Includes a snapback hat and in-game currency!

Proudly wear today's prize and enter our contest for a Skylanders: Ring of Heroes prize pack.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Contests where there are physic??al prizes are my favorite. I just love the idea of getting actual, tangible things in the mail instead of a digital key in my email. But if you're the opposite, today you'll?? get both.

Win a Skylanders: Ring of Heroes prize pack and t??ake home a col?lectible snapback hat and $20 worth of in-game currency!

Spyro and the Skylanders are back at it, this time on mobile devices so you can take them with y??ou anywhere you go! Except to court. You can't take them there, since, you know, they don't al??low phones in there. Read some story synopsis:

Skylanders: Ring of Heroes is a turn-based RPG adventure where players embark on a magical journey as a Portal Master??, drawn into Skylands from a dimensional rift c??aused by the dastardly Dark Portal Master, Kaos. As a Portal Master, players will traverse ten diverse Sky Islands with multiple stages and boss battles.

I'??m always looking for stuff to do in between court dates, so this sounds good to me.

We've got ten prize packs up for grabs, including one of the snapback hats shown above and? a code for the Android version for 50??0 in-game gems to help get your team both skying and landing. You can't have one without the other, right?

To enter, use the widget below to leave your name and email address. You can repeat daily for additional chances to win. For bonus entries, follow Dtoid and Ring of Heroes on Twitter ?and share our contest post with your friends!

As this contains a physical prize, shipping is limited to the Unit??ed States. Our in-game currency codes are for the Android version of the game. Winners will be drawn on March 6.

Skylanders: Ring of Heroes is free to play and available to download from Google P?lay.

Contest: Win a S??kylanders: Ring of Heroes priz??e pack

Official Rules

No Purchase Required to Enter or Win

1. Eligibility: jbsgame.com contests are usually provided by sponsors who, due to customs and shipping costs (yay budgets), often limit participation to individuals who are legal residents of the fifty (50) United States (unless otherwise stated) and are at least 12 years of age. We encourage our overseas friends to be super sneaky and make a friend in the United States who can receive your prize, and then you two figure out the customs/logistics. Be cautious about who you trust, obviously. Employees of jbsgame.com, their advertising or promotion agencies, those involved in the production, development, implementation or handling of Contests, any agents acting f?or, or on behalf of the above entities, their respective parent companies, officers, directors, subsidiaries, affiliates, licensees, service providers, prize suppliers any other person or entity associated with the Contests (collectively “Contest Entities”) and/or the immediate family (spouse, parents, siblings and children) and household members (whether related or not) of each such employee, are *not* eligible and will be fired and publicly beaten if are caught participating. All U.S., federal, state and local and regulations apply.

2. Agreement to Official Rules: Participation in the Contest constitutes entrant’s full and uncond??itional agreement to and acceptance of these Official Rules and the decisions of the Sponsor, which are final and binding. Winning a prize is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements set forth herein.

3. Entry Period: The start and end dates/times of each Contest (the “Entry Period”)?? will be posted on the applicable Contest site.

4. Entry: To enter a Contest, follow the instructions on the Contest site. Submission will result in one (1) entry. The number of times you can ent??er the Contest will be posted on the applicable Contest site. The use of any agencies or automated software to submit entries will void all entries submitted by that person, with the exception of patron members who may enter contests by logging into their 'perks' page.

5. Drawing: Unless otherwise specified in the contest details above, we will select the names of the potential winners in a random drawing of all eligible entries received during each Entry Period. The number of winners to be selected in a specific Contest will be posted on the applicable Contest site. The odds of being selected as a potential winner depend on the number of eligible entries received during the Entry Period. Potential winners will be contacted via email and will be asked to provide their full name, age?? and mailing address within a specified time period. If a potential winner does not respond within the timeframe stated in the notification email, we may select an alternate potential winner in his/her place at random from all entries received during the Entry Period. Limit one (1) prize per household per Contest.

6. Requirements of the Potential Winners: Winners will be notified by the e-mail address associated with their account on jbsgame.com and/or receive a Private Message on jbsgame.com or through a Twi??tter Direct Message/Facebook message?. Winners have five (5) days from the original message alerting them of their winnings to respond and claim their prize. If no winner comes forward within five business days, the prize will be forfeited and raffled again where Destructoid's hardcore fans are most active (social media).

7. Prize(s): The prize(s) (including each prize’s approximate retail value) available to be won in a speci??fic Contest will be posted on the Contest site. No cash o??r other substitution may be made, except by the Sponsor, who reserves the right to substitute a prize with another prize of equal or greater value if the prize is not available for any reason as determined by the Sponsor in its sole discretion. The winners are responsible for any taxes and fees associated with receipt or use of a prize. Prizes will be mailed between 1 to 45 business days after winners have replied with their required info.

8. General Conditions: In the event that the operation, security, or administration of the Contest is impaired in any way for any reason, including, but not limited to fraud, virus, or other technical problem, the Sponsor may, in its sole discretion, either: (a) suspend the Contest to address the impairment and then resume the Contest in a manner that best conforms to the spirit of these Official Rules; or (b) award the prizes at random from among the eligible entries received up to the time of the impairment. The Sponsor reserves the right in its sole discretion to disqualify any individual it finds to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Contest or to be acting in violation of these Official Rules or in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner. Any attempt by any? person to undermine the legitimate operation of the Contest may be a violation of criminal and civil law, and, should such an attempt be made, the Sponsor reserves the right to seek damages from any such person to the fullest extent permitted by law. The Sponsor’s failure to enforce any term of these Official Rules shall not constitute a waiver of that provision. In case of a dispute as to the owner of an entry, entry will be deemed to have been submitted by the authorized account holder of the screen name from which the entry is made. The authorized account holder is defined as the natural person who is assigned to an e-mail address by an Internet access provider, online service provider?, or other organization responsible for assigning e-mail addresses for the domain associated with the submitted e-mail address.

