Ex-Blizzard leader Bill Roper becomes Disney’s games boss

Nomadic former Blizzard leader Bill Roper has been promoted to leader of Disney’s games business.

He replaces Bungie co-founder Alex Seropian, who held the role for one year, according to Gamasutra.

Roper joined Disney last July to head the Marvel gaming division.

But what exactly is he now leading? Disney pulled out of core gaming after Pure, Split/Second, Turok and Epic Mickey failed to set the world alight. Disney even closed Black Rock Studios and Propaganda Games as a result.

“Yeah I love kids’ cartoons!”

Disney’s game factory now turns out less risky cash-spinners like Disney Universe, LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean and Toy Story 3 – an odd portfolio for someone like Bill Roper to manage. He was a director at Blizzard for nearly 10 years, and helped establish the Diablo, StarCraft and Warcraft series.

Bill Roper went on to make flawed but ambitious core action RPG Hellgate, and then superhero MMO Champions Online.

He then surfaced again early last year, talking about some big ideas he’d been sitting on and how he was no longer tied down. And now this – Disney.

However.

Disney owns Marvel, and there’s a persisting rumour that Brink developer Splash Damage may be doing something with the iconic superhero IP.

A multi-platform Epic Mickey 2 was also accidentally outed by a Disney newsletter last month.

It could be Roper will lead Disney’s second charge into core gaming.