The obvious difference is that only real plagues kill real people, though the permanent loss of a character can be a traumatic experience for an enthusiastic player, and one he will try hard to avoid.

ECONOMIST: Epidemiology

For the uninitiated, Skylanders plays much like any other third person action game with one major difference: the character you are playing is represented by a little figurine that sits on a peripheral in front of you.

FORBES: Skylanders Franchise Hits $500 Million in US Sales