Skylanders Sidekicks

[Radical Tropicon]

fusible.com/2012/04/activision-files-trademark-application-for-skylanders-sidekick-action-figures/

Seems the Frito-Lay promotions won't end after the current contest they have going on.

This is pretty interesting, considering a video was released not that long ago where someone hacked Skylanders and found this "Super Trigger" character in the game.

I'm interested in seeing where the rest of the promotion goes!

[Yaggleberry Finn]

From that link you gave, you can follow another link to a Frito Lay sell sheet which has some fun reading on it. I liked this line: "Packaging will highlight partnership with Skylanders which will be a recognizable property for Shopper Mom – packaging will communicate exclusive offer directed to Shopper Mom. "

Frito Lay also hits the high points of Skylanders:

Skylanders Insights:

Skylanders video game launched in Fall 2011 by Activision
Media campaign generated over 230MM impressions
Major sponsorships with ABC Family, Disney, Nickelodeon & Cartoon Network
Was voted the #1 Kids Game of 2011 by the NPD Group (a leader in consumer and retail market research)
Nominated for Game of the Year and Innovative Toy of the Year at the Toy Industry Awards

As far as the sidekicks go, that's very interesting. If they actually have RFID technology in them, what on earth are they supposed to do? There's really nothing for them to do in the game...

And they hardly look like sidekicks. They just look like caricatures of four Skylanders.

[Radical Tropicon]

From the video I observed, it works like kind of like Sparx where it is on a time limit and follows you around wherever. The video didn't show if the sidekicks had combat bonuses however.

[chaosworrier]

I personally believe that the names they mention in the release are a conscious misdirection - the names all imply being larger, rather than smaller.

This allows:

1/. Reference to the up-coming Giants sequel.

2/. Comic surprise when the users find munchkin versions instead of larger-than-life ones.

[graz73]

I agree that this whole sidekicks thing is very odd. If they are in game, characters, I'll think its pretty cool, but I am wondering if they might just be someting for the web game "spyros universe"?

Because they are not original designs, but smaller versions of other characters it seems oddly uncreative.

[chaosworrier]

They are indeed in the console game; someone hcked the Wii version and found these 4 munchkin chars some time ago.

[Yaggleberry Finn]

Wow, these guys thought of everything! (Everything except the fact that they're killing us with their release plans...)

I never heard of that being previously hacked. Is there any video of that to be found?

[chaosworrier]

I trawled through old topics in another forum.

I can't access the Gill Runt YouTube video but this following one shows Whisper Elf and Terrabite:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=AiNrZxY-1r8

Also, here is a screenshot of what they all look like:

[Yaggleberry Finn]

Wow, thanks for finding that! I had no idea these were in the game. Too bad the video didn't carry them on into battle to see what they do, but at least it proves their existence.

The thing about these sidekicks - and the other magic items in general - is that they're coming so late in the game's life cycle that they're pointless. Yes, it's nice for me to have Sparx and the Winged Boots now, but I've already beat the game. They do me no good. The boots have some usefulness in time trials, I suppose, but the other seven items would've been a lot more helpful when I first started playing.

[graz73]

Apr 24, 2012 10:30:04 GMT -6 Yaggleberry Finn said:

Wow, thanks for finding that! I had no idea these were in the game. Too bad the video didn't carry them on into battle to see what they do, but at least it proves their existence.

The thing about these sidekicks - and the other magic items in general - is that they're coming so late in the game's life cycle that they're pointless. Yes, it's nice for me to have Sparx and the Winged Boots now, but I've already beat the game. They do me no good. The boots have some usefulness in time trials, I suppose, but the other seven items would've been a lot more helpful when I first started playing.

At this point I'm mostly just preparing my characters for Giants. So, hopefully the sidekicks and Magic Items will work in Giants too.

[Radical Tropicon]

I like the names and the aesthetic of these guys, so thanks for finding that video chaos!

I really hope that they do aid in combat, because I don't see the appeal of a little guy following me around in game. I know kids will love it regardless though

And I agree with Finn, the items are a tad pointless when your characters are fully leveled up and can cut through enemies with ease. As graz said, I hope that they do carry over in Giants, which has been said to offer difficulty to already leveled up Skylanders from the first game.

[chaosworrier]

Given the timer, I would hazard to guess that you only get them for a little while, like Sparx.

I wish they would remain until "death" like Diablo minions.

[bamorrow]

Maybe they have more planned like cloud patrol, or a bigger online game where everything will be useful.

[chaosworrier]

No, sorry, given the information provided when someone hacked components of the game, there are only four coded.