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Epic Mickey trailer recounts how Junction Point made the game so 'epic'
"What went into creating Epic Mickey," you ask? Wow, your timing is, like, impeccable -- we've got a new trailer that focuses on that very subject. Are you psychic? Quick: what color is our underwear?
New Era Cap releases Epic Mickey, Tron hats
New Era Cap, which makes the official Major League Baseball hats, has released its first hat design based on a video game: a fitted cap featuring Epic Mickey imagery. The $37 hat came out on November 30 alongside the Wii game, and is available from the company's website or its Flagship stores. It's a nice design, but a Disney hat with no plastic ears on either side seems ... wrong, somehow. It disrupts the natural order of the universe. Maybe you could staple some ears onto it yourself if you get one of these -- otherwise, you know, it would be weird. The company also has a line of sort-of game-inspired hats, based on Tron Legacy.%Gallery-108607%
Disney Epic Mickey review: A brush with greatness
The unlikely creation of Deus Ex designer and industry legend Warren Spector and his imagineers at Junction Point, Disney Epic Mickey is the single most ambitious Wii exclusive outside of Nintendo's own releases. "Epic" is not a misnomer -- from the quality of the art and animation, to the level design, scale and even score of the game, it's clear that massive amounts of resources, both of the creative and financial variety, were lavished on it. There are moments in Epic Mickey that are so good, so polished and so full of charm I would have sworn that I was playing a game Shigeru Miyamoto had a hand in. If only the whole game was like that.%Gallery-76724%
Longtime Disney games boss Graham Hopper hops off
Graham Hopper, the longtime head of Disney Interactive Studios, won't be sticking around long enough to witness the lasting impact of next week's Epic Mickey, which marks the most important release of his eight-year stint with the games group. Hopper's departure from Disney was announced in a company memo yesterday and follows a dismal fiscal year for the Interactive Media division, whose president resigned two months ago, ushering in the new era of "Jack and Jim." According to the Los Angeles Times, Hopper said in an internal email, "The time has come for me to move on from the company and set my sights on new horizons." Hopper joined Disney in 1991 before being appointed head of the games group in 2002. He was instrumental in the 2007 acquisition of Warren Spector's Junction Point Studios, the developer of Epic Mickey, in addition to Disney Interactive Studios' general foray into non-Disney-brand titles, including Black Rock Studio's Pure and Split/Second racing games. Of course, with Playdom exec John Pleasants now running the show, there are going to be some changes around Disney's games department -- no matter how epic Mickey's adventure proves to be at retail. [Pictured: Hopper (with Epic Mickey ears); original photo credit: Disney Interactive Studios]
Split/Second PSP launch trailer and demo hit the gas, break the glass
Do you need to be convinced of Split/Second's capacity for stock car annihilation on PSP? Sony's offered you two ways to do so, the most thorough of which is a brief demo that's currently available on the PlayStation Store. What better way could there be to preview the miniaturized, bombastic racer than to actually get your hands dirty? Well, we're not sure about a better way -- but there's certainly an easier way. See, downloading and playing that demo? That would require hundreds of button presses. Watching the launch trailer posted after the jump? That's like, two button presses. Maybe three, if you have to scroll down. Talk about efficient! Also, lazy.
Disney Interactive likely to invest less in console games following $234M loss
Losing $234 million over the course of 12 months is pretty unimaginable to most individuals. For Disney, it's not such a big deal, especially when that loss is recorded by just one of its six company divisions -- the other five all profited over the last fiscal year (ending October 2, 2010), including its Media Networks, which pulled in more than $5 billion in operating income (profit excluding interest payments and income taxes). Unfortunately for gamers, that one bad division was Interactive Media. Uh-oh. "On one side we've got a collection of games businesses," Disney CEO Bob Iger explained of the Interactive Media division to investors during a call this week, "and the other side we have a collection of largely dot-com businesses." For both the fourth quarter and entire fiscal year, Interactive's revenues actually increased marginally over the previous year's earnings, and "operating results" were "improved" (meaning: the division lost less money -- perhaps unimaginably -- in fiscal 2010 than in the previous fiscal year). Still, when you end up $234 million in the hole, something's gotta change. A new Toy Story game (the division's big breadwinner for the year) can't be released every year, after all. Reflecting on a "pretty big shift" in the games industry, in which "everything from mobile apps to social networking games" has become a player, Iger said of Interactive, "It's our goal not only to be profitable, but obviously to get there by shifting our investment and reducing our investment, too." You know what that means: "We probably will end up investing less on the console side than we have because of the shift we're seeing in consumption [...] Consumers are obviously spending time playing games -- from casual games online to mobile apps to social networking to console -- and we felt all along that we need to be where the consumer are [...] we want to be there." No doubt. Quick -- everybody go buy Split/Second before it's too late! Like, for real this time.
