droolicious : nintendo

7 Days of Wii Games – Wii Music

SunnyChanel — Sun, 17 May 2009 05:41:00 GMT

Get your kids that musical fix without having to force them to listen to Mozart or drag them to piano class. Nintendo's Wii Music allows your kids to get their much loved video game action in with creative, spontaneous musical magic. The Wii Music game includes up to sixty, yes sixty different instruments. Guitar, flute, drums even the sitar which are playing with the Wii controller and the nunchuk controller. They can do some solo jamming, conduct an orchestra or get the whole gang together for hot band action (minus the booze and groupies).

The “band” can make videos to save or share later. Yeah, instant rock star status. But if you’d like some solo fun you can play music based games like Handbell Harmony, Pitch Perfect, or just improv with your virtual band mates called ‘Tutes’. You can use your music magic with the guitar, bango, or, my personal favorite, barking like a dog (your Mii character appears in a furry dog suit for howling and dancing around). With the variety of games, ways to play and all these instruments, there are “virtually endless” ways to make music.

One of the truly great things about this game is that all ages can play it. Which you don’t really believe till you see it in action. From a toddler just shaking the maracas in the improv jam, to an adult testing their ear with the highest level or Pitch Perfect. Literally, it’s fun for the whole family and how many things can truly stand up to that label? You can pick up a copy here for $49.99

7 Days of Wii Games: Mario Kart

SunnyChanel — Sat, 16 May 2009 15:01:00 GMT

There is one big problem with the Wii Mariokart game. It’s totally addictive. Although my young daughter loves to pretend she’s a ‘big girl’ and can drive, it is totally obvious she is far, and I mean far, from being ready, especially after seeing her attempt to play Mariokart. She found much amusement in trying to hit the other racers while I tried to explain the game was not a version of ‘bumper cars’. Me? Oh I am oh so ready to take this game for a spin, again and again and again. Mariokart is pretty much a wheel barrel gift of sorts for your kid, since it’s a game that is as entertaining for the hard to impress adults as it is the game happy kids.

Mariokart comes bundled with a Wii Wheel that houses your Wii remote in a comfortable touse steering wheel. This enables you to race through crazy courses like a gold mine, the street of Venice and the mall (which slyly features your various Mii characters along the sidelines and in the billboards around the track – it’s always nice to see a familiar face). And speaking of faces, there are oodles of characters you can choose from for your avatar or you can just use your own Mii. With your avatar selected, you race away. Along the way you can earn special powers that can really give you a racing advantage. But you must always be on the lookout for the rogue banana peel, dancing crab or wayward racer.

The game can be playing solo (for after the kid goes to bed), or you can compete with up to three people in the comfort of your own home. You also have the option of logging in to the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection and race against, well, the world.

You can pick up your own Mariokart for Wii here for $45.99. But be warned you family will be racing the day (and morning and night) away. So if your kid has homework, you better keep Mariokart hidden.

7 Days of Wii Games - Active Life Outdoor Challenge

SunnyChanel — Fri, 15 May 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Active Life Outdoor Challenge is not a game for the confirmed couch potato. There is no passive game play here. This Wii game (from Bandai Namco) gets your whole entire body – from head to toe- into the action.

Outdoor Challenge is bundled with it’s own mat controller which captures all your many jumps, hops skips and steps. There are oodles of options for games - twelve in all -that allows you to delve virtually into river rafting, mine-cart adventure, log jumping, see-saw, jump rope and water trampoline among others.

If you are in a loner mood, you can play solo or do some basic physical training to work on different body parts. If you like playing with others, like your kids, you can participate in some battles or work on some good old fashioned teamwork. My daughter’s favorite? Jump rope. We played as a team but didn’t get very far. She was more amused by missing than actually jumping correctly. But hey, she was amused and that’s what counts. The Mini-Cart Adventure elicited from her shrieks of delight not unlike the kind you’d hear on a roller coaster and she became a pro with a lumberjack like deftness at jumping logs in Timber Trail.