9.Release and Limitations of Liability: By participating in the Contest, entrants agree to release and hold harmless the Contest Entities and and Activision Publis??hing, Inc. and its affiliates (“Activision”) from and against any claim or cause of action arising out of participation in the Contest or receipt or use of any prize, including, but not limited to: (a) unauthorized human intervention in the Contest; (b) technical errors related to computers, servers, providers, or telephone or network lines; © printing errors; (d) lost, late, postage-due, misdirected, or undeliverable mail; (e) errors in the administration of the Contest or the processing of entries; or (f) injury or damage to persons or property which may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from entrant’s participation in the Contest or receipt of any prize. Entrant further agrees that in any cause of action, the Contest Entities’ and/or Activision’s liability will be limited to the cost of entering and participating in the Contest, and in no event shall the Contest Entities or Activision be liable for attorney’s fees. Entrant waives the right to claim any damages whatsoever, including, but not limited to, punitive, consequential, direct, or indirect damages. Entrants acknowledge that Activision is not a sponsor of this Contest.

10. Disputes: ?Except where prohibited, entrant agrees that any and all disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of, or connected with, the Contest or any prize awarded shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, entrant’s rights and obligations, or the rights and obligations of the Sponsors in connection with the Contest, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, without giving effect to any choice of law ?or conflict of law rules (whether of the Commonwealth of Virginia or any other jurisdiction), which would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the Commonwealth of Virginia.

11. Contest Results: To enter the contest without needing to buy/sell anything or request a written copy of the name of the winners, send a self-addressed stamped envelope (stating the specific Contest you are requesting the winners for) to jbsgame.com Contest Winners, 548 Market Street #59757, San Francisco, CA 94104 USA. We run many contests, so please be specific in what you are requesting. Winner requests must be received within t??hirty (30) days from the end date of the applicable contest (they're always posted on our site though). Winners are usually posted the day following the contest on our contest section. 

Lastly, Destructoid has the right to kick y??our?? ass and take away your prize if you are a total dick, so be cool and don't kick any puppies on your way to victory. Have fun with our contests and be a good sport when you win or lose. Remember: First yo??u get the power, then you get the money, then get the baby.

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'This is an amazing company...'

Activision Publishing's CEO Eric Hir??shberg will step down this March, after a eight-year stint within the role, a run th?at has seen the company through multiple million-dollar releases.

Although no reason was given for Hirshberg's departure, a statement from Activision spoke of his "strong leadership" and that his stepping down would leave the industry giant "in a strong posi??tion for growth?". Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick also praised Hirshberg's leadership skills, adding that "we will all miss his creativity and tenacity very much".

Of his time with the company, in which he oversaw the publishing of Call of Duty, Destiny and Skylanders titles, Eric said serving with Activision was "an honor and ??a thrill," and that he had "nothing but appreciation for Bobby for giving me this transformational opportunity, and also for having the vision and conviction to champion a ?? creative person for a leadership role on this scale.”

Eric Hirshberg's contract conclude??s March 31, 2018. Activision is currently seeking his replacement.

Activision Publishin??g CEO Eric Hirshberg to step dow??n [Venture Beat]

The post Activision Publishing CEO Eric Hirsh?berg stepping down from role in March appeared first on Destructoid.

Aside from the obligatory Nintendo Switch port, of course

During a recent call for investors at Activision, an executive of the company has stated that there will not be any new console-based instalments in the Skylanders series released this year.

This means that 2017 will be the first year to see no new Skylanders titles on home consoles since the series' inception in 2011. Although there will be a port of Skylanders: Imaginators for the Nintendo Switch, which is meant to be somewhat stripped-down when compared to its counterparts on other home consoles, as it lacks compatibility with some of the toys that are still? supported on other platforms.

While home consoles won't be receiving any new Skylanders games this year, Activision is still working on a mobile title in the series, with an official release date s?till forthcoming.

To be fair, this news doesn't exactly come as much of a surprise. About a year ago, during a massive round of layoffs at Activision, the publisher admitted that its then-most-recent instalment in the Skylanders series -- Skylanders: Superchargers -- had underperformed quite dramatically. It would be reasonable to assume that there was a lot riding on the success (or lack thereof) of the then-upcoming Skylanders: Imaginators.

It also needs to be mentioned that back in May last year, Disney shuttered the studio behind Disney Infinity; a series of games that was seen as a significant rival to Skylanders. The rationale behind this decision by Disney was that sales for its toys-to-life franchise?? were in decline, and it was becoming unfeasible to continue working on new instalments.

Interestingly enough, the lack of a new Skylanders title for 2017 does seem to lend a fair amount of validity to some claims made in a video released back in November by Liam Robertson of Unseen64. In this video, he stated that the Skylanders ??;series has essentially been cancelled, with no immediate plans to create a new console-based entry in the immediate future.

While Activision has made no official announcements regarding the long-term state of the Skylanders series, the p?rospect of its cancellation or indefinite hiatus appears to be more and more likely. With that said, it is still entirely possible that Activision may announce a new instalment in the franchise at a later date.

Of course, this isn't to say that 2017 will be entirely devoid of Skylanders content; alongside the upcoming mobile game, a second season of the Netflix series Skylanders Academy is still set to be released this year, ?with a third one to air in 2018. As for the long-term state of the series of games? I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Skylanders put on hiatus?? for first time in six years [Polygon]

The post Don’t expect to see a new Skylanders console game this year appeared first on Destructoid.

Oh, and Cortex is in too

After getting my PS4 review kit for Skylanders Imaginators, my ey??es immediately gravitated t?owards the Crash and Cortex figures.

I could have opted to meticulously make my own character or put on my army of previously acquired toys, but no, I wanted to hang out with Crash again after his cameo in Uncharted 4 tugged at my heartstrings.

And while I initially referred to this crossover half-jokingly as the "Conker treatment," it's actually much more jus??tified than that ??fiasco.

