Disney announces new interactive gaming platform called Disney Infinity

There will be a new way to play with Disney characters in June with a new gaming platform.

Disney Infinity integrates collectible character figures from Disney and Pixar films that play together in a virtual "Toy Box." This all-new game universe will launch in June across all consoles and will have a phased roll out across mobile and online devices throughout 2013, according to a news release.

“Disney Infinity introduces a new way to interact with the best of Disney on one game platform, both now and in the future," said John Pleasants, co-president, Disney Interactive.

Throughout each story-driven experience, called a “Play Set,” players will solve puzzles, battle enemies and explore iconic locations from famous Disney properties, while collecting unique characters, vehicles, and gadgets from each world and saving.

About 40 collectible interactive pieces will be introduced that allow players to expand and customize their play experiences. Seventeen character figures will allow players to experience a variety of their favorite characters in true to property experiences and in “Toy Box” mode.

When figures are placed on the Disney Infinity Base, they will unlock the world and play experiences of Disney Infinity. In addition, interactive discs will be able to be placed Infinity Base to power up characters and “Toy Box” with unique powers, customizations and gadgets.

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Mickey Mouse the Spy, a video game idea that never happened

From silincoera.com

Before Mickey Mouse entered Cartoon Wasteland to go on his adventures in the video game Epic Mickey, Disney had been mulling over various video game concepts, including one in which Mickey was a spy, according to silinconera.com.

The then Buena Vista Games (now Disney Interactive) had a slew of ideas. The Mickey Spy included Donald with something that looks like a Duckmobile. There was also a game in which various characters fight each other and another game based on the 1991 Disney film "The Rocketeer."

All of this comes from concept art released by a Buena Vista Games artists. Silinconera.com has more of a complete gallery of photos on its website.

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Disney to announce new gaming initiative in January

Disney is rumored to announce a new gaming initiative in January which could incorporate collectible toys to interact with console games, according to a report by Polygon.

The Jan. 15 press event, called Disney Infinity, will feature John Lasseter, chief creative officer of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios and a principal creative advisor at Walt Disney Imagineering, as well as John Pleasants, co-president of Disney Interactive, according to the website.

While nothing official has come out on what Disney Infinity actually is, many of the Disney fan sites and and gaming sites are speculating that Disney is going to try to take on Skylanders, the successful Activision franchise that incorporates toys with gaming avatars. 

An October New York Times story, has Pleasants talking about Disney working on 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. 

So imagine purchasing a Disney/Pixar/Star Wars character with an RFID chip in it that can be played with on console, computer and mobile gaming platforms. 

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Hollywood Studios at Disney World now has Wi-Fi service for guests

Disney World is now offering Wi-Fi service at Hollywood Studios, according to a report by wdwmagic.com.

Disney World has been rolling out Wi-Fi throughout the resort. The WDW resorts , Magic Kingdom, Epcot and Typhoon Lagoon already have it in place. With Hollywood Studios being activated, the only places left are the Animal Kingdom and Downtown Disney.

To get on to the network, all that has to be done is to select "Disney-Guest" and accept the terms.  

The Wi-Fi helps people not only keep better connected with their own social media, but also helps with the Disney mobile app, which provides wait times and FastPass return times as well as the push from Disney for more social media and other interactions at the parks.

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Disney receives patent to create interactive cakes

Disney is already capable of placing a person's face on a doll, we saw that with the opening of the D-Tech Me Experience, now Disney has received a patent which will allow them to place images on a food items.

Here is a drawing from the patent showing how the device would
project a a movie on the cake.

In an effort to create more personalized cakes, Disney has come up with a system "for digitally augmenting or enhancing a food product such as the surface or top of a cake or other edible object," according to the patent.

Think of your cake as a blank canvas. And, instead of just using frosting to dress it up, imagine a small projector putting out a 3D projection on the cake. This could be a set of photos that go through a slide show, or movie. Here you would possibly be able to insert your USB drive into the projector and see the images you take appear on the cake.

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Swampy and \'Frankenweenie\' team up for 10 free levels

Swampy the Alligator fans can download 10 free levels featuring characters from the upcoming stop-motion animated movie "Frankenweenie."


The “10 Days of Frankenweenie” are special black and white levels of Where\'s My Water, featuring a cameo by one of the stars, Sparky, and a new soundtrack inspired by the film.

"Frankenweenie" is a story about a boy named Victor, losing his dog Sparky, and then uses science to bring him back from the dead "with just a few minor adjustments," according to the Disney news release.

The movie opens Oct. 5.

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