Epic Mickey 2 was apparently such a dud that it shut down an entire studio. So when Bob Iger said the other day that he would take a closer look at violence in his company's video games, he actually meant...
...one game?
Because it looks like Disney's putting all its gaming eggs in one basket. One large, universe-spanning basket.
A couple of thoughts spring to mind here: One, they wanted a Kingdom Hearts that they didn't have to share profits on. Two, the concept of getting gamers to buy collectible figurines to activate characters is one they couldn't believe Skylanders thought of first, but they will do better because they're Disney goddammit, and people already know all their characters.
So far the character selection leans heavily away from hand-drawn classic characters and towards Pixar movies, Wreck-It Ralph, Captain Jack Sparrow and Jack Skellington - presumably the entire Disney empire will follow as far as the market will bear.
And since Brad Bird apparently isn't keen on sequels, this might be the only way you'll get more Incredibles. Even if it does mean Syndrome riding on Dumbo.
I'm still waiting for a Spathi and a Thri-kreen Skylanders.
Maybe Disney Infinite could have a Beck and a Mike Chilton figures that could team up to smash their opponent with a giant, angry-fan boy chip me and others are currently nursing on their shoulders.
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I was at the event for Disney Infinity. Let me tell you, outside of having to buy figurines, it's nothing like Skylanders. It's more of a combination between Minecraft and LittleBigPlanet with an emphasis on creation.
I knew this was coming. Next up: Look for EA or 2K to make an upcoming sports game using the Skylanders model. You'll have to collect figurines of all the football/baseball/basketball players to make up your team or change rosters. Then, when you've collected them all, they're going to release a new version that requires a new dock/platform/base and you'll have to pony up another $75 to get it along with the new game. And newer figures won't work with the old base.
And frankly, I'm surprised Disney's first shot with this model wasn't to make a Marvel Superheroes game that lets you collect action figures to put them into the game.
Actually, I think we'll see a wrestling game like this before we'll see a football game like this. You can't tell me Vince McMahon and Jakks aren't drooling at the prospect of selling collectible figurines at $7 a pop to unlock wrestlers in the next WWE game.
@nix.nightbird They already have a handheld device game that interacts with Rumblers...I can see that expanding.
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I'm still wondering how Skylanders is so popular. I remember when it first came out, it seemed like a gimmick, much like Nintendo Wii had people buy all the accessories for its games. But then Skylanders made huge profits. Disney is getting too big and losing focus of what made it great. It was always a money-machine, but now it's just a money machine without a soul.
The crash of Epic Mickey 2 was bizarre in so many ways. It's prequel sold at least 1.5 million on the Wii (and probably a lot more than that), and then the multiplatform new version went... splat.
Disney killing off their in-house development was expected for quite some time, however. I think the next blow will be more or less killing off all of Lucasarts' IPs other than Star Wars for future gaming purposes -EG no more Sam & Max / Monkey Island.
(Unless they can figure out a way to have a social gaming component, since that's how Disney obviously wants to print money these days.)
Eh, it may mean I have no soul, but this doesn't really appeal to me. For one, I am a nerd on a limited budget, as in one new video game every 4-6 months budget. The idea of buying a game, then having to pay $5-10 for a figure just to unlock the character/environment doesn't sit well with me or my wallet. As for the characters themselves, my limited experience with games such as this is that either a small handful will become top tier and and the others seem worthless by comparison or they will all be reduced to clones of one another in what ever counts as stats in game.
Sorry, but I will be keeping my $60 + $5 + $5 + $5 + $5 + $5 + ect.
Well, I wish them well. I've always enjoyed the idea of a Disney mashup better than the realization in the KH games. The NMBC background up there is just saying "take my money"
That said, anyone know if Skylanders were massively over-ordered for their latest incarnation? The stores couldn't keep the initial ones in stock, but I just see bucketloads of the new ones and sales all over the place.