Yep, Crash has his signature?? spin attack, goofy animations (the flip jump is back!), and he even throws TNT. He slots nicely into the "Brawler" archetype, one of the new Battle Classes that dictates each character's fighting style (he's also technically a Sensei). Cortex is a little more traditional, playing the role of the "Sorcerer" in the form of laser-centric ranged attacks, but with the added bonus of a few gadgets like mines.

Most importantly though, they're emotive. You'll ??get plenty of weird sounds from Crash, and as an added nice touch, his pal Aku Aku the totem is there to translate when needed. The duo is even more fun in co-op, with Aku Aku and Uka Uka attacks flying across the screen in tandem. I also appreci??ate that they're fairly faithful to their original designs, because while Turbo Charge Donkey Kong and Hammer Slam Bowser were a nice surprise in the last iteration, their new getups were a little strange in the sense that they felt like a weird, forced hybrid of Nintendo and Activision sensibilities.

There's a caveat, of course: it's really lame that they both double up the Sensei types located elsewhere in the Starter Kit (Master King Pen and Golden Queen are Brawler and Sorcerer respectively, which was no doubt done on purpose to get players to buy more figures). Outside of that, this whole situation was handled far beyond my expectations because in the end we're getting remasters of the original trilogy, so maybe Crash will continue to live on, free of the limbo he's been trapped in for nearly a decade? If not, Skylanders is a nice enough sendoff.

Imaginators' "Crash Bandicoot Edition?" retails for $99.99 (the starter kit is $74.99), and is currently exclusive to the PS3 and PS4 platforms. Unlike the Nintendo figures though the pair will be available separately "later this holiday season" for other platforms, along with a Crash-themed level.

The post ??The Crash Bandicoot/Sky?landers crossover is handled better than I though it would be appeared first on Destructoid.

It's a kid's show if you haven't guessed

Spyro is dead. Long live Spyro.

I was just re-watching a great "Did You Know" episode on the series, and how the team at Insomniac was able to work some technical wizardry to actually get the thing to run, and found myself wanting to replay them all again. The first three are all gold at the very least, and if Crash can get PS4 remasters, maybe Spyro can too.

But for now, you'll have to deal with Skylanders: Academy, which hits Netflix on October 28.

While many shows aimed at kids can transcended the potty humor plane and actually offer up some smart commentary and writing, Academy doesn't seem to do any of that. Still, it's probably a cute enough show for the Skylanders generation.

The post That Skyl?anders Net?flix show with Norm is out on October 28 appeared first on Destructoid.

More stuff to buy for Imaginators

Skylanders Imaginators is basically embracing the whole dungeon crawler setup this time. Now you can create your own character, assign it a class, and go full Diablo with it.

But Toys for Bob and Activision are taking it a step further given the wide breadth of the character creation tools, and are allowing for custom merchandise sales. For $15, $25, and $50 respectively, you can create a card, t-shirt, and "limited run" figure through a Skylanders Creator ?app that links with all versions of the game (by way of an audio clip that recognizes the formula you've used). There's a caveat though -- the figure is encased in a dome for safet?y reasons. The card will also house the character and can be customized.

For parents, it's more stuf?f to burn a hole in your pocket. For kids, it's a pretty cool way to connect with the game.

The post The next Skylanders will let? you order your created character?? as a toy appeared first on Destructoid.

I uh, might watch it?

Today, Activision reminded us that the TV show Skylanders Academy exists, and that it will premiere this Fall on Netflix. Along with a lot of bombastic language about how successful the series is despite the Toys to Life market issues going on right now, they noted that they've already locked up a two-season deal, so get ready for two more years of Skylanders, at least!

Truthfully though, the talent involved has me curious. Eric Rogers (who wrote a few Futurama episodes) will be the showrunner, and Jonathan Banks (Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul), and Norm MacDonald (of Norm MacDonald fame) are involved. Bobcat Goldthwait and James Hetfield are even sprinkled in for good measure!

The pub??lisher has also provided a single image of the show, so you can comb over it and judge it accordingly.

The post Skylanders show, which has Norm MacDonald in it, c?oming to Netflix this Fall appeared first on Destructoid.

Ha, so sad if true

[Update: The official Italian website for Skylanders Imaginators had a "Crash" tab next to its standard and dark editions on PS4 (it has since been removed, but we have a screen capture below). It doesn't go anywhere, but perhaps Activision is waiting to unveil this at the Sony E3 conference. This is loo?king pretty real.]

Hey guys, remember when Conker was unceremoniously "brought back" as an add-on for Project Spark? That might be happening with Crash Bandicoot.

Based on a rumor from NeoGAF, a Singapore-based retailer named Qisahn has listed a PS4 exclusive "Skylanders Imaginators Starter pack," with a listing for "Crash Edition content." Note -- Activision, Skylanders' publisher, still owns the rights to Crash (as far as we know), even if they've be?en lying?? dormant.

This claim as tenuous as it is could easily be true. Spyro was trotted out as the face of the original Skylanders before once again being put to pasture, and I wouldn't put it past the publisher to do it once again. Because really, this is all they need to sell new toy lines. That, and his spin attack and aesthetic would actually fit in ?the world.

But I still think Sony has something up their slee?ve for E3 when it comes to Crash, even if it's a 10 second teaser during their press conference. I mean, this can't be it, right?

Rumor: Crash Bandicoot is back... In Skylanders [NeoGAF]

The post Rumor: Crash Bandicoot might be getting the ‘Conker’ treatment with Skylanders appeared first on Destructoid.

Coming in October

Activision is in a unique position at this point. It basically started the video game toys-to-life market, and now, a major competitor has pulled out entirely. If it was worried before, it's les??s worried now.

It's just as well as the company has a new major release on the horizon this October -- Skylanders Imaginators.