And for those augmenting their fitness regime with the Outdoor Challenge, your avatar (you can use your own Mii) will show physical signs of your workouts with your character’s body changing over time.

All in all, Active Life Outdoor Challenge gives you a great excuse to get off the couch and do something all without having to leave the comfort of your own home. You can pick up the bundle here for $56.99.

7 Days of Wii Games: Carnival Games MiniGolf

SunnyChanel — Thu, 14 May 2009 05:08:00 GMT

I learned something about myself this week. I suck at mini-golf. But my three-and-a-half-year-old? She’s apparently the Tiger Woods of the pre-school set. 2K Play’s Carnival Games: MiniGolf takes the standard video golf game and adds in dinosaurs, candy canes and farm animals to create a whimsical and wacky adventure for you and your little putter.

Where does the mad mad mad golfin’ go down? At lands like “Prehistoric Times, Wild West, Amazon Jungle, Pirate's Cove, Fairytale Land, Egyptian Pyramids, and the Haunted Mansion.” During your game play, if you happen to get the hang of it, you can earn coins to trade in for ‘prizes’, like upgrades to your customized avatar, special clubs and unique golf balls.

The game accommodates single player or multiplayer (up to 4 Wii remotes at once) so you can enjoy some lone player action or go for a full on party. But we warned, this ain’t just your regular run of the mill mini-golf. Things fly, come out of nowhere and your competition even has the ability to distract you with their own Wii remote while you’re playing. Yeah, the game can get rough. It’s time for a rematch with my little preschooler, just proving that this game is good for the young and the old…like me.

You can pick up your clubs and hit it here for $29.99.

7 Days of Wii Games for Kids: Hasbro Family Game Night

SunnyChanel — Mon, 11 May 2009 20:30:00 GMT

I love, and I mean LOVE a family game night. And what kind of games do I like best? The classics. Hasbro’s Family Game Night for the Nintendo Wii by Electronic Arts includes old school standards like Connect 4, Boggle, Yahtzee, Sorry, Sorry Sliders and Battleship all with a familiar host…Mr. Potato Head. And these aren’t just the standard versions you know and love, along with the standard way of playing via your Wii, there are also newfangled versions of the games like a ‘Panic Flip’ in Boggle, Connect 4 featuring ‘Power Chips’, and Battleship armed with ‘Super Weapons’. When you have a crew of kids over, you can play via the Party Mode that lets you play fast paced mini games letting everyone have a turn without waiting too long. You can pick up the fun here for $39.95.

Finally Beat the Kids at a Game: Retro Duo Video Game System

Aaron Burgess — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 14:30:00 GMT

Can't find (or afford) a Wii for the family room? Show your kids the fine art of old-school gaming with this Retro Duo Video Game System ($44.99 at Amazon), which plays all those dusty Nintendo and Super Nintendo titles you've had in storage since senior year. You may not get the bells, whistles and wireless action of the Wii, but you'll at least be able to beat the kids at a Mario game for once. [Uncrate]

CES 2009: Game On - An Awesome Video Game Storage System For Your Kids

Chris Ford — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 16:00:00 GMT

Game On might have, for a lot of parents, the answer to a problem that has been nagging them for a while. How do I keep al of this video game stuff looking neat and all in one place in my house? Well, I think Game On has the solution.

In the picture, you're looking at the one-two punch from Game On - the Video Gaming Storage System (on the top) and the Stash Box on the bottom. Both are made of durable MDF, can take up to 50 pounds of weight (when mounted to a stud) and have been designed to take the wear and tear that children can dish out.

The top portion holds your console (XBOX, WIi, PS3 etc.), has games on top and four side support handles for controllers, guitar controllers or any other gaming associated stuff. It also has curved vents on each side to let air pass through - keeping your console nice and cool.

The Stash Box underneath is meant to work in conjunction with the top portion, and it provides extra storage for more games and DVDs. All put together it's a pretty awesome clutter solution for your kid's room or playroom. At least when you tell them to put their video game stuff away, they'll have a place.

