast was a funny take on tamagotchi: the online pet beast was a crying Baby Beast, a Drooling Beast, or a Hairy Beast. If the crying Baby Beast was unattended to, his diaper would fill up; if the Drooling Beast was unhappy he would drown in his own tears; and if the Hairy Creature was left alone for too long, his hair would grow uncontrollably long.