Introduced by way of a short hands-off presentation, the reps over at Activision had nearly a hundred hand-drawn pictures from fans strewn about a table. With characters from stick figures to fully-fledged professional artwork with statistic and ability breakdowns, they mused on the idea of letting them create their own Skylander based on this common request. That's basically Imaginators' newest gimmick.

Players have the option of choosing from 10 classes (like brawlers, tanks, or? casters), and customizing just about everything on their character -- it was pretty impressive, all told. You?? can go as deep as individual body parts (male or female) all the way up to a catchphrase and vocal performance. To start a creation, you'll need to tap the "Creation Crystal" (which come in multiple elements) to the portal. And how are all of these options doled out? By way of loot, of course.

Based on the demo I was given, it essentially takes from Diablo. Players are given randomized loot from special chests, which could pop up just about anywhere, a??nd range from weapons (including absurd ones like frying pans) to other custom bits. No longer just relegated to hats (that I rarely wanted to use for aesthetic reasons), I really dig the idea of replaying stages to eventually unlock everything.

But just one gimmick wouldn't be enough for Activision, so there's two more -- Sensei and Villain figures. Roughly the same dimensions as the Giants line, these add additional level caps to the game (which I was told were not necessary to complete the game), new bonus level gates, and of course, inherently allow you to play as more characters. I was told there would be 10 of each type released throughout Imaginators?' launch. "All 300+ legacy characters??, vehicles, and racetracks" will be supported.

As part of the ($74.99) Starter Kit, you'll get one Sensei, one Villain, a portal, and an undisclosed Creation Crystal element (I saw fire but was instructed that it's subject to change). It's hard to know if the market is saturated enough for this to do better than SuperChargers, and I haven't even played it yet,?? but it does look neat and the dungeon crawler hook could be a big hit on higher difficulty settings.

Skylanders Imaginators will arrive this October on PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Wii U. When asked what their plans were for a mobile port after the success of SuperChargers, an Activision rep responded "we decided to focus on Battlecast instead," and that ???there would not be a mobile version of the game.

The post Skylanders Imaginators, the new??est game in the series, is basically Diabl?o appeared first on Destructoid.

With real cards

While Disney Infinity is shutting down entirely, Activision is doubling down on the market with a new Skylanders property, Battlecast. It's a mobile game that uses real trading cards on Android and iOS, as well as in-game unlocks. Multiplayer an?d AI battles are confirmed, as well as a campaign mode -- the latter of which isn't typically a thing these days.

Truth be told it sounds particularly pricey (packs range from $4.99 to $9.99), but I'm going to try to give it a shot when I have some free time and see if Activision maintained a good free-t??o-play balance that doesn't pressure you into spending tons of cash. We'll see.

The post Trading card-based Skylanders Battleca??st is out today appeared first on Destructoid.

But Activision won't confirm

Following last week's investors' report, it seems as if Activision has laid off an undisclosed number of employees. These layoffs may be, in part, due to the fact that Activision says both Skylanders and Guitar Hero under-performed.

News of the layoffs was reported by Game Informer, who was tipped off via this Twitter exchange. In it, the significant other of an Activision employee says that the publisher "decided to shut down the Minneapolis office." She elaborates that the move came with about "two weeks of mounting suspicion.?"

Activision confirmed to Game Informer that layoffs had occurred, but wouldn't say much more. "As announced on our earnings call, our games for core audiences did extremely well, but the casual audience has not yet emerged on next gen consoles. So we are refocusi??ng to better align with Activision's long-term priorities because, as always, our strategy evolves to keep us ahead o?f a rapidly-changing industry. We are working with those impacted by the changes to offer outplacement services and support," an Activision representative said to Game Informer.

Although Activision never confirmed the closing of the Minneapolis office, it didn't deny it either. According to this business profile, that location staffed between 20 and 49 people. For what it's worth, the Activision careers website has no listings f?or positions at the seemingly affected Minneapolis office.

There's also the possibility that the layoffs may have not been confined to the Minneapolis branch; they could have also impacted people at other locations, as well. In the event that Activision clears this up, we'll update this story. In the meantime, we?? hope all affected people land on their feet quickly.

Layoffs Hit Activision Following Weaker ??Guitar Hero, Skylanders Performance [Game Informer]

The post Activision has a rou?nd of layoffs, entire Minneapolis location may have close??d appeared first on Destructoid.

The Hateful Skylanders

Seeking new money-making avenues, Activision Blizzard announced it would start its own "film and television studio devoted to creating original content" for its series like Call of Duty, StarCraft, and Diablo.

Activision Blizzard announced a new co-president for the studio today, film producer Stacey Sher, who has credits on The Hateful Eight, Django Unchained, Pulp Fiction, and World Trade Center starring Nicolas Cage. ????I saw that damn movie in theatres.

Sher joins other co-president, former Disney executive Nick van Dyk, in a bid to make all kinds of tangled universes. It's starting with a Skylanders animated TV show and plans for a Call of Duty "cinematic universe," with the "possibility of television adaptations" as well. Pulling a Marvel, basically, and trying to make the most money on its assets. This way Blizzard won't have to, say, partner with Legendary to make a Warcraft movie. And will ensure that nothing hits th??e cinem??as besides loud, CGI-filled sequels priming you for the next entry.

Activision Blizzard recruits ex-Tarantino producer? to turn its video games into film [The Verge]

The post Ex-Tarantino producer jo??ins Activision Blizzard movie studio appeared first on Destructoid.

$24.99

[Update: It looks like the pair are going to be sold on 1/9 at GameStop -- there's no current word on what the stock looks like, but since they're being distributed by Activision, there's no doubt that it will be more plentiful than Nintendo's efforts. Note that this is technically both an amiibo and a Skylanders toy, and thus will work with both publisher??'s games (though for Nintendo, they'll be a standard Bowser or Donkey Kong figure).

