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Hands-on: Split/Second
If you asked us to sum up Split/Second in one simple sentence it would be: Split/Second is like Burnout, except the world around you is the thing that gets smashed into bits.Going into the racing-heavy E3, with showings of Forza Motorsport 3, Need for Speed: Shift and Blur (to name a few), we didn't know what to expect from Black Rock Studio (the team behind 2008's Pure). In the end we walked away with more anticipation we've had for a racing game since Burnout Paradise was first revealed. Forgetting some of the hang-ups we had with the demo, Split/Second is one of the most intense racing experiences we've had in ages.%Gallery-47488%
Scream it! Disney Interactive announces Toy Story Mania!
Disney Interactive Studios has reached back into the Pixar trick bag and plucked Toy Story out for a new game on the Wii titled Toy Story Mania! No, not just Mania. Mania! It's exciting, so you have to yell it. Actually by blogging law we're required to scream it out loud whenever we type it -- kind of awkward since we're working from our local coffee bar today. Toy Story Mania! brings the popular franchise that put Pixar on the mainstream map to the Nintendo Wii. Based on a 3-D theme park attraction of the same name -- along with an exclamation point -- Toy Story Mania! will include shooting-galleries adapted from the 3-D ride as well as new areas starring characters from the franchise. Levels are designed for up to four players with support for both cooperative and competitive multiplayer. Toy Story Mania! will hit the Wii exclusively this fall. We'd tell you more but we're being kicked out of the coffee bar for causing a public disturbance.
DIS officially announces Split/Second for PC, PS3, Xbox 360
click to make bigger, more explode-y If you only take your octane in high, then this bit of news is likely to put your pedal right down to the metal, as Disney Interactive Studios has officially unveiled Split/Second. Set for release early next year on the PS3, Xbox 360, and PC, Split/Second is described as an "action-racing game where speed meets strategy in a city rigged for destruction."The press release also mentions a new site for the game, although that doesn't seem to have gone live yet. And, as suspected, Black Rock has created a world where "competitors vie to be the first across the finish line in a made-for-TV city built for destruction," so expect plenty of Running Man jokes on our end as we write about the game in the future.%Gallery-47488%
Pure's ATV racing coming to A TV near you on Sept. 23
Disney Interactive Studios has informed us -- by means of a very elaborate musical number -- that its edge-of-the-seat ATV racer, Pure, has shipped out and should be available in "all major retailers" on September 23. Several online retailers are already sending out copies, however, so you'd best check in with your favorite store if next week lies outside your boundaries of patience.If you're not sold on developer Black Rock Studio's high-flying bag of tricks, there's a downloadable demo waiting for you on the Xbox Live Marketplace and the PlayStation store. Gallery: Pure
Pure demo out this Thursday on PSN
If you've read Andrew's hands-on preview for the off-road arcade racer known as Pure, you would know that a demo was promised for sometime in September on PSN. That playable demo will be arriving sooner than expected as it's hitting this Thursday, September 4. The demo will take gamers on a three-lap race against 15 other opponents. It'll be on the Italian Mount Garda track -- one of 35 different tracks available in the game. A tutorial on controls is also included, as usual.%Gallery-29721%
PS3 Fanboy hands-on: Pure
Click for high-resolution image. We had a chance to play a small demo of Disney Interactive's upcoming Pure. The off-road racing game will be available on both PS3 and Xbox 360 in September and our first hands-on with the game felt promising. This off-road arcade racing game is all about air, with an emphasis on giant hills and jumps and mid-air stunts. It's a rather amusing sight to see a pack of a dozen racers all jump magically into the air as they compete for pole position.For PS3 fans, this game will most likely remind them of MotorStorm. However, the similarities between the two are few and far apart. Yes, the game features the same dirty off-road environments that the PS3 franchise is known for. And yes, knowing when to use boost is crucial to the gameplay. But, the vehicles of Pure are much more responsive than the ones in MotorStorm. Turns are a lot easier to handle, which should help attract a more casual audience.Players will have to work to earn their boosts. Before each hill, players will push down on the analog stick and flick it forward to launch the riders into the air. While flying, players can input buttons: X for easy tricks, O for harder tricks and Triangle for the hardest tricks. The boost meter increases with each successful trick, and having more boost unlocks more complex tricks in the air. Pulling off and landing the tricks are surprisingly easy.%Gallery-29721%
E308: Catching up with Disney Online
Despite the craziness that is E3, Massively got a chance to talk to Mike Goslin, VP at Disney Online. We spoke to him about Pirates of the Caribbean Online's future, the launch of World of Cars (a virtual world based on Pixar's "Cars") and their plans for consoles as well as Asian markets. Read on for his answers with more after the jump.What's next for 'Pirates of the Caribbean Online'?Goslin: We have a lot of really great content in the pipeline for Pirates. One of the big upcoming expansions is Privateering, which allows players to engage in epic sea battles against each other. Players choose a side, either French or Spanish, assemble a crew, and blast away. As part of Privateering we introduced some new islands where pirate lords challenge players with special quests to prove their worth and earn some cool new rewards.What is the timeline for closed beta on the 'Cars Online' title?Goslin: The World of Cars virtual world will roll out in 2009. We have not yet announced any specific dates for beta, but we will make sure to let you know when those are confirmed!
