In November 2010, Disney Interactive released Disney Epic Mickey, a game my studio created featuring Mickey Mouse in his first videogame appearance after many years away from the interactive screen. The opportunity to work with a character as well-known as Mickey would have been incentive enough for us, but Disney offered us something else – the chance to bring Walt Disney’s first cartoon star, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, back to the world after 80-some years.

The Junction Point team jumped at this chance to play a part in Disney’s history, creating a world and a story that honored the past while resolutely looking toward the future. We started by creating a world called Wasteland, repository for all of Disney’s forgotten creative efforts — characters cut from films, rides retired from theme parks, toys and licensed ephemera from years gone by — and then dropped Oswald there, as the first forgotten character. We had Mickey Mouse, one of the most decidedly UN-forgotten characters in our world inadvertently create a disaster and a monster that imperiled Wasteland. We trapped Mickey in Wasteland and charged him with saving the world and redeeming his “brother,” Oswald.

How, you ask, does any of this look toward the future? What I’ve just described seems like a simple, classic narrative set in a dark, but exclusively, nostalgic world…

Well, the “future” part comes, first, from the medium Junction Point works in, video games, then from the goals we set for ourselves and finally in the approach we took to achieve those goals.

Video games are, without question, in my mind, the medium of this century in much the same way movies were the art form that defined the last. Walt Disney was always at the bleeding edge of innovation in his day, adopting sound, color, stereo, robotics, television and more before most of his peers and competitors saw their potential. In bringing Disney’s creations to games, we felt a part of his constant striving to adapt to changing times. In that alone, we at Junction Point felt we were pretty forward-looking. But we knew we had to go further, as Disney himself surely would have.

Our game had to offer players something other games didn’t, couldn’t or wouldn’t – something entirely new. For us, that something was Paint and Thinner. More precisely, we wanted to use those things – Paint, to allow Mickey/the player to draw and create things in the game world, and Thinner, to allow Mickey/the player to erase and remove things from the world. All game challenges would be solvable through creation or destruction, and the choice would be the player’s, always.

This idea, that players would get to decide how to interact with the game world, how to solve game problems, has been making inroads in video games for years now, but never in the context of Platforming or Action-Adventure games, and Disney Epic Mickey games fall squarely in those genres. For lovers of these game styles, the opportunity to decide how to achieve their goals, how to deal with enemies, how to define the word “hero” for themselves through their minute-to-minute playstyle choices would, we hoped, be pretty revolutionary. In a sense, by dynamically changing the world, each player could tell his or her own story.

But even beyond that, beyond the genre mash-ups and game mechanics, the Junction Point team set itself a goal that would really set us apart from the pack in the world of games: Rather than targeting a specific audience (“core gamers” or “teen boys” or “tween girls” or “adult non-gamers” or anything like that), we wanted to make a game with the same sort of broad appeal as Disney and Pixar classic films. In other words, we wanted to make Disney Epic Mickey something we grandiosely called “a game for everyone.”

There’s some evidence that we did just that. Look at who played the first Disney Epic Mickey game and you see an audience that’s about half over 18 and half under 18, and split about evenly between males and females. Pretty cool, but here we are, two years later, releasing Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two, and the obvious question is, how do you top that? How do you follow up a game for everyone? Well, read on…

Obviously, we wanted to learn from our experience on the first game.

• Players told us they wished the camera system had been better. And while I’ll defend to the death the camera team’s work, we knew we could do better. For the new game, we made a ton of code changes to the camera system and even constructed levels differently to be more camera-friendly.
• We gave every character a voice in DEM2 – a far cry from the first game, where none of the characters spoke. And just think about this: A video game has given voice to characters like Oswald, Gus the Gremlin and more who never had voices before. A video game designed to honor Disney’s past has forever changed Disney’s future!
• We made sure that every choice you make as you play DEM2 really matters. Many choices are irreversible and even the ones you can reverse require effort on your part to undo. Your play style really matters this time around, even more than it did before.

In addition to learning from our experience on the first game, we had to offer players something new – several “somethings,” actually.

