Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
- Details
- Published on October 23, 2012 @ 06:00 am
- Written by Arielle
Since the very first Kingdom Hearts game was released in 2002 there have been many wishes made over what Disney characters and movies should make their appearance in each new installment. One such wish expressed by a great majority of fans through online communities and social media sites has been to feature Pixar films in the games. Even though Disney did not own Pixar, they did have the rights over distribution, stories, and characters. Pixar being in Kingdom Hearts was not an impossibility because of that fact, but it was the cause of major conflict between the two companies. Hopes were crushed in 2004 when Pixar and Disney entered a dispute over movie rights and a potential fallout seemed inevitable. Pixar wished to have full ownership of their movies, but after two years of turbulent negotiations Disney purchased Pixar for approximately $7 billion in May 2006.
This merger between Disney and Pixar rekindled the hopes of Kingdom Hearts fans, and not long after the merger it seems the series got very close to having Woody and Buzz from Pixar's Toy Story featured as summons. Models of the two iconic characters were found unfinished within the coding of Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix released in 2007, which created more hype among fans than ever. If Woody and Buzz had made it in the final product of the game, that would have been the very first time Disney and Pixar characters had been featured in console game together.
Such a historic honor has instead been claimed by Disney's new project, "Toy Box". In a recent interview with Disney Interactive co-presidents James Pitaro and John Pleasants by the New York Times, the upcoming project is described to be "a console game with extensive mobile and online applications in which various Pixar and Disney characters will interact with one another for the first time." This heavily-funded project is part of Disney Interactive's ongoing initiative to solidify their place in both the gaming and online world.
While "Toy Box" is making strides to combine the two properties together, the idea of Pixar characters ever being in Kingdom Hearts has rarely been brought up. Series director Tetsuya Nomura has been asked about the idea a few times in the last ten years, only giving vague answers about Pixar's inclusion. Recently, though, Nomura has given his honest opinion on the matter in an interview released in the Kingdom Hearts 3D [Dream Drop Distance] Ultimania:
"I wish and wish, but I’ve wanted for a long time to have Pixar titles appear in the series. I’m already working on many ideas, but I can’t say whether they will become a reality or not."
So even though Square Enix will not be the first to have Pixar and Disney blend together, there is still the chance that fans might see Pixar movies featured in Kingdom Hearts yet. Fans want it, Nomura wants it. Maybe in Kingdom Hearts III?
Let's just wait and see.
Source: The New York Times, GameInformer
COMMENTS
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
Online applications makes me think of the Browser game...
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
The interview excerpt is beyond depressing to me. It sounds so genuinely disappointed.
Looking forward to seeing what this "Toy Box" will be and how they take advantage of being the first console title with Disney-Pixar interaction.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
This HAS to become a reality. I would love to see Woody and Buzz interacting with Sora in KH3. Here's hoping that it actually happens *Fingers crossed*!
Toy Story is the world Kingdom Hearts deserves...;~;
Online applications makes me think of the Browser game...
KHPC? Why did I just imagine Disney and Pixar characters in cute little avatar style in a toy box?
The interview excerpt is beyond depressing to me. It sounds so genuinely disappointed.
Looking forward to seeing what this "Toy Box" will be and how they take advantage of being the first console title with Disney-Pixar interaction.
There is so much potential for this game and I'm really hoping Disney Interactive does it right, especially since they are putting so much money in it and that NY Times article says that DI has had a huge loss in profit over the last few years because of an inability to get a proper footing in gaming and online media.
I an honestly super hyped for it, even though we know nothing xD
And yeah ;~; Nomura ;A; I feel like he's been asking for the use of Pixar for a long time and every time he gets one of those "hmm, we'll think about it" or a solid "no" ;~;
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
you make it sound like its a competition on who gets to do it first.I honestly don't care when as long as it happens in the end
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
KHPC? Why did I just imagine Disney and Pixar characters in cute little avatar style?
Because you know it's adorable.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
you make it sound like its a competition on who gets to do it first.I honestly don't care when as long as it happens in the end
I wasn't trying to, exactly. xD I had to make the article interesting, didn't I?
If you want my honest opinion, I'm excited over "Toy Box" however it may turn out. I just feel bad for Nomura since he's been trying to get Pixar in KH for years now and now there is this crossover happening. This might end up being a good thing because since Disney has gotten to do this first, they might be more lenient to let Nomura use Pixar in future games.
The main purpose of this article is to inform people about "Toy Box" and to get some discussion going.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
Will be surprised if Kingdom Hearts original characters don't show up in Wreck It Ralph (even as a cameo), that will be a major missed opportunity on Disney's part (especially since Disney owns the rights to Kingdom Hearts original characters)
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
That Nomura quote really depresses me; Nomura clearly wants to include Pixar in KH and probably has some refreshing ideas that he could implement with Pixar worlds but he's unable to use them.
I'm not entirely excited about this "Toy Box", we'll see when more information is released... but this is definitely a missed opportunity for Square Enix. It would have been neat if they had been the first to incorporate Pixar/Disney characters in the same game.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
I thought for sure KH3D was going to see a pixar world. Toy Story should be saved until KHIII, but I thought maybe Monsters Inc. would have made a good world for KH3D. I could have easily seen Sora and Riku grinding against the rails they use in the factory to transport the closet doors around.
