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Ex-Disney Interactive devs form Shark Punch, reveal The Masterplan
A trio of former Disney Interactive developers founded Shark Punch this year, and their first project, The Masterplan, is a heist game set in the 1970s, due out for PC, Mac and Linux in 2014. The Masterplan has players gather a team and resources to execute "the greatest heist in the history of mankind," and it has something to do with President Nixon abolishing the gold standard in 1971. It's top-down, 2D and physics-based with a "clever" AI system and real-time-with-pause mechanics. Shark Punch comprises artist and designer Aarne Hunziker, CEO Jiri Kupiainen and programmer Leo Lannenmaki, and it's all self-funded. The studio's description offers the following insight: "Our focus is on creating games that offer deep, involving gameplay in a streamlined package. We do not make 'mid-core' games." We were pretty sure a company named "Shark Punch" would be into hardcore things anyway. [Images: Shark Punch]
Disney Interactive lays off 700, plans to scale back annual game output [Update]
Disney laid off one-quarter of its global staff in its video games and Internet division, Disney Interactive, The New York Times reported Thursday. The 26 percent decrease in staff amounts to roughly 700 job losses and also points to a change in strategy for the company, which is expected to scale back annual game output "by as much as 50 percent," the report reads. While profits for Disney Interactive rose in Q1 2014 thanks to the success of Disney Infinity, as it reported a 38 percent increase in revenue year-over-year for that period, it also reported losses in Q3 2013 and Q2 2013 to the tune of $58 million and $54 million, respectively. The layoffs also affect the Internet side of the company's interactive division, which will shutter BabyZone.com and Spoonful.com and move towards sponsorship-based advertising for Disney.com as a result. Prospective layoffs for Disney Interactive were numbered in the hundreds according to reports from one month ago. We've reached out to Disney to determine whether today's layoffs are the same ones in question, and will update as we learn more. Update: Disney Interactive responded to Joystiq with the following statement: "Disney Interactive has consolidated several lines of business as part of an effort to focus the division on a streamlined suite of high quality digital products. As a result of this restructuring, we have undergone a reduction in workforce. These actions were difficult but necessary given our long-term strategy focused on sustainable profitability and innovation." [Image: Disney Interactive]
Disney Magical World trailer is shining, shimmering, splendid
If you think Disney costumes would improve Animal Crossing: New Leaf, or any game for that matter, then Magical World may be for you. The upcoming 3DS game isn't just about playing dress-up, though; it also has mini-games like fishing, planting crops, ballroom dancing, managing a cafe, and a ghost-hunting romp with a touch of the Kingdom Hearts about it. Disney will hope Magical World repeats the success it had in Japan, where it shipped 500,000 units, when it comes to North America on April 11. [Image: Disney]
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Disney Infinity drives Interactive group to $403 million in revenue
Disney reported $403 million in revenue for its Interactive group in its fiscal first quarter 2014 financial results, a three-month period that ended on December 28, 2013. It is a 38 percent increase over the revenue earned by the Interactive group in Q1 of 2013, $291 million. The leap in earnings for Disney Interactive is thanks to strong sales for Disney Infinity, Avalanche Software's sandbox adventure game that features popular Disney characters and Skylanders-like physical toys to go with them. Of course, Disney Interactive is just one slice of the Mickey Mouse house's pie; The Walt Disney Company reported $12.3 billion in revenue for the quarter. While everything sounds splendid for Disney, the Wall Street Journal reported layoffs for Disney Interactive that measure in the hundreds just a few days ago. [Image: Disney Interactive]
Report: 'Several hundred' Disney Interactive employees face layoffs
Though Disney Infinity is an undeniable hit, the Wall Street Journal reports "several hundred" employees at developer Disney Interactive are to be laid off later this week. Citing unnamed sources "close to the company," the report claims that these layoffs are "expected to begin after the media giant releases its quarterly financial results Wednesday." The Wall Street Journal offers no concrete motivation for the mass dismissal, though it references a recently announced effort to reorganize Disney Interactive by president Jimmy Pitaro. Intriguingly, the report also mentions Disney Infinity expansions based on Star Wars and Marvel Comics. "New versions of 'Infinity' featuring characters from Disney's Marvel superhero unit and the Star Wars universe it acquired along with Lucasfilm in 2012 are being developed," the Wall Street Journal claims, again citing an unnamed source. While this would be the first confirmation we've seen of such additions to Disney Infinity, it comes as no surprise that Disney Interactive might want to tap those two, wildly profitable licenses for its game. [Image: Disney Interactive]
Disney Magical World ships 500,000 in Japan
Disney Magical World shipments surpassed the 500,000 mark in Japan, proving that as far as the 3DS game is concerned, it's not such a small world after all. Alright, we admit we shoehorned that reference in, so try not to take the Mickey. The news (via Gematsu) comes just after Disney announced the game for North America; for the record, it's been out in Japan since August 2013, albeit under the less catchy but even cheerier moniker of Disney Magic Castle: My Happy Life. As for what such a happy life comprises, it's everything from meeting your favorite Disney characters and dressing up like them, to running a cafe and cultivating crops. If you can't wait to slip into a Minnie dress, the good news is that Disney Magical World hits retail shelves and the eShop in North America on April 11.
