gdc08, dgamer, disney, game developers conference, gdc

Disney Brings Its Own Miis, Achievements To The Nintendo DS

Hoping to get the jump on any attempt from Nintendo to bring features made popular on the Wii and Xbox 360, Disney is adding a feature called DGamer to future Nintendo DS titles. The first game to support the DGamer service will be The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian bringing the Disney equivalent of Miis, Achievements (called "Honors") and an online Pictochat-esque instant messaging app.

The DGamer service will integrate with with Disney's already established online programs at Disney.com and other owned properties, allowing for a unified sign-on requiring only a PIN to check in. The avatar customization we saw at GDC allows for basic clothing choices and color options, in addition to Mii-style character editing. Well-known Disney costumes, such as a Buzz Lightyear get up, will also be available when unlocked.

The Honors system works in a fashion similar to Xbox Live or Steam achievements, showing off gameplay accomplishments and leaderboard style stats. DGamer looks like an interesting, if unfortunately proprietary system. While Disney's work on the cross-game application is commendable, we hope that Nintendo answers the call to supplant it with an officially supported system that can work across all titles. Breath holding commences... now.

2:30 PM on Tue Feb 19 2008
By Michael McWhertor
4,609 views
28 comments

Comments

Old-school Sonic fanboy at 02:41 PM on 02/19/08
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A ploy to get people to buy awful Disney games? Possibly.
Irenicus-the one and only at 02:41 PM on 02/19/08
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Connectedness Index: 195

mmm, this would be awsome, coming from Nintendo ;)

Because I don't see myself playing any Disney games in a very, very long while*

*give me ducktales 3
Blackjack1353 at 02:45 PM on 02/19/08
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Wait, something from disney that doesnt have an agenda or death of a parent?! I need to go lie down for a while.
Moonshadow101 at 02:45 PM on 02/19/08
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You might want to throw in a disclaimer after that breath holding bit, because if you don't, you might suddenly find yourself responsible for thousands upon thousands of deaths.

Or, at least, unconsciousnesses.

(Does that translate into "Nintendo will never, ever do it" well enough? Hmmm... sure.)
shrewd at 02:48 PM on 02/19/08
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@Irenicus-the one and only: Ducktales 3 YES.
FallenAzrael at 02:50 PM on 02/19/08
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If, somehow, your hunger for the same 5-7 characters has yet to be killed by an endless onslaught of remakes and sequels, surely, this will do the trick.
Luchador138 at 02:51 PM on 02/19/08
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@Irenicus-the one and only: @shrewd:
Wait, first there had to be a Ducktails 2 or am I missing something here!?
Irenicus-the one and only at 02:54 PM on 02/19/08
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@Luchador138: yes lol But it came out very late for the NEs that most people missed it :( I liked the sequel a lot.
SwordandSorcery at 02:56 PM on 02/19/08
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ditto, when is Nintendo gonna supe up the pictochat so its actually usable. oh wait I forgot about friend codes
Irenicus-the one and only at 03:00 PM on 02/19/08
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@Luchador138: Seems to be a Game boy version of the sequel too. I might have the NES version down in the basement, I still got the original :) I played ducktales to the death as a kid. I also like rescue rangers for the NES and some other disney games.
Wyld at 03:02 PM on 02/19/08
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There are those who create, and those who think they "improve" stuff.
Sabre_Justice: Okay,... at 03:43 PM on 02/19/08
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Hey, not a bad idea. Gotta wonder if they can pull it off.
Sailorcancer at 03:44 PM on 02/19/08
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Connectedness Index: 105

THATS HOT!
NotAZombie at 03:49 PM on 02/19/08
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Connectedness Index: 180

@Blackjack1353: I guess so...
dexterr at 03:50 PM on 02/19/08
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3d graphics a bit off.
Old-Noz at 03:56 PM on 02/19/08
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The chat app seems to open new possibilities for pedophiles. Im sure it will do great.
Koji Otaku at 04:00 PM on 02/19/08
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This seems like an interesting idea, but I don't like most of the games Disney comes out with, so I don't plan on using this ever.

Also, I too want a ducktales 3.
Sandbox_Emperor at 04:32 PM on 02/19/08
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It's slightly shameful that Disney is implementing this before Nintendo themselves.
ohayou_kun at 04:58 PM on 02/19/08
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they actually look kinda cute.
Dancrane212 at 06:33 PM on 02/19/08
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And the Pedobears cheer.
thefremen at 06:56 PM on 02/19/08
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Let us also not forget the greatness that was Alladin for SNES. Do a sequel that isn't too much like Prince of Persia and I'll play it gladly.
Luchador138 at 07:01 PM on 02/19/08
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@Irenicus-the one and only: Looks like I'm gonna either Game faq it or Wikipedia it. I love what capcom did with the Disney franchise.
Allen750 at 07:07 PM on 02/19/08
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Yay.
realyst2k at 07:14 PM on 02/19/08
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Ahh, the possibilities if Nintendo's online strategy wasn't formulated by some antiquated Luddite Shiggy keeps chained up in the Nintendungeon.
Americo at 08:31 PM on 02/19/08
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How about they spend less time on DGamer and more time on developing the actual games.
CrazedOne at 11:55 PM on 02/19/08
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The sad thing is that this was announced way back at e3, but no one gives the Disney press conference any love.

Although seeing how horrible it was this year, can't really blame anyone. (*shivers remembering all the high school musical singing*)
Sabre_Justice: Okay,... at 12:21 AM on 02/20/08
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@realyst2k: Hee hee, Nintendungeon. Yeah, they really could have done better. Hopefully they'll have learned their lesson by next gen.
samaine at 04:40 PM on 02/20/08
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The pic needs the caption... "It's a small world, after all."