Oh well. I'm sure Toy Story will make it into KHIII.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
With this update do you guys think this enhances or hiders the likelihood of Kingdom hearts making an appearance in the upcoming Pixar movie Wreck it Ralph?
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
Disney generally doesn't acknowledge KH's existence at all. We're still hopeful after catching sight of that "Aerith Lives" grafitti, but I don't think it'll surprise anyone otherwise.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
With this update do you guys think this enhances or hiders the likelihood of Kingdom hearts making an appearance in the upcoming Pixar movie Wreck it Ralph?
Like Sign said, Disney likes to act as if Kingdom Hearts doesn't really exist. We have a FF reference in the film, but the chance of seeing somebody like Sora just kicking it in Game Central Station with his keyblade or even graffiti on the wall saying "Kingdom Hearts is light" or whatever anybody imagines is very slim.
The hilarious thing is Disney owns any original Kingdom Hearts characters made for the series, so you'd really think they'd utilize that fact. :|
Like, keep your eyes open while watching the film on November 2nd, but don't expect anything xD
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
I wouldn't expect a cameo.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
I thought for sure KH3D was going to see a pixar world. Toy Story should be saved until KHIII, but I thought maybe Monsters Inc. would have made a good world for KH3D. I could have easily seen Sora and Riku grinding against the rails they use in the factory to transport the closet doors around.
Oh well. I'm sure Toy Story will make it into KHIII.
Well I don't think we've seen the last of flowmotion in Kingdom Hearts. That was definitely a step forward in what Nomura has wanted to accomplish for years: high speed action gameplay with no limits to interaction with the environment and enemies. Advent Children was when he toyed with the idea and Dissidia was the first attempt at that concept of doing unimaginable movements with no constraints. KH3D was another step forward in that style of gaming, so I can easily see KH3 being the culmination of all of these efforts.
So don't count flowmotion out yet, or a Monsters Inc. world were they can grind on the door rails.
That Nomura quote really depresses me; Nomura clearly wants to include Pixar in KH and probably has some refreshing ideas that he could implement with Pixar worlds but he's unable to use them.
I'm not entirely excited about this "Toy Box", we'll see when more information is released... but this is definitely a missed opportunity for Square Enix. It would have been neat if they had been the first to incorporate Pixar/Disney characters in the same game.
I have this feeling that besides Disney being protective of Pixar in general, Pixar is also very hesitant of letting people use their characters without them having most or full control over how the story goes. This why "Toy Box" seems interesting. If Pixar and Disney are able to ease up on their protective behavior with their properties, maybe Nomura will have more of a chance?
Will be surprised if Kingdom Hearts original characters don't show up in Wreck It Ralph (even as a cameo), that will be a major missed opportunity on Disney's part (especially since Disney owns the rights to Kingdom Hearts original characters)
A lot of us in the Wreck-It-Ralph thread have resigned ourselves to the fact we probably won't have a KH cameo. Wreck-It-Ralph is pushing a lot of iconic cameos, and even in the ten years KH has existed it has hardly reach the kind of acknowledgement that games like Mortal Kombat, Sonic, and (bleh) Halo and Call of Duty have.
Because you know it's adorable.
Too adorable, at that.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
I disagree. Pixar was spun off from Lucasfilm and didnt start as a Disney company. Sure, the parks have lots of Pixar stuff, but they also have Star Wars and Indiana Jones(not quite as much, mind you). Pixar is not so much Disney, but what Disney should've aspired to be. Would I really mind if Pixar got in? not really, but there's no real reason to include Pixar if there's around 40 other Disney animated films that havent been included.
Also, Pixar-namely john lasseter- has a certain amount of freedom as to whether or not their films appear in something where they themselves are not involved, which right now is nothing as Lasseter and ed catmull heads both animation studios with Lasseter having creative control in the parks. Disney tried making DTV sequels of Pixar films without Pixar, and Pixar had to slap their wrist, resulting in Toy Story 2 and 3. Admittedly, Monsters' Inc 2 looked interesting(Mike and Sulley get stuck in the Human World in that one, but I lost the link to the site that had that art it's been so long).
Unrelated Note: "Toy Box" is the first time Pixar and Disney characters interact, but Toy Story joined Lion King and Tarzan in Disney's Extreme Skate Adventure game from Activision.
Edit: Monsters' Inc more than Toy Story wouldnt be quite justified in 3D, as locations like the Door Vault wouldnt be possible with all those doors, and in the movie, it was measured to fit the empire state building quite comfortably. Also, the graphics would be much more removed from the movie than what made it into the game.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
I disagree. Pixar was spun off from Lucasfilm and didnt start as a Disney company. Sure, the parks have lots of Pixar stuff, but they also have Star Wars and Indiana Jones(not quite as much, mind you). Pixar is not so much Disney, but what Disney should've aspired to be. Would I really mind if Pixar got in? not really, but there's no real reason to include Pixar if there's around 40 other Disney animated films that havent been included.
Sure it started from Lucasfilm until they split off as their own company for many years...until Disney did an all-stock buyout of them. They are a part of Disney now, no matter how you spin it.
