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Epic Mickey was originally an epic PC, PS3 & 360 game
While the family-friendly Wii seems like the starting point for a Mickey Mouse relaunch, the decision to make Disney Epic Mickey a Wii exclusive wasn't automatic. In fact, it wasn't even the original plan. "The reality is that we started Wii development in 2008," Warren Spector told Official Nintendo Magazine, "but before that we were a PC, PS3, and 360 title."When the issue of a Wii port was raised, Spector told Disney that it wasn't going to work. "It needs to be its own game. A lot of the design ideas just won't work on the Wii, we need to give the Wii its dues." In response, Disney Interactive's Graham Hopper suggested that the game simply be a Wii exclusive, thus solving the problem of a subpar Wii port and addressing Spector's desire to focus on a single platform. That single platform just happened to be none of the ones for which the game was initially planned!%Gallery-76724%
Disney Epic Mickey screens and art are suitably epic
Click to make more epic. From the looks of things, Warren Spector and his Junction Point Studios aren't doing a Mickey Mouse job of their, well ... Mickey Mouse job. Disney Interactive has opened the floodgates today, releasing a torrent of screenshots and artwork from the now-properly-announced Disney Epic Mickey, the Wii-exclusive platformer that sees the iconic rodent painting his way through a twisted Magic Kingdom.According to Disney, the idea behind the game didn't originate with Spector -- rather, an internal group at DIS, called the Think Tank, um, thought up the idea of Mickey in "turmoil." Working with that initial pitch, Spector created the Epic Mickey game. The concept is certainly intriguing, but we'll have to wait until the game launches in fall 2010 to draw our final conclusion.%Gallery-76724%
Game Informer analyzes Epic Mickey screenshots
In a new feature titled "Anatomy of a Screenshot," Game Informer dissects in-game screens and details the situations found within. The first title to receive the treatment is the recently revealed -- but long rumored -- Epic Mickey, from Warren Spector and Disney. The screen above details the upcoming Wii-exclusive title's heads-up display (HUD), showcasing Mickey's "persona" status, special items and details on the world around the classic Disney hero.Also, it points out Mickey's "iconic" ears ... you know, in case you missed them.
Warren Spector would love to make a new DuckTales (ooh-oooh-ooh)
As promising as Epic Mickey is starting to sound, we're secretly pining for a different Disney-based offering helmed by Warren Spector -- something of the billed, winged and web-toed variety. We speak, of course, of DuckTales, which recently came up in a Game Informer interview with the ghostly developer. "I want to do a DuckTales game," Spector mentioned. "I can't convince anybody at Disney to let me do a DuckTales game. How can that be?" We don't have an answer for your query, Mr. Spector. Perhaps we no longer live in a world where mallards can bounce through lunar canyons on walking sticks. Perhaps you can take us back to that beautiful time, someday. You know, when you're not busy fusing Mickey Mouse and Bob Ross. [Thanks, Koshi.]
An epic amount of Epic Mickey media
Game Informer's slow trickle of Epic Mickey deets has turned into a full-on firehose today, as the site has published a massive five-page feature on the game's environments, concept art and character animations. The feature not only talks about the developmental process for animators and designers at Junction Point Studios, but also delves into the game's world a bit, showing off screens of the cartoon objects and inert objects populating the land. The former are things the player can create and erase in the game, whereas the latter are permanent objects in the game world that the player cannot affect.There's even some really odd stuff to look at -- like a robotic Donald Duck and a video of Mickey Mouse shadowboxing. Looks like we can cross one item off our list of Sentences We Never Would've Imagined Ever Having to Write.
