Press Release: Disney Infinity's Rapunzel Saves the Day Sweepstakes

Disney Infinity has been a pretty popular title for my youngest son on our Xbox 360 console. What's surprised me is that he doesn't care which character he plays. He really is into exploring and using the different powers of the each character in the game and the toy box.

Disney has released a sweepstakes where you can win a starter kit and more!

Best Sweepstakes Ever? You bet it is! Enter the “Rapunzel Saves The Day” sweepstakes each week for a chance to win a Grand Prize of a Rapunzel Disney Infinity Figure, Disney Infinity Starter Pack and a Xbox 360® Console, PlayStation®3 system, or a Wii U™ console. This sweepstakes runs through February 28, 2014 and changes each week with a new game system, so come back each week and enter for a chance to win!

Check out this link for more information and to register!

Disney Infinity Pirates of the Caribbean Play Set

My youngest is a huge fan of the Skylanders series, mainly for the collectible nature of the figures. Disney Infinity follows a similar path but it looks like there is a larger and more involved gaming feature. Disney has just released images and figures for the Pirates of the Caribbean Play Set.

Is this something you're going to pick up?

Within the Pirates of the Caribbean play set, gamers can take on the role of Captain Jack Sparrow, Captain Barbossa and Davy Jones as they set sail to new lands in search of adventure and gold.  Key highlights include:

·         Combat and Customization: Players will be able to explore new lands while battling via water and land to become the king of the sea. Additionally, players can customize their ship, by choosing everything from the overall décor of the vessel to the cannons on board.  

·         Play Set: The Pirates of the Caribbean play set adds its own specialized game play mechanics and pieces to the Disney Infinity world such as unique weaponry that when activated in Toy Box mode allows players to create all-new combat challenges, build and customize worlds and much more.

·         Toy Box mode: The pirate trio of Captain Jack Sparrow, Captain Barbossa  and Davy Jones are able to interact with all of the previously revealed Disney Infinity characters from The Incredibles, Monsters University and Cars to create new and exciting adventures on the high seas and beyond.

About Disney Infinity

Disney Infinity is an all-new video game initiative starring the beloved characters from Walt Disney and Pixar Studios’ most popular franchises. Players can place real-world toy versions of their favorite Disney characters onto a device called the Infinity Base and transport them into the virtual game worlds of Monsters University, the Incredibles, Cars and Pirates of the Caribbean, as well as into a giant Toy Box.

For additional information on the Disney Infinity Toy Box mode, visit https://infinity.disney.com/toy-box, join the Disney Infinity Facebook Community (Facebook.com/disneyinfinity), and follow us on Twitter (twitter.com/disneyinfinity) and Instagram (instagram.com/disneyinfinity).

The Art of Disney Epic Mickey, a Review

• The Art of Disney Epic Mickey by Austin Grossman. 2011. 

EPIC Mickey was not as big of a hit in my house as I was hoping. I played through about 95% of the game before I gave up in frustration. My boys attempted it, but they found the levels too unforgiving. Needless to say, the game was gorgeous and offered plenty of references, jokes and nods to Disney's animated past.

I was surprised when I learned that Disney was releasing an Art of... book about EPIC Mickey almost a year later. I wondered why they didn't choose to strike when the iron was hot during the game's release.

I received a review copy and was instantly drawn into the book. Lavish illustrations, concept art and screen captures fill every page. Even if you weren't a fan of the game (or never played it), but you love Mickey Mouse or early Disney animation, then you will find plenty to enjoy in this book.

Like any good video game, you start off with an introductory level that explains gameplay mechanics and what is expected. With the Art of Disney EPIC Mickey, Grossman introduces us to the main characters in the real world and the game. After describing the process behind designing the characters for the game world, we are shown each level and how the evolution of the game and the characters grew the world.

The book offers insight into designing a modern game--much more than just designing levels, but designing worlds based upon known properties. Spector and the gang at Junction Point Studios spent a lot of time deciphering the characters and what would make a plausible and convincing world for the toons. It is obvious, through the writing and through the images, that the game could have veered off into several different areas or plot lines and there were levels that never made it past initial game design.

It is a very inspiring work that is a must have for animation fans (and students), video game designers and Mickey fans. What surprised me is how important this book would be to students of video game design. Grossman doesn't give you all of the secrets of creating a hit video game, but he does offer a roadmap of how a modern game is created.

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