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The company is taking a $147 million charge to close down its gaming division.

The post Disney Shuts Down Infinity, Will Lay Off Up To 300 Employees appeared first on Cartoon Brew.

Over the last few years, it feels as though Disney’s business model was listening to a five year old smash together her or his action figures while making up stories with raucous sound effects and accidentally spitting kook-aid every where. To consumers and fans alike, it worked! Disney not only owns the intellectual property of several great in house and Pixar characters, but they’ve roped in all characters Marvel Comics has ever published and the universe that George Lucas created.

They aren’t missing any opportunities to capitalize. Their newest wallet cracker from Disney Interactive, for the first time, brings the Star Wars universe to Disney Infinity 3.0. The folks over at Disney Interactive gave us a guided tour of their lavish E3 booth and a sliver of hands on time with the upcoming Twilight of the Republic playset.

From the moment you jump into the Disney version of the Star Wars universe it feels very familiar to the previous entries. The game’s platform elements have some neat things going on. As Darth Maul, I found myself rail grinding through a playful version of the lava factory Anakin battled Obi-Wan in. Once I force jumped my way onto a nearby platform the real difference in the game kicked in. Avalanche Software, the games lead developer, brought in studio Ninja Theory to construct Infinity 3.0’s light saber combat. You might know the studio’s work from fantastic action combat games like the newest Devil May Cry (DMC) and Heavenly Sword. The difference shows!

Force characters have powered attacks like push and leap while light saber wielding attacks feel fluid and meaty. Both Jedi and Sith characters also have specific traits. For example running with Darth Vader automatically blocks incoming attacks. The combat is an evolution from the button mashing we’re accustom to from Disney Interactive games. It manages to feel slightly complex yet simple enough for kids to be proficient with. We also got to take on General Grevious in a harsh boss battle, four light sabers and all. It took both Darth Maul and Darth Vader to bring him down as these battles are tough but not overcooked steak tough.

Disney Infinity 3.0 will be one of the most ambitious launches in the franchise’s history. Once the Infinity 3.0 set launches with Twilight of the Republic characters other sets based on different Star Wars periods will be made available. Each play set is story-driven and provides players a multi- level, true-to-property experience.

Additional TOTR characters:

 

Rebels TOTR:

 

 

Rise Against The Empire:

 

Bobba Fett will be exclusive to PlayStation through the holidays and will even see a Fett themed starter pack.

The Star Wars™ Saga Starter Pack for PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment systems will be the only place that fans will be able to play as Boba Fett in Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition through the holidays, and will also allow fans to get the Star Wars™ Rise Against the Empire Play Set nearly a month before it hits store shelves. The limited edition exclusive Sony offering includes:
Star Wars Saga Starter Pack for PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®3 (suggested retail price: $114.99):
(1) Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition video game software
(1) Star Wars™ Twilight of the Republic Play Set piece, (1) Ahsoka Tano figure, (1) Anakin Skywalker figure
(1) Star Wars Rise Against the Empire Play Set piece, (1) Luke Skywalker figure, (1) Princess Leia figure
(1) Boba Fett figure
(1) Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition base
(1) Web Code card (unlocks content for PC/mobile)

Even Pixar’s newest animated film is getting in on 3.0

Inside Out Play Set:

 

Other sets are in the works that continue the Marvel inclusion from Infinity 2.0 including Hulkbuster Iron Man. Toy Box mode returns to Infinity 3.0 with a few new features including a new interface which makes it easier for players to choose from a variety of family-friendly gameplay options – from platform, racing and farming simulation games – and activities to inspire players to create their own worlds in the Toy Box. Players can either venture into a Play Set, or partake in short campaigns before creating their own Toy Box world. Creating and sharing their one-of-a-kind levels and mini-games with family and friends has never been easier with improved editing tools and linking system. Players can also summon Townspeople Sidekicks to accomplish feats, attack enemies or help them build in the Toy Box.

In additon, two new Toy Box expansion games will be included where players customize everything using unlocked toys from across all of Disney Infinity 1&2. Toy Box Speedway will be where characters can race across nine tracks to determine who’s the fastest. The other new game is Takeover, where you can enlist the help of friends in order to defend your Toy Box across six-levels from different Disney properties.

Disney fanatics won’t have to wait long as Infinity 3.0 will hit stores Fall 2015 on all Playstation, Xbox, and Nintendo consoles, including PC and a mobile version. We’re sure to see even more including near finished versions of play sets at this year’s D23 Expo.

Find out more about the game on the Disney Infinity website.

By Davey Nieves

When Disney’s Infinity game series added Marvel to their stable it unlocked a giant wish list of characters fans wanted to see in their abundant sandbox game. Today Disney Interactive announced a few more names we can cross off our list as Spider-Man’s arch-nemesis the Green Goblin and Guardians of the Galaxy rabble-rousers Ronan and Yondu join all of the previously announced Marvel and Disney characters already available!

Ronan:

He looks like a cartoony Lee Pace and Wields the Universal Weapon, the ruthless Ronan the Accuser is an unstoppable force in both Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Play Set and the Toy Box (2.0 Edition). Cloaking, energy blasts, and superhuman strength are all part of the powerful arsenal at Ronan’s disposal.

Yondu:

From deepest space to both Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Play Set and the Toy Box (2.0 Edition) comes Yondu, leader of the outlaw crew known as the Ravagers. Whether he’s trying to outwit the Guardians of the Galaxy or face off against a squadron of Sakaarans, the crafty Yondu uses his whistle-powered flying arrow.

Green Goblin:

Armed with Pumpkin Bombs, the brilliantly nefarious Goblin uses his Electro Shock Gauntlet to dispatch opponents handily in both Marvel’s Spider-Man Play Set and the Toy Box (2.0 Edition). Superhuman strength, spectacular jumps, and the ability to charge his bombs into more powerful bolas all make him a villainous force to be reckoned with for both symbiotes and Super Heroes alike.

All there characters are set to release today and are priced at about $13.99 each over at Amazon. Disney Infinity 2.0 starter sets are available for the Playstation, Xbox, Nintendo platforms and PC.

Follow Davey on twitter as he tries to get his Amibos and Infinity figures to work on an old typewriter.

It's been known since last month that Disney Interactive was planning to lay off several hundred employees, but the job slashing is far more extreme than had previously been anticipated.

Today we bring you our weekly sampler of the cool youth media and marketing gigs. If your company has an open position in the youth media or marketing space, we encourage you to join the Ypulse LinkedIn group, if you haven't yet, and post there... Read the rest of this post

Today we bring you our weekly sampler of the cool youth media and marketing gigs you can expect to find on our Ypulse Jobs Board. If your company has an open position in the youth media or marketing space, we encourage you to post there. Post a... Read the rest of this post