‘Infinity’ cross platform launched by Disney

Capt. Jack Sparrow driving Cinderella's carriage? Sulley from “Monsters Inc.” galloping on Bullseye from “Toy Story”? Those are some silly scenarios that could become a virtual reality with “Disney Infinity,” a Disney endeavor combining a video game with a toy line.

The Walt Disney Co. revealed plans Tuesday to launch a new gaming platform that's strikingly similar to Activision's successful “Skylanders” franchise.

“Infinity” will blend toy figures depicting various Disney personalities with a virtual world where those same characters can race cars, play games and construct buildings, as well as go on adventures in their own realms.

“We wanted to make it so that we could have lots of characters from lots of stories we create at Pixar and Disney come together in one place,” said Disney-Pixar animation chief John Lasseter.

“Infinity” will be available for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, Wii U, Nintendo 3DS, PC, online and on tablets and smartphones. It's being crafted by Disney-owned developer Avalanche Software, which created the 2010 game based on “Toy Story 3.” That game's “toy box” mode served as inspiration for what eventually became “Infinity.”

As in “Skylanders,” the plastic figures have the ability to store data and transmit characters' histories through a reader. The toys can also work between consoles, meaning a Disney figure can seamlessly go from a PS3 in your living room to the Wii in your friend's basement.

“Infinity” serves as something of a homecoming for Disney's very different heroes. While disparate Disney characters are sometimes paired in theme parks or in the merchandising world, they're rarely united within any of Disney's fictional domains.

“Infinity” is set to debut in June.

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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