Andy Robertson (@geekdadgamer) is a freelance journalist who runs http://www.gamepeople.co.uk/ and produces the http://www.youtube.com/familygamertv YouTube channel.
 
If you have read my previous posts on Savvy Auntie, you will know that I have suggested that Skylanders Giants is an ideal game to play with nephews and nieces. Disney Infinity, a new game just announced, takes that idea and adds Disney characters.
 
Disney Infinity offers a range of Disney and Pixar toy figures that work with their new game. Like Skylanders, put the figures on the Infinity Base (their version of the Portal of Power) and they magically appear in the game.
 
The game also comes with a play-set piece. Put this on the Base and it transports you and your characters into a Disney adventure. The Disney Infinity starter pack comes with the game itself, the Infinity Base peripheral, three figures, and a play-set piece for the following three adventures:
 
The Incredibles
 

 
Monsters University
 

 
Pirates of the Caribbean
 

 
Each of these offers at least six hours of auntie-niece/nephew gameplay. What makes it ideal though is that it has split screen co-operative play. Unlike Skylanders where all the players had to go the same direction and at the same pace, here you can take your time and progress as fast as you want. Not only that but it supports online play for up to four players, so you can keep playing even when you aren’t visiting.
 
I had some time with the CEO of the software company behind the game, Avalanche Studios, to ask him how they came up with the idea and how it would come to retail. It was interesting to hear how integrated the game was into the animation and character studios at Disney with developers and artists collaborating to make it possible.
 

 
Although, with 17 figures to collect and a number of other electronic tokens that unlock upgrades, it may seem pricey, you can complete the adventures provided with just the characters of the Starter Pack. Like Skylanders, Aunties should pick and choose just those characters they really want before spending their hard-earned money.
 
It will be interesting to see how Disney Infinity does at retail when it launches June 28, 2013.

Photo: Courtesy of Andy Robertson
Published: January 22, 2013