There is a difference in having enough animated films and having films that fans want and will work in Kingdom Hearts. If people want it, if Nomura wants it, then there is certainly enough reason for it to be in the games.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
I'm actually more interested in knowing if this game is the mystery game slated for spring (?) 2013 we kept hearing about.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
you mean the 2nd large game project Disney is excited about?
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
you mean the 2nd large game project Disney is excited about?
Yes. and apparently that's Toy Box which will be officially branded Disney Infinity
SPECULATION: Disney Interactive's Next Big Buzz is 'Infinity,' Not 'Kingdom Hearts 1.5' - StitchKingdom.com
Disney Teases 'Disney Infinity' (Code Name Toy Box), Its Game-Changing Game - StitchKingdom.com
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
Well, it did feel like, to me, people who thought that was KH was just setting themselves up for disappointment.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
Well, it did feel like, to me, people who thought that was KH was just setting themselves up for disappointment.
Doesn't mean it won't release sometime around this period as well. I.5 is confirmed to be in it's final stage of development, so it WILL release soon.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
Doesn't mean it won't release sometime around this period as well. I.5 is confirmed to be in it's final stage of development, so it WILL release soon.
Yeah, in Japan. With nothing about a western release.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
Yeah, in Japan. With nothing about a western release.
But Disney Interactive wouldn't even have a part in KH1.5 would it? So does it matter?
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
I personally would love to have the new Disney + Pixar film Brave included in Kingdom Hearts. Merida would make an awesome party member, and who wouldn't want the chance to fight agents Mor'Du?
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
So I figured since I made this old topic, I might as well update people on what "Toy Box" is.
Disney unveiling its Disney Infinity 'gaming initiative' next*month | Polygon
Disney plans to unveil Disney Infinity, which has been described to be something like Activision's Skylanders but with Disney characters.
John Lasseter and John Pleasants will be unveiling it next month in Hollywood so it is obvious Disney is expecting a huge success from it. If it hits it off with the gamers and Disney fans like Skylanders has, Disney is going to be making bank. xD
(If only they would include KH characters in this. They probably won't. I bet there will be Marvel added in eventually, though, and I have already seen people praying for Star Wars characters.)
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
Obviously the 2nd of the two big games Disney were excited about.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
The last time there was hype for a Disney video game it was for Epic Mickey and those games didn't turn out so hot.
For all intents and purposes, Kingdom Hearts, despite the rights being controlled by Disney, is basically a Square series, so if we are going to hear anything about that is probably going to be from Square rather than Disney. That is how 3D worked (and most of the other games as well).
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
The last time there was hype for a Disney video game it was for Epic Mickey and those games didn't turn out so hot.
For all intents and purposes, Kingdom Hearts, despite the rights being controlled by Disney, is basically a Square series, so if we are going to hear anything about that is probably going to be from Square rather than Disney. That is how 3D worked (and most of the other games as well).
Of course they didn't. For all of their boasting and dedication, Junction Point just was unable to develop a nicely polished game. Camera was wonky, AI for Oswald is the most ridiculous thing ever, the platforming was straightforward and depending on pointless choices select areas would be closed off for no reason, the replay value was low, and the area recycling was awful. Epic Mickey has never lived up to its reputation.
DreamRift's 3DS game was the result of a lack of development time (they were only given less than a year) which is a shame since DreamRift usually makes fantastic games. That doesn't make the game any better, though. At least it is aesthetically pleasing.
Disney and Disney Interactive continue to boast Infinity as their big game changer, so we'll see how it unfolds. It sounds like they have put a lot of time and resources into making it so I can only hope this does end up being successful.
Yeah, I wasn't really saying they would have anything. I was just saying that Disney would yet again ignore Kingdom Hearts' existence and would sooner have Marvel and SW in their toyline/game before using Kingdom Hearts.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
Of course they didn't. For all of their boasting and dedication, Junction Point just was unable to develop a nicely polished game. Camera was wonky, AI for Oswald is the most ridiculous thing ever, the platforming was straightforward and depending on pointless choices select areas would be closed off for no reason, the replay value was low, and the area recycling was awful. Epic Mickey has never lived up to its reputation.
DreamRift's 3DS game was the result of a lack of development time (they were only given less than a year) which is a shame since DreamRift usually makes fantastic games. That doesn't make the game any better, though. At least it is aesthetically pleasing.
Disney and Disney Interactive continue to boast Infinity as their big game changer, so we'll see how it unfolds. It sounds like they have put a lot of time and resources into making it so I can only hope this does end up being successful.
It is understandable that would want to hype up something like Epic Mickey or Infinity. In one of the earning calls a while ago it was revealed Disney Interactive was the only part of Disney that did not make a profit. So they are trying to turn that around anyway they can.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
It is understandable that would want to hype up something like Epic Mickey or Infinity. In one of the earning calls a while ago it was revealed Disney Interactive was the only part of Disney that did not make a profit. So they are trying to turn that around anyway they can.
Honestly their entire summary of Interactive reminds me of Square Enix and their six-month fiscal report...and the overall state a lot of game developers and publishers right now. Decline in console games, shift to less expensive social and mobile developments and acquisitions.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
Disney Infinity leak details bold cross-platform gaming experiment | Polygon
BRB CRYING. LIKE THIS IS TOTALLY MY CHILDHOOD DREAM.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
Has Sally's arms always been like that?
