Tag: Disney Interactive

Disney Interactive Shuts Down Playdom Forums Over Data Breach

Disney announced on Friday via a statement on its website that it has shut down the Playdom Forums after it detected a data breach earlier in the month.

According to Disney’s statement, the company had learned on July 12 that an attacker breached the playdomforums.com servers on July 9 and then again on July 12.

The Playdom Forums are Disney Interactive’s official forums for games such as Star Wars: Commander, Marvel: Avengers Alliance (MAA), Marvel: Avengers Alliance Mobile (mMAA),and Disney Hidden Worlds (HW).

According to the forum’s latest statistics section, over 355,000 people are registered on the platform.

Disney reported that the attacker had accessed sections of the server that allowed him to steal user data such as usernames, email addresses, and passwords.

The attacker also made off with the IP addresses of users that they used to register for the forums. Fortunately for affected users, Disney did not store any other personal information such as IP addresses or Social Security numbers.

The company has contacted authorities and has shut down the forums while it investigates the breach. Playdom Forums ran on the vBulletin forum software, and by the looks of an older Internet Archive snapshot, the forum seemed to be running on the old v4 platform, considered insecure.

Disney said it had invalidated all user passwords and launched new forums with better security features. Two separate forums have been made available for players of Marvel Avengers Alliance and Star Wars Commander.

It is currently unknown if the Playdom Forums will make a comeback, or Disney will continue with the separate forums it had set up in the meantime.

Since password reuse is a recurring issue among Internet users, Disney recommends that all Playdom users that reused their password on other platforms go through the process of updating those accounts to avoid any potential issues.

From Softpedia

Disney Interactive Discontinues Disney Infinity

Disney Interactive has just announced that it’s pulling the plug on the Infinity line and is exiting the self-publishing console games business altogether. Doing so has resulted in a $147 million charge in the Walt Disney Company’s Q2 2016 earnings. Back in March, Disney signaled it would slow development of the “toys-to-life” game which first launched in 2013, but gave no indication it planned to walk away from the series entirely.

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Senior VP John Blackburn stated on Disney Interactive’s website:

“Our goal for Disney Infinity was to bring the best of Disney storytelling to life in homes around the world, and with your support we accomplished that. We hope you had as much fun playing the game as we had making it.

So what’s next for Disney Infinity? We have two final retail releases coming, including three new characters from Alice Through the Looking Glass later this month, and the Finding Dory Play Set launching in June.

And as we turn to the next chapter in our story, I want to thank everyone who helped bring Disney Infinity to life, particularly Disney’s Glendale-based production and publishing teams, our external development partners, and of course the incredible Avalanche team for their tireless dedication to this project.

But most of all, I want to again thank you for making Disney Infinity a part of your lives—and for adding to the Disney legacy by being a part of this community.”

Disney Infinity has seen major new releases each year, introducing popular characters from Disney / Pixar films, the Marvel universe, and most recently integrating Star Wars characters in Disney Infinity 3.0. Only a month ago, Disney had pledged to make the3.0 title its “biggest game ever” through upcoming downloadable content — a way to make up for the lack of a completely new version 4.0. Well, it seems that’s no longer the plan.

Disney Releases New ‘Frozen’ App That Lets Users Build Their World Inside A Snow Globe

Disney announced on Thursday the release of a new Frozen-themed game aimed at children that allows users to enter and create their own versions of the world seen in the popular animated movie.

Titled Disney Build It: Frozen, the player constructs and customizes various buildings inside a snow globe, letting their imagination run wild.

The app starts off with a brief tutorial to show the player how to drag and drop the various Frozen buildings, starting with Elsa’s Castle. The player adds their favorite colors to the buildings and customizes them with different roofs and chimneys, then watches them appear before their eyes.

Along with Elsa’s Castle, the player can construct other buildings, including Wandering Oaken’s Trading Post, Arendelle Towers and much more. The user is able to visit locations as seen in the movie, like the North Mountain, the Forest, Troll Valley, Arendelle Castle and the town of Arendelle.

Building certain structures will cause some of the movie’s popular characters (Elsa, Anna, Olaf, Sven and Kristoff) to join the environment. These characters appear with an adorable snow globe that will warm the player’s heart as they explore their icy world. These characters can wander around the snow globe, dance, play and celebrate with the player, but the user can slide them to whatever location they please.

Once a building is created, the user earns snowflakes for props to add to the landscape of their globe, such as a snowman or snow-covered trees.

The gamer can also unlock a new character called Snowgie, a small snowman creature that will accompany the player on mini-missions.

Once the player finishes building their world, they can use Apple’s 3D Touch feature to activate a flythrough mode to be able to see the entirety of their snow globe creation. Players can build multiple snow globes and use the Home Screen Quick Actions to instantly jump into them.

