Disney announced at their Investor Conference in Orlando that Buena Vista Games will now be known as Disney Interactive Studios (DIS). Senior VP and General Manager Graham Hopper reasoned, "This change reflects our focus on creativity, the weight of Disney content in our portfolio, and the enormous value consumers see in the Disney Brand."

True, although many people do know that Buena Vista is more or less Disney-related in many ways than one, we believe that slapping on the "Disney" name should reflect inspiration on the new game studio's image. You could think of it as an upgrade, like what happened to Pixar Animation Studios.

Will they be limited to Disney games? Apparently not, for they also have plans to publish non-Disney branded video games for all platforms worldwide. Touchstone, Disney, and ABC are the brands to look for on Disney Interactive Studios' published games.

DIS is powered by four internal game development studios, which include Avalanche Software, Fall Line Studios, Propaganda Games, and Climax Racing to develop games for all ages. So keep an eye out!

In a previous entry, it was rumored that a "High School Musical" game is in the works for the Wii by Buena Vista. This buzz received quite a sting with some negative comments, like the movie is "gheyness incarnate" or to some such extent. Well, whatever the case, this could potentially be good news or bad news, depending on which side of the fence you are on.

It seems as if development of the game is going well, and more so, there's been some talk that the gameplay will actually have you singing musical numbers. Apparently, they just might release a microphone peripheral to bundle along with the game for US$ 69.99 this July (already?!). There's no word yet though if this is an attachment to the Wiimote or an entirely separate controller (much like the guitar controller for Guitar Hero II).

Think about it for a while, though. Even if you might emphatically hate the movie, that doesn't mean this is entirely bad news. If they're developing a microphone accessory for the Wii, just think of all the possibilities. Nintendo seems to have gotten the motion-sensing down pat. Why not bring over the NDS' voice-recognition features onto the Wii? Doing so can open up a lot of other Wii games. PaRappa, for one...

We'll bring you guys more updates as they come around. And for those who think that they must hide this bit of news from their sister (*cough*badam*cough*), good luck.

So, you think you got all your Disney games down pat? Well, think again as our source has reported that a Wii game from Buena Vista is in the works. And what exactly is this game? Let me give you a hint: Better stick to the status quo.

You see, it's entitled, High School Musical and yeah, it MAY just be related to Disney's hit made-for-TV-movie *cough*. If it is, then it may just bop to the top since, after all, the movie, and the soundtrack were a hit. Anyway, no further details have been disclosed except that the game is slated for a July 31, 2007 release.

Honestly, I can't help but wonder what kind of game it would be. Hopefully, it will break free and deliver something that fans are looking for. After all, it's interesting to see the start of something new.

As yet another Disney game hatches onto the Wii console, you can't get any more mind-clucking than Chicken Little: Ace in Action. Developed by Buena Vista Games, the title is already available just in time for Christmas with its US$ 39.99 price tag.

Based on a movie within a movie, this video game will feature the alter-egos of the "Chicken Little" gang. Yeah, remember that scene in the end of the movie when Chicken Little, Runt, Abby, and Fish-out-of-water were watching a film based on their alien adventures? This game will take you there and develop new story arcs for you to follow.

Disney seems to be pretty solid with their support for the Wii. Aside from this Ace in Action, they've also got Cars and Meet the Robinsons lined-up on the platform - the former a launch title, the latter set for a 2007 release.

They say not to count your chickens before the eggs hatch. So, can we expect more titles to come from Disney? Oh, you can bet your eggs on it!

It's expected that there's always a little slump in game titles after a console is launched. However, a quick look at the planned Wii titles to be released during Q1 of 2007 looks promising. Some of these titles you've already heard of, after all, they've been zealously preached over the past months. On the other hand, some of these titles might surprise you and catch you off guard.

Here be the list for you to ogle:

• Wario Ware: Smooth Moves (Nintendo) - 12 Jan
• Excite Truck (Nintendo) - 16 Feb
• Kororinpa (Hudson) - 23 Feb
• Baja Racing (Conspiracy) - Feb
• Disney's Chicken Little: Ace in Action (Disney / Buena Vista Games) - Feb
• Wing Island (Hudson) - 23 March
• BIONICLE Heroes (Eidos) - 23 March
• SSXTM Blur (EA) - March
• Mario Party 8 (Nintendo) - March
• Tiger Woods PGA TOUR (EA) - March
• Bust a Move Wii (505Games) - March
• Dragonball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 2 (Namco Bandai Games) - March
• Disney's Meet the Robinsons (Disney / Buena Vista Games) - March
• Sonic and the Secret Rings (SEGA) - March
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Ubisoft) - March
• Heatseaker (Codemasters) - Q1
• Metal Slug Anthology (Ignition) - Q1
• Mortal Kombat: Armageddon (Midway Games) - Q1
• Rampage Total Destruction (Midway Games) - Q1
• The Ant Bully (Movie License) - (Midway Games) - Q1
• The Grim Adventure of Billy and Mandy (Midway Games) - Q1
• Impossible Mission (System 3) - Q1
• Leaderboard Golf (System 3) - Q1
• Puzzle Balls (System 3) - Q1
• Tennis Masters (System 3) - Q1 2007
• Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII (Ubisoft) – Q1

As expected Mario Party, Metal Slug, Mortal Kombat, Dragonball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 2, and Blazing Angels stand out. Now if only getting a Wii before Christmas was a bit more easier...

