Activision combines video games and toys in Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure @ Gaming Target

Written by Matt Swider on February 12, 2011

News: Spyro the Dragon is coming back in both virtual and plastic form. Check out the details about the toy-video game crossover due out this fall.

Spyro the Dragon receives a third chance to flap his virtual dragon wings as Activision has announced a reboot of the series that was initially developed by Insomniac Games more than thirteen years ago.

In that time, the purple platform-jumping dragon hasn't changed very much or offered anything new to the world of mascot-driven 3D platformers. However, developer Toys for Bob is designing the next game, Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure, so that real-world toys are transported into the video game via a "Portal of Power."

"These are more than action figures. They are inter-action figures," said Eric Hirshberg, CEO of Activision Publishing. "By pairing world class character design, world class video game design and world class story telling into one entertainment experience, we've given players a whole new genre that bridges the gap between the real and virtual worlds. From the first time a kid picked up a stick and pretended it was a sword, toys have unlocked kids' imaginations. And how often have you wanted to bring those toys to life, to see them become animated and take them on an adventure? Skylanders Spyro's Adventure does just that."

Sounds pretty nifty even for a title geared toward kids, right? The game's starter kit will be bundled with four toys figures, one of them being Sypro. More than 30 toys are expected for the game's launch and, if the crossover is successful, you can be sure this'll turn into the next Beanie Babies craze and go from 30 to 300 very quickly.

The Power Portal will allow more than one toy figure to be placed on it at once, allowing players to team up or go head-to-head in battle arenas designed for PvP gameplay. Best of all, the unique powers and abilities that you acquire during the gameplay in the virtual world stay with your toy so that you can use them on a friend's Portal without being at a disadvantage.

Of course, Toys R Us is eating this one up. America's leading toy store announced that it will team up with gaming's number-one publisher this fall to market the game. In return, expect Toys R Us to receive exclusive Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure bundles when that release date rolls around.

This ambitious crossover is due out for multiple gaming platforms. Our best guess is the Wii, Xbox 360, PS3, DS, 3DS; NGP might not make the cut. That being said, no official systems have announced just yet. Conveniently, mobile devices and the web are also said to be playing a part in viewing achievements and level-ups wherever you go. So, iPhone owners should expect "An App For That" to be part of the gameplan.