For months, the only way amiibo collectors have been able to get their hands on the Skylanders figures (Bowser and Donkey Kong) have been by way of the Starter Packs for SuperChargers. They've since c??ome down in price to roughly $40 (or less) from $75 at launch, but that's still far too much if you're just looking for the amiibo and not th??e game.

Thankfully, Skylanders Inquirer has discovered that they will be released separately, and will retail for $24.99?. Why is it so? high? Because it comes with a vehicle (even though most people just want the figure), and because....money.

But there is a catch -- the Dark variants are still reportedly exclusive to the Starter Packs. Luckily I was able to acquire them by way of a friend and an awesome reader.

Confirmed: Nintendo amiibo [Skylanders Inquirer]

The post Good news, collectors: The Skylanders amiibo are going to be sold s??eparately appeared first on Destructoid.

You still need an iOS Portal

It's crazy how far mobile gaming has come in just a few short years. I still remember the wild west of mobile development with my iPod Touch, and how gems were plentiful enough, but mostly ancillary or retro experiences. Now, they're replicating full-on console games, as is the case with Skylanders SuperChargers for iOS.

Although the game launched back in September on consoles, it just hitting the mobile platform as of a few weeks ago. I just had a chance to try it out for myself on an iPad 2, and I have to say, it's? remarkable how little Activision had to compromise. Priced at the same rate as the original, this mobile-centric? pack comes with a controller, Bluetooth Portal, two figures, and a vehicle.

The game is technically a free download and can be played with microtransactions, but I don't? recommend doing that. Instead, linking up the Portal with the mobile version will "unlock" it for free, which allows you to use any existing toy on its base. Also, just like its console kin, you can complete the entire game with just the starter kit.

During my tests, I noticed very ?little in the way of performance drops. Sure it looks a tad less like the Xbox One and PS4 editions and more like the previous-generation, and the framerate does dip a bit (but never too much or too often), but it's still quite impressive, and the controller is just as responsive as any other device.

If you happen to have an itch for SuperChargers at some point down the line and are looking for the cheapest?? option, don't count out the iOS version.

The post Skylanders SuperChargers for iOS is basically the same as consoles, and that’s crazy appeared first on Destructoid.

Skylanders Academy is up first

Before long, we're going to start to see television shows and even movies based on Activision Blizzard properties. The company is putting together a new "film and television studio devoted to creating original content" for its series like Call of Duty, StarCraft, and Diablo.

The first project to come out of Activision Blizzard Studios will be an animated TV show, Skylanders Academy, led by Futurama writer Eric Rogers. There are also plans for (here it comes!) a Call of Duty "ci?nematic universe," with the "possibility of television adaptations" as well.

I don't ??know about all that, personally speaking, but adaptations of Blizzard's games could be cool.

The post Activision Blizzard forms studio for TV and film appeared first on Destructoid.

Back to business

Year after year, I can generally count on the Skylanders games. I had zero hope for Spyro?'s return back in 2011, but every single iteration has been a competent brawler. While Activision can be accused of running franchises into the ground with annual iterations, it's doing right by this series.

While the momentum was halted a bit with the gimmicky "traps" of last year's Trap Team, I'm pleased that developer Vicarious Visions has managed to recapture the magic with Skylanders SuperChargers' vehicular-based combat.

Skylanders SuperChargers (3DS, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One [reviewed], Wii U)
Developer: Vicarious Visions
Publisher: Activision
Released: September 20, 2015
MSRP: $74.99 (Starter pack, two characters, vehicle, base, game)

To be frank, I was worried about the state of Skylanders after Trap Team. I mean, su?re, it was a great action game and still had its charms, but I was starting to?? think that Activision had been scraping the bottom of the barrel with its newest gimmick. With the vehicular-based focus however, Vicarious Visions has turned the formula on its head again, going back to basics with old-school, sensible tendencies.

The focus here is vehicles, and not just cars. Land, sea, and air-based transportation is at the crux of the experience, with the Starter Pack providing the former. To be clear, there are elemental gates for ancillary content (forcing players to use certain toys to access some areas), but the fact that the entire core game can be completed with one land vehicle, and the vast majority of sidequests are accessible with just one sea and ??air toy respectively is a massive step up from past titles. Yes, you will have to spend a bit of extra cash to get everything, but I?? was completely satisfied with the main campaign on its own terms.

Speaking of the toys themselves, they're still at the top of their game. All of the vehicles sport moving parts, and take me back to my Micro Machines days, racing cars across a table with glee. There are fewer new characters this time around in favor of the vehicles, which is fine in my book, as they're much easier to wrap your head around with three distinct varieties. Just like before, two players can play together on the same console with two different Skylanders -- here, a vehicle can be added to the mix with the new portal. Yes, that's one vehicle. While I initially thought it was a limitation, it actually feels like a mor?e deliberate design choice, as sharing a ride is much more fun as a co-op experience.

One person drives, and the other shoots -- it's that simple. With the touch of a button you can switch roles, should someone else want to take the driver's seat. Movement is int??uitive, as the driver is only focusing on traversal, and the shooting bits cleverly make use of a reticle to avoid the need for the driver to always be in sync with their partner. In short, it allows everyone a ton of freedom, but it isn't too o?verwhelming of a prospect to hop from car to car.

The story this time around doesn't require any prior knowledge of the series, which sim??ultaneously works in its favor and hurts the setup. Once again, Kaos (who is still charming as "Not Invader Zim," but is getting a bit old at this point) reigns supreme, it's just that this time he's taken the noble Eon captive, leaving your ragtag team of Patrick Warburton and company to save the day. It's a plot that belongs in a Saturday morning cartoon, but the sleek visuals and upbeat performances sell it well enough.

During the 10-hour campaign, you'll find plenty of variety when it comes to mission types, enemy patterns, themes, and gameplay. One moment you might be diving underwater in an obstacle course of sorts with a submarine, and the next, you're up in the air dogfighting, Star Fox style (yes, you can barrel roll). The pacing is excellent, and boss fights are seen in a whole new light as vehicular confrontations. But this time you'll have Mario Kart-esque ?races as a distracti?on as well, which are easily the best pieces of side content yet for the series.