Epic (Mickey) trade: Disney swaps Al Michaels for Oswald
The Game Informer preview of Junction Point's Epic Mickey is out, revealing not only the game's art style and Mickey's retro-inspired look, but details of the storyline and characters as well -- definitely worth picking up the mag to see, even if it means another trip into GameStop. One of the most interesting details isn't really in the game, but about the game. The antagonist, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, almost wasn't included -- kinda hard to be epic without a bad guy, you know? "Disney didn't own the rights to Oswald," designer Warren Spector explained to Game Informer. The Epic Mickey project was apparently of such importance, though, that Disney CEO Bob Iger made a deal with NBC Universal and "traded Al Michaels, a human sportscaster, for the rights to a cartoon rabbit." For what evil purpose was Universal keeping Oswald locked away? We may never know.At Game Informer's website, see the first look at Epic Mickey's environments, along with more of that wonderful concept art.
Epic Mickey in an epic sketch
In this time-lapse video (after the break), a Junction Point character artist draws more of the incredible concept art that has made Epic Mickey not just a licensed Disney game, but something that gamers are freaking out about. The sketch depicts Mickey Mouse facing off against a gruesome, but still recognizably Disney-esque, Beetleworx monster (a name given to many mechanical creations in the game), which seems to bear the head of Hades from the Hercules movie.This sketch may be the closest we've come to seeing Mickey's new design -- although it lacks the elongated limbs of the Mickey from the Game Informer cover. Is it just us, or does his face look a lot like Sonic the Hedgehog's?
Game Informer confirms Epic Mickey as Wii exclusive
Here's a great example of why it's tough serving two masters. Game Informer has totally re-engineered its web site, and one of its first big scoops was a teaser image and info on Epic Mickey, which was touted as a Wii exclusive.When that last detail was removed from the website, however, it sent the internet into a tizzy of speculation, with some assuming the change put the exclusivity in question. Enter our good friend, the fact: Game Informer has today reconfirmed that Epic Mickey is only coming to Nintendo's box, a revelation that it was hoping to save for the magazine. If only the accursed internet hadn't noticed! We're impressed with GI's new site and wish it all the best as it tries for a stronger web presence alongside its mag; however, we're equally interested in how the team deals with the growing pains from aligning the print and online offerings.
Rumor: Epic Mickey's Wii exclusivity in question
It appears that Epic Mickey might wind up on more platforms than initially suggested. 1UP is reporting that GI's original post on the November issue of the mag has removed all mentions of Wii exclusivity, a potential sign that the deal is not yet cast in stone -- or, at the least, that other consoles are being considered. And why not?Frankly, we'd like to see it ported to every console in existence, not just because we're big Warren Spector fans, but ... okay, it's because we're big Warren Spector fans. Huge.
Forgotten Disney characters are Epic Mickey antagonists
We can't seem to stop waffling on Epic Mickey. At the start, Warren Spector's involvement was enough to pique our interest. But we couldn't help but be a bit disappointed to see that Wii exclusivity might keep the game from being the graphical masterpiece we'd hoped for. But now, after reading a few details about the game scooped up by Eurogamer, we're right back on board. The game reportedly revolves around forgotten Disney characters who, after years of being ignored, have grown bitter. None more so than Walt's first cartoon creation, Oswald the Rabbit. He's the one who spread all of the evil black goo around that you see above. Mickey will apparently have to use paint, thinner and erasers to draw his way through the world, which makes the Wii exclusivity a lot easier to understand. Okay, so the black goo all over the world isn't the most original, but disgruntled Disney characters trying to wipe out Mickey? How cool does that sound? (P.S. Captain EO as a villain. We demand it.)
Epic Mickey confirmed by epic Game Informer cover
Considering the amount of concept art and leaked details we've heard concerning Disney Interactive Studios and Junction Point's upcoming collaboration, this might not come as a shock to you, but the cover of the next issue of Game Informer confirms the existence of Epic Mickey. Details are slim, but we now know that it'll be a Wii-exclusive action title and, based on the paintbrush grasped by the iconic rodent on the cover, we suspect it will incorporate the illustrative elements mentioned by an anonymous informant back in July. Hopefully more details will surface when Game Informer's interview with Warren Spector goes live later today. For now, revel in the fact that the title is real -- and based on the art seen on the magazine's cover (the full version of which is posted after the jump), it might just deserve its "epic" designation.
