Epic Mickey

[bVork]

Late last year, Gamasutra reported that Warren Spector's Junction Point Studios, now owned by Disney, was working on a game codenamed "Epic Mickey." They saw some concept art, which they described but did not picture in the article:

Another sketch included a surreal seashore invasion scene, in which machines wearing the faces of the Seven Dwarfs deposit old-fashioned renditions of Disney characters onto the beach with mechanical hands.

Though the kooky environmental concepts, with visible large cogs, gears and even a large fork that serves as a building's awning, are somewhat reminiscent of Disney's Toontown Online MMO, the images -- particularly the cloud-stained seaside painting -- have a distinctly shadowed, steampunk vibe.

Now, it appears the very same concept art (as well as a few additional pieces) has surfaced thanks to a couple of artists who are or did work at Junction Point. I've attached a few of the more interesting pieces, and you can see the rest here.

The art is astonishingly different than anything else I've ever seen (officially) featuring Disney's characters. If these rumours really are true, I'm very surprised that Disney has greenlit this project. And yet, according again to Gamasutra, they have.

The other bit of interesting news is that apparently this title is a Wii game. This has me a little concerned. I love the concept art, but does Disney really think they can directly compete with Mario on Nintendo's own system? Can the Wii even handle such imaginative art design from a technical perspective?

[YellerDog]

I understand this got canned. That's why you're seeing art from it.

That ruined Epcot on Monstro's back is pretty rad.

[Chux]

Holy fuck, I had only seen the beach scene, the one with a decrepit Space Ship Earth is awesome.
It has the Earful Tower and Tower of Terror on it also, shit!

I need a better res shot of that, NEED. Also Gamasutra said on 7/3 this game was on track still.

[Frogacuda]

That looks pretty awesome. Shame if we'll never see it.

[epmode]

I understand this got canned.

No sir. (linked in the original post)

It's a Wii game, by the way.

edit: And the developer is hiring: http://www.junctionpoint.com/index.html

[Opaque]

Those shots are really something else.

I would play this.

[YellerDog]

No sir. (linked in the original post)

It's a Wii game, by the way.

Oh, excuse me.

It is my understanding that this might as well have been canned.

[bbobb]

It's a Wii game, by the way.

Interest killed.

[Frogacuda]

Hey, at least that means it's not an MMO

[icarusfall]

I like the idea of Disney burning to the ground.