We started with the obvious stuff – new lands and levels to explore, and some new forgotten characters. We crafted an all-new story that had some serious meat on its bones. In Disney Epic Mickey, we didn’t settle for “save the kidnapped princess” or “kill the monster to save the world.” We created a story framework that asked players to think about how important family and friends were to them and we asked them to answer that question, to define heroism, for themselves through their actions. In Disney Epic Mickey 2, we built a story around a different question – is everyone redeemable or is there evil in the world so profound it’s beyond redemption? We did this by bringing back the Mad Doctor, a villain in the first game, but now claiming he wants to help save Wasteland from new danger. Do you believe him…?

We made the surprisingly controversial call to use songs to communicate critical story elements and to allow characters to reveal their emotions. That’s pretty standard in theater, on film and, recently, on television, but it’s pretty radical in games – and with our traditional, non-interactive approach, we’re not taking too many chances this time around. (Keep your eyes open for some serious interactive musical comedy craziness in the future! I have wacky plans…)

But there are two new things in DEM2 that really raise the bar over the first game.

First, we added Oswald AI, so instead of just being a character you see in cinematic story moments, everybody’s new (or soon to be) favorite Disney rabbit is there with Mickey – with the player – every step of the way. And the really cool thing is that, at any point, a second player – a friend or family member- can pick up a controller and take control of Oswald. Co-op play puts you in control of Oswald’s helicopter ears… his detachable “boomarmarang” and his electrical remote control. Working together in 2-player mode, Mickey and Oswald can go places and do and collect things that aren’t possible in single player. And two players negotiating to tell a story together is a unique experience, I’ll tell you!

Finally, where the first Disney Epic Mickey game was available on only one platform (which we won’t name here!), DEM2 is available to PlayStation 3 fans. All of the game’s assets – character models, maps, textures, visual effects, and so on – were created specifically for HD and (I’m prejudiced!) I think the game looks terrific on PS3. And while we support the DualShock 3, the PlayStation Move controller offers PS3 owners an “exclusive” on the combination of HD graphics and gestural controls. And on top of that, when we had the hosts of ABC Television’s Good Morning America try the PS3 game on the air before the game launched, they discovered a new play mode with the Move even the team didn’t think of – a four player mode, with one player handling Mickey’s movement and a second handling Paint/Thinner use, while two other players split movement and abilities for Oswald! That was awesome – the ultimate expression of players creating their own experiences, telling their own stories through play.

That’s what Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two is all about. Each and every player tells his or her own story, crafts his or her own unique experience, does what he or she thinks is fun and cool and appropriate when faced with challenges the Junction Point team set up. Games are – or should be – about you showing how clever and creative you are, not how clever and creative we are at Junction Point. So what are you waiting for? Get creative. Start playing! And be sure to grab a friend or enlist a family member – Mickey and Oswald are better together than they are alone, and you will be too!

note: Warren will be online soon to leave comments replies

As gaming résumés go, few can compare to that of Warren Spector. After starting his career on the fabled Wing Commander series back in 1990, he went on to work on massive franchises such as Ultima and System Shock, before re-inventing the stealth genre with Deus Ex and Thief. In short, he’s a true giant of game development.

And this week sees him return to the fray, with Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two – an ambitious sequel to his epic 2010 platforming adventure, packing in full co-op play and PlayStation Move support. The Junction Point founder was kind enough to lend PlayStation.Blog a few minutes of his valuable time to discuss the game – read on to find out what he had to say.

PlayStation.Blog: There are a lot of PlayStation gamers out there who might not be too familiar with the first game. What did they miss?
Warren Spector: What did they miss? Only the greatest game experience of all time! No, okay, seriously… what they missed was the reintroduction of Mickey Mouse as a game hero the equal of Mario, Sonic, Link or any other platforming or adventure star.

“Each player is the teller of his or her own story.”

They missed the return of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, Walt Disney’s first cartoon star – a great character who deserves better than to be forgotten. They missed what I hope was and is a unique combination of platforming and adventure game elements – with players getting to decide how the game felt and played.

They missed the “Deus Ex” choice and consequence idea applied to completely different genres – in Disney Epic Mickey games, each player is the teller of his or her own story, just as in Deus Ex and all the other games I’ve worked on.

They missed a cool story, a brand new game world and a trip down Disney Memory Lane. They missed all sorts of stuff!