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
MY CHILDHOOD HAS BEEN REALIZED *gross sobbing*
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
Why are they uncoloured? Unfinished picture?
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
Why are they uncoloured? Unfinished picture?
yes, unfinished models.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
Hahahahaha look at Jack Sparrow
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
:D OMG I am excited for this now!
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
Will there be a PC port? that was be the best version IO
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
Will there be a PC port? that was be the best version IO
Yes, there will be a PC version. Their main goal is to have it accessible on as many pieces of hardware as possible to have a huge cross-platform experience.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
Now they need to focus on making it now suck.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
Why is Victor from Frankenweenie in there? Well, I guess they made that decision before the movie flopped big time.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
Why is Victor from Frankenweenie in there? Well, I guess they made that decision before the movie flopped big time.
Flopped? I haven't seen it, but it got a lot of reviews.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
Financially flopped. Opened in 5th and went downhill from there.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
Why is Victor from Frankenweenie in there? Well, I guess they made that decision before the movie flopped big time.
Their goal is to get in all of their Disney and Pixar characters, regardless of financial success. The movie has a lot of fan appreciation so that counts for something. Fall season, besides the one or two big hitters, usually don't have a good box office turnouts. (which is why I am forever crying over RotG)
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
Financially flopped. Opened in 5th and went downhill from there.
Yeah the movie did poorly in theaters but got stunning reviews nearly across the board. I wouldn't be shocked if it becomes a sleeper hit later on where years down the road people realize just how good it was :)
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
Disney Infinity revealed | Polygon
[video=youtube;oC_xhaIlgWQ][/video]
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
Looks interesting. I'll need to see more to full give my take on it.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
The starter and play packs are just as expensive as the Skylanders packs. :c
| Blackburn then dove into Toy Box mode, showing Mr. Incredible performing stunts on a race track, then Jack Sparrow, Jack Skellington and Wreck-It Ralph racing in Disney Princess-inspired chariots. He then showed Jack Sparrow crafting a new world with a magic wand, using building blocks to create levels with pieces from Wreck-It Ralph's Sugar Rush and the world of Tron. |
Toy Box mode sounds like the more fun part of this game.
Here is more info:
Your First Look at Disney Infinity - IGN
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
I am relatively hype
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
The starter and play packs are just as expensive as the Skylanders packs. :c
Toy Box mode sounds like the more fun part of this game.
Here is more info:
Your First Look at Disney Infinity - IGN
*will shamelessly buy them and collect them all*
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
Man, Wreck-it Ralph is like the only mainline Disney animation character there. That doesn't really sit well with me.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
Man, Wreck-it Ralph is like the only mainline Disney animation character there. That doesn't really sit well with me.
There's going to be a lot more since they plan to build a huge toy line off of this like Skylanders. They are just using their recent and more universally (as in gender and age neutral) popular works to promote this. In the trailer you can see Rapunzel's world so there will definitely be a play pack based on her.
(Though Rick Dicker is not even a popular character so I'm just loling xD)
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
So it's basically Disney Universe.... but with the actual characters instead of little monsters dressing up.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
The starter and play packs are just as expensive as the Skylanders packs. :c
They're going about it from a Skylanders angle? Haha, okay Disney.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
So it's basically Disney Universe.... but with the actual characters instead of little monsters dressing up.
Lol, pretty much but with a toyline so people will be sure to buy it.
They're going about it from a Skylanders angle? Haha, okay Disney.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
My inner child is going ballistic balls to the wall right now. I'm interested in the Pirates and Wreck-it Ralph set.
I'm gonna look at these "Skylanders" prices you guys mentioned
edit:
| Disney's action-adventure game will come with a $74.99 price tag; add-ons start at $34.99 for the play set pack, while infinity figures cost $12.99 each, figure three-packs are $29.99, and a power disc pack will be $4.99. |
whyyyyyyyyy guys whyyyyy
holy price tag
75 dollars JUST FOR THE GAME
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2414335,00.asp
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
My inner child is going ballistic balls to the wall right now. I'm interested in the Pirates and Wreck-it Ralph set.
I'm gonna look at these "Skylanders" prices you guys mentioned
edit:
whyyyyyyyyy guys whyyyyy
holy price tag
75 dollars JUST FOR THE GAME
Disney, Pixar 'Infinity' Gaming Experience Coming in June | News & Opinion | PCMag.com
$75 new is a good price for a PS3 game here in Australia.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
$75 new is a good price for a PS3 game here in Australia.
It will probably be much more if it's 75 here in the states.
Why does Australia hate video games
I'm going to assume that it's 75 dollars because of the toy scanning peripheral it comes with.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
It will probably be much more if it's 75 here in the states.
Don't remind me /sobbu
| Why does Australia hate video games |
At least we finally got an R18+ rating.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
I would rather buy an annual pass to the parks than buy this game and all the figures. lol
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
I'm going to assume that it's 75 dollars because of the toy scanning peripheral it comes with.
Yes, it is the scanning peripheral, the game, and I think three figurines (Captain Jack Sparrow, Sully, and Mr. Incredible)
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
I wonder why those 3 specifically. Sully I get because it's partially a way to advertise Monsters University.
And I guess Jack Sparrow is just because he's super popular.