It seems like Activision is holding certain figures for later, measured release while others (the initial shipment) are still out there, having already been purchased/collected by the hardcore.
The other issue is that-- much like Nintendo-- Activision overloaded their stocks because they were counting on the eBay profiteers to buy up EVERYTHING like they usually do, leaving the shelves bare while artificially "rare" items sold online. This didn't happen. Amazingly enough, it seemed like this past Christmas had far fewer profiteers and flippers staking out toy stores, electronics stores, and department stores. I guess everyone was broke in 2012.
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Irked by the monopoly on game news by console systems I feel compelled to post this. If you haven't seen the pre-Alpha gameplay trailer with developer commentary it's well worth a look. The massive Carthaginian war docks look amazing - guessing most of the capital cities are generic with a lone iconic feature - here the fabled docks of Carthage.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=Ty3EeHpBgho#t=73s
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As someone with an inside source on this, let me tell you, the name Infinity is no misnomer. As for what other properties are going to be in this game, let me put it this way: You know how when a new line of Action Figures will have a starting line-up, and subsequent waves keep bringing in more and more of your favorite characters who may not have been in the initial wave? Yeah, that's gonna be this game.
Yes, even Rob will (eventually) shit his pants when they reveal certain releases. Also, just a hint, there's a lot of Easter Eggs hidden in the trailer of what's to come, or what properties you'll be seeing in the future. Pixar, Pirates, all this stuff you see now is just the beginning......
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@Spike-III you speak of a better and more savvy line of action figures than most companies do. And I thank you.
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I'm pulling for the mansion and hitchhiking ghosts. As for ripping off Skylanders, yeah the interface idea is like it, but this is so much cooler than a game who's best known character is Spyro the dragon.
@thehuntress1967 This is going to be an interesting business studies case down the road: first mover advantage vs. mindshare advantage.
Never underestimate the insanity and obsessiveness of "collectors". They'll stab their grandma to get a rare item.
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@LYT @thehuntress1967 Orange Bird. ORANGE BIRD. He's surging with the Asian market!!
I basically just want the entire Parks catalogue to be grafted in. Especially if they can manage to bring Horizons and ye olde EPCOT Center.
Well if this play out properly, means Disney kinda won the game can't think of anything that has there installed character base. Off topic but man if any pixar movie would be awesome for a sequel it's The Incredibles.
@FreeHat I agree...but had the opportunity to interview Patton Oswalt for NATURE CALLS and he says Brad Bird hates sequels.
@LYT @FreeHat Brad Bird wants to do an Incredibles sequel and has ideas for it, but not a specific plot in mind.
Otherwise, take a look at the comic Boom! Studios was putting out before Disney bought Marvel that Mark Waid and Landry Walker put together. Ran for about twenty issues in all: A four issue debut mini and a 16 issue ongoing that ended up being cut short just before the ending arc because that was when Disney took the Pixar licenses back. Other then the ending being in limbo, it was a pretty sweet ride up to that point.
In other nerd news...........Poindexter gets Tron's castoffs
http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/melissa-gilbert-engaged-to-timothy-busfield-2013291
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@ILDC Nor Marvel. I suspect existing games licenses have to expire first, like the Dark Horse comics deal. But imagine if they eventually could get access to those characters in Infinity.
We will soon have a game world where Kermit the Frog, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Spider-Man, and Donald Duck will join forces to save the world.
THere was discussion of including Star Wars and Marvel-- but not in the intital run..
But it will come-- its stupid not to-- and one thing Disney isnt stupid about is finding ways to print money...
This has been in the works for quite some time - I know the trailer's only about two weeks old at this point, but I remember seeing stuff about this for a long time now (at least rumors and sketches and all).
And I don't care what they rip off, as long as I can play as Mr. Incredible and James P. Sullivan. (And maybe even Wall-E.)
Nerd news, humor and self-loathing. Edited by Luke Y. Thompson
