Mickey Mouse Reborn*

Mickey Mouse debuted in 1928 in an animated short entitled Steamboat Willy. He’s delighted generations of audiences ever since. He’s Disney’s flagship, representing all that is fun, pure, innocent, and American. But this association comes at a price. According to research groups, Mickey is nothing more than a cold, corporate logo. His image identifies a brand that’s in serious need of a boost. Where else to begin but where it all started?

“We’re going to rough this mouse up a lot,” says Rockstar developer Jack Rebney. “If you watch old cartoons of Mickey, he was a complete jerk. This mouse was literally playing other animals like musical instruments. He was tagging buildings with graffiti, and always on the make for some hot sex with Minnie or other rats,” Rebney chuckles. “This new Mickey is going to be a real hellraiser. He’s not just going to be mischievous, he’s going to be murderous.”

Taking notice of the popularity of the Itchy and Scratchy cartoon-series-within-a-cartoon-series, Rockstar is pulling no punches and sparing no blood with this new game. Dressed like an urban hip-hopper, Mickey infests the streets of Los Angeles, making his way to Disneyland where he will unleash the bubonic plague on unsuspecting visitors. His goal is to ultimately rule the theme park and overthrow the Disney Corporation. Before he gets there he will have to contend with drug dealers, pimps, prostitutes, corrupt cops, serial killers, and Wal-Mart greeters.

“Mickey will strike first,” Rebney adds. “He’s not merely going to react to situations, he’s going to create them. He’s aggressive, angry and capable, a very dangerous and volatile combination. He’s the original M&M. But he never loses his sense of humor through all the horror and terror he creates. He’s still a fun-loving cartoon character, even if that fun is insanely psychotic,” Rebney laughs.