What may have surprised the more than 41,000 attendees at this year's three day Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Atlanta from May 28-30 was that the primary colors and wackiness of classic animation was as noticeable on the showroom floor as mutant battles, graphic violence and adult themes. Game developers are beginning to see the bright lights of fun animation after spending years within the darkness of surreal environments that have, in the past, been the hallmarks of games designed with a primarily male demographic in mind.

Spyro the Dragon, a one-player action game, will be available for the Sony PlayStation in September 1998. Photo by Joe Szadkowski.

"We did a very violent game before Spyro the Dragon, filled with a lot of destruction, mayhem and darkness. Working on this all-ages title has been a refreshing change for us to do something that is bright and doesn't have overt violence or blood," said Todd Price, president of Insomniac Games. "At the end of the day, we were happier. The morale in our office improved significantly because we can all play the game, look at the characters and laugh even though we have played it a hundred times." Spyro The Dragon, being developed for the Sony PlayStation by Insomniac Games, Inc. and Universal Interactive Studios, takes players on a 3-D action-adventure with a mischievous purple dragon. The game's worlds are graphically stunning as players are immersed into interactive fantasy realms. Spyro the Dragon, a one-player action game, will be available for the Sony PlayStation in September 1998.

Games From the Blockbusters
From Universal Studios and Sound Source Interactive, the rich graphic environments from The Land Before Time and An American Tail have emerged as CD-ROM edutainment products for children, ages three to six. The Land Before Time Kindergarten Adventure and Math Adventure educational CD-ROMs teach through interactive animations and sound components. Completing activities will lead to rewards of full color video clips from the movie. Another favorite animated movie from Universal Studios, An American Tail, continues Fievel the mouse's journey from Russia to America. Combining the appeal of the movie with learning activities, children will enjoy nine, detailed illustrated chapters, 25 story scenes and more than 60 hidden clickable animations. Both Land Before Time and An American Tail titles are available for Macintosh or PC in the fall.

Small Soldiers' Squad Commander, developed by Hasbro Interactive with DreamWorks and Universal Pictures, offers live-action and animation blended with scenes from the new movie. Squad Commander takes children ages nine and older on an adventure that poses a real-time strategy challenge through 20 missions. Puzzles are layered, requiring players to use problem-solving skills as well as computer skills to fend off a constant stream of "enemy" fire. The game, available for Windows, will be on retailers shelves in June.

Disney Interactive continues the magic of the movies through CD-ROMs that teach and entertain within interactive, 3-D worlds. Adding to the already extensive roster of CD-ROM releases being developed is the Mulan Animated Storybook, scheduled to coincide with the movie's theatrical release. The rich detail of the movie has provided the CD-ROM developers with a deep artistic palate upon which to create. Children, aged five to nine, will enjoy multiple story screens featuring the character Mulan's village and home land of China. Story screens are filled with clickable animations, puzzles and multi-leveled educational activities that will help users build critical and creative thinking skills.