Now that all of the confusion behind console exclusivity can be put to rest, we can now take a look at exactly what Epic Mickey is all about and reason behind it’s Wii-only status. In an interview with Game Informer, Warren Spector from Junction Point Studios revealed a number of interesting game details that will surely excite Wii owners.
The very premise of the game revolves around a rather unique and completely fresh approach to gaming on Nintendo’s console. “The central game play mechanic of Disney Epic Mickey is paint and thinner. It’s basically drawing and erasing; it’s making the world whole, or making it go away,” Spector said.
While that comment may leave you with more questions than answers, perhaps this illustration will bring some clarity. “[If] you peek behind the walls you see that they’re flats held up with 2x4s. And so I wanted to create – of all the games I was pitching since I left Ion Storm, were about creating a world that was more than a movie set, where you could scratch beneath the surface and there was more going on there. And so this whole paint and thinner mechanic really plays into that because you can dynamically change the world to suit your needs. So dynamically changing the environment to solve problems is kind of what it’s about.”
Additionally, Spector explains that the choice to bring Epic Mickey to the Wii was based solely on the audience that they are trying to reach. “Well, think about it. Would you really want to tackle convincing Halo or Grand Theft Auto players that they want to be Mickey Mouse? Would you really want to do that? In terms of finding a congenial audience, let’s go for a platform that’s known for Mario and Link and now Sonic,” he said. Has Nintendo acquired a new mascot? Looks to be that way.
Spector was also careful to point out that the Wii’s current status has in no way been a factor in influencing their decision regarding which platform to develop for. “Honestly, with the unit sales on the hardware, it was kind of a lucky happenstance. We made the call to go to the Wii long before it was clear that the Wii was going to be, at least for now, the best-selling platform.” Lucky happenstance indeed.