But Mr. Incredible I don't really get. He has super strength and all that, but just looking at the roster I would've guessed Perry or Buzz Lightyear would've been picked instead. Perry is stupid popular right now.
I suppose it makes more sense to sell him separately.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
I was surprised that Jack Sparrow got that much screen time in the trailer.
And I was surprised to see Monsters University.
I guess both of those are to advertise the upcoming films(though Pirates 5 isn't till 2015).
Mr. Incredible... yeah he seems a bit random but I guess they wanted something....
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
I was going to mention Pirates advertising, but like you stated that wouldn't really make any sense since the movie isn't out for 2 more years.
edit:
also
where
is
donaldmickeygoofy
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
Maybe my cousin will actually be willing to buy this for her kid. Either that or continue listening to him talk about how everyone in his class has an iPhone and some kind of gaming system but him.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
Might help to get a gaming system first. lol
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
where
is
donaldmickeygoofy
Here with us in the wonderful world of Kingdom Hearts :c
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
Might help to get a gaming system first. lol
He can borrow one from our ten gazillion relatives. Simple solution.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
Remember folks, this is disney. They overprice everything.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
Remember folks, this is disney. They overprice everything.
True, but considering there is only one other game similar to this I think this is less of them overpricing and more like following the trend in order to compete without making it a battle against who has the better pricing.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
Disney Infinity starter pack priced $74.99, Play Sets $34.99
| The Disney Infinity starter pack, which will include the game, three figures and their three respective 'Play Sets,' will cost $74.99 when it debuts this June. The three figures bundled with the starter pack are Pirates of the Caribbean's Jack Sparrow, The Incredibles' Mr Incredible, and Sully of Monsters University. Each of the 20 launch figures has its own associated 'Play Set,' these being gameplay worlds and stories linked to the character and their original habitat. Play Sets will cost $34.99, while Power Disc bundles, which sit underneath character figures and provide in-game buffs, will start at $4.99. If you want to learn more, check out Mike Schramm's in-depth look at Disney's newly unveiled answer to Skylanders. |
Disney reaches into the Toy Box with the new Infinity platform
| The signs were all there in the rumors leading up to yesterday's big Disney Infinity reveal in Los Angeles. Disney's been working on a new gaming "platform," designed to bring all of its properties together in one IP spanning across multiple consoles and outlets. But the one note we missed was the most important: this game is connected to a series of real toys that interact with Disney's digital worlds, Skylanders-style. There are a few important differences, but the similarities between Activision's enormously popular toys-into-games platform and Disney's new Infinity initiative are quite striking. Both are inspired by smaller developers with big ideas: Toys for Bob on the Activision side, and Avalanche Software on Disney's, which developed the "Toy Box" idea in a much smaller form as part of the Toy Story 3 game. Both are big, expandable product lines with lots of options for console (and eventually mobile) titles, and both take retail-friendly physical toys and tie them directly into engagement-friendly video game experiences. Oh, and both franchises are probably going to make their owners lots and lots of money. Disney Infinity To hear Avalanche Software producer John Day tell it, the idea for Infinity was sort of co-inspired by executives and their creative counterparts. Avalanche had previously worked with Pixar and John Lasseter on the video game adaptation of Toy Story 3, and that game contained a freely creative Toy Box mode that players (and critics) responded well to. "We loved what happened with the Toy Box mode and what we saw people do with it," says Day. "And so we wanted to make a followup game to that, set around another part of the Toy Story universe, around Star Command." At that point, Disney, likely inspired by Activision's success, stepped in with the co-president of Disney Interactive, John Pleasants. "Pleasants came," says Day," and said, 'We love what you're doing, we love the idea, but let's make it bigger.'" When Disney Infinity arrives this June it will consist of a game bundled with three figures: Jack Sparrow of Pirates of the Carribbean, Mr. Incredible of Pixar's The Incredibles, and Sully from Pixar's prequel, Monsters University. Each of those figures will have their own "Play Set," which is a specially designed gameplay setting just for that character. Jack Sparrow, for example, fights around his pirate ship, while Sully pranks Fear Tech with his friend, Mike Wazowski. Each of these "Play Sets" are self-contained worlds, and only the figurines that come from there have access, so you won't see Mr. Incredible in the Carribbean. Disney made it clear during the presentation that some fans would rather not see universes mashed up, and have chosen to enclose character-specific mechanics, customization, and gameplay in their original realms. The other side of the game, however, is the "Toy Box" mode, a sandbox area where all of the characters can meet up and go nuts together. In each of the Play Sets, players can earn stars and toys, which can then be brought back to the Toy Box, and even traded between characters. In the Toy Box, Jack Sparrow can make use of the Monsters' rideable pig, or Mr. Incredible can use Sparrow's pirate grenades. Disney's goal is to make anything possible while pushing all of its stories and settings together. Aside from the figures themselves, Disney's also created "Power Discs" that can sit on the game's little physical "base" interface. Circular discs sit right underneath the character figures and provide character-specific buffs, like flying capes or a bigger jumps. There's also a hexagon-shaped area for one extra disc at a time which will unlock content or add a new toy into the world. That hexagon-shaped disc is where Avalanche has really dug back into the Disney archives. While the content isn't yet finalized, there were Power discs on display from The Muppets (a rideable Electric Mayhem bus!), Dumbo, and Tron. The disc can also be used to stylize the entire Toy Box world, turning the