Epic Mickey gameplay trailer finally earns the 'Epic' designation
Just about every piece of Epic Mickey media we've received since the game's announcement has been touted as being "Epic" -- but the gameplay trailer posted just below might be the asset most deserving of the titular adjective. In fact, we might go so far as to re-title the game Badass Mickey.
Here's that Toy Story 3 PS2 hardware bundle you've been waiting for
You've patiently refrained from purchasing a PlayStation 2 for close to a decade now, holding out for that one perfect offer that combines affordability with licensed, all-ages-appropriate fun. Well, you madman, you can finally cave: Sony has announced a limited edition, $100 PS2 bundle that comes packed with Toy Story 3: The Video Game, due out on Halloween. We suppose there are other kinds of people who would be interested in purchasing this late-to-the-party bundle, too. Like, what if you're one of no doubt thousands who has dropped something heavy on your current PS2, and you desperately need to finish your Mr. Mosquito campaign? Or what if you're the type to purchase anything labeled "limited edition?" If that's the case, we've got a very limited ... uh, pre-owned coffee mug for $149.99. Yeah, it's pricey, but man, this thing is just so, so limited.
Disney cancels Pirates of the Caribbean: Armada of the Damned; Propaganda suffers layoffs
A Disney Interactive representative has confirmed to Joystiq that Pirates of the Caribbean: Armada of the Damned has been sunk down to Davy Jones' locker and will not come to port in 2011 ... or ever. The confirmation comes following rumors reported by Kotaku that the game had been canceled and layoffs had occurred at developer Propaganda Games. In a statement (in full after the break), Disney Interactive explains that a "restructuring" has occurred at Propaganda Games, "affecting one of the studio's two development teams." Propaganda is still working on this December's Tron: Evolution and its post-release DLC.
Tron: Evolution TV spots drop us onto the Grid
Whether you're picking up Tron: Evolution on the PS3, 360 or PC, or the more family-friendly Tron: Evolution Battle Grids on the Wii, you can check out the TV spot for your Tron of choice here. Unless your Tron of choice is the original 1982 arcade game. We don't have a trailer for that.
Additional Split/Second DLC revealed; 'Survival at the Rock' out now
Some Split/Second DLC is pulling into the left lane -- wait, we can't do this. It's not fair to you and it's not fair to us. We're better and more capable than pulling these types of shenanigans. Let's put it in park, take a second to collect ourselves and take another lap around the track. ... Okay, now that we've got that out of our system: today, fans of Black Rock Studio's racer can download some additional content with the Survival at the Rock DLC pack. Within you'll find the Minepit Park track and a new game mode called Survival Race -- it's a take on Survival mode where instead of lapping semis beneath the shadow of the looming clock 'o doom, players will be tasked with simply completing a set number of laps. Survival at the Rock is available for download right now on Xbox Live and PSN for 400 MS Points and $4.99, respectively. Throughout the next month, however, Disney will also be dishing out two more DLC packs. On October 19 you can download the Deadline pack, which adds four new vehicles -- the Ryback Coyote Special, Cobretti Centaur, Ryback Javelin and Hanzo Kanobo -- and Deadline mode, a clock-based race mode where players can freeze the timer by picking up items on the track. Finally, on November 2, you can snag the Quarry Onslaught pack, adding the titular Quarry track and a new game mode, Onslaught -- a single player and multiplayer-compatible mode where drivers dodge "waves of missiles from a circling helicopter." This game mode will be compatible across nine different tracks in the game, including Deadline. These packs will join the currently available Elite Vehicle Livery and the High Octane Supercar packs. The Deadline pack will set you back 400 MS Points ($4.99), while Quarry Onslaught will cost a bit more: 800 MS Points ($9.99). Head past the break for a trailer showcasing Survival at the Rock. Heads-up: it in no way involves Sean Connery. Yeah, we were kinda bummed about that too.
Split/Second gets minute on PSP this November
Disney Interactive Studios has sent us a note announcing a November 16 release date for the PlayStation Portable version of Split/Second, the demolition racer that debuted on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC in May. The new game will introduce an additional track (for a total of 13) and challenge mode to the explosive proceedings, and offer four-player ad-hoc multiplayer. Hint: Don't worry about burning bridges so much as dropping them on your former friends and opponents. We hope the art of catastrophe evasion translates well to PSP -- you'll note the graphics haven't avoided a significant downgrade -- and that Disney's promise of platform-specific control tweaks holds up. We don't need high-definition to spot the plane coming right at us, do we?
Epic Mickey developer diary explores the plight of Oswald
In an alternate universe, we could be anxiously anticipating the release of Warren Spector's upcoming platformer, based on the world's most recognizable cartoon character, Epic Oswald. Check out the developer diary below to see how we ended up with that round-eared sopranist instead.
