https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXFz5tUDY38
Following the success of the Infinity video game line, Disney is following up with a line of wearable gadgets designed to insert kids right into the gaming experience itself. Rather than playing, kids will actually be "doing" as they role-play their favorite heroes including Iron Man and Luke Skywalker.
Based on the announcement trailer above, it's extremely difficult to discern exactly what it is that Disney is selling. Further research has revealed that the Playmation experience will involve wearable tech designed specifically for children.
What's cool about this idea is that what used to be pretend could become reality. I remember running around with my friends at a young age pretending to shoot webs out of my hands like Spider-Man and facing off in epic lightsaber battles with long cardboard tubes. Starting this fall, that vivid childlike imagination may be fully realized. Playtime may now literally involve fighting aliens in the street.
On the flipside, I think many consumers will find fault with this new idea. Childlike imagination is arguably the most powerful creative force we feeble humans possess, and now it seems Disney wants to supplant that by telling kids how and what scenarios to imagine rather than encouraging kids to have ideas of their own.
That thinking misses the point, though.
These new toys are designed to supplement playtime, not overtake it. And they're exactly that: TOYS. Toys that one can choose whether or not to play with. Not to mention, The Avengers and Star Wars are the only two properties coming to Playmation for the time being. If kids would rather pretend to be Superman or a construction worker or a race car driver, then they have the creative freedom to continue to do so as they have for generations. But if they want to play Iron Man or otherwise test their mettle using The Force, then they will have an innovative tool at their disposal to make playtime especially awesome.
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