Of all the genres within the video game medium there is one that tends to strike apathy in the hearts of many - film tie-in. Its hardly surprising when the number of good tie-ins, such as Goldeneye, Lego Star Wars and Spider-Man 2 are greatly outweighed by those which scream ‘we just want the money’ such as Superman Returns: The Video Game, The Matrix: Path of Neo and Iron Man: The Video Game to name but a few. This murky history tends to be at the forefront of many gamers minds when they learn that an upcoming film is getting the video game treatment.

When I first heard of Toy Story 3: The Video Game I would never have imagined purchasing it. As much as I am looking forward to the film (‘a hell of a lot’ would be an understatement) film tie-ins are often rocky and particularly ones based on family films, as they tend to focus on younger demographics within the games. However, Toy Story 3: The Video Game promises something unique that will appeal to anyone who still has a childish side - the Toy Box mode.

The Toy Box mode can best be described as Toy Story does The Sims. Players are given an open world in which to populate with toys and play to their hearts are content. The more you play the more toys and environments you will unlock. For instance, if you build a space port then you will get alien toys, however you will also get random alien abductions. You will also be able to unlock parts from other Pixar franchises such as Cars, Finding Nemo and Ratatouille. The more you play the greater the experience is the basic notion behind this mode, which seems to be shaping up nicely.

As the video above explains there is a great deal of customisation within this mode, while also retaining mission-based side quests that open up new elements that prevent it from becoming too open ended and objective-less. Avalanche Software, the company developing this game, has stated that there are around 60 mission to complete in the Toy Box mode. It just seems unfortunate that there is no online element to this mode to share or play with others. However, there is a split-screen two player mode within both the Toy Box and Story Mode that allows you to work with or against your friends.

Fans of the series can rest assured that several members of the Toy Story 3 team have worked alongside Avalanche Software in the creation of this game, including the director Lee Unkrich. The two companies shared ideas and resources for not only the Toy Box mode but also the Story Mode which follows the plot of the film. Additionally some of the voice talent from the film will be lending their voices to the game, although not all cast members will be present.

"In comparison to any other movie game we've done as a studio, the level of involvement from Pixar has been off the chart as far as the number of people involved and the number of touches that they have," John Blackburn, lead designer of the game, said. "And that really ended up creating a kind of collaborative environment between the two companies, to where there's an understanding of where we were going with the game. And that allowed a level of freedom." (CNET)

It seems that Avalanche Software and Pixar have learned from the mistakes of other film tie-ins and are firmly working together to ensure that this isn't just a way of making money from the pestering power of children but instead is a game that players will actually enjoy. The Story Mode also promises to allow you to explore aspects of the storyline of the film using Buzz, Woody and Jessie, each of whom have their own special talents that you will need to utilise to progress. In total there are 9 levels in this mode that weave in and out of the film's plot. Additionally you can play an extended version of the Buzz Lightyear video game shown at the start of Toy Story 2. Little details like this show that Avalanche Software and Pixar have gone a long way to ensure it is a game for fans, not shareholders.

The Wii version has been given special attention and is of importance to Disney, possibly due to the wider demographic, and as such a few variations exist between the Wii version and those on the PS3 and Xbox 360. However, Blackburn has stated that the Wii version is aimed at a younger demographic and aspects are easier, but hopefully they haven't made it too easy for adults who love the franchise and want to try the game out. In the Toy Box mode you will not be able to customise each separate part (i.e. head, body and legs) but there are 'themes' to choose from. The Wii version will of course offer a unique way to control the game thanks to the Wii controller and this has been kept firmly in mind during the development of the title. So while the graphics may not look as nice as the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions, as to be expected, a lot of work has been put into this version to ensure it is not seen as the inferior one as sometimes happens with multi-platform titles.

The game is clearly, and unsurprisingly, being aimed at families but the more that is announced about the game the more it seems like it will appeal to anyone with an active imagination and a desire to play. The game is due out soon in America, along with the film, but it is not out until July 16th in Europe, a few days ahead of the film itself. We will have to wait and see if the game rises above the mediocrity of most film tie-ins so stay tuned to N-Europe for more information but in the mean time treat yourself to the DVDs or Blu-Rays (or videos if you're feeling nostalgic).