“Epic Mickey” Screenshots: A dark, dystopian Disney

[V8Arwing]

So, we know Warren Spector's development house Junction Point is wholly-owned by Disney and we also know the legendary Deus Ex creator posted this on his studio's official blog last year: "My team and I have been working hard on our own and (get ready for the cool factor to go way up) in collaboration with folks from Disney Feature Animation and Pixar."

Now though, thanks to myriad cross-snoopery from various websites including Superannuation, Gamasutra, neoGAF and Kotaku, some suspiciously likely-looking concept art has surfaced that just might shed more light on the nature of the project known as "Epic Mickey".



It's come from the online portfolios of artists Gary Glover and Fred Gambino and seems to corroborate rumours of a steampunk-style setting for the game, first whispered via Gamasutra. In fact, stop reading now and check out the art - it's absolutely breathtaking to the point of huge sweary exclamations.

Featuring environmental concepts and a handful of character designs, it's a hell of a lot darker than anyone might rightfully expect from a Disney game and seems to show an alternate dimension Walt Disney World Resort where something's gone very, very awry. With Cinderella's Castle perched atop a precarious rock plinth, Epcot snug against the Tower of Terror on a gargantuan clockwork sea transporter and some genuinely terrifying amalgams of classic Disney character animatronics, it's all astonishingly evocative and makes us want to explore the universe right now.



Unsurprisingly, there's no official word yet from Disney but one final piece of Superannuation detective work cites the resume of artist Tony Pulham, listing Epic Mickey as a Wii title that's still currently in development. Personally, we'd love some hi-def console oomph behind the game to really do those AMAZING designs justice and we hope that, if it's all true, there's still life in the project yet. Traditionally, concept art tends to surface on portfolios once a game's been canned. We'd be sad-faced if that was the case - but how about you?

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Well, this sure is a departure from Disney's usual fare. A Disney game that looks like Silent Hill and Bioshock's lovechild? While this is a awesome (and freakish) idea, how would the gameplay work? What do you all think of this craziness?

[MetalWarFighter]

Are the Disney characters evil?

[V8Arwing]

Originally Posted by MetalWarFighter Are the Disney characters evil?

Well, these pictures are the only thing anyone really knows about this game. But as for the Disney characters being evil, I have a hunch that they might be evil. But who knows, those robot enemies might be trying to use parts of Disney character costumes to scare and confuse whoever you play as, or even the player themselves. It's just a hunch, though.

[maliciousruler]

wasn't expecting the art on the bottom maybe Disney will become less family oriented ... although I doubt it

[tahorny]

this Game looks/sounds FREAKIN Awesome! "seems to show an alternate dimension Walt Disney World Resort where something's gone very, very awry." even the idea of Disney animatronics coming alive and going psycho is Sick! XD ( i mean isn't that what we all were afriad of while riding Pirates,Small World, Indiana jones) i think disney knows what their doing heading in this direction, it makes us wii owner exicted to look foward to a mature disney game. i was pretty bumb in facing the fact that kingdom hearts 3 is staying on ps3(wouldnt have it any other way) but at least Wii have this now.

[TRICOURAGE]

Ok, first pic I liked. Disney world as the setting for a game=win.

This type of game with Disney though, gives me the creeps. I just cant see how disney could do something like this. I'll be on the lookout for more.

[Xander]

Yes, that is a zombie Monstro with robotic arms carrying the shattered remains of iconic Disney World sights on its back. You are not imagining that picture.

What may surprise you is that picture is not some kind of fan work but “concept/inspirational” art for a mysterious new Disney game for the Wii codenamed “Epic Mickey”. Being developed by Warren Spector, the creator of the classic Deus Ex, it appears to be an oddly steampunk astetic with zombie robots.

The idea may be trying to draw upon childhood fears of some of the bigger and more unreal looking animatronics Disney would sometimes put forth. Just look at the zombie robot Goofy and zombie robot Country Bear beyond the jump and tell me that is not creepier than a normal robot zombie would look.

Unfortunately, Disney has yet to release a statement about the status of the actual game, so all of this is only speculation until then.





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I think my childhood just got a kick in the face....I wonder what Disney is doing this time?

[Manlyguy]

Wow, that's just...terrible.

I can't see a reason why Disney would make something like this. Just looking at the art gives me an odd feeling about it.

It's freaky.

[Lady GaGa]

OMG, if Disney actually goes through with this game concept, I will forgive them for the Jonas Brothers and Hannah Montana.

Disney gets two thumbs up!

[Misterpwnage]

Originally Posted by Lady GaGa OMG, if Disney actually goes through with this game concept, I will forgive them for the Jonas Brothers and Hannah Montana. Disney gets two thumbs up!

Amen to that.... Disney, bring back the evil that you had in your original ideas... Like Stealing Boats with mice...

[Justaway]

I found this pic on Neogaf:

If it means anything then I think

it's going to have olden time characters like Steamboat Wille's Mickey Mouse.

Like:

[TheBlackLink]

................... ._O

And with that, I highly, HIGHLY, doubt that anything as shockingly extreme as these concept shots will come of this. Disney is far too concerned with their own and their characters ever child-friendly image to ever risk losing it on a game like this.

Now that being said, I of course, could be wrong, in which case I would be massively freaked out by a Disney game of this caliber. But like I said, by the time this game comes out, if it ever even goes into development, it probably won't be nearly as unsettling as the concept art depicts.