Tron: Evolution soundtrack features Daft Punk, original music
Ever since we first heard that Daft Punk would be creating the soundtrack for Tron: Legacy (the upcoming film from Disney), we've been hoping that music from our favorite French space aliens would make its way to Tron: Evolution, the game tie-in from Propaganda Games. In a panel at New York Comic Con this weekend, Disney Interactive senior PR manager Eric Wein confirmed as much, answering a fan's question on the subject by saying, "We haven't announced details for the soundtrack, we will soon. We can tell you it'll be a combination of the film's soundtrack and some unique, original music." We'll be holding our breath in anticipation for that forthcoming full soundtrack announcement and, of course, playing lots of DJ Hero.
Disney Interactive gets two new presidents
Their names were John Pleasants and James Pitaro -- two hard-nosed CEOs from different sides of the track -- even though everybody who knew anything called them Jack and Jim. Jack grew up on the mean streets of EA until he gave 'em the clean sneak and shacked up with Playdom. Man, the team there was so green Kermit woulda tossed them a pity nickel, but he worked 'em into a lean crew the Mouse House just couldn't resist. Pitaro, now he used to real choir boy, running sports over at Yahoo!. That was until someone from the media division looked at him the wrong way and he cleaned house over there so bad he was the only one left standing to see how spic 'n' span it was. Now when the two of them took over as co-presidents of Disney Interactive way back at the beginning of October 2010, the two of them really started getting gashouse. Heck, there wasn't a fakealoo artist or roundheel left in that clip joint after Jack (who ran the games) and Jim (the online guy) were finished tuning them up. Yep, they was about the best damn buttons I ever seen ... best I ever seen.
Disney Epic Mickey trailer goes behind story
Disney Epic Mickey has a heavy emphasis on storytelling. If the seven minutes of previously released cutscenes didn't already bang that over your head like an Acme anvil (mixed cartoon metaphor), here's Junction Point's Warren Spector to tell you more.
Disney Interactive Media president resigns
Steve Wadsworth, head of Disney's Interactive Media Group -- better known to us as "the guy in charge of Disney's video game arm" -- has stepped down. According to a New York Times report, Wadsworth issued a late-night missive to his staff last Thursday announcing his resignation. "I have been thinking about this for quite some time, and while it is difficult to leave a great company, an exciting business and a wonderful group of people, my desire and excitement to pursue other opportunities is too great to ignore." Disney confirmed the news and offered an official statement from Wadsworth: "While there is never a good time to leave a great role at a great company, for many reasons now is the right time for me to move on. I am extremely proud of the huge progress we've made at Disney Interactive Media Group, and am confident that the business is well-positioned for continued significant growth." The split appears to be amicable, with Disney CEO Robert Iger offering only kind words about Wadsworth (found in full after the break). The NYT also heard from "people with knowledge of the matter" that a replacement should be revealed "shortly," with Playdom head John Pleasants allegedly being eyed for the position (a social game developer that Disney acquired earlier this year).
Epic Mickey making a splash on Wii November 30
Warren Spector's visually striking take on Disney's ancient rodent mascot, Epic Mickey, finally has an official release date. As revealed in a recent Entertainment Weekly article and confirmed to us by Disney, the paint-stained platformer will be released in North America on November 30. (CVG reports that the game will make its way to Continental Europe on November 25 and to the UK the following day.) Entertainment Weekly also procured a new trailer for the game, which you can find posted just past the jump. Of all the pieces of promotional material released for the game thus far, we feel like this one might be the most deserving of its "Epic" designation.
Disney Guilty Party review: Waggle, She Wrote
Oh great, a Wii game with "Party" in the title. Do we really need another one of these? I mean, we've already got Raving Rabbits TV Party, Pool Party, Game Party, Babies Party, Mario Party 8, Boom Blox: Bash Party, and ... trust me, I could go on. Wait a second. What's that? Disney Guilty Party's actually fun? It doesn't look like the developers were locked in a closet throughout the design process? Oh, fine. I guess I'll give it a shot. %Gallery-86428%
Two new DLC packs crash into Split/Second
Two DLC packs are set to liven up Split/Second this week (as if it needed any livening up). The Elite Vehicle Livery Pack adds new liveries for the Brawn, Vixen and Raptor cars and, as a nice bonus, it's free. Meanwhile, the High Octane Supercar Pack adds three new supercars and a new livery for the Ryback Cyclone. The High Octane Supercar DLC isn't free, but it's pretty close, clocking in at 160 MSP or $2 on Xbox Live and PSN, respectively. Both DLC packs should be available today on Xbox Live, though currently only the Supercar Pack is listed (along with an unannounced Ryback Cyclone Special Edition pack). The Livery and Supercar DLC are slated to hit PSN tomorrow, September 1. %Gallery-100787%