Both are available in black, white, green, red, blue and yellow; and both will cost about $59 each. Neither are availalbe in stores in the US yet, but you can check them out at IWantMyGameOn.com

CES 2009: Pyro Army Chair From Pyramat

Chris Ford — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 20:00:00 GMT

Here's a new gaming chair from Pyramat that I thought was pretty cool - the Pyro Army Chair. Like some of the other Pyramat chairs it has four speakers (two at the top, two at the bottom) and a big subwoofer. It's called "Army I suppose because of the camouflage patterns and has loads of pockets for whatever your son (most likely) wants to put in them.

What I liked the most about this version though is that it can be linked up to other Pyramat chairs - up to eight in total - so more than one person can enjoy the video game, movie, or whatever other audio source you have plugged into it. Each chair will have to have it's own separate power, but the audio plugs just into the first chair, and is distributed to the other chairs from the first.

The Pyro Army Chair should be available in four to six months an should retail for around $129.

CES 2009: Nyko Charge Station EX - An Improved Rechargeable Wiimote Solution

Chris Ford — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 16:30:00 GMT

The representative from Nyko (makers of video game accessories) told me an interesting piece of information. If your family plays an average of 14 hours of Nintendo Wii per week (which is apparently the average for families with a Wii), then over the span of a year you'll be spending around $200 keeping fresh batteries in the controllers. Granted, rechargeable Ninetendo Wii controllers and charging stations are Nyko's biggest product, but it's something to think about when considering getting rechargeable battery system for you Wiimotes.

The Charge Station EX is Nyko's newest version of their popular Charge Station and will be replacing their current version in stores. It's basically the same product, with a few improvements. The design is a little more sleek, it now has an LED light that will tell you once the batteries are charged, and of course it will let you keep those all important tethers on the Wiimotes when you're charging them.

The system comes with the station, two rechargeable batteries and rubber-backed battery covers. Available in stores as soon as the current versions sell out, and will cost $34.95.

CES 2009: Nyko Wand - An Improved Controller For The Nintendo Wii

Chris Ford — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 13:00:00 GMT

Video game accessories pioneer Nyko has made what looks to be a much better "Wiimote" for the Nintendo Wii - the Nyko Wand.

The new controller is very similar to the current offering by Nintendo, except the buttons are bigger, it's got a rechargeable battery, rubber trigger (B button) and grip - and one other big difference. Unlike the Ninendo "Wiimote," the Nyko Wand exports data as well as imports. But what does that mean to you?

Currently, all of the gaming accessories you buy now to work with the Wiimote (like the gun, steering wheel or the like) have to use physical manipulations to work the Wiimote (the trigger on the gun has to physically push the B button for example). The Wiimote also can't make an accessory rumble for instance. With the Wand, any accessory made to work with it can talk back and forth with the Wand itself, making for a better interface that should be more reliable and potentially more fun.

Wand should be available in April or May of 2009 and should retail for around $30 to $40.

NERF N-Strike for Wii Breaks 4th Wall to Let You Shoot People

Aaron Burgess — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 19:04:00 GMT

OK, that's being a little dramatic: Yes, you can actually blast people with the "Switch Shot EX-3" dart blaster that comes bundled with NERF N-Strike for Wii, but these are NERF darts we're talking about, and as for the game itself, it's a far cry from Halo.

Fire away! Picking off targets in NERF N-Strike.

That said, NERF N-Strike is (figuratively speaking) a total blast for young gamers, as it throws them into a series of fun, fast-paced challenges such as blasting targets or picking off robotic enemies -- no blood or excessive violence here.

The game's multiplayer capability, which lets up to 4 friends jump into battle simultaneously (additional EX-3 blasters are $14.99 each; make sure you get the Wii-compatible one), is also a great way to bring serious NERF action into a playdate without having to chase foam darts around your house later. Just exchange the EX-3's dart chamber for a Wii remote to start blasting away onscreen.

