What you need to know about Disney Infinity!

In June, Disney Interactive will be launching into the marketplace an incredible new gaming experience that your kids (and maybe even the adults in your home) will be begging you for. Get ready to open your wallets, because Disney Infinity is going to be super hot and your family is going to want it…all of it…

I recently attended the launch for this incredible new gaming experience, and while I am not a gaming expert, I know what my kiddos like and I’ll give you my assessment of what I think about Disney Infinity.

Essentially, Disney Infinity brings together several different gaming experiences into one game. It’s part Minecraft, part Skylanders and part “toy box” (a play feature in the Toy Story 3 video game). The game is designed for players age 5 or 6 and older…and when I say older, I mean it is something that both adults and children will enjoy and can enjoy at a variety of skill levels.

Let’s start with the part of the game that is most like Skylanders. If you have a son who is in first or second grade or older, you’ve likely heard about this gaming platform or you have Skylanders already. Like Skylanders, Disney Infinity will offer game play with interactive figures. The concept is a lot like Skylanders with a “Disney Infinity Base” that brings interactive figures to life. Within this section of the game, there are three game play options (so far): Pirates of the Caribbean, Monsters University and The Incredibles. The starter pack will come with one character for each of those story lines (Jack, Sully and Mr. Incredible) and additional characters will be available for purchase for each of the story lines (play sets). In this section of the game, characters stay in their given storyline and cannot cross over into the other play sets.

Pirates of the Caribbean figures and the Disney Infinity Base for the figures.

Unlike Skylanders, players can customize much of their gaming experience. For example, in the Pirates of the
Caribbean play set, players can customize many of the characters they interact with and even their pirate ship!
They have the freedom to sail around or engage in game play. It’s like free-style gaming!

Because we are not big gamers around here, difficult, high-concept games get very little play. Skylanders (we have Skylanders Giants) is the first really big hit around here because it really walks players through the game play. Disney Infinity also walks players through and even gives players an option to ask for help. If the player gets frustrated, they can even ask the game to do the task for them. I really love this, because once my kids get too frustrated with a game, it gets shelved, since my husband and I aren’t gamers and can’t really help the kids through the game play very well.

As players advance through each adventure, they will collect characters, vehicles, upgrades, gadgets and more which they can save to a virtual “Toy Box.” At any time, players can access their personal “Toy Box” and use the items to create one-of-a-kind Disney adventures featuring any combination of characters, environments and items across all franchises. The possibilities are endless and players are only limited by their imaginations.

The Toy Box section is what is reminiscent of Minecraft because it allows a lot of customization, in addition to game play. It is a vast open-world environment in which players can create their own stories and customize their adventures combining characters, environments, gadgets, vehicles and more. The possibilities are truly infinite as Disney will add new additions from the company’s vast library of entertainment properties.

John Pleasants, co-president of Disney Interactive, discussing the Toy Box mode where characters will be
able to interact with one another.

When Disney Infinity goes on the market in June, it will initially be introduced with a line of 40 collectible interactive figures – characters, Play Set pieces and power discs – that allow players to expand and customize their play experiences. Over time, Disney Infinity will release additional Play Sets/figures. Here’s exactly what will be available in June:

17 interactive character figures allow players to experience a variety of their favorite characters in each ”Play Set” and in “Toy Box” play.
3 Play Set pieces that add new Disney and Disney•Pixar “Play Set” locations
20 power discs enhance environments, add gadgets and more

The game will be available on Nintendo Wii™ and Nintendo Wii-U, Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, PC, as well as an accompanying mobile experience.

Prices will be as follows:

John Blackburn, vice president and general manager
of Avalanche Software, discussing how the game
will be sold. Above is the starter pack.

Starter Pack: $74.99 – Much like a Skylanders’ starter pack will include three characters, the game (CD) and the Disney Infinity Base
Play Set Pack: $34.99 – Will enable fans to expand their Disney Infinity experience with another adventure/play set beyond Monsters University, Pirates of the Caribbean and The Incredibles (i.e. Phineas and Ferb, Toy Story or Cars)
Disney Infinity Figure: $12.99 – This will be the cost for extra figures for existing play sets you already own (like buying extra Skylanders).
Figure 3-Pack: $29.99 – For three extra figures, like purchasing a Skylanders mulit-pack.
Power Disc Pack: $4.99 – These power discs are not found in Skylanders or any other gaming experience, to my knowledge. The power provide characters extra powers or “toys” while in the Toy Box – like getting a Dumbo the Flying Elephant. When these are purchased they are random, so you won’t know what you are getting and the idea behind it is that kids will trade them with friends. I’m not sure I’m really liking this option and doubt this will be an aspect of the game we’ll be investing too much in, as it’s hard to know which of my kids’ friends will be “into” the game. I like the idea, but not the concept that you don’t know what you’re getting in the power disc pack.

John Lasseter discussing how he and his team developed the
figures for Disney Infinity. He is really excited for Disney fans
to experience this new adventure in gaming.

Disney Infinity is truly incredible. I know that my kids will spend HOURS playing the Pirates of the Caribbean play set and I cannot wait for them to experience it.

Kids will love this new gaming experience and Disney fans will love how Disney Infinity allows players to create their own Disney worlds and interact with one another online. Disney Infinity is more than a game; it is a means for fostering creativity in the midst of game play while in the Toy Box mode. Disney Infinity is sure to be a hit with Disney fans and gamers alike.

I will have more information on Disney Infinity as it becomes available. In the meantime, check out the game trailer and see how cool this game is going to be!