The entire affair feels thoroughly integrated into the game itself, without feeling like a tacked-on "me too" mode. One race for instance features a level populated by two giant dragons, who constantly are visible throughout the track, and occasionally pop out to cause havoc for the participants. Each level feels like it was given a sufficient amount of love, to the point where I'd put many of them on par with classics like Diddy Kong Racing and some of the best Mario Kart games.

That's not to say that it completely measures up to its contemporaries. The item system feels limited, and the combat system in general (all cars can use their standard attacks during races) is disjointed, as some elements from ??the campaign don't quite work in this gametype. Plus, you'll need to buy a certain number of toys to access every track. No, it's not perfect, but again, as a side mode, it does its job and? then some. Online play for the campaign and racing modes also don't hurt its case, on top of the revamped Triple Triad-like Skystones mini-game.

I'm utterly surprised that Activision hasn't run this franchise into the ground yet. Skylanders: SuperChargers reinvigorates my interest in the series, and I'd go so far as to say that I wouldn't mind a full-on SuperChargers racing spin-off in the same vein as a proper Mario Kart game (note that the Wii and 3DS editions are racing games, essentially). After all, a little competition never hurt anyone -- maybe they can put that Crash Bandicoot license to good use.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher. The Starter Pack and a few additional toys were provided as well.]}

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HAL needed to sign off on Kirby

It's still weird to me that Bowser and Donkey Kong are appearing in the new Skylanders game, as part-amiibo nonetheless. Still, Nintendo has always bragged for years on end how they host the best Skylanders sales and have been very receptive to the series, so it makes sense. As we know, Bowser and?? Donkey Kong are in, but apparently Fox McCloud a??nd Kirby were in the developmental phases, too.

Kirby was nixed because HAL Laboratory, though basically first-party (it's weird), needed to sign off on the figure first, and apparently there were holdups with that. As for Fox, Nintendo opted to not take away from Star Fox Zero,?? so they declined the character. Warrior Princess Peach was declined as wel?l.

It's a shame, as Kirby would have been the best fit in his Air Ride gear.

Skylanders SuperChargers Amiibo: A Brief History and Other Nintendo Characters Con?sidered [The HD Room]

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Free-to-play mobile 'adventure'

Activision has announced a new Skylanders game called Battlecast, and it's a free-to-play mobile card game. I'm guessing they want to get in on that sweet Hearthstone money (which fu??nnily enough, is part of the same wallet), as the mo??bile card market has been steadily increasing in the past few years or so.

The publisher promises both online PVP and a single-player campaign, and physical card packs will be sold at retail. It's crazy how much Skylanders has grown since its noble beginnings as a Spyro spinoff in 2011. It will ?drop later this year on iOS a??nd Android.

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The Wii version is now a side experience

FamilyGamerTV channel had a chance to catch up with Activision exec Josh Taub, and get a quick rundown on what to expect later this year with the Nintendo editions of Skylanders SuperChargers. For starters, the Wii edition is described as a "complimentary" experience (much how the 3DS versions have been in the past), and will be a completely different racing game of? s??ome sort.

They also spoke to Vicarious Vision CEO Karthik Bala, who stated that you couldn't buy the Bowser and Donkey Kong Skylanders amiibo separately, because "families often have both the Wii U and 3DS." Um, that's not really a good answe?r, dude. In other more hopeful news, Bala noted that rather than try to ?design the vehicles to have every toy fit in them, they decided to go for a gameplay benefit, and give every character the ability to pilot them -- which is great for those of you who already have piles of toys ready to go.

I don't know what to think of SuperChargers yet. I started to feel the burn with Trap Team last year, but tha?nkfully the core action gameplay is still really good. We'll see.

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Very expensive variants

Those who collect amiibo are no stranger to the variant game. It was just this past spring when both Gold Mario and Silver Mario released -- the former significantly more sought-after than the latter. Two more variants were announced this morning, and the??y probably won't be tough to ge?t, just expensive.

This news comes courtesy not of Nintendo, but of Activision as these two amiibo are part of the Skylanders SuperChargers line. Activision is releasing unique "Dark ??Edition" starter packs for all platforms, which come with a handful of figurines each. The Wii U version includes a Dark Turbo Charge Donkey Kong with his Dark Barrel Blaster vehicle; the Wii version's outfitted with Dark Hammer Slam Bowser and his Dark Clown Cruiser.

These dark amiibo are exclusive to the starter packs, which run $99 each. Essentially, for those amiibo collectors who are after a "complete" set, these two alone will cost $200 at retail price (and that's before picking up the regular versions of each of these for another $15 or so). Many will shell out that money with no actual interest in Skylanders.

Maybe life was better before amiibo.

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Here's something to strive for

Between Skylanders, Disney Infinity, amiibo, and now LEGO Dimensions, I'm hearing an awful lot of talk about the "toys to life" category these days. That's fine, but nudge me when we can do this:

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Coming in the new game later this year

Nintendo announced during their E3 presentation today that Donkey Kong and Bowser will both be making their mark on the Skylanders&nbs??p;franchise this year in figure? form, to be playable within the game.

The figure will be a combination of a Skylanders SuperChargers toy and an amiibo, where you can flip the? ba?se at the bottom to use both. Magma Bowser will utilize his fire breath and koopa army, and Donkey Kong will have pieces of ladder fall from the sky.

Just when I was done buying Skylanders figures, they draw me back in!

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Vehicles-to-life

Skylanders pioneered the recent toys-to-life market, and from there, moved on to giant figures, then to swappable toys, and eventually, to "traps." Now Activision is taking the series to vehicles with SuperChargers.

