Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Disney reaches into the Toy Box with the new Infinity platform]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/16/disney-reaches-into-the-toy-box-with-the-new-infinity-platform/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/16/disney-reaches-into-the-toy-box-with-the-new-infinity-platform/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/16/disney-reaches-into-the-toy-box-with-the-new-infinity-platform/#comments 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.

Gallery: Disney Infinity

Continue reading Disney reaches into the Toy Box with the new Infinity platform

JoystiqDisney reaches into the Toy Box with the new Infinity platform originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 16 Jan 2013 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>avalancheavalanche-softwaredisneydisney-infinityinfinityinterviewjohn-daymicrosoftmobilenintendopcplatformplaystationproducerps3skylanderstoyswiiwii-uxboxWed, 16 Jan 2013 12:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Against The Wall breaks through with free alpha build demo]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/against-the-wall-breaks-through-with-free-alpha-build-demo/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/against-the-wall-breaks-through-with-free-alpha-build-demo/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/against-the-wall-breaks-through-with-free-alpha-build-demo/#comments Puzzle-platformer Against the Wall has certainly impressed us. The brainchild of Michael Consoli, Against the Wall tasks players with exploring an infinite vertical surface. Their only tool is a wand that allows them to interact with the massive wall, pulling out blocks so they can scale ever-upwards.

At PAX East, a playable build was available to attendees and now everyone can sample it. Windows and Mac users can snag the demo over on the official site and get to scalin' now.

JoystiqAgainst The Wall breaks through with free alpha build demo originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 11 Apr 2012 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>against-the-wallalphademoinfinitymacmichael-consolipcWed, 11 Apr 2012 02:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Joystiq Indie Pitch: Against the Wall]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/19/the-joystiq-indie-pitch-against-the-wall/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/19/the-joystiq-indie-pitch-against-the-wall/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/19/the-joystiq-indie-pitch-against-the-wall/#comments Indie developers are the starving artists of the video-game world, often brilliant and innovative, but also misunderstood, underfunded and more prone to writing free-form poetry on their LiveJournals. We at Joystiq believe no one deserves to starve, and many indie developers are entitled to a fridge full of tasty, fulfilling media coverage, right here. This week, Michael Consoli helps players grasp the concepts of infinity, vulnerability and self-reliance with his Kickstarter-funded title, Against the Wall.

What's your game called and what's it about?

I'm working on a puzzle platformer called Against the Wall. The point of the game is to explore a world that is one infinite, flat vertical surface. Players use a device that lets them pull bricks out of the wall and form ledges, letting them hop from place to place without falling off the side.

You raised more than $8,000 for Against the Wall in your Kickstarter campaign -- more than your goal. What do you think made your campaign so successful?

I had a playable demo of the game available. Most of the people on Kickstarter seek funding with only the germ of an idea rather than anything concrete. My message was that I have this great thing, and it works, but I need the resources to expand it and make something extraordinary. I didn't need to offer t-shirts or other rewards, I just let the game speak for itself.

Continue reading The Joystiq Indie Pitch: Against the Wall

JoystiqThe Joystiq Indie Pitch: Against the Wall originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 19 Feb 2012 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Against-the-Wallinfinityjoystiq-indie-pitchmacMichael-ConsolipcSun, 19 Feb 2012 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Stringer says PS3 games "infinitely more fun" than Wii]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/14/stringer-says-ps3-games-infinitely-more-fun-than-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/14/stringer-says-ps3-games-infinitely-more-fun-than-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/14/stringer-says-ps3-games-infinitely-more-fun-than-wii/#commentsFiled under:

We love Sony - you know we do - but sometimes the company's figureheads will come out with the most ridiculous things when a microphone is pressed against their faces. We're not going to reel off a list of previous atrocities, in order to prevent some peoples' blushes (Phil Harrison and Ken Kutaragi, we're looking at you). Instead, we'll look at the latest batch of hilarious sound-bytes-in-text-form, this time from Sony CEO Howard Stringer. He suggests that PS3 games are infinitely more fun than than the Wii's.

We're perfectly happy to believe Stringer when he says this, but without clear proof (preferably on lined paper, worked out with a 2B pencil with the answer underlined) we're not going to be satisfied. PS3 and Wii games are very different, yes - but is one system more fun than the other? That's down to personal taste, surely. It's a shame, really, because everything else Stringer said in the article we've linked to below makes a decent amount of sense. Let's stay away from the "I" word from now on and we'll all be much happier.

[Via Joystiq]

JoystiqStringer says PS3 games "infinitely more fun" than Wii originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 14 Dec 2007 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>howard-stringerinfinitely-more-funinfinitystringerwiiFri, 14 Dec 2007 09:00:00 EST