Disney Interactive posts 20 percent losses in third quarter, citing bad economy
Businesses don't adhere to the same rules we silly humans do; the cycle of the Earth around the sun, for instance. Disney Interactive Media Group is no exception, posting its quarter three financial results -- the quarter that ends in June, folks -- just this week. According to Gamasutra, revenue dropped by $29 million year over year, which company CEO Robert A. Iger said during a conference call was due to "adverse economic conditions." Though Iger didn't specifically spell it out, we would imagine that investing in the development of multiple major titles in Split/Second and, um ... whatever it is that Warren Spector's working on at Junction Point isn't helping with the money intake either. The CEO is positive about the future, but remains worried about the current economy, saying, "We do see signs of economic stabilization, but the pace and strength of recovery remain uncertain and we are managing accordingly." We're guessing it's a bad time to ask for those free passes to Epcot?
Rumor: Details about Warren Spector's 'Epic Mickey' emerge
Yesterday, we posted a bunch of concept art apparently from Junction Point Studios' "Epic Mickey" project -- art cool enough to make us want a Disney game for the first time since we grudgingly accepted the Disney theme in Magical Tetris Challenge. Today, CVG has posted some info from an anonymous source about the design of the game, which makes it sound kind of Okami-like, in that player interact with levels by painting directly onto them with the Wii Remote. "This 'painting your way' involves you drawing, etching and erasing whole or parts of levels as you go." Unsurprisingly, given the reliance on the pointer, CVG says the game is a Wii exclusive.The story CVG describes had better be the real story. "We've also been told that it'll be based around very old and/or forgotten Disney characters who are out to get their revenge on Mickey," according to the site, "presumably because they're jealous of all his fame and fortune." Lending credence to this storyline is the fact that Oswald the Lucky Rabbit can be seen on the rocket in the above artwork. %Gallery-68993%
Artist resume reveals Wii plan for Warren Spector's 'Epic Mickey' [update 2: now with even more concept art!]
[Update 2: NeoGAF user cuyahoga has dug up more conceptual drawings for Epic Mickey from yet another artist, Gary Glover, who lists Junction Point Studios as one of his clients. His drawings (added to the gallery) appear to depict various lands from Disney's themeparks using the established steampunk / dystopian look of the game, suggesting that it may be broken up into these themed "worlds." [Update: superannuation found concept art labeled "Epic Mickey" on the site of artist Fred Gambino! Have a look in the gallery -- if this is what the game looks like, with its rickety machine characters and post-apocalyptic Magic Kingdom, we are in. "Y"? Because we like it.]More evidence has appeared for the existence of Epic Mickey, the "steampunk" Mickey Mouse game from Warren Spector's Junction Point Studios. Artist Tony Pulham lists his work as a concept artist on the project, which is described as a "Wii Video Game." The fact that Pulham started at Junction Point in June suggests that the game hasn't been canceled yet!Of course, it could appear on other platforms, but at least we know now that one of the platforms in the works is Nintendo's, which is appropriate for a game rumored to be Disney's latest attempt at a Mario-style game.%Gallery-68993%[Via superannuation]
Rumor: Deus Ex's Spector working on 'epic' Mickey Mouse project
When it comes to designing games, Warren Spector isn't known for doing a Mickey Mouse job. But the iconic Disney character may very well be the star of his Junction Point Studios' current project, confirmed in July as a "collaboration with folks from Disney Feature Animation and Pixar."According to a post on Gamasutra, "concept art and information" the site has gotten its eyes on reveal a title codenamed Epic Mickey, which is described as having "a distinctly shadowed, steampunk vibe." The game is likely the same project Spector and company have been working on since at least June 2007, and which the Deus Ex designer has said would elicit claims by hardcore gamers that he'd "sold out." In backing up its report, the site references an EGM rumor from March that suggests Junction Point's project will allow Disney to go up against "a certain pesky plumber" with "the mouse himself."If true, Spector wouldn't be the first legendary designer to work with Walt Disney's most famous creation; God of War creator David Jaffe co-designed 1994's Mickey Mania for Sony Imagesoft.