Evidently maps will be more open to accommodate the new playstyle, and there will still be plenty of on-foot combat and puzzles to be had. There's also a new type of hero called the SuperChargers. So what's the wallet damage? 20 new characters and 20 new toys. Oh, and characters can combine with their "signature vehicles" for extra stats. Activision notes that there are over 300 toys for the series at this point. Yowz??a!

Unlike a lot of games these days, Skylanders SuperChargers ??will be available on the Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3, PS4, Wii U -- different versions are being made for Wii, 3DS, ??and iPad. It'll debut on September 20.

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Pikachu makes another appearance

I don't think I've watched the M??acy's Thanksgiving Day Parade since I was 10, but if gathering around the TV (or the actual event in New York City) is your thing, this? year it'll feature Pikachu and Eruptor, the Skylander.

While the actual parade is basically meaningless to me, the fact that gaming has become this popular is a pretty awesome thing. Some people dislike it when their hobby gets too big, but as someone who has made fun of occasionally for playing Pokémon as a kid, I'm pretty satisfied.

Cute new Pikachu, Skylanders balloons? in Thanksgiving Parade [Joystiq]

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Same great gameplay, not so great new gimmick

Toys For Bob has found some rather interesting ways to evolve the Skylanders franchise. While the conceit the first time around was simply interactive toys, the developer mixed things up with giants on the second go, and with a mix-and-match concept (my personal favorite to date) after that.

Trap Team is the fourth iteration of the series, and the gimmick this time around involves tiny plastic pieces that essentially function as little Ghostbusters tools to ensnare enemies. While the core game is still?? as strong as ever, the trap mechanic isn't all that? exciting.

Skylanders: Trap Team (3DS, Android, iOS, PS3, PS4, Wii, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One [reviewed])
Developer: Toys for Bob / Beenox / Vicarious Visions
Publisher: Activision
Released: October 5, 2014
MSRP: $74.99 (Starter Pack)

The premise is basically the same as it always has been with the Skylanders series. Once again an ancient evil (The Doom Raiders) has awakened, and it's up to the Skylanders and their new allies (the Trap Masters) to put them away. Players will do this by using all of?? the toys released so far, as well as the new Trap Master fig??ures that can access unique crystal areas, and the trap pieces.

To be clear, all of the toys from the first three generations of Skylanders can be used here, which is a pretty neat way to keep a collection relevant. At this point it's hard to believe that Toys for Bob is still coming up with unique characters and movese??ts, but pretty much every new toy ??I've used shines in its own unique way and has its own personality.

Visually, Trap Team has taken some strides since Swap Force, which is a big accomplishment considering how great that game looked on newer consoles. Everything looks like a legitimate Dreamworks or Pixar animated film, and the idea of the franchise transitioning over to the big screen is completely believable based on the game alone. The script isn't as sharp as Swap Force, but it's still perfectly acceptable f??or kids, and completely skippable for adults.

Gameplay-wise the series still holds up, with addictive hack and slash gameplay that deserves to be respected with any modern action release. Characters will naturally grow their abilities as time goes on and most of them will have a tool for every situation, making every toy feel fun and viable. Higher difficulties also help ease in veteran gamers who may view Skylanders as a kids-only franchise.

On the other hand, there's nothing really new that justifies spending $75 to get the Starter Pack, which includes the game, the new portal, two traps, and two characters. It sounds ridiculous, but while Swap Force technically innovated with the ability to jump and a few other elemental mix-up mechanics, Trap Team ??doesn't really add anything exciting to the mix. Well, the "new"?? bit is found in the traps themselves, but I was pretty disappointed with how they actually play out.

The concept involves the new Traptanium portal, which has a tiny slot to fix in plastic traps that are shaped like pegs. The game has 46 special villains in it that can b?e captured as you make your way through the story, and if you have a trap toy handy of the correct element (the game comes with the Life and Water traps), you can collect them to re-use from that point on. The trapped charact??er also "talks" by way of the peg, which lights up in the portal.

Traps are a bit of a letdown in two ways. One, the actual use? of trapped villains involves summoning them for a limited amount of time as a playable character. Said time is linked by way of a special meter, and at the end of the day, it amounts to nothing more than a temporary power-up. It would have been much cooler to have each villain as a fully playable character at all ??times with their own level system and custom movesets. Whereas the hulking  giants and the swap combos fundamentally changed the game, traps don't feel nearly as innovative.

Additionally, adding traps to the game is just too much in terms of the?? physical collecting aspect. While all eight elements of traps can be purchased now in stores, two "mystery" elements are n?ot for sale, and thus those villains cannot be captured until those are released. While I'm generally okay with gating off small bonus rooms by way of elements, giants, swap doors and Trap Master crystals, gating off characters while juggling the similar looking trap toys doesn't really make for a fun time.

Taking off and putting on toys feels intuitive. It doesn't matter if the toy is big, small, or has interchangeable parts -- simply placing a new character on a surface and playing instantly is a fun and well designed activity. The traps on the other hand will leave many people confused as to who is in what trap, and since they're only truly used at certain points of the game to capture enemies, they often feel like they're sidelined. Thankfully, all of the other mechanics I mentioned earlier from past games are still readily available, and you can still complete the game only using t?he traps from the base kit.

In true Skylanders fashion there's plenty to do though, even for those who don't dig the traps. The Kaos Doom Challenge is probably the biggest addition, and expands the arenas from Swap Force into a full-on horde mode with tower defense elements. Why the series didn't?? have this sooner is beyond me, but it's a ton of fun to play with friends, and a g?reat way to get more use out of your whole collection of toys. Skystones, the in-universe card game is also back in a bigger capacity, battle arenas are still in, and a few more minigames like a 2D platformer diversion are available to unlock.

While I never really connected with the trap mechanic or the new Trap Master toys, Skylanders: Trap Team is still a well-oiled machine. On newer consoles it looks fantastic, the action gameplay is still exciting, and the charm is still there. I just hope that Activision and its ilk have more interesting concepts in mind f??or the next iteration.