$56.99 (regularly $60) from Amazon.

Very Big Toys: $180 Nintendo DSi Coming Nov. 1

Aaron Burgess — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 22:10:00 GMT

...If you live in Japan, that is. The rest of us will have to wait until sometime next year, according to Nintendo's recent press announcement, to get our hands on the next-gen handheld gizmo.

For those asking the inevitable "Is this going to merit a DS Lite trade-in at GameStop?" there are definitely some nice improvements to consider: the slightly slimmer design, the slightly larger (17% bigger than those on the DS Lite) dual 3.25" screens, the built-in web browser, the music playback, and the 640x480 digital cameras -- one on the outer shell and another inside on the DSi's hinge -- as well as the SD memory-card slot and the ability to buy and download games via Wi-Fi at Nintendo's upcoming "DSi Shop."

The DSi (official Japanese website here) is only launching in white or black, but given the colorful precedents set by the DS Lite, we'd imagine that won't be the case once it's had some time to age. [Image via DS Fanboy]

Get Your Kids To Study For The SAT On Their Nintendo DS

Chris Ford — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 22:02:00 GMT

My SAT Coach is not a video game, and you can be sure your kids will never mistake it for a video game. But you might be able to get them to use their Nintendo DS (or DS Lite) to study for the SAT. Today UbiSoft released My SAT Coach - a "game" that uses questions and study techniques from the Princeton Review to help your kids prepare for one of the most important tests they'll ever take.

Everything is covered in My SAT Coach, from math to verbal. There are timed drills and mini games with over 2,000 questions and two "diagnostic" exams. The scores are tracked and recommendations are even given to students about where they should concentrate their studies. I'm guessing it won't cover 100% of their SAT preparation, but as a supplemental tool it sounds pretty cool.

My SAT Coach, $29.99 from Amazon.com.

7 Days of Video Games: Disney Princess Enchanted Journey

Chris Ford — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 12:03:00 GMT

If you've got a Wii and a little girl who is really into princesses, then chances are you've probably looked this game over. And while in my experience it's not really a very good video game per se, it does have one thing that makes it better than most of the games on the Wii we have (and I'm not just talking about the fact that it features the Disney princesses). It's a game my three year old daughter and I can actually play together, which is what it's really all about.

The game is pretty simple. You get to be a princess (that you customize with hair, dress, jewelry etc.) that goes around and helps all of the Disney princesses. There are Jasmine, Cinderella, Snow White and Ariel "stories" that you become a part of, and you run around their respective kingdoms helping defeat bad goblins that turn into butterflies with your magic. Sounds mind-numbing, right? Well, it kind of is, but my daughter loved it not just for the stories, but because she could play too.

The game is played with the Wii "Nunchuck" (the thumb controller that attaches to the normal "Wiimote" controller) and the "Wiimote." You use the Nunchuck to run around in the game, and you use the Wiimote to wave your wand and shoot magic at the bad guys. The way my daughter and I played it was she was in charge of the wand and I was in charge of running our character around the map. The system worked out really well, and after a few weeks of playing it here and there we even finished the game.

The game itself doesn't seem to be written very well. It has lots of glitchy moments when you can't figure out where you're supposed to go, the audio levels are all over the place making it hard to hear the story sometimes, and to play you have to be physically much closer to your television than most other Wii games I've played. It also doesn't look nearly as polished as most other Wii games out there, but if you're looking for a game that you can do with someone who quite frankly isn't coordinated or old enough to play a video game by themselves, then this is a game you might want to check out.

Ultimately, it's a good example of how well the unique Wii controller system works, and how it's the best video game system out there for families.

Buy Disney Princess: Enchanted Journey for the Wii for $19.99 (cheap) from Amazon.
And shop Amazon for a Wii System (if you can find one).

