Activision's just announced the return of Spyro in an 'innovative new universe', Skylanders Spyro's Adventure, which it calls "a wholesale change in the interaction between toys and video games".
Through an "innovative use of technology", the game allows players to transport real-world toys into their game worlds using the "Portal of Power".
The tech, developed by Activision's Toys for Bob, can work on multiple gaming platforms, as well as on handhelds, mobile devices and on the web, says Activision, with the toys remembering achievements and level-ups wherever they go.
"These are more than action figures. They are inter-action figures," said Eric Hirshberg, CEO of Activision Publishing. "By pairing world class character design, world class video game design and world class story telling into one entertainment experience, we've given players a whole new genre that bridges the gap between the real and virtual worlds.
"From the first time a kid picked up a stick and pretended it was a sword, toys have unlocked kids' imaginations. And how often have you wanted to bring those toys to life, to see them become animated and take them on an adventure? Skylanders Spyro's Adventure does just that."
Interesting stuff. We're still a bit caught back as to how the technology will work, but here a big old feature list for you to scan regardless:
Each Character Has its Own Unique Powers - In addition to the highly collectible design and personalities of the toys themselves, each character has different powers and abilities, opening different experiences inside the game.
Toys With Brains - Each toy/character remembers the player's shared experiences. Achievements and leveled up capabilities earned in the game are embedded inside the toy and travel with the toy. Wherever the toy goes, its experiences go with it.
Portal of Power - The Portal of Power serves as the gateway between our world and the amazing world of the characters in Skylanders Spyro's Adventure.
Play With Friends - By placing two characters on the Portal of Power at once, players can team up together for cooperative play, or face off in player versus player battle arenas utilizing their leveled up characters.
Comments
46 comments so far...
Imaduck on 11 Feb '11 said:
I honestly don't have a clue what the hell they're getting at with this. I'm trying to understand what it is .... or WHY it is, but nothing's coming. I also seriously hope that's not their final name, doesn't exactly spring to mind. Interesting to see a return of Spyro though, even if it is in a form I can't even understand
Athrun888 on 11 Feb '11 said:
It's official, Spyro is dead to me, the idea is interesting, but this is Activision, which means it'll be done very badly in an attempt to milk (or create) a cash cow, I miss the 1998 Spyro, but alas he's long since dead.
Imaduck on 11 Feb '11 said:
Oh! I'm starting to see it! They're marketing to kids right, you can like scan in these toys, Activision controlled and priced of course. So, having f**ked over gamers and developers, they've turned to parents. Ideally kids will demand the toys for this game, parents will as ever want to buy their kids nice stuff, only now Activision will make even MORE money! So basically they're abusing the childs toy market now and putting pressure on parents again. Wow, what great guys.
Ya know, they should remake Scrooge with Bobby Kotick in it.
Undead Jay on 11 Feb '11 said:
Oh man, my favourite series as a kid being ruined even more. Every game past the 3rd is an abomination.
zombiesinmyhead on 11 Feb '11 said:
I can see their greedy logic, but it's still a dog sh*t idea.
danz202 on 11 Feb '11 said:
Wow, this sounds awful.
I'd rather go back and play all three original games again, in fact I'd rather they just re-made them instead of making this stupid idea, although if they did I imagine they'd screw it up...
Too bad I can't get the Spyro series on the PS3 because it's not sold in the EU >_>
El Mag on 11 Feb '11 said:
Scrooge gets good in the end though, i can't see Bobby ever turning it around.
DAEDALUS79 on 11 Feb '11 said:
This just sounds like a huge coup to sucker parents into being forced to buy endless gimmicks and s**te for their demanding children. Also, since when did spyro become such a badass? Its been a good 10 years since I last saw one of his games but im sure he used to be more of a cute dragon that evil looking beast.
Imaduck on 11 Feb '11 said:
You know what's great though? IF this takes off - the majority of average housewives and dedicated parents will start to despise Activision too!
Fr33Kye on 11 Feb '11 said:
No no no no no
they are gonna do it to spyro...
Spyro is dead to me. Activison will take the purple dragon that was a part of my early game experiences, and beat him into submission using him to sell toys.
