Media Create hardware sales (1/7 – 1/13)
Posted on 11 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, News, Wii, Wii U | 0 comments
The latest Japanese hardware sales from Media Create are as follows:
3DS LL – 56,377
3DS – 36,284
PS3 – 22,991
Wii U – 20,715
PSP – 17,069
Vita – 11,088
Wii – 1,873
Xbox 360 – 921
For comparison’s sake, here are the hardware numbers from last week:
3DS LL – 156,184
3DS – 123,075
Wii U – 67,083
PS3 – 64,352
PSP – 54,873
Vita – 33,309
Wii – 5,632
Xbox 360 – 1,893
Star Wars, Marvel characters possible for Disney Infinity, Mickey as well
Posted on 11 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, News, Wii, Wii U | 0 comments
Disney acquired Marvel Entertainment back in 2009. And very recently, it took ownership of LucasArts.
Both companies have tons of unique characters at its disposal. When you think about it, incorporating Marvel and/or LucasArts IP into the new Disney Infinity game could lead to some interesting results.
Avalanche Software CEO John Blackburn is certainly on board with the idea. However, he’s quick to caution that a decision hasn’t been made.
“As a developer, I so want that. When Disney bought Lucasfilm, I was like, ‘Holy crap! This is awesome!’ But at this point in time, there’s been some discussions about that, there’s just been no decisions made.”
Legendary Disney character Mickey Mouse also has a similar undecided fate. But when Blackburn was asked about including icons such as Mickey, Donald Duck, and Goofy, he said “We’re all things Disney.”
December 2012 NPD: Epic Mickey 2 sells just 270,000 copies
Posted on 11 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Podcast Stories, Wii, Wii U | 0 comments
Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two has been a relative sales bomb in the United States. According to the Los Angeles Times, it sold just 270,000 copies last month following a mid November launch.
Thus far, Epic Mickey 2 hasn’t attained nearly the same success as its predecessor. Remember: the fist title sold 1.3 million units in its first full month in the US. Making matters worse, Epic Mickey 2 was released on four different platforms (with PC and Mac versions on the way) compared to Epic Mickey 1’s standalone Wii SKU.
Surely the dip in sales is as least somewhat related to the low-quality of Epic Mickey 2. Whereas the original was considered to be decent, “2” took a number of steps back.
Activision “flattered” by Disney Infinity announcement
Posted on 11 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, News, Wii, Wii U | 0 comments
Disney Interactive finally back the curtain on Disney Infinity today. In some ways, it’s just like Activision’s Skylanders series. Both offer the idea of collecting figures that can be used in the game.
Activision has responded positively to today’s announcement. The company said it is “flattered that one of the leading family entertainment companies is joining our toys to life category.”
A company statement reads:
“We are thrilled by the incredible success that the Skylanders franchise has had in such a short period of time. We are also flattered that one of the leading family entertainment companies is joining our toys to life category. We continue to focus on delivering innovative and immersive entertainment experiences to kids around the world and are pouring more creativity into our games. As a result we are well positioned to continue leading the category.”
Disney Infinity official announcement
Posted on 11 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, News, Wii, Wii U | 0 comments
Rounding out the coverage of Disney Interactive today…
For the First Time, Disney and Pixar Animation Studios’ Most Popular Characters Come Together in a Magical Storytelling Experience
BURBANK, Calif. – (JANUARY 15, 2013) – Disney Interactive today unveiled its most ambitious gaming initiative ever, Disney Infinity. This all new game platform unlocks the freedom to create stories and play experiences starring beloved characters from The Walt Disney Company and Pixar Animation Studios. Disney Infinity allows players to both experience original adventures in some of their favourite Disney and Pixar worlds and to build their own worlds using the power of their imagination.
“Disney Infinity introduces a new way to interact with the best of Disney on one game platform, both now and in the future,” said John Pleasants, co-president, Disney Interactive. “With this innovative approach to gaming, Disney Infinity will bring to life new characters, stories and environments from The Walt Disney Company over time in a way that will delight fans and gamers alike.”
Disney Infinity footage
Posted on 11 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, Videos, Wii, Wii U | 0 comments
More Disney Infinity details – pricing, Wii U tidbits, Infinity 2 confirmed… already
Posted on 11 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, News, Podcast Stories, Wii, Wii U | 0 comments
Another round of Disney Infinity details have emerged. Below you’ll find information covering pricing (starter pack, individual figures, and discs), specific tidbits about the Wii U version, and even a confirmation that there are plans for a sequel.
