Take a Slice of the Raspberry Pi

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Take a Slice of the Raspberry Pi

Postby goofyspaceranger » Thu Feb 18, 2016 1:02 pm

If the Disney Infinity Team follows the pattern of moving Playset/Expansion exclusives into the Toy Store for sparks, then the entry-level 4.0 Toy Box is going to provide amazing value before they add a single line of code of new content. Disney/Pixar/Marvel/Star Wars building, just for unlocking the Toy Box - amazing. Even on the console side, you could even consider the Starter Pack without any Play Sets at all. Provide a couple new characters, some Creativi-Toy, Theming, & Building updates, and showcase how robust the Toy Box has really become.

On the educational side, it is very interesting to see the Microsoft announcement in an article about the White House advocating computer science education through video game design. They are going to sell a special educational version of Minecraft. Educational versions of software is nothing new - sometimes it's a trimmed down version of content, often it's simply about pricing, as you're showcasing your product that students are likely to continue using & buying after they enter the workforce. With sandboxes, it is likely to determine what sandbox game kids bring into their homes on their consoles & on their mobile devices. I know this because it happens with our Toy Box Clubs. If Disney Infinity wants to compete on the Toy Box side of their product, it's important to get in this game. Backing from the federal government and having an increasing presence in the schools is going to take market share from the Toy Box here in the U.S. whether or not its educational value is openly marketed. IBM is not going to take sides in that sandbox war. But I am ;), and most likely every other fan on this forum will too. Infinity is better - it is more fun, and it can help a greater demographic - especially advocating women in technology - and so we want Infinity to win. 8-)

This is what I'd LOVE to see in a DI 4.0 announcement this spring: an educational version of Disney Infinity on the PC. And this is my wish list as to what that educational version would entail...
(1) Trimmed down graphics requirements, making it possible to run on the latest Raspberry Pi (which now runs Windows 10 with a couple GB!), or PC without a separate graphics card. Whatever switch happened between DI 2.0 to DI 3.0 was not good for entry-level usage of Infinity. With an educational version, it could be accepted that the graphics aren't quite as crisp as the "standard" version, in order to get the Toy Box to work.
(2) Managed IDs, where a single ID controls purchases for 10, 20, or 30 IDs. Educators will want the IDs consistent so that students don't argue about which ID they're using. Facilitate bulk purchases of characters and power discs.
(3) Eliminated Toy Store, by restricting the education version from any Play Sets, expansion games, and any exclusive content they contain. In a structured learning environment, there's no time for them, and it provides a clear distinction from the full version of the product. Unlock all of the base toys from the start so that educators' configuration is almost non-existent.
(4) Simplified install, where a fully download install executable can be readily copied to multiple machines, with a startup that doesn't require any clicks/enters. The IT folks who've helped our Toy Box Club setups all mention this.
(5) Federally backed, where the Disney execs contact the White House and offer their assistance in this year of great momentum in computer science education, extending what Disney corporate citizenship has already done in code.org. And if the federal government does not immediately see the value, point to the IBM ODC Activity Kit, IBM ODC YouTube channel, and the presentation from the IBM Academy of Technology featuring one of our P-Tech schools.

What are the long-term goals of the Disney Infinity franchise? It can provide a great educational service at the same time it provides great entertainment value. And the mindshare would increase its competitiveness & market share anyway. Disney Infinity should publicly enter this game. 8-)
Use the Force in Holocron Heuristics to program with more Creativi-Toys!
 
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