mickey mouse
Latest
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.
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]
Bizarre knockoff Mickey Mouse phone doubles as a racquetball
To make a phone that pays homage to Disney and to Mickey Mouse with the respect they truly deserve, you can't just slap a logo on a candybar, nor can you glue ears on a clamshell and call it good. Far from it -- to do this up right, you've really got to take it to the next level. But how? Here's an idea: a scary three-dimensional Mickey Mouse head. Eh? Eh? Anyone? We're just going to go ahead and anoint the "Characteristic Chinese Doll phone" as the ultimate form factor -- the perfect combination of usability, portability, and that scary "I love Disney just a little too much" aura that a less-ridiculous device simply isn't going to be able to pull off. Take that, Micky phone. [Thanks, Vanessa] Update: Turns out this is actually Pucca, a vaguely Mickey-like creature that just so happens to be distributed by Disney ('course, that doesn't make the form factor any less ridic). Thanks, everyone!
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.
Mickey Mouse phone probably doesn't have Disney / Apple's blessings
This doesn't mark the first time (nor will it be the last) that we've seen a handset totally disregard the Mickey Mouse and / or Apple trademarks, but it's probably the only instance where both were violated on the same phone. We don't really know much about the mobile you see pictured above -- well, aside from the gratuitous use of big ears and well known fruit -- but it's probably worth hitting the read link for a couple more images alone.[Via textually]
Collecting & Obsessing: Game & Watch
Throughout the 1980s, Nintendo's Game & Watch series of handhelds provided the soundtrack to innumerable school playgrounds across the globe. A pre-Game Boy attempt to capture the portable games market, Game & Watch titles were relatively cheap but sturdily built toys which came with a single game and, as the name suggests, a watch. For the best part of eleven years, Nintendo kept manufacturing these forerunners to its other handheld devices, only for the Game Boy and Tetris to emerge in 1989 and squash the whole enterprise flat.Nevertheless, the spirit of Game & Watch lives on through the hundreds of individuals who collect the games. For this one-off piece, DS Fanboy decided to interview two hardcore collectors in a bid to understand their love of Nintendo's first portable phenomenon.Both 35-year-old Michael Panayiotakis (founder of Mike's Nintendo Game & Watch forum and the author of a quite superb FAQ on the subject) and 38-year-old Andy Cole possess the kind of retrolicious Game & Watch collections that we would maim (and possibly kill) for. To find out what they love about this charming series, why they collect Game & Watch, and why they dedicate so much time and money to their hobby, hit the break for our full interview. Once you've done that, don't forget to browse our gallery for a pictorial history of the Game & Watch phenomenon!%Gallery-25216%
Rumor: Disney looking to take on Mario?
Each month, the EGM rumor mill churns out some very interesting topics of conversation. Well, the latest rumor that will be on the minds of all Nintendo-faithful is Disney's supposed intention to take on Nintendo's platforming plumber with their strongest mascot, Mickey.Most of us probably played Mickey's Illusion games back on Sega's systems, so we recall that Mickey can be in a good game (some of you probably count those Kingdom Hearts games, as well?). But, does he have what it takes to compete with Mario? Perhaps, with Warren Spector supposedly heading up the project. It seems silly that anyone would try to compete with Mario, but hey, that's just us. What do you all think?
A-DATA's latest flash drive puts your face under Mickey's ears
Oh sure, we've seen Mickey-themed flash drives before, but for avid fans and collectors alike, there can never be too many, right? On the docket today is the T703 Mickey Flash Drive from A-DATA, which wouldn't be comfortable at all in one's pocket for any length of time. Nevertheless, the iconic drive can apparently double as a keychain, and since it's really the ears that give Mr. Mouse away, the firm decided to let you insert your favorite image in place of his face. Expect 'em to start right around $20 in "three dazzling colors," with sizes ranging from 1GB to 8GB.[Via EverythingUSB]
iriver unveils ten Swarovski-encrusted Mickey Mouse MP3 players
iriver's been playing a lot of peek-a-boo with some pretty hot gear at its CES booth, but it's probably for the best that they left these ridiculous Swarovski-coated Mickey Mouse MP3 players locked safely away, since they basically ruin any credibility devices like the Spinn and Wing bring the company. Yep, there they are, just a-glittering away: 1GB of storage and a whole lot of trashy.
Disney-themed USB keys lock kids into childish environments
While we've seen USB-based peripherals that aim to keep your youngsters in a safe and innocent PC environment, Bandai and Buffalo have teamed up to make kid-friendly computing a bit more bearable. The duo has crafted a unique USB key, which is slated to be available in Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh versions, that simultaneously locks the PC into "Kid Mode," password protects the parent's session in the background, and opens up a world of mom-approved fun for the little ones to enjoy. The software that resides on the key includes a dedicated browser for safe surfing, a time regulator to keep them from growing addicted, and options for parents to select precisely what apps their offspring can / can't access. Reportedly, the units are expected to land in mid-September over in Japan, and while pricing has yet to be confirmed, we're hearing it'll run you around ¥3,480 ($30).
iRiver's Mickey Mouse Mplayer gets unboxed, reviewed
We know you've all been waiting with bated breath for someone to get their hands on iRiver's Disney sanctioned Mickey Mouse Mplayer music jockey and unbox the hell out of it. Well, luckily for you, Pocketables is just as excited about the tiny, cartoon-shaped DAP as you are, and they've given us a full breakdown of the school-girl's dream gadget. Point yourself to the read link for a proper box thrashing and semi-unimpressed review.