And for those who did play it, what are the key improvements you’ve made for the sequel?
WS: Camera, camera, camera! The team worked really hard to enhance the camera system. And when I say “really hard” I mean “really hard!”. I think we did a better job of player direction – knowing where to go and what to do. Games should be about how to do stuff, not figuring out what stuff to do!

We’ve added full voice for all characters, some of whom even sing. We’ve taken the idea of choice and consequence to new levels – your play-style really matters this time around and your choices may have consequences that last forever and can’t be undone.

Oh, and we’ve added a little thing called two-player co-op. Now, one player takes the role of Mickey, with Oswald as an AI-controlled character, but at any point, a second player can sit down next to you and play as Oswald. It’s all about the Power of Two!

The camera was indeed one of the issues that came in for criticism last time. How have you refined it?
WS: We’ve worked non-stop on the camera since the day we shipped the first game. We made a ton of code changes – including always allowing manual control of camera, while working to ensure you don’t have to take manual control any more than necessary.

“Everything’s better this time around.”

The level builders – designers and artists – were way more experienced this time around building levels that were less likely to break the camera system. And we just understood the ramifications of changing the world, dynamically, with paint and thinner.

Everything’s better this time around. I’m sure you and your readers will tell us if everything’s better enough!

Developers often struggle introducing simultaneous co-op play – was making it work in Epic Mickey 2 a big challenge for you?
WS: I don’t think so, really. I mean, once the team decided to go with Oswald AI throughout the game, we didn’t have to design maps to work with and without Oswald. He was always going to be with you, even in single player.

And I’m not a fan of special modes of play – I mean, there’s no special co-op mode, or co-op story, or co-op specific missions. There’s just the game. Oswald’s there to help. Sometimes he’s AI controlled and sometimes he’s player controlled.

It wasn’t easy – I’d never say that… the team would kill me! But we have a great team at Junction Point, a team that really wanted to tackle the problem, rather than being told to tackle it. That makes a world of difference.

You’ve included PS Move support. Do you see that as the definitive way to enjoy the game?
WS: Well, there’s certainly a lot to be said for the combination of gestural control and high definition graphics! That’s as close to a “definitive” statement as I’m going to make!

We know you’re a huge Disney fan – have you managed to pack plenty of fan service into the sequel? What new characters can we expect to see?

“The entire team embraced their inner Disney geek.”

WS: The key isn’t that I’m a huge Disney fan; the key is that the entire team embraced their inner Disney geek. On the first game, there was a learning period where people who might not have been huge Disney experts became huge Disney experts. I pushed the team to find Disney inspiration for everything in the game but that battle was won on the first game. No need to fight it again. The whole team went after it, Disney-style, this time.

There’s plenty of “fan service” in Epic Mickey 2! As far as specifics go, especially new characters, let’s move on. I want players to discover that for themselves.

Epic Mickey 2 is a big, colourful title that seems both family-friendly but also deep enough for core gamers to enjoy. How hard is it striking a balance between the two?

WS: Man, making games at all is hard! Making games where “play-style matters” is even harder. Luckily, making games where players really get to decide how to interact with the world and the characters makes reaching a diverse audience a little easier. It sounds crazy, but it’s true.

The thing to remember is that, in most, if not all cases, if a player tries something – fighting or erasing or sneaking or platforming – and it isn’t working, or it’s too hard, or they’re not having enough fun, they can just try something else. When there’s more than one way to solve every game problem – or nearly every one – reaching players of different skill levels, different ages, with different interests, is kind of a given. But don’t underestimate how hard it is to make games that offer choices and real consequences! That’s the tricky bit…

Do you think younger gamers – or their parents – have enough choice these days? Epic Mickey 2 seems at odds with a number of the other big Christmas blockbuster releases…

“There’s an amazing amount of choice in games these days.”

WS: Honestly, I do think there’s an amazing amount of choice in games these days, if you look at the full range of platforms and distribution methods. I mean, if all you look at is console titles, sold at retail, then, sure, you might see a lot of games falling into a small handful of genres. But include digital distribution systems like PSN into things and the world looks a lot more diverse – in terms of content, gameplay, purchase price, commitment required, etc. Then, roll Facebook and browser-based games and iOS and Android games into your equation and the world of gaming is crazy broad.

Having said all that, I love the fact that Disney Epic Mickey 2 is one of the few truly family-oriented titles I see coming out this holiday season. And by ‘family-oriented’ I mean ‘of interest to everyone and anyone!’.

