Prince Caspian for Nintendo DS is debuting DGamer, Disney Interactive Studios' new technology that provides a connected game community for Disney videogame fans.

In the end, Satterthwaite says that the biggest challenge, and the most satisfying element, was getting the physics and the Car Fu as imagined.

"In games, players need to feel in control," Satterthwaite offers. "When they do something they need to feel the car acts correctly, but the movie doesn't exactly obey all the laws of physics. For example, in the film, Speed Racer is the best racing driver in the world; in the game, we have to make an 8-year-old feel like they are too, while still offering a challenge for the older players."

Satterthwaite notes that Sidhe Interactive has a usability lab where they can get players in front of early versions of the game and film their reactions. "This allows us to see how we need to tune the game to appeal to a wide variety of players, and to make sure that the important messages in the game are getting through. The feel of the game and the 'Car Fu' battles were developed using repeated usability tests and a lot of hard work by the code guys," he says.

Creating believable characters and animals was a challenge for the Prince Caspian videogame. "Any time you deal with a fantasy storyline that includes such a wide variety of both fictional and real animals, making them all look consistent and believable is a challenge," says Disney Interactive's FitzRandolph. "For instance, we know through observation what a four-legged mammal like a lion will look like when walking but a creature like a fawn, centaur or minotaur is an entirely different story and requires some interpretation and artistic license on our part."

Videogames are also incorporating new technologies that directly affect (and connect) game play. Prince Caspian for Nintendo DS is debuting DGamer, Disney Interactive Studios' new technology that provides a connected game community for Disney videogame fans. With DGamer, players earn content, interact and chat with others on Nintendo DS through the Nintendo wi-fi Connection or on a computer through the Disney.com website.

DGamer will be offered in North America in future Nintendo DS games from Disney Interactive Studios with a future launch scheduled in other global regions. Prince Caspian for Nintendo DS was developed by Fall Line Studio, the Nintendo platform-dedicated development studio of Disney Interactive Studios.

The videogame interpretation of the Mummy sequel will mirror the action and adventure depicted in the film. The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon. © Gameloft.

Action Abounds
Summer movies mean action, and so do their videogames. The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor computer and console videogames have been developed by Sierra Ent., a division of Vivendi Games, with work by Eurocom Studios for the Wii and PS2 and by A2M for Nintendo DS. The game was created through a licensing agreement with Universal Pictures Digital Platforms Group.

As in other games, this videogame interpretation of the Mummy sequel will mirror the action and adventure depicted in the film. Players will take on the roles of Rick O'Connell and his son, Alex (played by Brendan Fraser and Luke Ford, respectively). Players will follow the lead characters on their journey across exotic locations from ancient catacombs to beautiful, but dangerous, Himalayan peaks to defeat the revived servants of the Dragon Emperor (Jet Li).

"The Mummy is one of the most distinctive and expansive franchises in Universal's portfolio, and there is inherent game play in the property," says Bill Kispert, VP and general manager, Interactive, Universal Pictures Digital Platforms Group. "The new film amps up the action, introduces a ruthless new villain and takes our heroes to incredible new locations. We are thrilled to bring all these attributes to life in this game." The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor videogame is scheduled for release on July 22.

As for the mobile version, Gameloft's de Vallois says that one of the biggest challenges faced in creating mobile games in general is trying to work within the size limitations. "There is a fine balance between having an engaging storyline so that players will want to see it through to end and rich graphic/visuals that will keep the player engaged," he adds. "It is even [truer] with a film like The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, because the environment has captivating backdrops and features exotic elements such as caves, tombs, mummies, monsters, etc."