E3: Let The Games Begin: Gaming No Longer A Solitary Activity
July 21, 2008
In Part II of this week's five-part video game series, E3: Let the Games Begin, NY1's Adam Balkin reports on how video games are increasingly becoming a full family activity.
It's no longer about sitting alone in your room, just you and your computer or console. Many video games are now trying to be more like board games, all about fostering group or family activity.
Hasbro Family Game Night is literally trying to seize on the board game concept only in digital form with some of its new titles.
"What we've done is taken some of Hasbro's best brands, ones that appeal to both parents and kids, and then we brought them to the hot platform Wii that everyone wants to play on," explained Kyle Murray of Electronic Arts. "We've got Yatzee, Connect Four, Boggle, Battleship, Sorry and Sorry Slider."
Another game, "You're in the Movies," comes with a camera, in front of which the family can act out and star in a film short.
"There are a bunch of mini games that get you up either screaming into the camera, swatting imaginary flies away, running in place," said Matt Barlow of XBox 360. "You don't know where it's going, but it's a lot of fun. And then at the end of that particular set of mini games, the game itself stitches all of them together and places you and your family and friends in a B-movie short."
Meanwhile, XBox Live's "Primetime," let's families, or anyone from around the world, gather around the television and play gameshows online against one another, with real prizes to win from the game's developers. It is still being worked out as to what those prizes will actually be.
If none of those options spark a family's interest, it can always go back to an old standby, or rather 'dance-by,' as "Dance, Dance Revolution" celebrates its 10th anniversary.
"We actually have three new games coming out, for three new platforms:
"Dance, Dance Revolution Universe 3" for the XBox 360; "Dance, Dance
Revolution House Party" for the Wii; and "Dance, Dance Revolution X" for the PS2," said Mondona Akhavan of developer Konami.
"They all actually have varied modes," continued Akhavan. "For example on the "Dance, Dance Revolution Universe 3," you have an enhanced quest mode where you actually go through this simulated dance city where you battle dance bosses to become the ultimate dance champion."
Or, for those who prefer singing, "American Idol Encore 2" is similar to the first version only with more songs, more venues, and more ways for the judges to tell users they stink.
- Adam Balkin
July 21, 2008
E3: Let The Games Begin: Gaming No Longer A Solitary Activity
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