Gamasutra's 20 Women in Games list
For those who complain that there aren't enough women in gaming, you need look no further than this -- the Gamasutra 20: Women in Games list. This is a compilation of the movers and shakers in the industry who just happen to be female. It's a broad spectrum list, but there are a few MMO-specifics in there -- notably Jane McGonigal, most famous for her work on the ilovebees ARG; 38 Studios' Vice President of Business Development Jennifer MacLean; Laralyn McWilliams, SOE's Lead Designer; and Disney Interactive Studios' Senior Designer Patricia Pizer.Each entry includes the subject's career overview, major accomplishments, innovations, and what her peers say about her. It's a fascinating read, and you may discover that there's more gender diversity in gaming than you previously suspected.
Pirates of the Carribean demo hits shores
The Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End demo has arrived on Marketplace, which is a good thing. The weird thing is the regions that it is available in, or more specifically, not available in. It's listed as available in all Xbox regions except the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Asia. So no go for North America, which is a little odd, considering the movie and its game are being made by American companies. So, Europe and other regions that don't fall into that category, can you play that first tutorial level and tell us how the game looks and feels?
Yar! Pirates gameplay vids off the port bow!
Pirates and videogames have been friends for a long time. Movies and videogames ... not so much. With the upcoming release of Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, we are faced with a conundrum. You see, Pirates is a game that is (naturally) filled with pirates. Sounds good, right? However, said game is also based on a film, which typically means bad mojo for any game.With the release of four new clips from the game, our hopes were high. Unfortunately, upon actually watching the new videos, we're thoroughly unimpressed. On the outside everything looks all right. In fact, the character models and animations are top notch. The combat, on the other hand, looks bland at best and awful at worst. It's clear that Disney Interactive Studios is attempting to borrow a few tricks from games like God of War and Prince of Persia, but the results are hardly convincing. From the "one guy at a time" AI to the lack luster swordplay, Pirates doesn't look too promising. There's also a distinct lack of sound. The Pirates movies are very loud and raucous, which isn't evident in these clips at all. Check out the videos after the break.
Yarr! Pirates sails to 360
No, we're not referring to the elusive Pimps At Sea Alpha. Disney Interactive Studios announced that they will be releasing Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End for new generation consoles, including Xbox 360. Players will have their chance at the life of a pirate as Will Turner, Elizabeth Swann and of course, Captain Jack Sparrow. Looking to coincide with the film's release, the game is slated for May 22nd, 2007. DIS' President of Marketing, Craig Relyea, promises that the game will feature environments above and beyond those featured in the films as well as multiple endings. So, does this make you want to search for that bottle of rum, or are you going to get a case of scurvy?
Turok Multiplayer Details
New information on the Turok multiplayer has been released, and it definitely is worth sinking your teeth into. Multiplayer over Xbox Live will support 16 players, with a twist. Not only do you have to be on the lookout for your fellow human adversaries shooting you betwixt the ears, but dinosaurs will be out on the prowl for some bipedal meals as well. The game will feature the Unreal 3 Engine as well, so the environments and your enemies, reptilian or otherwise will look very pretty. It wasn't clear if the dinos would be human or AI controlled, but it still makes for a unique experience. With an expected release in the fall, and a demo hitting Marketplace beforehand, are you interested in going on a jurassic hunt?
Buena Vista Games renamed Disney Interactive Studios
During a shareholder meeting today, Disney senior vice president and general manager Graham Hopper announced that the company's game division, Buena Vista Games, has been renamed to Disney Interactive Studios to better reflect the celebrated brand. More precisely, the re-branding marks a return to BVG's original name, Disney Interactive. The studio will continue to publish both Disney and non-Disney branded titles for all major platforms, including Propaganda Games' forthcoming re-imagining of Turok (pictured).