This weekend, Disney celebrated the re-launch of the re-imagined ESPN Wide World of Sports complex in suburban Orlando, Florida. As part of the newly revamped, state-of-the-art facility, we’ve teamed up with Disney to create an exclusive game pavilion for all things PlayStation.

The PlayStation Pavilion at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex showcases an evolving line-up of the latest PlayStation games including favorites from our publishing partners and our first party studios. The PlayStation Pavilion will play host to some of our biggest titles and PlayStation exclusives such as UNCHARTED 2: Among Thieves, MLB 10: The Show, inFAMOUS, Buzz! Quiz World, LittleBigPlanet, and MAG all on 40” TVs in glorious HD. The Pavilion is also outfitted with its own stage where you can grab the mic and jam to your favorite tunes.

We’ll also be working with Disney to host on-site tournaments and “gamer nights,” where leader boards positioned throughout ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex will keep you apprised of the latest standings and give others a chance to challenge your high score.

Disney says it best, sometimes you really do have to see to believe. Fortunately, we were on-site for the Hollywood-style ‘green’ carpet re-launch event and managed to sneak in a few shots of what awaits you just outside the Magic Kingdom. Hope to see your name on the leader board soon!

Starting tomorrow, November 10, you can purchase Disney Pixar’s Up from the PlayStation Network video delivery service — the same day it’s released on Blu-ray and DVD. The movie is available to own for $14.99 in standard-definition and $19.99 in high-definition.

Up is among nearly 80 full-length Disney feature films which we will be adding to the video store to purchase over the next couple of days, including 60 in high-definition, such as Disney Pixar’s A Bug’s Life, Cars, Ratatouille, WALL-E and Monsters, Inc.

Many of these Disney favorites are also already available for rent, with prices ranging from $2.99 to $5.99.

If you haven’t tried the video delivery service before, there’s never been a better time. There are over 2,400 full-length movies and 15,000 television episodes to choose from including new and favorite movies, television shows, sports, anime, original entertainment, and more.

Browse through the list below, then visit PlayStation Store and enjoy!

THE 25TH HOUR
ADVENTURELAND
ANNAPOLIS
BAD COMPANY (2002)
BEDTIME STORIES
BEVERLY HILLS CHIHUAHUA
BOLT
BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA
A BUG’S LIFE
CARS
CHICKEN LITTLE
CHRONICLES OF NARNIA‐ THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE
THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: PRINCE CASPIAN
COLLEGE ROAD TRIP
CON AIR
CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC
DAN IN REAL LIFE
DISNEYNATURE: EARTH
DOUBT
ENCHANTED
ENEMY OF THE STATE
FINDING NEMO
THE GAME PLAN
G‐FORCE
GLORY ROAD
GONE BABY GONE
GONE IN 60 SECONDS
GOOD WILL HUNTING
HANNAH MONTANA 2009 MOVIE
HAPPY GO LUCKY
HERO
HIGH FIDELITY
HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 3: SENIOR YEAR
THE HITCHHIKERS’ GUIDE TO THE GALAXY
HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, THE (1996)
THE INSIDER
INVINCIBLE
THE INVISIBLE
THE JONAS BROTHERS CONCERT
THE LIFE AQUATIC WITH STEVE ZISSOU
LILO & STITCH
MEET THE ROBINSONS
MIRACLE AT ST. ANNA
MISSION TO MARS
MONSTERS, INC.
NATIONAL TREASURE
NATIONAL TREASURE 2: BOOK OF SECRETS
NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS
NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN
O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU?
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD’S END
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN’S CHEST
POCAHONTAS (1995)
THE PRESTIGE
THE PRINCESS DIARIES
THE PROPOSAL
THE QUEEN
RACE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN
RATATOUILLE
REMEMBER THE TITANS
THE ROCK
THE ROOKIE
ROVING MARS
THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS
SIGNS
THE SIXTH SENSE
SKY HIGH
SPACE BUDDIES
STAY ALIVE
STICK IT
TINKER BELL AND THE LOST TREASURE
TINKERBELL
UNBREAKABLE
UNDERDOG
THE VILLAGE
WALL‐E
WILD HOGS
UP!