This week, Disney unveiled its next big gaming project and it looks a lot like last year's mega-hit Skylanders. Disney Infinity uses action figures that are placed on a base connected to your favorite gaming console or mobile device. This unlocks new games, areas, abilities, and other unique features tied to the character.
If this sounds familiar, its because this is the same game formula that drove Activision's Skylanders to the $500 million dollar franchise it is today in just over a year. The starter box comes with the platform and includes Captain Jack Sparrow, Sully from Monsters, Inc., and Mr. Incredible. Each one has its own adventure game to play through, but all of them can also be brought into the Toy Box where characters from different Disney properties can play together in games the user creates.
Experience and items earned in games will be saved directly into the figurine so kids (and, let's face it, adults) can take them to a friend's house and continue to play on someone else's base. Over 30 Disney characters will be available in the initial launch of the game this summer and each will bring its own special adventure areas and abilities. Features will differ depending on whether they are being used on the console version of the game or on the mobile app.
Does this include well-known faces from Disney-owned Star Wars and Marvel franchises? The Mouse House isn't revealing future plans just yet. But you can bet on them leveraging all their popular properties to make this their own half-billion dollar success story.
There are some key differences that separate it from Skylanders. The connected base comes with three slots for characters instead of two. Also, special discs will be sold that, when placed under the character on the platform, gives them special powers in the game.
The Disney Infinity Starter Box retails for $75 and launches in June for PC, Wii, Wii U, Nintendo 3DS, Playstation 3, Xbox 360, and mobile devices. Additional characters will sell for $5 each.