With its lovable characters, easy gameplay and magical soundtrack, this new game will surely captivate Frozen fans for hours on end.

Disney Build It: Frozen is now available to download for iOS and Android for $3.99 with in-app purchases.

From TechTimes

 

Disney Interactive Is Bringing “Infinite” Gaming Possibilities, Plus Star Wars Battlefront and KINGDOM HEARTS III to D23 Expo 2015

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Whether you like video games that take you to that Galaxy Far, Far Away or entertain you via the mobile device that’s closest at hand, Disney Interactive will be showcasing a game for you at D23 EXPO 2015. The possibilities are, shall we say, infinite!

D23 EXPO 2015 will feature the biggest Star Wars™ and Disney video games in a special presentation in the signature 7,500-seat Hall D23 theater and in Disney Interactive’s pavilion on the show floor.

In the Hall D23 presentation on Sunday, August 16, at 11 a.m., fans won’t want to miss never-before-seen gameplay, trailers, new reveals, and surprises from Disney Interactive’s most anticipated games. Among the games participating in the presentation are: Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition, Star Wars™ Battlefront™ from Electronic Arts, and KINGDOM HEARTS III from Square Enix. Disney Interactive will showcase more Star Wars characters and Play Sets new to Disney Infinity 3.0 Editionand provide the entire audience with limited-edition giveaways exclusively for Hall D23. Electronic Arts will give guests an in-depth look at Star Wars Battlefront, the authentic Star Wars gaming experience coming November 17. Square Enix will also bring special guests and surprises to Hall D23 to reveal new information from KINGDOM HEARTS III.

In the Disney Interactive pavilion on the show floor, players can experience the latest and upcoming titles through hands-on demos, innovative interactive experiences, and premium giveaways for all guests.

  • Players will join forces with Star Wars, Marvel, Disney, and Disney•Pixar characters in Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition, the next chapter in the best-selling “hybrid toy/video game” series. Guests will have the chance to play some of the new Disney Infinity Play Sets, Star Wars™ Twilight of the Republic, Star Wars™ Rise Against the Empire and Disney•Pixar’s Inside Out, and the fully enhanced Toy Box mode. Pavilion guests will also be able to visit the “Only in the Toy Box” Experience. Using a new augmented reality technology, fans can step into a virtual Toy Box environment and interact alongside their favorite Disney, Disney•Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars characters found inside Disney Infinity. Disney Infinity will also be giving away thousands of pre-release Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition figures featuring popular characters from across The Walt Disney Company (while supplies last).
  • Pavilion guests will also be able to live out some of their Star Wars battle fantasies by going hands-on with Star Wars 
  • Fans can experience the latest arcade sensation from Disney Interactive, Lucasfilm and BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment, Star Wars™:Battle Pod™. Featuring cutting-edge, arcade-style video gameplay, Star Wars: Battle Pod brings players right into the action with a totally unique experience featuring a dome-shaped screen, air jets, and rumble seat.
  • In the pavilion’s game lounge, fans can take a break from the show floor and try out the hottest mobile games including Star Wars: Commander, Frozen Free Fall and LINE: Disney Tsum Tsum.

Tickets for D23 EXPO 2015 are $74 for a one-day adult admission and $54 for children 3–12. Tickets for members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club are $65 for a one-day adult admission and $48 for children. Multi-day money-saving tickets are also available. D23 Members can save as much as $112 off the price of admission, based on the purchase of four three-day tickets at the D23 Member rate. For more information on tickets and the ticket pricing structure for D23 Members and general admission, visit D23EXPO.com.

Disney Infinity 3.0 Release Date Announced

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Disney Interactive on Wednesday announced the release date for its upcoming toys-to-life game Disney Infinity 3.0, the latest installment in the popular franchise. The game, which includes Star Wars characters in its Starter Pack, will debut in North America on August 30 for consoles, PC, and mobile.

The new Starter Pack, which will sell for $65, comes with the Star Wars Twlight of the Republic Play Set, the Disney Infinity 3.0 Base, Ahsoka Tano and Anakin Skywalker figures, and a code that unlocks even more content for PC and mobile.

All previously released Disney Infinity figures for past games are compatible with Disney Infinity 3.0 and the new Toy Box.

The following play sets and more, with descriptions courtesy of Disney, will also be available at launch:

  • Star Wars Twilight of the Republic Play Set (Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano figures included) for players who choose to digitally download the Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition software; additional standalone figures (Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi) and Power Disc Pack
  • Star Wars Rebels figures (Kanan Jarrus, Ezra Bridger, Sabine Wren, and Zeb Orrelios)
  • Star Wars Saga Starter Pack
  • Disney Pixar’s Inside Out Play Set (Joy and Anger figures included) and additional standalone figures (Sadness, Disgust, and Fear)
  • Disney figures (Mickey, Minnie, Mulan, Olaf, Sam Flynn, and Quorra)
  • Tomorrowland Power Disc Pack

In addition, Disney said even more play sets and figures will be made available in the fall.