area you've created into something more fit for a lightcycle than a Cinderella carriage. Discs and characters are hot-swappable, which can lead to some silliness when, for example, another player happens to drive off with your helicopter and you yank the helicopter disc off the base. Aside from running around the Toy Box, which players can do in two-player co-op split screen or with four online, there are plenty of components to construct, from various pieces of scenery to more practical items like racetracks and hoops. There are also "logic" pieces, such as switches that move platforms, or more complex Rube Goldberg-ian devices. Created worlds will be shareable, and Avalanche plans to moderate uploaded worlds to make it all kid-friendly. Using the Toy Box tool, the team has already recreated the USS Enterprise and Bowser's Castle Mario Kart level. Perhaps the biggest difference between Disney Infinity and Skylanders is that while Activision is essentially making up its universe as it goes along, Disney obviously has a long history to pull from. John Day says Avalanche has gotten nothing but support from the House of Mouse. "We have a platform where we can develop content. And there's a lot of interest within Disney as a whole, because people see it and they're excited about it. We have total buy-in from Pixar, from Disney Feature, from these other divisions that are really excited to see these things come together," he says. And, as Day is quick to point out, Infinity does have a style all its own. For John Lasseter and the divisions he oversees, it was important for the game to have its own artistic voice, even though it is borrowing from various properties. The versions of Sully and Sparrow in Infinity are not the same you'd see anywhere else. Toys for Bob had already made a name for itself in physical toys before Skylanders was created, but Avalanche has no such history. Fortunately, says Day, Disney has the requisite experience making toys for kids. "Underestimate not Disney's ability to create merchandise," he jokes. "We developed these toys in collaboration with Disney Consumer Products, which makes a lot of this merchandise. So we were able to leverage a lot of the strength of that side of the business to create these toys. And it was a lot of fun to see all of that get realized." After the starter pack with three figures, priced at $74.99, Play Sets will be available for $34.99, with Power Discs available in a pack starting at $4.99. It's not hard to imagine Disney leveraging Infinity on its other ventures as well: Go see Monsters University, get a special exclusive Power Disc. Go visit Disneyland, pick yourself up an exclusive figure. Disney's reps wouldn't confirm any plans like that, but they did smile and nod when asked. Infinity is starting out on the Wii, Wii U, Xbox 360, PS3, and PC, and Disney confirmed that there would be a "mobile" experience to come, though what that entails isn't yet clear. It's "under development, under discussion on the executive level," according to PR. Just like Skylanders, Disney will probably expand the franchise when it's ready, and incorporate the figures on portable platforms when it makes sense (and money) to do so. Even without those mobile details, Disney Infinity is a fairly grand plan, a big play to leverage some of the world's most loved IP into a video game-powered money machine. Activision proved that a large cross-media franchise like this was possible with Skylanders, and now Disney is trusting Avalanche to do it again, even bigger, with Infinity. |
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
| Using the Toy Box tool, the team has already recreated the USS Enterprise and Bowser's Castle Mario Kart level. |
Damn. Just...damn.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
Available June. $89.95 in Australia. $34.95 for a sidekicks pack. $17.95 for a single pack.
Single Pack package
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
Disney Infinity - Pirate Playset Walkthrough (Cam) | Gametrailers
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
Fighting seems a but icky.
Love that you throw yours townsfolk through a window in order to customise them.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
Packs seem a bit pricey in my opinion >_< How much are Skylander packs? At that price, there is no way I can afford this game lol
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
Packs seem a bit pricey in my opinion >_< How much are Skylander packs? At that price, there is no way I can afford this game lol
Not sure about the packs but when I went to Target one of the starter packs they were selling was the same price as the Disney Infinity starter.
These are some of the things, though.
Search | GameStop
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
Packs seem a bit pricey in my opinion >_< How much are Skylander packs? At that price, there is no way I can afford this game lol
Starter pack is about $74.99 and each individual character is about $9.99.
edit: ethy y u so fast
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
haha Thanks guys :) So how does this exactly work for those who have played Skylanders or know how it works?
The figures are used to unlock characters in the game, but is that all you need them for? Like if one person buys a figure, can they give them to other people they know or do you need the figure each time you play the game? Also, are they locked down where once you use it once, you can no longer use the figure anymore?
I mean I'd love to unlock all of the stuff in this game or most, but with starter packs already at $75, I'd wait until all of my favorite movies are out before picking it up.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
Supposedly the actual gameplay aspect of the game is different from Skylanders. The only thing borrowed from them is the toy scanning aspect. The main part of the game as I understand it is similar to Little Big Planet and Minecraft. People make levels and you play them.
I'm not sure if the game actually has a set story mode or anything like that. It might have a pre-set batch of levels to play around with.
I imagine the toys each have their own scannable pieces so you can't borrow a toy from someone else and use theirs for your game.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
Watching GT's recording of the entire press conference is kinda disheartening. The game has "playsets" & the "toybox". In the toybox any characters can interact with each other but playsets are like KH worlds. Only Incredibles characters can appear in the Incredibles playset, only PotC characters can be in the PotC playset, there is no mixing & matching allowed. Multiples times throughout the conference there are guys on stage mentioning how weird & wrong it would be a Disney character to appear in another franchise's world.