I understand what they are trying to do, sell toys and make money of the game. Kind of like how a tv show will sell kids playing cards...only you don't need the cards to enjoy the show, which does not seem to be the case in this scenario. I get the feeling that you won't be able to enjoy all that went into the game without these toys. Kids will probably go ape s**t over this.
male_07 on 11 Feb '11 said:
The first Spyro game on ps1 was the first game I ever finished and so the ps1 games will always be special to me
The franchise died after the ps1 games in my opinion
BenThomasFoster on 11 Feb '11 said:
This could of been awesome but looks like it nostalgia shovelware
Barca Azul on 11 Feb '11 said:
Massive announcement, and a clear attempt to appease all the true crime fans and Developer!
PTour on 11 Feb '11 said:
:O WHAT HAVE THEY DONE TO SPYRO!?! :'( He looks angry and bitter at life now
boskersrevenge on 11 Feb '11 said:
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
Seriously made me laugh... oh Jesus, that's terribly corporate.... really really trying to make "buy extra products" sound fun.
Then again, people did get into pogs.
Idiot people, but people none-the-less.
mirage 5x5 on 11 Feb '11 said:
OMG what have thay done
spyro he looks very evil you horrible people at activision look at what you have done
Marlonjb on 11 Feb '11 said:
*Yawns*
Fr33Kye on 11 Feb '11 said:
Anyone remember when spyro didn't look evil and insane? And how he used to bang his head into a wall and give dinosaurs the business
The Bossman on 11 Feb '11 said:
I grew out of this over 10 years ago, the games are total garbage now. Remember playing a demo of one of the PS2 versions and it was appalling. The PS1 games will always be the original and best.
nineoutof10 on 11 Feb '11 said:
So it's because of Spyro that I'm not going to get to play the new True Crimes which was looking promising! Was never going to be a day one purchase but it would have been a purchase down the line! Who can honestly say they're going to buy Spyro day one! *shakes head in disgust*
Padua on 11 Feb '11 said:
"World of Toycraft" for kids. It has potential!
TheCrimsonFenix on 11 Feb '11 said:
I realise Elijah Wood voiced Spyro at some point but do they really have to go further and make it look like him now? He's got the same OUT THERE eyeballs as him.
Everyone has basically said the true thing though, nothing more than a quick gimmick attempt at cashing in on a nice idea with an intended s**t execution. Activision are going the McDonalds free toy route, but not making the toy free.
kaptainabsinthe on 11 Feb '11 said:
how is a spyro reboot a 'big announcement'? as many people have said already, spyro was destroyed after the ps1 days.
richard99 on 11 Feb '11 said:
First Elijah Wood and now this. I get the impression it's been all downhill for Spyro since Insomniac made the PS1 games. Shame really if they'd done this right I could've got a bit nostalgic.
mogel94 on 11 Feb '11 said:
They cancelled True Crime for this? WHY???
Imaduck on 11 Feb '11 said:
Because this is a market they can abuse all on their own Mogel.
WingZeroSys on 11 Feb '11 said:
So this is basically like Pokemon or Eye of Judgement, but instead of catching the monsters in the games or using trading cards, you have to buy expensive crappy toys (probably be something like Furbies) and possibly a rubbish game made by Activision to play it? I'll pass thank you.
I hated Spyro The Dragon anyway, I found it boring, I preferred Crash Bandicoot (1, 2, 3, CTR and WoC) instead.
Let Spyro rest in piece, Ratchet & Clank and Sly Cooper are so much better.
WingZeroSys on 11 Feb '11 said:
I'm expecting Activision to charge anything from £29.99 - 49.99 for the game and £19.99 - 29.99 for the toys.
Either way it won't be cheap.
FAUNA on 11 Feb '11 said:
SPYRO: DAWN OF THE DRAGON for PS3/360 was incredible. THIS NEW MOVE IS SIMPLY RIDICULOUS! Why does everything nowadays have to have some sort of digital / online counterpart??! Especially toys?! Come on, keep toys old school (& unplugged!) Just another sign of humanity's downfall... & BRING BACK THE 'SPYRO' I ONCE NEW & LOVED...
adgr19 on 11 Feb '11 said:
really? spyro? all we need now is for people to stop buying cod and wow.