Disney has also announced that everyone who preorders Disney Infinity 3.0 at retail will receive an early copy of Toy Box Takeover, an expansion to the Toy Box mode, for free. This multiplayer mode lets players combine the game’s various characters, including those from Star Wars, Marvel, Disney, and Pixar.

What’s more, Disney announced that another Toy Box expansion game, Toy Box Speedway, will launch this fall. This is a kart-racing game that players can unlock inside of Disney Infinity 3.0.

Disney Infinity 3.0 and its new Base are required to play the expansion games.

Toy Box Takeover and Toy Box Speedway will also be sold separately for $20 each this fall. For a closer look at Disney Infinity 3.0, check out some images in the gallery below.

Disney Merges Disney Consumer Products and Disney Interactive

It’s not the case anymore that consumers separate technology from toys or even books, so The Walt Disney Co.  is streamlining its consumer products and interactive divisions. The company has combined its two smallest segments into Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media (DCPI), which will be jointly led by co-chairs Leslie Ferraro, president of Disney Consumer Products, and Jimmy Pitaro, president of Disney Interactive.

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“Both Disney Interactive and Disney Consumer Products have a strong track record of connecting people to their favorite stories and characters,” said Disney COO Tom Staggs in a statement. “As technology and digital entertainment continue to evolve, a shared innovation strategy will enable this new segment to create unique and engaging products and experiences that exceed consumers’ expectations.”

The new structure will “share technological expertise and maximize opportunities and efficiencies” as well as leverage Disney’s licensing and retail relationships across both divisions.

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A new team called DCPI Labs will focus on using cutting-edge technologies to create new immersive products and report to both Ferraro and Pitaro. Disney Publishing Worldwide will also report to the new co-chairs, while functional areas such as finance, strategy and business development, technology, HR, and communications will be merged into joint teams.

Disney will begin reporting consumer products and interactive as one combined business as of the beginning of fiscal 2016.

In the most recent quarter, consumer products revenues grew 10 percent to $971 million, while operating income increased 32 percent to $362 million, and interactive revenues slipped 12 percent to $235 million while operating income surged 86 percent to $26 million.

Gameloft and Disney Interactive Release “Cars: Fast as Lightning” for Smartphones and Tablets

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Start your Nitro! Gameloft, a leading global publisher of digital and social games and Disney Interactive are pleased to announce the release of Cars: Fast as Lightning, a new game inspired by Disney•Pixar’s “Cars” franchise. Cars: Fast as Lightning invites players into what promises to be an exciting and memorable experience within the “Cars” universe, thanks to unique storytelling and the official voice of Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson).

“‘Cars’ is one of the most popular and beloved animated film franchises, and we‘re excited to be working with Disney and Pixar on bringing the characters to life on smartphones and tablets.“ says Karine Kaiser, VP Marketing & Licensing at Gameloft. “Children, parents, and fans will embrace loveable and iconic characters through a thrilling blend of high-octane racing and town building in a unique dual-genre experience.”

As they plunge into the “Cars” universe, players of all ages can go up against each other in explosive races that can be completely customized with easy-to-use controls, nitro boosts and many other surprises. From the legendary Lightning McQueen to the brash Francesco Bernoulli, fans can choose to play from among 20 “Cars” characters and have fun building their own Radiator Springs, home of Lightning and his friends, with iconic buildings and locations from the film, such as Luigi’s Casa Della Tires and Fillmore’s Taste-In.

Cars: Fast as Lightning is available on iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Android, and Windows Phone.

Experience the first glimpse here: http://gmlft.co/Cars_LaunchTrailer

Disney Interactive And Harmonix Announce Pre-Order Bonus For The Award-Winning Musical Motion Video Game “Disney Fantasia: Music Evolved”

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Disney Interactive and Harmonix today announced a pre-order bonus for the award-winning musical motion video game, “Disney Fantasia: Music Evolved.”

Now through October 20, 2014, fans who pre-order the game from participating retailers will receive a song bundle featuring tracks from popular artists – Demi Lovato, OneRepublic, and AVICII. The song bundle will include three hot tracks including Demi Lovato’srendition of the global phenomenon “Let It Go,” “Counting Stars” from pop rock band OneRepublic and “Lay Me Down” from EDM DJ AVICII.

To view the official live action trailer, click here: http://youtu.be/jkjhkTVPEQE.

The breakthrough musical motion video game inspired by Disney’s classic animated film “Fantasia,” will be available worldwide onOctober 21, 2014 for $59.99 for Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft and for $49.99 for Kinect for Xbox 360.

