The video game industry has become one of the most popular and biggest moneymakers of the last few decades. Each passing year many games outdo movies in terms of money, and with new and bigger consoles and platforms being released it’s clear that this is an industry that is here to stay, even going as far as to get their own conventions or just take over certain parts of other ones: like the San Diego Comic-Con. A whole section of the floor is now dedicated to just the video game industry giving fans a chance to see new products, play new game demos and even meet the creators of their favorite games.
Every year at Comic-Con, video game companies devote certain areas just to either their whole company like the X-Box Lounge, or only a small storefront showcasing just one specific game. This year I was given the opportunity to visit such a storefront specializing in one specific game: Disney Infinity 3.0. Disney rented a storefront and turned it into The Disney Infinity Pop Up Shop, giving fans a way to see the new product, try the new game, enjoy free food and drink and even get involved with the game itself by getting your picture taken with your favorite Infinity character. It was really a fully immersive experience that the whole family can enjoy.
After waiting in line, your party is given a number, to be called when it’s your turn to get your picture with whichever Disney character you choose. But before that, you’re welcome to walk around the store and get a good sense of how Infinity 3.0 will differ from Infinity 2.0. Version 2.0 is only a year old and some would wonder why bring out a new version so soon? Well, realistically it’s a money thing, with Disney adding the Star Wars characters to the game: new characters, new game. That’s just how the video game world works, but after playing the version 3.0, this new game is totally worth the rebuy. And it’s not like you can’t still play the old game. So at the end of the day, it’s not that bad.
The Pop Up Shop was decorated with tons of Infinity figures in and out of boxes. There were tons and tons of game discs, new and old, hung across the walls, ceiling and windows, just begging to be grabbed and played with. There were prototype statues of new and old characters placed throughout the store under glass, as well as several stations set up for you and a gamer presenter to walk you though the new game and play the new things coming to the Infinity world.
After having something to drink from the kid friendly open bar and eating way too many meatballs from the servers walking around, it was time to check out the new game. After sitting and listening to the presenter tell me about all the new game features and how to use the new power set on the controller, which is all basically the same as version 2.0, it was time to play the game itself.
I was allowed to choose one of the new 3.0 characters: a nice mix of new Disney, Star Wars and Avengers characters. I chose Ahsoka Tano from The Clone War series. I was then allowed to choose which Star Wars game I’d like to play in. For the release of 3.0 there will only be the two Star Wars games sets: one featuring a Clone Wars adventure and the other is the original Trilogy. I chose to play on Hoth, being a huge fan of The Empire Strikes Back.
The level I was allowed to play had a very simple goal: destroy AT-ATs on foot using all my force and lightsaber powers and then get into the Snow Speeder and take four AT-ATs down just like in the movie. After getting used to the new controller moves and learning where all my powers, special moves and lightsaber attack were, off I was to defeat the Empire. First thing I noticed is how much smoother the game characters are. It was like watching a perfect fluid motion as Ahsoka Tano hacked and slashed her way though Stormtroopers and the legs of the AT-AT. She was fast, her force powers were awesome and she was just cool to play with.
After taking out the AT-AT it was time for my Snow Speeder. Now I found some issues with version 2.0 flight mechanics in vehicles. It kind of worked, I mean you flew fine, but turning was slightly hard and you really had to make sure you knew where you were going or your character was all over the map very quickly. Here the game makers fixed all that. Flying in the Snow Speeder was smooth and effortless. It dove and maneuvered where I needed it to go without any issues or game glitches. The environment you flew around looked amazing. You felt like you were flying in a cartoon version of the movie you love. And once you get close enough to an AT-AT, you have to hit it with your cable, speed up and make a hard left or right to take it down. It was like living out a Empire dream I’ve had many times. As I got up from the station I watched a little boy next to me: Using Boba Fett in an X-Wing making the final run in the trenches of the Death Star. It looked incredible and made me want to play that next!
This new version looks relatively the same yet upgraded. All the characters move with an elegant motion and the sound effects and music just plain rocked. This is going to be a great addition to the already awesome Disney Infinity line. With tons of great new characters to play, hundreds of new discs to collect and awesome new play sets this is going to be great game for the whole family to enjoy.
As my party was heading out, I found out that if you had pre-ordered the game from any of the many places you can: Gamestop, Amazon, Disney Infinity.com, etc. You could get a free character that isn’t going to be released for at least another few months. Also, because we came in and played the game, and had our picture taken with an Infinity character (I choose Darth Vader), we got to pick another character to take home. Getting a free Yoda and Quorra from Tron Legacy really put the cherry on top. This is why it’s awesome to wait in line to play newer games or see what video games companies are pimping out at Cons, you never know when you’ll walk out with exclusives that can’t be bought just yet.
Disney Infinity 3.0 is awesome and is going to make a killing this holiday season, especially since Infinity is bringing out more playsets and characters devoted to the new Star Wars movie which opens this winter. And with an upgraded and bigger Toy Box feature and the addition of the Race Track system Infinity 3.0 will have kids and adults alike being able to spend lots of time playing and creating remarkable things. Version 3.0 is going to be worth the buy and give you hours of fun.