It's a harsh reminder of what kind of restrictions KH has to work under. The usage of Disney characters can still only ever go so far.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
The game has "playsets" & the "toybox". In the toybox any characters can interact with each other but playsets are like KH worlds. Only Incredibles characters can appear in the Incredibles playset, only PotC characters can be in the PotC playset, there is no mixing & matching allowed.
Wow that's lame.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
I mean I'd love to unlock all of the stuff in this game or most, but with starter packs already at $75, I'd wait until all of my favorite movies are out before picking it up.
There is only ONE starter pack, which is the game, the the scanning peripheral, and three figures (Jack Sparrow, Mr. Incredible, and Sully) and you have to buy the starter pack to play the game.
Play sets (the sets of each world) are $35, and individual characters are like $13 or whatever.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
There is only ONE starter pack, which is the game, the the scanning peripheral, and three figures (Jack Sparrow, Mr. Incredible, and Sully) and you have to buy the starter pack to play the game.
Play sets (the sets of each world) are $35, and individual characters are like $13 or whatever.
Which is so ridiculous. I mean, I have no doubt that this will do alright but I think the pricing is rather high. That's Disney though.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
Meanwhile at Disneyworld the prices of tickets continue to rise every year. I don't think they get what reasonable pricing is. They just know that people will continue to buy their product.
It costs about 50 bucks for one of those on-ride photos and a reasonably good looking frame for it. They price it so high because they know people will buy them.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
This is why I don't go to Disneyland and why I don't buy pictures from rides. I take pictures of the picture on my phone and print it at home for reasonably less.
Disney makes me weep over their expensive everything.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
They recently have realized people were doing this and did the nice thing of sticking big ugly watermarks on the photo previews after the rides.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
They sell their DVDs for about 25-30 bucks a pop as well.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
They sell their DVDs for about 25-30 bucks a pop as well.
Lol, I hate that as well. That was I bought the Tron Legacy bluray/DVD combo during a flash sale on Amazon for like $7 or $9 dollars before it jumped back to $30.
They recently have realized people were doing this and did the nice thing of sticking big ugly watermarks on the photo previews after the rides.
UGH. Disney. No. I want my memories but I don't want to have to pay $20+ for one picture of me and my friends and that one random dude screaming.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
There's always that one guy sitting by himself in the back that photobombs the whole picture.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
All in all, Disney park's merchandise pricing is terrible, but their food prices aren't that bad and $90 a day is a lot (not park hopper) but you do pay for what you get. What other theme park in the world touches a Disney one besides Universal Studios (which is priced at $1 less) and the upkeep on both parks is a lot. Where Disney mainly makes a lot of money is by being Scrooges. Disney is known for paying absolutely terribly wages -__-
This is why I don't go to Disneyland and why I don't buy pictures from rides. I take pictures of the picture on my phone and print it at home for reasonably less.
Disney makes me weep over their expensive everything.
I don't know anyone who actually buys the photos anymore lol xP I just came back from Disneyworld and the mass amount of people taking out their phones afterwards is funny lol xP
They recently have realized people were doing this and did the nice thing of sticking big ugly watermarks on the photo previews after the rides.
Yeah, but would you rather have an ugly watermark and save $30 or pay $30 to get something that isn't all that irritating xP
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
I don't know anyone who actually buys the photos anymore lol xP I just came back from Disneyworld and the mass amount of people taking out their phones afterwards is funny lol xP
Print shops at a lot of theme parks tend to be vacant for that very reason. Eventually they probably won't let people even look at their pictures without intending to buy the picture. Or they can just do a "pay to email" feature where they charge a small fee to email the picture to yourself so you can do what you wish with the picture. (If they don't do that already. I was at Disneyland during the summer last year and didn't really pay attention)
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
All in all, Disney park's merchandise pricing is terrible, but their food prices aren't that bad and $90 a day is a lot (not park hopper) but you do pay for what you get.
I currently have an Annual Weekday Select Pass. It's 200 bucks and lasts for a year. There are blackout dates for weekends and holidays, but you would never want to go during times like Spring Break or Christmas anyways.
Summer is even worse. Jim Gaffigan had a pretty good description of the experience: Waiting in line at the DMV on the surface of the sun.
| I don't know anyone who actually buys the photos anymore |
It's something people do once and then never again.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
Or they can just do a "pay to email" feature where they charge a small fee to email the picture to yourself so you can do what you wish with the picture. (If they don't do that already.
I'm not sure if they do that at the parks but I just ran the Disneyworld Marathon and the photographers on the course taking photos charged $40 aftewards to e-mail you a single photo so prices wouldn't be cheap I think for an e-mailed photo <_<
I currently have an Annual Weekday Select Pass. It's 200 bucks and lasts for a year. There are blackout dates for weekends and holidays, but you would never want to go during times like Spring Break or Christmas anyways.
