Over the past few years, Disney Interactive Studios has been investing a lot of money into its development studios. In doing so, the Hollywood studio’s game division has started releasing original games like this year’s Turok reboot and the upcoming Pure off-road ATV racing game.

Developed by Disney-owned Black Rock Studio, Pure stands out from a crowded line-up of off-road racers (two Baja games and Motorstorm 2). This game offers the perfect pick-up-and-play blend of rhythm-based racing action and trick-based stunts. Gameplay focuses on vertigo-inducing big air stunts that result in some amazing maneuvers on PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.

"We want people up in the air 80 percent of the time," said Jason Avent, director of the game at Black Rock Studios. "The trick system is based on boost juice. High-level tricks require a lot of juice, but the satisfaction when you pull off a signature trick like the lazy girl can last four seconds in the air--an eternity."

The visuals in this game—not that players will have time to slow down and take in the scenery—are breathtaking. And there’s even an ATV creator to allow for an endless assortment of bikes to race.



A large part of Disney’s E3 line-up is focused on its traditional family audience. The one crossover hit in this collection is Ultimate Band, a Wii music game that allows four players to groove to licensed songs without needing to purchase any instrument peripherals. This should be a strong selling point to parents this fall, and the line-up of pop songs should appeal especially to tweens—an audience not likely to go crazy over Wii Music. Players use the Remote and Nunchuk to strum guitar, play drums or bass, or pretend to sing. Disney also has a streamlined Nintendo DS version of the game. 

For those who prefer singing, Disney Sing It offers videogame karaoke with 35 licensed Disney songs from Camp Rock, High School Musical, Hannah Montana, and Aly & AJ. Shipping across all platforms, this tween singing title should appeal to girls.

The original Spectrobes was a global phenomenon and this sequel, Spectrobes: Beyond The Portals, adds 3D gameplay and new characters to the mix. Players dig for fossils and then bring these Spectrobes to life, collecting them like Pokemon and sharing them with friends through Wi-Fi.



The rest of Disney’s line-up is focused on licensed properties. Haley Cyrus provides her voice in the new CGI Disney movie, Bolt, which should guarantee boffo box office returns. That’s good news for this game, which ships across all platforms. While Cryus’ voice isn’t in the game, her character Penny is, along with Bolt, a dog with super powers. Although it’s aimed at the tween market, this game could end up appealing to older brothers and sisters, as well as parents.

A pair of licensed Nintendo DS brands shows synergy amongst the Disney companies.  Club Penguin: Elite Penguin Force brings the popular kids’ online world to Nintendo’s best-selling portable. In addition to playing secret agent missions with friends, this game allows fans to connect with the PC virtual Club Penguin world. Disney Faeries: Tinker Bell gets a new DVD release, as well as a new DS game. There’s also a massively multiplayer online Disney Fairies game in development. Aimed at little girls, this DS game offers a virtual Sleepy Hollow.

Releasing games based on the fall movie, High School Musical 3: Senior Year is like printing money. Disney’s smash hit now has two new games releasing in conjunction with the theatrical release. High School Musical 3: Senior Year DANCE! for Xbox 360, Wii, PS2 and PC is a dance game (complete with bundled dance mats). Tween fans can dance to songs from all three films. For the Nintendo DS, High School Musical 3: Senior Year introduces rhythm-based gameplay to the roster of licensed songs, along with trivia.



by John Gaudiosi