BURBANK, Calif., and TOKYO, June 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Akira Matsumoto has
been named vice president and general manager for Buena Vista Games, Asia
Pacific, the global interactive entertainment arm of Disney Consumer Products;
it was announced today by Graham Hopper, senior vice president and general
manager of Buena Vista Games, Inc.
    Effective July 1, 2004, Mr. Matsumoto will assume the position from Buena
Vista Games Asia Pacific's current vice president and general manager, Shuji
Utsumi, who will be leaving the company to pursue personal interests.  "We
would like to thank Mr. Utsumi for making a very strong contribution over the
years and we wish him well in his new endeavors," said Hopper.
    Mr. Matsumoto will lead the Buena Vista Games Asia Pacific business and
drive video game publishing and development in the region.  He will also
manage the company's many relationships with Japan-based video game companies
such as Square-Enix, developers of the PlayStation 2 game "Kingdom Hearts,"
and Capcom, currently developing "Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas:
Oogie's Revenge" video game.  In addition to growing the substantial business
in Japan, he will also focus on growing the business in important markets such
as Korea and China.  Mr. Matsumoto has been with The Walt Disney Company for
more than 10 years, and was most recently vice president and general manager
of Disney Consumer Products Hardlines business in Japan.
    "Matsumoto-san is a strong team leader, a great business manager and an
avid gamer.  I am confident that with his experience in business building and
his excellent track record in developing and managing franchises, he will lead
our video game business in Asia to further success." continued Hopper.

    About Buena Vista Games
    Buena Vista Games, Inc. is the interactive entertainment arm of The Walt
Disney Company's Consumer Products business unit.  The division publishes,
markets and distributes a broad portfolio of PC and multi-platform video games
worldwide.  The company also licenses properties and works directly with
third-party interactive game publishers to bring products for all ages to
market.  Titles for Buena Vista Games fall under two publishing labels:  Buena
Vista Interactive, which publishes high-profile, multi-platform games based on
creative content from the numerous businesses within The Walt Disney Company,
and Disney Interactive, which markets and distributes the company's
interactive entertainment based on Disney branded properties.

    For further information, please contact:  Angela Emery of Buena Vista
Games (US), +1-818-553-3923, or Miki Nishimura of Buena Vista Games Japan,
011 81-3-5745-2383.

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