As Avalanche Software matured, thestudio built a reputation for developing engaging family software. In 2005, Blackburn negotiated the acquisition of the studio by Disney Interactive. Since that time, he has helped direct the eight titles that Avalanche Software has produced for Disney. His latest efforts have resulted in the development of Disney Infinity, an all-new video game initiative starring the beloved characters from Walt Disney and Pixar Studios’ most popular franchises. Players can place real-world toy versions of their favorite Disney characters onto a device called the Infinity Base and transport them into the virtual game worlds of Monsters University, the Incredibles, Cars, Pirates of the Caribbean and The Lone Ranger, as well as into a giant Toy Box.
He also worked on the critically acclaimed titles Toy Story 3: The Video Game and Cars 2: The Video Game, where he collaborated closely with Pixar to bring the latest adventures in these franchises to life in video game form.
Prior to his role at Avalanche Software, Blackburn spent three years programming Super Nintendo games at Sculptured Software in Salt Lake City. During this time, he worked on titles such as Mortal Kombat, Seaquest DSV and Wrestlemania: Arcade.
Blackburn was born and raised nearSalt Lake City, Utah. He graduated from nearby Weber State University in Ogden, Utah with a B.S. in Computer Science and a minor in History. He is still a history buff and particularly loves World War II combat biographies. Blackburn is a self-professed beer connoisseur, which can be a little difficult in Utah. He lives in Bountiful, Utah with his wife and two sons.
