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Disney draws up 20 games on Steam, including Epic Mickey 2
Disney Interactive jumped into the magical world of Steam this week, launching 20 PC games on the platform. Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two ($17.99) is among the list of games from the publisher now available on Steam, and the one on the list that is new to PC entirely. Epic Mickey 2 first launched in November 2012 to an unenthusiastic reaction at retail, leading to developer Junction Point's closure in January 2013. Disney also dropped the price on each game on Steam by 10 percent until Sunday, October 12. The complete list, which features Pure ($17.99) and Split/Second ($17.99 each), can be found after the break. The launch sale page also includes five game packs, such as the seven-game "Other-Worldly Adventure Pack." [Image: Disney Interactive]
Disney Interactive down $54 million in Q2
By the end of the second quarter of its fiscal year, Disney Interactive was once again the media conglomerate's only unprofitable sector, reporting a $54 million operating income (read: pre-tax) loss for the three month period ending March 31, 2013. This is, however, a 22 percent year-over-year improvement when compared to Q2 2012's reported operating income loss of $70 million. Disney contributes the loss to "growth at our Japan mobile business from a licensing agreement that started in February 2012 and lower acquisition accounting expense at our social games business." No mention is made of Junction Point Studios, which Disney closed in January after lackluster sales of Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two, or of the company's forthcoming game/toy platform Disney Infinity.
Closure for Spector: 'Junction Point had a good eight year run'
In an interview with GI.biz, Warren Spector says he has no regrets in the decision to sell his Junction Point studio to Disney in 2007. "Being part of Disney had its ups and downs – what doesn't? – but the last seven years gave me the very best experiences of my professional Life. Seriously. The very, very best. The opposite is true, too, but let's not go there. I want to remember only the good times."As for the studio's eventual closure and uneven commercial success, Spector had this to say: "I don't really understand it, but it is what it is. Junction Point had a good eight year run. We built a great team. We worked on a bunch of cool stuff, even if a lot of it didn't see the light of day (Sleeping Giants... Ninja Gold... some other stuff I can't talk about). And we shipped two triple-A titles which, Metacritic notwithstanding, sold better than any games I've ever worked on and about which I received more – and more heartfelt – fan mail than I've ever received. I'm good with all that."Spector founded Junction Point Studios in 2005. It's best known for producing two Epic Mickey games, the most recent release selling 529,000 copies in the US according to NDP data released in late-January 2013. On the same day the aforementioned sales figures were revealed, Disney shuttered the studio.
Epic Mickey 2 finds the power of Vita this year [update]
Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two hasn't performed as well as Disney might have wanted from such a gigantic effort. The PlayStation Vita port announced by Disney's Twitter feed for UK movie news should help at least a little. And probably at most a little.There's no firm date, though the port is due "later this year," Disney says. This is the first handheld version of Epic Mickey 2; the game launched in November alongside a separate 3DS game, Power of Illusion.Update: A PlayStation Blog post confirms the port, at least for the UK. The Vita version will include touchscreen painting, tilt controls for racing, and online co-op.
Paper Mario $20, Kid Icarus $15, Darksiders 2 $15 at BestBuy.com [update: moar!]
BestBuy.com wants you to start your weekend with some much needed self-indulgence, because, like a supermodel slathered in megaprettyoxide-infused war paint, you're worth it. So why not treat your beauticious self to Paper Mario: Sticker Star, going at $19.99, or Kid Icarus: Uprising for $14.99?Of course, you might feel you're worth that and quite a bit more. If so, you could always plump for Epic Mickey 2 on Wii at $11.99, or Darksiders 2 on PS3 or Xbox 360 at $14.99.Update: As you eagle-eyed commenters spotted, Professor Layton and Miracle Mask, which was sold out at the time of writing, is available once more at $14.99. Also going at $14.99 is Pokémon Black/White 2.
Warren Spector dials back the panic in DICE speech
The recently unemployed Warren Spector, former head of Disney's shuttered Junction Point Studio, dialed back the panic today at DICE. He's looking toward the future, and the industry's direction overall. The "57.33"-year-old legend (he hates that term) took the long view in his speech about an aging industry, having lived through many "sky is falling" scenarios."I have seen so much chaos in the last 35 years," said Spector. "This may seem like an especially chaotic time, a uniquely tumultuous time, but really not so much. A lot of us here lived through when the 'end of arcades' meant the end of games, when the 'end of Atari' meant the end of games, when the PC supplanted the Apple II as the primary gaming platform – that was the end of games."He went on: "We've lived through a lot of changes and we'll live through whatever changes we have to deal with now. Chaos is where we live as video game developers. If you can't deal with that, go work in a bank ... no, wait, don't work in a bank. Go work somewhere else."
