Polygon has published a new report on Disney Infinity 2.0, featuring comments from executive producer John Vignocchi. You can find the latest information rounded up below and Polygon’s full preview here.
“Our priority is to innovate the software over time to bring new value and experiences to the existing stable of characters that have been integrated into the platform.” – Vignocchi
– Disney Infinity owners will be able to purchase a digital upgrade to this year’s game through the Wii U eShop
– Players can then go out and purchase the new characters individually or buy packages instead of paying for another Starter Pack
– Game is being built to provide a deeper experience with more options and content for all characters
– Marvel characters present new challenges in terms of the way they play
– Ex: Iron Man can fly, and Avalanche accommodated those mechanics by altering the game engine to support a much larger world
– Marvel Manhattan is four times larger than Metroville from the original
– Combat system revamped
– Each hero has multiple attacks, special moves and upgradable abilities
– Entire game is now stats-based
– There are ratings for health, attack speed and attack power, etc.
– Earn skill points that you can spend in a skill tree to customize each character to a play style of your choosing
– Ex: buff up Hulk’s melee combat to help him beat up Loki’s minions, or raise his ability to absorb damage and play as a tank
– These new mechanics will extend in some fashion to the existing Disney characters from Disney Infinity
– Two Toy Boy mini-games will be available at launch
– One is a dungeon-crawler with procedurally generated levels while the other is tower-defense title
– Play these games to unlock more Toy Box content
“Innovating the software to provide new experiences to all of the characters is […] the priority for us. And that might not make a lot of sense right now, but if you could get in my head and see the five-year plan we’re developing, it will all make sense as time goes on.” – Vignocchi
“I think our Toy Box games are the first nod in that direction. You’ll see over time, as the platform evolves, new relevancy to the existing base of characters on the platform.” – Vignocchi
– Players spent 60% of their time in the Toy Box
– This time around, the Toy Boy features robust procedural generation technology
– “Power mode”: set a few parameters like size and materials, and the game will build an environment in front of your eyes
– This method can even be used to create games in a variety of genres, thanks to templates with programming logic already set up
– Can then put in an online leaderboard
– When using builders, they’ll begin constructing elements of the environment such as pieces of a race track, walls of a castle and landscaping
– Can put a door on pretty much any object in the Toy Box to add an interior area to that item
– Can set up numerous rooms on multiple floors
“Infinity is definitely a platform for all things Disney, whether that’s Pixar or Tim Burton’s creations, or Jerry Bruckheimer, or Marvel or things in galaxies far, far away.” – Vignocchi
“It’s not just about slamming Marvel into it; it’s not just about, ‘Hey, there’s some toys, and they have cool things to do.’ I mean, that Toy Box is powerful. It is an extremely powerful creation tool that’s evolving. And I think that’s key, because if people try it and they understand it — and we’re making it easier to use — they really can create their own stories for themselves and share them with others.” – Vignocchi
The first wave of Tomodachi Life reviews are in, and they seem to be mixed to say the least! Here’s a roundup of the initial verdicts:
Polygon – 7.5 / 10
GameTrailers – 6 / 10
Destructoid – 9 / 10
USGamer – 4 / 5
Game Informer – 7 / 10
Joystiq – 3.5 / 5
IGN – 8.6 / 10
EDGE – 7 / 10
DigitalSpy – 3 / 5
Eurogamer – 5 / 10
Nintendo Life – 8 / 10
Nintendo has prevailed in another legal battle in the fight against R4 cards. ChipSpain, a retailer that had been selling and distributing these products, admitted fault before the two sides entered a court room. ChipSpain acknowledged that the sale of the cards was illegal under Spanish law.
In a statement, Nintendo Spain deputy general manager Rafael Martínez Moya-Angeler said (roughly translated):
The marketing of devices that violate the protective measures of consoles and video games has led to the proliferation of illegal game downloads online. This situation has caused irreparable economic harm. Piracy is the biggest threat to creativity in this industry, so this statement is a big step forward for the gaming industry.
Inti Creates has shared new details about Azure Striker Gunvolt. This time around, we have information about the game’s Swordsmen.