Embotec's latest mouse sees Mickey trapped within
Embotec's Mickey-stuffed mouse may seem odd to newcomers, but trust us, this company strives on off-kilter mousing devices. The EM-K3263 purportedly allows users to shove a variety of characters (or tater tots for future snacking, we presume) into the bottom of the device, and the seven shades of LED light up the inside for the ultimate in handheld fun. Then again, you may not get much mousing done if you're busy staring at all the action inside, but there's just something strangely right about housing a mouse in your mouse. Look for this sucka to hit Korea later this month for a currently undisclosed amount.[Via I4U]
Disney forms Nintendo games studio
Disney is forming a new studio based in Salt Lake City called Fall Line (???) to make games exclusively for Nintendo featuring Disney characters. The new studio marks the fourth that Disney has bought or started up on their own in the past two years at a tune of more than $200 million dollars.While Nintendo puts the emphasis on fun in their games instead of next-gen processing power, Disney could be a great fit with them. Both Nintendo and Disney skew heavily towards younger audiences, and those aren't the kind of gamers who'll be concerned with how many polygons it takes to render Goofy's hat into a photorealistic prop. They have sequels in the immediate future: another Chicken Little game comes out around Wii-launch, and you can probably expect another Cars video game.It'll be interesting to see what Fall Line can produce on their own. Maybe they'll port Kingdom Hearts to the Wii. That would be worth a wait.[Thanks, Bored]
Philips' new Avalon monitors can track three babies at a time
Lovers of gadgetry, power tools and razors apparently aren't the only consumers easily appeased by the "more is better" mantra, it seems medical purchases can fall prey to its magic spell as well. Philips just busted out the new Avalon FM20 antepartum and FM30 intrapartum monitors (fancy med speak for pre-birth and birth) which can track not one, not two, but three fetal heart traces. That means mothers of triplets can have all three of their precious chilluns monitored at once, throughout the delivery process. In other baby news, a Japanese toy company has created a Mickey Mouse toy that plays soothing music for newborns, and can even create noises that can be heard by the baby while in the womb. Mickey will be hitting US shelves next February for $43.Read - Philips triplets monitor [Via Medgadget]Read - Mickey Mouse baby soother [Via Spluch]
Disney, Shanda bring online content to China
The Walt Disney Internet Group will be teaming with Shanda Interactive (Legend of Mir) to produce a new online game in China featuring popular Disney characters. No details have been revealed, but both companies are targeting casual and female gaming demographics, which means Chinese hardcore gamers shouldn't expect Mir, Pirates of the Caribbean, or even Kingdom Hearts-style gameplay. Mickey and friends have found a home in China because of Disney's wholesome image and its family appeal, so it's a safe bet this new game will emphasize those sentiments.Shanda Chairman and CEO Tianqiao Chen believes this partnership is integral to his company's strategy of maintaining fresh content in China's increasingly competitive online market: "The Disney brand and its lineup of animated characters are already popular in China, and through this agreement we bring this well-known content to China's online game community in the form of an exciting new casual game." A beta is expected next Spring.Shanda is also the Chinese operator for Dungeons & Dragons Online: Stormreach.[via China Net Investor]
Disney Mobile MVNO partnering with O2 for UK launch
UK cellphone users just got their invitation to join the Mickey Mouse Club. Disney's MVNO, which launched in the US earlier this month, is set to roll out in the UK in partnership with O2. Like the US version of the service, which is powered by Sprint Nextel, the UK service will offer extensive parental controls. Specific handsets for the service have yet to be announced, though Disney has said that the phones will not be include extensive Disney character branding. In the US, the service features phones from a number of vendors, including the LG DM-L200 (pictured). The US service also includes a GPS tracking function; Disney has not commented as to whether the feature will be available to UK customers.
Disney Mobile reveals more deets, adds LG DM-L200
They're still keeping Mickey's lips zipped on pricing plans, but Disney has dropped a few more details about the Disney Mobile service, including initial handset pricing starting at $59.99 with a contract. And even though they have yet to say which handset they'll actually be offering for that price, LG has announced its first Disney Mobile phone, the DM-L200 (pictured), which joins Pantech's previously announced DM-P100. Nothing too exciting about this clam; trimode CDMA, Bluetooth, 1.3 megapixel cam, and, presumably, that GPS service Disney's boasting of to spy on your kids (though that's not listed in LG's specs). Speaking of which, Disney has added some more info about that as well. The service is going to be called the Family Center, and will include the GPS tracker, parental controls for minutes allowed, text messaging and multimedia features, restricted numbers, and the ability for parents to remotely shut down their kids' phones during prohibited hours. Looks like this will be be the perfect service for parents who want to make sure their kids aren't yapping on the phone when they should be doing their homework -- or watching Lilo & Stitch on the Disney Channel. Read - Disney MobileRead - DM-L200