Ali_ on 12 Feb '11 said:
Spyro? Big announcement? AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA *breathe* AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
incrediblebulk on 12 Feb '11 said:
this could have been a pretty cool idea, scan your toys you already own into the game and play with them ingame but putting spyro on it and some pretty lame toys to buy extra to play the game is just stupid. at least make the toys that you have to buy be kinda decent not just throw outs from the 20p ball machines.
Bazcube85 on 12 Feb '11 said:
I don't unferstand activision why cancel True Crime and Guitar hero and release a spyro game that i don't understand what you are trying to do with it and you are only going to make money out of 10 year olds.
WingZeroSys on 12 Feb '11 said:
IGN's article is a lot better, they go into more detail and have actually seen the game in action.
The so-called toys are actually little figurines that will cost $10 each (although you do get 1 or 2 bundled with the game and the portal), the portal is a stand you place your figurine on and you have to leave the figurine on it for the game to pick up the character.
So in a sense it's like Eye of Judgement but instead of a camera, place mat and trading cards, you have a stand peripheral (portal) and figurines you put on the stand.
Although according to the comments on IGN, the figurines are basically memory cards.
Sammy_bham on 12 Feb '11 said:
EPIC FAIL.
Guitar hero has sold, and will sell a lot more then this ever will. (even though its being discontinued!)
it is not a house hold name by anymeans.
the only people who are going to know it are people who know of it from ps1 days.
and it looks.... terrible.
sorry activision.
EA use to be a terrible company with terrible games. They have woken up and smelled the coffee. and have backed up some amazing developers (DS2, ME2) just for example.
activision are slowly sinking. the boring black ops, no true crime, no guitar hero they ruined tony hawk.
EA are the new kings (apart from rockstar).
kimoak on 12 Feb '11 said:
What the f**k are your talking about? Take animated stick/sword on an adventure? Stay off the LSD.
gavedge81 on 12 Feb '11 said:
Hang on so they close down Guitar Hero and release this festering turd!?!?! I hope this is a massive flop!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
davemerritt on 12 Feb '11 said:
The spyro games should never have been touched since the 3rd game on the ps1. They were pure titles of great craftmanship and originality. This makes me physically sick.
Very_Silver_Ownz on 12 Feb '11 said:
please tell me these screenshots are from the Ps1 games. whoa it looks awful.
TheCrimsonFenix on 12 Feb '11 said:
The PS1 games certainly didn't look like that.
BLARRG on 12 Feb '11 said:
spyro has been s**t since insomniac left it
rossva on 13 Feb '11 said:
Well, whoopees**t.
AJDarkstar on 13 Feb '11 said:
I was going to say the original PlayStation games were the only good Spyro games, but that level design looks like it's from the same year. Weird. Innovation, Activision? Didn't think so.
craiglackenby on 13 Feb '11 said:
This is pure f**king insult to United Front games, they get a s**tty kids game announced days after their game gets cancelled? What a p**s take, the game hasn't even got the original developers behind the decent first game.
Activision never surprise me with s**tty ways of conducting bad business.
only_777 on 13 Feb '11 said:
I never played the Spyro games because I had a Sega Saturn back when this was out, so i didn't know that Spyro was such a big deal. I never even really gave it a second glance as I was playing Panzer Dragoon Saga and Spyro didn't really look that good.
Anyway Spyro back in the '90s:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1-6RzTFFpFU/TVf5DgbbePI/AAAAAAAABTU/CcCYktXmWsI/s1600/spyro1.jpg
And now Activison have their dirty hands on him:
http://cdn.medialib.computerandvideogames.com/screens/screenshot_246398.jpg
Many here have good memories of the first game, looks like you all just got s**t on.
jimsondanet on 14 Feb '11 said:
WTF?! I loved spyro too! ...when I was a kid. Cause thats what they are, kids games despite the 'hardcore' platforming. Not that it means it should only be played by children but I wouldnt start crying about it when OMG Spyro's in a crappy childrens game.