Oh yea, I know the Annual Passholder is a really good deal for either Disney park because all you have to do is go at least 10 days throughout the entire year and you get all your money back and possibly more ^_^ But alas, I don't live near either of the parks in the US :(
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
Back to the actual game, I'd be surprised if it does really well. I'm sure there will be a lot of people who will buy it since it's Disney, but the price of the games and sets will probably not go well with a lot of people. And if the gameplay ends up sucking, I doubt people will go back and buy more sets for a game they don't even like which would be disappointing seeing how much potential this game has
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
When I first heard of this I thought it was awesome but theeeen came the ridiculous prices. But the strange thing is I still have an urge to buy it :(
I hope this isn't a success and they realize that $75+ is too much to spend for the average consumer.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
When I first heard of this I thought it was awesome but theeeen came the ridiculous prices. But the strange thing is I still have an urge to buy it :(
I hope this isn't a success and they realize that $75+ is too much to spend for the average consumer.
I figure Disney doesn't see their market in teens and young adults, but in the parents that have a stable income and buy this stuff for their children.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
I figure Disney doesn't see their market in teens and young adults, but in the parents that have a stable income and buy this stuff for their children.
I see your point, but the way the economy is going now I don't see any middle-income parent spending $75 for just one game and $34 for a character pack. Which is why I don't see this doing well in the market unless there is some sort of price cut.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
Parents spend 35 dollars on one Disney movie and they spend about 70 dollars on those Skylander starter sets.
If Skylanders can get away with it, Disney will definitely be able to.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
I see your point, but the way the economy is going now I don't see any middle-income parent spending $75 for just one game and $34 for a character pack. Which is why I don't see this doing well in the market unless there is some sort of price cut.
Well, a normal game is $60 so if $75 is the basic for the game and some figures, that isn't that bad to start. It is once you get to the $35 that it gets pricey. I could go and buy a 3DS game with that $35 so unless that $35 nets me A LOT of new features with each figure...it's an "eh" for me.
If Skylanders can get away with it, Disney will definitely be able to.
Yup, this is exactly what I was thinking of, Skylanders does it and they aren't even Disney...
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
When I first heard of this I thought it was awesome but theeeen came the ridiculous prices. But the strange thing is I still have an urge to buy it :(
I hope this isn't a success and they realize that $75+ is too much to spend for the average consumer.
Disney is like parents. They make a bad business decision(
d releases of batb, fn, and mi with LK expectations when they were still available on DVD and blu) and blame the market. Little mermaid thwatrical release was cancelled as a result.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
Disney is like parents. They make a bad business decision(
d releases of batb, fn, and mi with LK expectations when they were still available on DVD and blu) and blame the market. Little mermaid thwatrical release was cancelled as a result.
I assume you mean that they made bad decisions with the theatrical releases of these films? Finding Nemo may have earned half of what the Lion King did that's still a shit load of profit for Disney.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
I don't know why the cancelled it, though. The rest of the movies were pretty damn successful for being rereleases.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
I assume you mean that they made bad decisions with the theatrical releases of these films? Finding Nemo may have earned half of what the Lion King did that's still a shit load of profit for Disney.
I don't know why the cancelled it, though. The rest of the movies were pretty damn successful for being rereleases.
Yeah, but it was the expectations on the 3D rereleases that killed it. I was using my phone earlier and didnt bother to clarify that.
Nemo did turn something of a profit and so does Monsters, but BatB fell pretty flat in its january US release and all are seen by Disney as disappointments because they didnt make as much as the Lion King's rerelease and Disney didnt take them off the DVD market for several years prior.
The Little Mermaid 3D was cancelled and it would've made a shitload more than the pixar films because it's going on 7 years since the last DVD release.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
Beauty and the Beast made a little more than Finding Nemo.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
really......well the main point still stands.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
Well they are still releasing the Little Mermaid on DVD/bluray in 3D so not all is lost.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
Yeah but myself and others wanted to see it in cinemas again/for the first time. Theres just no replacement for that unless your home theater is off the charts.
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
I assume you mean that they made bad decisions with the theatrical releases of these films? Finding Nemo may have earned half of what the Lion King did that's still a shit load of profit for Disney.
Yeah, to remaster each film in 3D only costed Disney a few million dollars, each movie made well more than a few million (I don't know the exact costs of the movie, but it was said to be a few million) so each movie definitely made Disney tons of profit. I just think it was extremely dumb on their part to assume that because they didn't make as much as Lion King that they were failures.
I don't know why the cancelled it, though. The rest of the movies were pretty damn successful for being rereleases.
Not only that but I find it unfair to compare Little Mermaid to Finding Nemo and Monsters Inc. I can understand Disney being disappointed with Beauty and the Beast, but Little Mermaid not only came out ages before both Pixar films but LM's fanbase is probably bigger than both Pixar movie's fanbases. I think what was more stupid was how silently Disney cancelled LM3D. They didn't even give it a chance. What they should have done was announced it publicly and gauged the interest by how big the disappointment was. At this rate, I doubt many people even know it existed.
Yeah but myself and others wanted to see it in cinemas again/for the first time. Theres just no replacement for that unless your home theater is off the charts.
I have heard from people in CA that there is a very high chance they will show it at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood since Disney owns that theatre and only shows different Disney movies there. If you aren't all the way over there though (like myself), I'm in the same position you are. Since they are already going to convert it to 3D I don't see why they just don't make it a limited release -__-
Re: Disney's "Toy Box" & Square Enix's Missed Opportunity
Well, now that we have the Buzz Lightyear Astro Blaster in the game, we can finally have Pixar characters in Kingdom Hearts III.
Kuroi_Raion94
October 23, 2012 @ 06:05 amOffline