Disney announces Star Wars: Attack Squadrons
There's a new online multiplayer Star Wars game coming to a computer near, near to you. Today, Disney Interactive announced that it's been working on Star Wars: Attack Squadrons, a space combat title for 2014. Star Wars: Attack Squadrons will put pilots into the cockpits of classic attack craft like the X-Wing and TIE Interceptor, fighting against each other in 16-player environments. Disney promised plenty of ships and iconic locations for the game. You can sign up for the beta that will start next year as well as check out screenshots and the announcement trailer below.
Toy Story's claw machine among five toy boxes added to Disney Infinity
Disney Interactive offered five new toy boxes for Disney Infinity owners to play with this week. Two of the toy boxes are inspired by the Toy Story films: the Toy Story Claw and Toy Story Racer stages. Toy Story Claw has players searching for ten lost aliens in a claw machine, whereas Toy Story Racer takes place in a space-themed racetrack. The other new Disney Interactive-created toy boxes introduced this week are Big Thunder, inspired by the Big Thunder Mountain attraction at Disneyland, as well as Sky Gauntlet 2 and The Sky Trials. Disney Infinity recently received new characters, including Wreck-It Ralph and Tangled's Rapunzel.
Disney Infinity to add Wreck-It Ralph, Tangled, Frozen characters
Disney Infinity aims to live up to its name with the addition of three movie franchises to the platformer/adventure/sandbox/whatever-it-is game. Wreck-It Ralph and Tangled characters Ralph, Vanellope and Rapunzel have already found their way into stores, while Anna and Elsa from Frozen have yet to arrive. Ralph is available exclusively at Best Buy until December 31, while Vanellope is exclusive to Target until the same date. Walmart, meanwhile, gets to braid and play with Rapunzel's ludicrously long hair until December 31 as well. Anna and Elsa will be released nationwide on November 26, a day before the movie they star in. So if you already know you're going to love the movie and its characters - or you're a time traveler and have already seen the movie - these toys are for you. And everyone else who can find them. Along with the characters, Disney Interactive will also be releasing 20 new Power Discs. These discs grant various in-game bonuses, from items and aesthetic changes to boosts and abilities. You can see the full list of discs and their effects after the jump:
Disney Interactive co-president John Pleasants resigns
John Pleasants has left his post as co-president of Disney Interactive, the New York Times reports. "It was a collaborative decision to do what's right for the business at a time when we have clear momentum," Pleasants said of the decision. "It's complicated to have co-presidents. It doesn't seem to make sense as a long-term strategy." "I will tell you that it's a bit of a mixed thing for me," added Pleasants. "I would have also been happy to stay on. I would be misleading you if I said I wanted to leave." Pleasants' responsibilities will now be shouldered by Jimmy Pitaro, the other co-president installed alongside Pleasants in 2010. During their co-tenure, Pitaro largely focused on Disney's official web presence, while Pleasants headed the gaming side of things, most notably the launch and promotion of the company's kid-friendly sandbox game Disney Infinity. Despite his desire to stay on with Disney, Pleasants leaves the company in a good position. He claims that during his tenure, Disney's mobile gaming division flourished, and that while the company reported losses of $300 million the year Pleasants and Pitaro were hired on, Disney Interactive's most recent financial reports show a $16 million profit, largely due to strong sales of Disney Infinity.
Disney Infinity doubles quarterly earnings for Disney Interactive
The release of Disney Infinity drove a 107-percent increase in fourth-quarter revenue for Disney's Interactive division, the company revealed in its quarterly financial report. Disney notes that its Interactive division took in $396 million in revenue during the quarter ending September 28, 2013. Disney Interactive's revenue totaled $191 million during the fourth quarter of last year. "Improved operating results for the quarter and year were due to increases at our console games and Japan mobile businesses," the report states. "The increase at our console games business was primarily due to the fourth quarter release of Disney Infinity." The bounceback follows up on Disney Interactive's $54 million operating income loss in the second quarter of 2013. Disney Infinity represented a significant risk for the division, as parent company Disney passed on the opportunity to produce games based on the Iron Man and Star Wars franchises in order to focus on Infinity's development. During a conference call this week, Disney CEO Bob Iger revealed that more than one million Disney Infinity Starter Packs were sold across all available platforms since the game's release in August.
Aussie rebels steal secret plans for Star Wars: Tiny Death Star
Star Wars: Tiny Death Star has snuck onto the Australian App store and onto Australia's Google Play store. That's no small feat considering how imposing even the tiniest that's-no-moon must be. Star Wars: Tiny Death Star is a variant of NimbleBit's property management game, Tiny Tower. Players must construct levels with the world destroyer and help usher the Death Star into a prosperous future of intimidating the rebellion. The game is due to hit iOS and Android in North America sometime soon.
