Buena Vista Games (Disney)
www.disney.com

Disney had a huge booth that was showing more titles than I could count. At least a dozen of these were licensed titles that are being developed by other companies (like Alias, Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion), but there were several original titles coming right out of Disney, many based on their popular shows on the Disney Channel like Lizzie McGuire, Kim Possible, and even a game based on the Spy Kids movie. But just like last year's show, the big attraction was once again TRON 2.0, now in playable form.

Disney Online - Toontown (PC)
Disney’s Toontown Online (www.toontown.com), the first massively multiplayer (MMP) 3D online game for kids and families will launch on June 2, 2003 and your kids may never be the same. Toontown has been cleverly designed for kids, as well as adults looking for a non-violent online game alternative. “We made Toontown a place for everyone, much like our theme parks, so it would appeal to a mass audience. In addition, and in the tradition of the Disney theme parks, this online attraction will grow over time, continuously offering our guests an ever-changing adventure,” said Ken Goldstein, executive vice president and managing director of Disney Online.

The June online launch will feature the first in a series of regular feature enhancements, and will include Toon estates, where Toons can own and decorate their own homes; Emotions, allowing Toons to express themselves by waving, shrugging, and showing happiness and sadness; a new Trolley Game where Toons dodge opponents (Cogs) and each other while trying to catch fruit falling from trees; and an expanded version of Toontown Fishing, which introduces new skill-based and collecting challenges.

Look for GCM's hands-on review for this game in June.

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TRON 2.0 (PC)
TRON 2.0 is a story-driven, first-person PC action game set in a digital universe. Combining an epic adventure with intense action, virtual villains, fast and furious disc battles, high-speed light cycle races, and a unique visual style, TRON 2.0 delivers an adventure unlike any other.

Inspired by the story and style of TRON, the breakthrough science fiction film, TRON 2.0 is a contemporary tale that takes place approximately 20 years after the events of the movie. Players assume the role of Jet Bradley, a talented, young programmer in search of his missing father, Alan Bradley, creator of the TRON program. Delving deep into a chaotic cyberspace world, Jet must confront evil forces that are planning to take over the world’s computer systems by using his father’s human digitization technology.

The quest leads players through danger-filled action in techno environments. Gamers, armed with an assortment of digital weapons, shields and gadget subroutines, can compete on the gladiatorial Game Grid, contend with deadly programs, race on light cycles, and circumvent devious obstacles as they travel through settings never before seen in PC gaming thanks to some innovative graphics technology created specifically for this game by nVidia.

Rebecca Romijn-Stamos joins original cast members, Bruce Boxleitner and Cindy Morgan to round out an authentic Hollywood-style production. Prepare to enter a new dimension in gaming this August.

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