The new details are as follows:
– Won’t work without the special figures
– 17 initial characters
– A few of these will come packaged with the game
– Figures will cost $13 each
– $75 starter pack
– Features three playsets
– More characters and playsets throughout the year
– Buying add-on collectible toys unlocks more playable characters and brand new levels
– Power discs are RFID chips set in a small piece of plastic
– When a player stacks these up on the interface device, they might add specific new items into the Toy Box mode
– Other discs can augment game characters when you place them between the figure and the interface
– Wreck-It Ralph disc: more strength
– Power discs will be sold in blind packages
– $5 for two random discs
– Figures will be sold in Disney Stores and theme parks
– Not easy to convince John Lasseter to put every property into a single video game
– Blackburn’s first pitch to John Lasseter involved “all different kinds of toys… childish versions that didn’t articulate, full action figure versions, plushies and stuffed animals. When you put them all together, it looked really weird.”
– Lasseter didn’t like it, but he told Blackburn that if he could create one single toy line where Jack Sparrow and Sully the monster could stand next to each other and look like they were meant to be together, he could get behind the idea
– “He said he didn’t like it, but then he solved the problem for us.”
– Online and local multiplayer
– Playing through the various “playset” levels will let you unlock hundreds of new toys and parts to play with in Toy Box
– Can’t self-publish your creation in Toy Box
– Can invite a friend to join you online and test your game in real-time
– Before other players can save your level to their hard drives, it’s got to go through Disney
– Disney will solicit content and publish the best of the best
– Intended to keep the game safe for kids
– New characters and playsets will be included on the disc that players buy
– Won’t be playable until the toys are released later in the year
– iOS companion app will be released
– Each figure will come with a unique “web code” that will unlock that character in the PC and iOS versions of the game
– The team wants to add two-player split-screen for the Wii U version
– One player would use the GamePad, another would play through the TV
– Avalanche only just finished its engine since the Wii U just came out
– The team is currently putting in all features it can for the Wii U game
– Only has about a month of development time left to do so
– Plans are in the works for Infinity 2
– Disney is out to build a “platform”
– Disney can release Infinity levels and characters to promote them without necessarily having to create entirely new videogames for each of those properties
Head past the break for commentary from Disney and developer Avalanche Studios.
Disney Infinity: first screenshots
Posted on 11 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, Screenshots, Wii, Wii U | 0 comments
Disney Infinity debut trailer
Posted on 11 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, Videos, Wii, Wii U | 0 comments
For those of you who missed our previous post: this one’s coming to the 3DS as well as Wii U and Wii.
First official Disney Infinity details – coming to all platforms, cross-platform play, more
Posted on 11 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Podcast Stories, Wii, Wii U | 0 comments
Disney Interactive is in the process of hosting a press event to unveil the first official details about Disney Infinity.
While the event is on-going, lots of information has already been shared. Among the notable details: coming to all platforms, will feature a cross-platform experience, and Monsters University, The Incredibles, and Pirates of the Caribbean are the first confirmed worlds.
More tidbits about the game are posted below.
– Brings players into the worlds of their favorite characters from the past, present, and future
– Coming to all platforms
– Mobile, console, online
– Like Skylanders
– Brings players into the worlds of their favorite characters from the past, present, and future
– Coming to all platforms
– Mobile, console, online
– Like Skylanders
– Captain Jack, Sully and Mr. Incredible confirmed as figures
– Figures unlock unique experiences for players
– Cross-platform experience
– First three worlds: Monsters University, The Incredibles, and Pirates of the Caribbean
– More franchises will be at launch
– Phineas and Ferb are among the playable characters
– Game confirmed for at least Wii U and Wii
– Comes with 3 play sets
– Launch in June
– “Will allow you to play with all your favorite Disney characters, without limits.”
– “Quality is the best business plan.”
– Disney Infinity came out of the Toy Box mode in Toy Story 3 game
– Lasseter is a huge fan of the vinyl figure market, so that’s part of what he loved about making vinyl figures with the game
– “it’s one of the most creative things I’ve ever seen in the interactive world. I’m really proud of it.”
– Toy Story and Cars characters will be in Infinity
– All of the Disney characters are stylized and look like they belong in the same universe
– They made sure all the play sets within the game modeled and felt like the worlds in the films, and true to property
– Infinity has “playset” action game levels
– Can only use a certain franchise in these levels
– Toy Box lets you mash everything up
– ‘Monsters University’ sees the rivalry between Minsters U and Feartech; college hijinks game
– Pirates playset takes place during the first three films
– Can customize gameplay
– Logic Editor: create video games
– Games based on Donkey Kong, Ivan “Ironman” Stewart’s Super Off-Road shown
– Can edit the camera for your games: side-scrolling, top-down view, etc.
– 4-player, drop-in/drop-out multiplayer
– Goat-like character Mike is riding on in the screenshot is called Archie the Scare Pig
– In Toy Box, can make buildings, road, terrain types, sky colors, and more
– One designer recreated Mario Kart’s Bowser’s Castle
– Power Discs: get extra interactive characters that you can’t play as, but interact with
– Worlds can be uploaded online, and Disney will promote the best ones for others to download
– In the world pirates of the Caribbean you can decide how to equip your own pirate ship
– Multiplayer sees one player steer the ship, another on cannons. Or both on the offensive in a heated battle