Kingdom Hearts 3 trailer is a rollercoaster ride in Disney's world
Our first proper look at Kingdom Hearts 3 reveals a good deal of gameplay, including stuff that looks it came straight out of a Disney theme park. There's definitely a rollercoaster feel to the 'Big Magic Mountain' that Sora, Goofy, and Donald ride as they fight the rock titan Lythos from Hercules. The trailer also briefly shows Sora's keyblade weapon apparently transformed into a pair of magical dual pistols. KH3 is in development for PS4 and Xbox One, but remains without a release window.
Disney Infinity gets 'Tron Highway,' four other free toy boxes
Five new toy boxes are available for free in Disney Infinity, Disney announced. One of the toy boxes is Tron Highway, which offers puzzle-platforming and racing action along a blue, neon-lit track. The other four free toy boxes this week are Sugar Mania, Monster Rally, Cosmic Platformer and It's a Trap, all of which are available on Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii U. The courses can also be accessed by Disney Infinity: Toy Box players on iPad. Additionally, Disney announced the "Extreme Sports Challenge," in which players are encouraged to submit their best toy box "sports arenas" over the course of the next week. On October 3, the developer will choose a handful of featured creations and make them available for download as well.
Disney Infinity Toy Box iPad app out now
The Disney Infinity: Toy Box app is now available on iPad. Announced with one other companion app in August, the Toy Box app allows players to built and sync worlds to Disney Infinity, unlocking new characters, props and decorations along the way. Players start out with 60 items to build toy box levels with, and any items unlocked in the main game become available to use in the app. Disney Infinity: Toy Box is compatible with iPad 2, 3, 4 and iPad Mini devices, and is free until October 5. Disney did not specify how much the app will cost afterwards.
Disney Infinity gets five free toy boxes, including familiar-looking 'Toy Columbia'
Disney Infinity players on Xbox 360, Wii U and PS3 now have five free custom-built toy boxes to check out, courtesy of Disney Interactive. Among the five levels offered is "Toy Columbia," described as a "sprawling city in the sky with infinite possibilities." The level looks strikingly similar to the same Columbia in BioShock Infinite, though Disney doesn't (or rather, can't) say it outright. The other four toy boxes now available are Sky Gauntlet, Jungle Cruise, Trench Run and Blue Breakout. Disney Infinity is also available on PC and 3DS, though the DLC wasn't mentioned for those platforms in Disney's announcement.
Disney passed on Iron Man, Star Wars games to focus on Disney Infinity
Disney tightened its focus within the video games sector in order to concentrate on the upcoming multiplatform release of Disney Infinity, the Wall Street Journal reports. As part of its restructuring efforts, the company canceled a previously unannounced Iron Man-licensed game that had entered production. Disney Interactive additionally passed on its option to produce multiple Star Wars-licensed games following its parent company's purchase of Lucasfilm earlier this year. According to the Wall Street Journal's report, Disney Infinity cost the company more than $100 million to produce. The risk is great, but Disney counts on a big payoff, as Activision's competing Skylanders series has raked in more than $1.5 billion in sales since its launch in 2011. Disney positions Infinity as a boost for its faltering Interactive division, which has incurred more than $1.41 billion in losses since its formation in 2008. "If Infinity does well, it bodes very well for the bottom line of this unit," Disney CEO Robert Iger told the Wall Street Journal. "If it doesn't do well, the opposite will be the case." "It's a Hail Mary with a tremendous amount of pressure to be a hit," said an unnamed source who recently left Disney's video game division.
Disney Infinity gets two free mobile companion apps
Disney recently announced two mobile apps that go along with its soon-to-arrive game, Disney Infinity. The first app to launch is Disney Infinity: Action, an augmented reality app that has players filming movies of friends and family alongside three on-screen characters: Mr. Incredible, Sulley and Jack Sparrow. The app will be available starting today on the App Store and Windows Store, with an Android release coming "soon." Disney's other app has more ties to the console game, as Disney Infinity: Toy Box will allow players to build and edit worlds on their iPads. After building their levels, Toy Box players can then sync the worlds with Disney Infinity and unlock decoractions, props and characters. Disney said the app will launch in the coming weeks, and like Disney Infinity: Action, it will be free. %Gallery-196051%
Disney Interactive loses $58 million in Q3
Disney Interactive reported an operating income loss of $58 million in Q3 2013, 38 percent greater than the loss in 2012's third quarter (operating income measures money brought in after costs, but before taxes). Disney's video game arm brought in revenue of $183 million this quarter, down 7 percent from last year. At least Disney Interactive is consistent. Disney attributed the losses to the lack of new consoles on the market and a decrease in its social games sector following an acquisition in Q3 2012. The decreases were offset by growth at Disney's Japan mobile business, the company said. The financial report doesn't mention April's closure of LucasArts or its imminent Disney Infinity series, which takes a page out of Activision's Skylanders playbook.
Disney Infinity opens up its Toy Box, gives us a look inside
Toy Box mode is Disney Infinity's sandbox creation side, allowing you to construct your own worlds in real-time. What you create is based on what in-game content you've unlocked. It's an open-ended mode where Disney franchises can collide within the same arena, though we suppose that can be said about Disney infinity in general too. %Gallery-192438%