We've so far given you a bunch of screenshots for the movie-in-a-movie turned videogame Chicken Little: Ace in Action. Now, we bring you the full gameplay trailer of the game.

Join the gang of Chicken Little, Abby, Runt, and Fish-out-of-Water as they battle it out against Foxy Loxy and Goosey Loosey and their evil intentions for earth. With 23 missions and three gameplay modes to choose from, you'd sure have a grand time running loose across the fields. Or the galaxy. Whatever.

Anyway, this game's been rated by the ESRB with an E+, so you can have a fun time with your friends and family.

Donwload: [Chicken Little Final trailer]

Buena Vista Games (or more known as BVG for gamers everywhere), has just announced the formation of a new development studio - Fall Line - dedicated to making new and innovative games entirely for Nintendo consoles.

BVG is already known as the third biggest publisher of GBA titles in North America, and with Disney content in its clutches, it remains as one of the most popular gaming companies worldwide.

Based in Salt Lake City, Fall Line Studio will be managed by Scott Novis, appointed VP and general manager for the new studio, whose CV also boasts of a long history in the gaming industry. You might remember Novis from the success he achieved with Rainbow Studios, where he was able to grow the staff from 30 to more than 200 employees.

Anyhoo, this news bodes well for Nintendo lovers 'coz they just scored one more company dedicated to bringing new and creative games to their beloved DS and Wii. Fall Line Studio will capitalize on their partnership with Disney, creating games based on Disney's characters, television shows, and entertainment franchises.

While it's still too soon to tell whether this will guarantee better and more exciting games for Nintendo enthusiasts, we'll keep our eyes and ears open for more developments and rest assured we will let you guys know once news reaches our ears.

Yes, it's another Disney-goes-Wii game. Remember the last part of the Walt Disney Chicken Little movie where Runt, Fish-Out-of-Water, Chicken Little, and Abby watched a Hollywood movie "based" on their adventures? That movie-in-a-movie is now a videogame from Buena Vista Games and Avalanche Software (which is a Buena Vista Games studio, doncha know?). Chicken Little: Ace in Action features Ace (the buff Hollywood version of Chicken Little) and friends as they try to stop Foxy Loxy and Goosey Loosey from taking over the Earth.

• 23 missions; 3 gameplay modes: Ace as a soldier, Runt driving an armored tank, and Abby piloting a spaceship and hovercraft
• 2-person multiplayer mode with tank and spaceship levels
• Wii controller: manage inventory and manipulate in-game camera perspective simply by pointing at objectives
• 4 worlds: Pluto, Saturn, Mars, and the Moon (according to the QJ Writer's Guide to the Galaxy: Saturn and Mars are planets, the Moon is a moon, and Pluto is a pluton)

The original Chicken Little, Abby, Runt, and Fish are also in the game. See, Chicken Little and his friends are playing this video game (in other words, Chicken Little: Ace in Action is a video game in a video game that is based on a movie in a movie). The game will be out by November 2006. We're guessing its ESRB Rating will be Rated "C5" for Cluck Cluck Cluck Cluck Cluck.

And what's hotter than Barbra Streisand? Chicken Little: Ace in Action screenshots! (Click on the Full Article link for even more.)

The following third party Wii games are confirmed to be out by the end of Nintendo's fiscal year (its fiscal year ends March 31, 2007). Many of the games in the following list are launch games, and we're telling you, Nintendo has provided quite an interesting list. There are over 40 games on it, and all of them are worth your second look. Remember though that this list doesn't even include the first party titles.

Activision
Call of Duty 3
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance
Rapala Tournament Fishing
Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam
World Series of Poker

Atari
Dragon Ball Z Budokai: Tenkaichi 2


Check out the entire list of games after the jump.

Announced last May, Disney's new movie is (surprise, surprise) having its own video game. Based on the upcoming CGI animation of the same title, Meet the Robinsons is coming for the Wii, Nintendo DS, PS2, and GameBoy Advance, and the developers, Buena Vista Games, are scheduling a 2007 release.

In this game, you play as Wilbur Robinson and help him track down the diabolic Bowler Hat Guy through different timelines to foil his evil plans. As with any time-travelling story, it is important to go through the past without altering the future, and Wilbur has a set of nifty gadgets to help him out. What's also good about this game is that it goes beyond the movie - to be more specific, it weaves in and out of it. Some parts of it are taken from the movie, while some other parts let you discover the rest of the Robinson world! There's even mini-games that you could collect throughout the game as "virtual discs" that you can play.

Now, Disney games are a dime a dozen, and we've seen a lot of them in our lifetime. But see, those games never had the Wiimote to back them up. Here in the Wii version of Meet the Robinsons, we have a time-travelling, action adventure, that we can really (literally) plow through. And hey! We got you some new screenshots and art to show you!