Report: Disney video game division lays off 50 employees
Separate from the closure of Warren Spector's Junction Point Studios, the developers of the Epic Mickey series, 50 more employees reportedly lost their jobs at Disney Interactive yesterday, according to the LA Times. The paper's source is "a knowledgeable person not authorized to discuss the matter publicly."Disney Interactive Studios endured huge layoffs across 2011, including the closure of Split/Second developer Black Rock. We've reached out to Disney Interactive Studios for comment on today's report.We learned yesterday Epic Mickey 2 sold 529,000 copies in the US during 2012, with that return on investment certainly sealing the deal on Junction Point's closure. Since then, Epic Mickey creator and Junction Point founder Warren Spector posted a public goodbye to his studio on Facebook, which we've printed in full after the break.Spector was effusive in his farewell to Junction Point, saying he's rarely worked with a "team more dedicated or harder working." While he noted the games "polarized" critics and fans, Spector said he's never been part of anything as deeply touching as his Epic Mickey series.Will the man behind Deus Ex be back? "Let just say, now it's time to move to the next adventure," Spector wrote. "I honestly don't know what that will be yet, so don't ask."
Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two life-to-date sales 529K in US
Disney's multiplatform Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two sold 529,000 units over November and December of 2012 in the United States, according to new data provided by the NPD group. Joystiq was also informed that sales of Epic Mickey 2, plus Nintendo 3DS title Disney Epic Mickey: The Power of Illusion, across North America reached 695,000 units over the same period. An unconfirmed report previously pegged Epic Mickey 2's sales at 270,000 copies.Disney Epic Mickey developer Junction Point Studios was closed today, with the House of Mouse noting it was due to an ongoing effort to address fast-evolving gaming platforms and the marketplace.Junction Point was the last studio standing of Disney's previous attempt to break into the triple-A "core" market, with many studios lost along the way, including the critically acclaimed Pure and Split/Second developer Black Rock Studios. Disney has readjusted its sights and is now developing Disney Infinity.
Disney closes Epic Mickey developer Junction Point
Warren Spector's Junction Point studio, developer of Epic Mickey and Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two, was shuttered today by Disney. In a statement provided to Joystiq, Disney states that the move is part of its ongoing effort to address the fast-evolving gaming platforms and marketplace."It was with much sadness that we informed our teams today of changes to our Games organization, which include the closure of Junction Point Studios," a Disney spokesperson informed us. "We're extremely grateful to Warren Spector and the Junction Point team for their creative contributions to Disney with Disney Epic Mickey and Disney Epic Mickey 2."Disney's Epic Mickey 2 was a critical and commercial failure for the company, reportedly selling 270,000 copies in North America by the end of last year.Update: New information provided places Epic Mickey 2 sales at 529,000 copies in US since November 2012 launch.
Report: Epic Mickey 2 sold 270K copies in North America last year
Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two reportedly sold 270,000 copies in North America by the end of last year, around a million fewer than its Wii-only predecessor in roughly the same amount of time post-release. That's according to the LA Times, which reports it learned the figure from a person with access to recent NPD data.Epic Mickey, released in November 2010, reportedly sold 1.3 million copies by the close of that year. If accurate, Epic Mickey 2's sales represent a commercial plummet for the series, despite the sequel coming to PS3, Xbox 360, and Wii U last year in addition to the Wii, not to mention the 700 or so people who worked on the game.In a recent interview, Epic Mickey creator Warren Spector showed plenty of interest in continuing his series, saying "there are plenty of stories still to tell about Wasteland and Oswald the Lucky Rabbit and Mickey Mouse." Going by these figures, Disney might not share his enthusiasm.Update: New information provided places Epic Mickey 2 sales at 529,000 copies in US since November 2012 launch.
Warren Spector would love to see more Epic Mickey games
Warren Spector, the (mad)man behind Disney's Epic Mickey, would like to continue making games in the series, he tells Red Bull for some reason. He and the development team at Junction Point have troves of ideas for follow-ups:"I'd love to see the Disney Epic Mickey series continue – there are plenty of stories still to tell about Wasteland and Oswald the Lucky Rabbit and Mickey Mouse," Spector says. "I'd love to see some Oswald games, where he's on his own. He deserves a shot at solo stardom. Then there are the 'duck' games – Donald, Scrooge, etc. – that are just waiting to be made. And a bunch of us at Junction Point have thoughts about Goofy and the Gremlins and a hundred others."More than just wanting to create one extra game, Spector says there is enough material in the past 80 years of Disney history to make 80 more Epic Mickey games."I should probably keep some secrets, but I'd love to do something with all the rejected versions of Tinkerbell [from Peter Pan] we saw in the archives – I think fans would get a huge kick out of that."Yes, Spector retains this enthusiasm even after our review of Epic Mickey 2.
Exclusive Epic Mickey 2 PS3 hardware bundles at Target
A new PS3 bundle available only at Target gets you the system and Move controller you'll need to play J.S. Joust (assuming the Sportsfriends Kickstarter is a success!) and throws in Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Illusion for good measure.The $300 bundle comes with a 250GB PS3, a copy of the game, a Move, a Navigation Controller, a PS Eye camera, and 30 days of PlayStation Plus. We didn't find Epic Mickey 2 to be strong enough to anchor a bundle, but the character is at least more recognizable than, say, Infamous guy.
