Disney Acquires Mobile Games Developer Tapulous

Tapulous, the publisher of iPhone and iPad music games such as “Tap Tap Revenge,” is now a wholly owned subsidiary of the Disney Interactive Media Group (DIMG), in an acquisition announced by Disney yesterday. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. DIMG president Steve Wadsworth says the acquisition strengthens the group’s position in the mobile gaming business, adding that titles including “Tap Tap Revenge” and “Riddim Ribbon” would be integrated within Disney’s offerings. Several Disney-developed apps, including “Alice in Wonderland Lite,” “Fairies Fly Lite” and “JellyCar 2,” have each garnered more than 1 million downloads. “Tap Tap Revenge,” meanwhile, has been installed by more than 30% of iPhone/iPod Touch users, according to the developer. Wadsworth tells paidContent that while Tapulous’s partnerships with the likes of Universal Music and Warner Music will remain intact, Disney “will look at a lot of opportunities” to leverage the company’s developer talent with Disney’s own music and TV entertainment properties.