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Will even include a controller

Skylanders Trap Team is heading to mobile devices as well! And like, the full actual game. Activision is claiming console-quality graphics, and i??t even come??s with its own high performance controller.

This is huge! This will actually seriously put a dent in console sales. Kids are growing up with the tablets in their hand practically at birth. Who needs the console when they can get the game for the device they already have at home? Trap Team will hit? the iPad, Kindle Fire, and Android tablets day-and??-date with the console version on October 5 in North America.

The starter pack will include a Bluetooth Portal of Power, an embedded Bluetooth controller, built-in tablet stand, two Skylanders charac??ters, and two Traps a?long with a display tray. 

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Via a download code

Activision has announced a special promotion for the upcoming Skylanders Trap Team that will probably excite some Nintendo fans. If you buy the game on the Wii, it comes with a free download code for the Wii U version of the game. This is likely?? a smart way to capitalize on the insane Wii install base, but encourage parents to upgrade their child's system at some point.

The announcement tags the Wii version's Amazon product page, but th??ere isn't a clear distinction for the code in the item's description -- you can likely take that to mean that every version of the game at every retailer will have the code, but we'll have more info closer to launch.

Skylanders Game [Twitter]

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Parents, your wallets!

While the Skylanders figures are generally high in quality, they're about to get even mor??e detailed with a newly revealed "Eon's Elite" line. Basically, eight characters are going to get the makeover (starting with Chop Chop and Spyro himself), and the figures will have a new metallic look to them, alongside of a display c?ase.

These figures will have extra power in-game (and if the past is anything to go by, the difference is negligible and not worth getting upset over), an?d will be available at GameStop and EB Games later this year.

Sk??ylanders Go Premium With High-End Eon's Elite To??y Line [Game Informer]

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Skylanders will be all over San Diego Comic-Con

$99 to get started with Skylanders Trap Team in style -- thank heavens I'm not a kid (or don't have children, for that matter) because I'd be all over this. Activision has opened pre-orders for the Trap Team Dark Ed??ition, which includes cool black-and-silver variants of new characters Snap Shot, Wildfire, and Food Fight; a two-sided poster; stickers; and trading cards.

This starter pack -- available October 5 for PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Wii, and Wii U -- also comes with three traps, one of which can be used to capture Skylanders villain Kaos.

Find higher-res photos of the toys and? traps below. Wildfire pulls off? the look well.

There's also a bunch of Skylanders stuff happening this week at San Diego Comic-Con:

• Skylanders Panel (Room 7AB): "Skylanders: The Creative Process of Bringing Toys to Life" panel on Thursday, July 24th from 6-7 p.m., moderated by Geoff Keighley, will offer insights into one of the world's most beloved Toys-to-Life video game franchises, as well as a major announcement about new Skylanders characters. Speakers include: comic book writer Ron Marz (Green Lantern, DC vs. Marvel), famed voice of Kaos Richard Horvitz (Billy and Mandy, Invader Zim), and Toys for Bob's Director of Toy and Character Development, I-Wei Huang. New updatesto the Skylanders franchise will be revealed, and fans will leave with Skylanders giveaways, while supplies last.
• Skylanders Costume Contest (Room 7AB): Activision will award more than $5,000 in cash prizes and rare toys to the best Skylanders costumes at the panel on Thursday.
• Skylanders Show Floor (Booth #303): Fans can check out new Skylanders Trap Team toys, pose with Skylanders' #1 villain Kaos and costume characters,and receive giveaways while supplies last.
• Skylanders Comic Book, IDW Publishing (Booth #2643): Leading comic book publisher IDW will debut the first-ever Skylanders comic-book series. Issue #0 - debuting at Comic-Con - will feature an introductory 16-page story that serves as a prequel to this year's Skylanders Trap Team.  Limited copies of a variant cover of the comic book will be available for purchase exclusively for attendees.
• First Public Hands-on Opportunities (Various Locations): Fans can be the first consumers in the world to play the upcoming Skylanders Trap Team at several locations and receive special giveaways while supplies last: Skylanders Trap Team First-to-Play Tour kicking off in the Interactive Zone at Petco Park's Lexus Premier Lot (no SDCC badge required); the Nintendo Gaming Lounge in the San Diego Ballroom, Marriott Marquis & Marina (no SDCC badge required); and the Xbox Lounge in the Manchester Grand Hyatt at 1 Market Place (SDCC badge required). While at the Xbox Lounge, fans can win a collectible Skylanders-themed Xbox One.
• Rubie's Costumes (Booth #3649): Skylanders fans can get a sneak peek at the new Skylanders Halloween costumes available this fall at Rubie's booth.
• Mad Libs Pop-Up Shop (Booth #4612):Attendees can get their hands on the popular Skylanders Universe Mad Libs, featuring more than 20 original stories, available for purchase at the Mad Libs Pop-Up Shop.
• Special Kids Day Activities - Sunday, July 27 (Various Locations):   Kids who play the game at the Skylanders Trap Team First-to-Play Tour in the Interactive Zone will receive special giveaways, while supplies last.  Fans can also stop by the Penguin Publishing booth to pick up their limited edition Skylanders activity poster, while supplies last. Kids will also get a peek into the Skylanders comic book at IDW's Kids Comics Panel on Sunday at 10 a.m. (Room 4). 

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Don't miss your chance to get her!

Starting today, Skylanders fans that pre-order Trap Team will be given access to a bonus figure. New character Gearshift (pictured above) will be offered in limited supply, and this marks the first time fans will be able to buy a tech element Skylander on day one. Those that miss out on this bonus will ha?ve to wait until 2015 to be able to grab her otherwise.

Skylanders Trap Team looks to be another solid in the Skylanders franchise based on what I saw not too long ago. The whole forcing your enemies to work for you bit is kind of cool, i?f not a little dark.

Trap Team wi??ll be out on October 5, 2014 for the 3DS, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Wii,Wii U, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.

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