Disney Epic Mickey 2 - The Power of Two review: Of mice and meh
Keep track of all of Joystiq's Wii U launch coverage on our Wii U hub page! When an earthquake rattles the denizens of Wasteland, a melancholic dumping ground for Disney creations long forgotten, the Mad Doctor emerges with evil mustache intact – but a nicer public act. He's changed his tune, he says and sings, convincing all within earshot that he's due for a second chance. And never mind that he just burst forth from the earth on a gigantic robot, just as the town broke in half. That's no cause for suspicion, surely.Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two is something of a second chance for Junction Point's series, at least to my mind. The first game was tinged with a strange sadness as it caught up with characters discarded by their creators, though what empathy there was came in cutscenes more often than play. Mechanically, Mickey Mouse's house wasn't in order.The sequel promises an improved camera, more elaborate choices, a musical flair, a playable partnership with Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, and the same exquisite appreciation and restoration of Disney's dusty history. Sadly, these claims of a better game are about as believable as the Mad Doctor's sudden turnaround, and Epic Mickey 2 slides into mediocrity after just a few steps.%Gallery-165274%
Epic Mickey 2 trailer shows another messy way to enter magical worlds
Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two teaches players about Disney history, friendship and how fun it is to throw paint around your parent's house. Remember kids, popular fantasy teaches us to enter magic worlds by crawling in a wardrobe, following large strangers, or throwing paint everywhere.
Disney Epic Mickey 2 demo available on XBLM, PSN
Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two is available now for a test drive on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. The demo has players taking control of Mickey, experiencing some early levels of the game, along with some Oswald co-op abilities.The game will be available November 18 on all major platforms, including Wii U. The same date goes for the 3DS game, Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion.%Gallery-165274%
Spector still wants Epic Mickey HD, needs your help
Warren Spector, long-term industry survivor and creative director of Disney's Junction Point Studios, still wants to do a high definition version of Wii-exclusive Epic Mickey for other consoles."It's been about four or five days since I've asked to get that project greenlit. It's not my call to make. I can't even tell you how much I want to see the first game with all the enhancements and improvements we've made on Xbox 360 and PS3," Spector told us today at Gamescom. "Just have all of your readers send emails to Disney corporation and say: 'Warren should make this game.'"Spector told us there are two things he very much wants: "I want to make a duck game and I want to see Epic Mickey on next-gen platforms."But this is Warren Spector we're talking about. Can't he just wave a magical paintbrush and make his dreams come true? He may not have his duck game, but he's got his duck comic."There's only so much clout," he admitted. "When you're talking about the kind of money games cost now, there's only so much you can do."Well, what we can do is just slide the Disney Twitter over to you fine folks reading and you can decide whether to let them know if you want Epic Mickey on HD consoles.
Epic Mickey 2 dev diary illustrates the power of characters
Oswald isn't just a lucky rabbit in Epic Mickey 2 – he owns one of the best inventions we've ever seen, a remote control that turns foe into friend. If only we had that back in middle school! We could've avoided so many swirlies.
Disney Interactive is only division running at a loss
The Walt Disney Company saw the largest earnings in the company's history for the quarter ending June 30, which is all sunshine and lollipops until you get down to the interactive (games) division. A year after gutting nearly all its core projects – and shuttering all core studios except Epic Mickey studio Junction Point (under the protection of Warren Spector) – the interactive division is the only part of the conglomerate operating at a loss.Sales during the quarter were down 22 percent from the same period last year to $196 million, with an operating loss of $42 million, which is better than the $86 million loss last year. The improvement is thanks to social games. The company is still in an "ongoing shift from console games to social and other interactive platforms."There is one exception to that: Junction Point's Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two, which will be available this November. Hopefully, sales of the sequel will let the House of Mouse continue to show leniency toward Junction Point.
Epic Mickey 2 dev diary expounds on storytelling in a Disney universe
Marv Wolfman – a Marvel and DC comics alumni and not to be confused with an actual wolf man – is working with developer Junction Point Studios as a writing consultant on its upcoming adventure through forgotten nostalgia, Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two.From the dev diary above, everyone at the studio seems pretty jazzed about the partnership, which is understandable considering that Wolfman was responsible for creating iconic characters like Black Cat, Blade, Starfire, Cyborg, and Tim Drake. He also helped launch the Crisis on Infinite Earths comic series, which any comic fan will tell you was a pretty big deal.Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two is coming to the Xbox 360, PS3, Wii in November.
Epic Mickey 2: The Power of a Story Trailer
If you missed out on the first Epic Mickey game, you may feel a bit lost regarding the events of the sequel, Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two. We've got this story trailer to bring you up to speed.