You can find today’s details rounded up below:
– Individuals with special powers are called “psychics”
– Normally, psychics possess psychic elements within their bodies that allow them to use their powers
– The Sumeragi Corporation has taken seven powerful psychics and extracted their psychic elements into sword-shaped devices
– These 7 psychics are known as “Swordsmen”
– They serve as Azure Striker Gunvolt’s bosses
– Their swords allow them to stay out of trouble and live ordinary lives
– These swords can be used remotely to control any unwanted bursts of powers
– In cases of emergency, Sumeragi’s monitoring facility gives them access to these swords and they fuse with them, triggering a transformation dubbed “weaponization”
Here’s a look at three of these Swordsmen you’ll fight in Azure Striker Gunvolt:
Daytona
– Patrols Sumeragi’s chemical plant complex
– Has the psychic power “Explosion”
– He was originally a notorious gang leader, but fell in love with Lumen’s voice and enlisted as part of Sumeragi’s private army
– Daytona can compress thermal energy into small spheres called Angry Bombs that explode on impact
– He can also enflame his legs and his sword of choice is “Lord of Fire”
– Performs a leg sweep with explosive velocity
– Daytona fires shells in three directions
– He uses wall jumps to climb up a pillar of flames while scattering shells all over the ground to immobilize GV, then performs a drop kick
– Daytona slams GV with an axe kick engulfed in flames
– Daytona performs a sudden direction shift in midair during a Unicorn Drop, then kicks the air to produces a barrage of small energy projectiles
– Special Ability: Daytona fires blazing projectiles across the screen while enjoying a temporary defense boost
Elise
– Elise was being held prisoner by Sumeragi
– Has the ultimate psychic power known as “Rebirth”
– Rebirth: manipulate the soul into spinning out life for eternity
– Sumeragi were attempting to implant Eise’s brain with a more aggressive persona that ended up taking control of her original, weak-willed persona
– Sumeragi wasn’t able to contain her power
– This resulted in a rampage that leveled the research facility she was being held at
– Uses the “Living Blade” sword
– Controls “vipers” that she can shape into daggers
– After being thrown, she can make them come back to life as zombies
– Elise wraps her whip around a pole and travels rapidly around the screen
– Elise throws a dagger. If it hits the ground, it turns into a viper that attacks GV
– Elise emits a petrifying gaze. While petrified, GV is unable to move and suffers much greater damage than usual. The effect can be broken by wiggling around the Circle Pad
– Elise’s two personas attack GV together using both whips and daggers
– Special Ability: Destroying one of Elise’s personas will cause the other persona to resurrect her
Stratos
– Swordsman
– Was held prisoner by Sumeragi
– Before being captured, he was a handsome, popular man
– No trace of this man remains today
– Can use the “Fly” ability
– He can also turn his flesh into fly-shaped particles of energy that can dismantle any matter and incorporate it into his body
– Repeated experimentation on Stratos has caused his powers to become too powerful for even his Sword, “Lizardslayer” to control
– S.E.E.D. drug keeps him in check
– This is extracted from the experimental plant ViVid
– Stratos, in fly form, turns into a ball and charges at GV
– Stratos lays eggs in the ground. Flies hatch from the eggs and attack GV at once
– Stratos transforms into a giant mouth that sprouts from the ground and chases GV, repeatedly trying to swallow him whole
– Stratos’ body splits in two and deploys flies against GV. The fly attacks can be blocked with the Lightning Ring Shield, but the two Stratoses will be charging at GV the whole time.
– Special Ability: Stratos gathers flies from devices on the right and left sides of the screen to turn into a giant and deliver a single devastating attack
– Either Stratos needs to be defeated or the devices need to be destroyed before the transformation is complete
Update: The thread has now been removed, but the evidence sadly remains.
This is about as bizarre as it gets. Oxygene Media, who may now be most well-known for astroturfing on Miiverse, has slammed the developer of I’ve Got to Run! over a review.
Syrenne McNulty reviewed one of Oxygene Media’s latest games, Fit Music for Wii U, as she is both a developer and journalist. Oxygene wasn’t pleased with the verdict, and after learning that McNulty is the creator of I’ve Got to Run!, posted the above message on Miiverse.
Things didn’t end there though. Oxygene continued its posts, and McNulty also stepped in briefly to mention that the company isn’t being professional:
Definitely sad to see something like this. Can’t we all get along?!
A flyer found at Target reveals the release date and a new character for Disney Infinity 2.0.
First, Target confirms a September 23 launch for the new game. We had previously heard that Disney Infinity 2.0 was slated for September, though a specific date hadn’t been announced.
We also now know, based on the image above, that Venom will indeed be included in Disney Infinity 2.0.
The folks over at Nintendo-Online recently examined the amount of employees working at Monolith Soft between 2007 and 2014. Below, you can get an estimated look at how the staff count changed over the years based on the studio’s website.
– Nintendo bought Monolith Soft in 2007. After that the studio headcount sank from 111 in 2007 to 75 in 2011.
– In the following years the headcount increased steadily.
– In 2013 there were 108 employees working at Monolith Soft; in 2014 that number rose to 123.
– Concludingly, 15 new people were employed by Monolith Soft within the last year.