Featuring over 30 tracks – including contemporary hits, classic rock, classical music, and more – “Disney Fantasia: Music Evolved” transports players to a breathtaking world where music and magic combine to transform extraordinary interactive landscapes in entirely new and creative ways.

Previously announced tracks for the title include:

  • AVICII – “Levels”
  • David Bowie – “Ziggy Stardust”
  • Drake – “Take Care” (ft. Rihanna)
  • Antonin Dvorak – “Symphony No. 9 from the New World”
  • Fun. – “Some Nights”
  • Peter Gabriel – “In Your Eyes”
  • Gorillaz – “Feel Good Inc.”
  • Cee Lo Green – “Forget You”
  • Elton John – “Rocket Man”
  • Kimbra – “Settle Down”
  • Lorde – “Royals”
  • Bruno Mars – “Locked Out of Heaven”
  • MIA – “Galang”
  • Nicki Minaj – “Super Bass”
  • Depeche Mode – “Enjoy the Silence”
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik”
  • Modest Mussorgsky – “Night on Bald Mountain”
  • Police – “Message in a Bottle”
  • Queen – “Bohemian Rhapsody”
  • White Stripes – “Seven Nation Army”
  • Tchaikovsky – “The Nutcracker Medley”
  • Antonio Vivaldi – “The Four Seasons: Winter, 1st Movement”
  • The Who – “The Real Me”

“Disney Fantasia: Music Evolved” will be available worldwide on October 21, 2014 with an ESRB rating of E10+ with lyrics descriptor. For additional information about “Disney Fantasia: Music Evolved,”

Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes Gets Release Date

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Disney Interactive has announced a retail release date for the upcoming Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes, which will launch in North America on September 23.

Pre-orders kick off today, and players who pre-order the Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes Starter Pack from selected retailers will also receive a Disney Infinity 2.0 Marvel figure. All characters and power discs from 2013’s Disney Infinity will be compatible with the game.

Fans who own the original Disney Infinity game are also able to purchase Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes digitally. Yesterday, Disney Interactive confirmed a Guardians of the Galaxy playset for Marvel Super Heroes. The characters will be playable in the game’s Toy Box 2.0 mode.

“Disney Tsum Tsum” Mobile Game And Soft Toy Line Launch Globally

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Disney today announced the launch of “LINE: Disney Tsum Tsum” (\’so͞om-so͞om\), the top-ranked and free puzzle app from Japan, on mobile devices globally, along with a Disney Tsum Tsum stackable soft toy line. The app, which is published by LINE, the leading free call and messaging app, has reached the #1 free app spot on both iOS and Android inJapan and has been downloaded more than 14 million times. Coinciding with the global launch of the app, Disney Store is introducing more than 30 different stackable ‘Tsum Tsum’ toys available on DisneyStore.com, in select store locations in North America, and at Disney Parks starting today.

“Disney Tsum Tsum has quickly become a phenomenon in Japan, and we are very excited about the Japan-originated franchise now going global,” said Paul Candland, president, The Walt Disney Company (Japan) Ltd. “Disney Tsum Tsum is both a physical product and a digital game, allowing our guests to enjoy a multi-dimensional experience.  We are hopeful that the Disney Tsum Tsum franchise will be loved and enjoyed by our guests around the world.”

“Disney Japan has created some of our most successful and popular digital products and Disney Interactive is proud to be working closely with the team to extend their success globally,” said Jimmy Pitaro, president, Disney Interactive. “This is one of the first times that Disney has introduced a distinctly Japanese product to a global audience, and Disney Tsum Tsum offers our Guests a unique combination of quality characters, compelling game play and an engaging social experience.”

In LINE: Disney Tsum Tsum, which translates to ‘Disney Stack Stack’, players connect and pop as many of the Disney Tsum characters as they can in one minute.  The more Tsums eliminated within each level, the higher the score. As they progress through the game, players will collect Disney and Disney•Pixar Tsums, like Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Stitch and Buzz Lightyear. Each collectable character can be leveled up over time and has a special ability that provides in-game help. The app offers experiences for both kids and adults. By connecting LINE: Disney Tsum Tsum to a LINE account, adult players can enjoy social features in-game, like competing for high scores on leaderboards and gifting, with their friends.

In addition to the mobile app, a wide range of Tsum Tsum soft toys based on favorite Disney characters, from Mickey Mouse to Winnie the Pooh, will be available starting today, with additional characters rolling out in the fall. The stackable Tsum Tsum toys have the added functionality of a screen cleaner material on their stomachs and come in three different sizes: large ($24.95), medium ($12.95) and mini($4.95).

“Since the Tsum Tsum plush line debuted at Disney Store in Japan nine months ago, more than 1.6 million units have been sold,” saidPaul Gainer, EVP, Disney Retail. “We believe the popularity of this line in Japan is something that can be replicated globally given their fun and collectible nature.”

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