Finally, the Perfect Accessory for Your Wii Bowling League

Aaron Burgess — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 18:03:00 GMT

If you're leaving town for any vacation spot where there'll be a TV and electrical outlet, the family Wii is pretty much an essential take-along. With the Wii Sports Edition Brunswick bags from ALS, you can transport your Wii, as well as your games, adapters, Wii-mote/nunchuk controllers and sensor bar (which gets its own inner mesh compartment), in something a bit funkier than the typical suitcase-style console carrier. And, just like the bowling-ball carriers Gram and Gramps used to haul around, they've got padded inner pockets to keep your goods safe during transport.

$45 from Best Buy; available in blue, black/pink or red -- and if you really wanna make the bowling experience literal, pick up a copy of Brunswick Pro Bowling for Wii while you're at it.

Video Game Round-Up: Licensed Fun for Everyone, Part 2

Aaron Burgess — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 20:03:00 GMT

(Screenshot from D3's new Ed, Edd n Eddy: Scam of the Century)

Last week, I rounded up five new licensed video games aimed at kids; this week, part two of my feeble attempt to crawl out from beneath the landslide of licensed properties, with more tie-ins to movies, toys, TV shows and books still yet to come before the holidays. Hooray!

Dr. Seuss's How The Grinch Stole Christmas! (Destination Software)
Available For: DS
The Deal: Aesthetically based as much on the animated spinoff as on Dr. Seuss' classic book (with Jim Carrey thankfully out of sight), this game puts you in the role of the Grinch -- meaning, yes, you use your DS skills to navigate obstacles as you sneak through Who houses, pilfer Who presents, and generally rob Whoville of its Christmas joy. Ho-ho-ho indeed! (It does eventually bring you 180 degrees toward good cheer.)
Who'll Dig It: Any kid whose heart is two sizes too small.

Go, Diego, Go! Safari Rescue (2K Play)
Available For: DS
The Deal: Like its Dora counterpart, this simple-but-fun game puts kids on a quest -- play as Diego to rescue the jungle animals that've had their identities mixed up by a magician's mischievous spells -- and incorporates some nifty features along the way. Among other tricks, you can snap photos with Click, call animals through the DS' microphone, and blow into the mic to ride a hot-air balloon.
Who'll Dig It: Diego fans. (Surprise!)

Ed, Edd n Eddy: Scam of the Century (D3)
Available For: DS
The Deal: Cartoon Network's trio of tricksters lose their trusty scammer's playbook to the neighborhood kids, spending the game's 13 levels tasting their own medicine while uncovering special items and abilities, unlocking minigames, and ultimately recovering the Book of Scams from the dreaded Captain MelonHead.
Who'll Dig It: Fans of the series, obviously (the loose, scribbly animation stays true to the toon's image), although you don't need to be an Ed-head to enjoy the mischief here.

Hot Wheels: Beat That! (Activision)
Available For: Xbox 360, PS2, DS, PC
The Deal: No surprises from the umpteenth Hot Wheels spinoff, although kids won't care: Race through five competitive modes, compete against friends via the multiplayer option, and get special codes (or, just visit the site above to grab 'em) to unlock bonus vehicles. Cool points, however, for recreating the feel of a bedroom track, complete with other toys to dodge and high-speed action beneath the floorboards.
Who'll Dig It: My 7-year-old is a good barometer for most any Hot Wheels game, so let's ask him: Loud noises? Fast cars? Cool-looking tracks? Gold. If you're serious about racing games, skip it.

Shrek: Ogres & Dronkeys (Activision)
Available For: DS
The Deal: In this Shrek-themed spin on the Nintendogs idea, you train and raise your ogre or dronkey offspring, play games (blocks, catch) to sharpen their reflexes and earn bonus items, and finally send the wee beasties into the world for adventures and interaction with other characters from the series.
Who'll Dig It: Any kid who's a fan of train-'em, play-'em-style gaming -- we parents already have our hands full with real monsters.

Video Game Review: Mercury Meltdown Revolution for Wii

Aaron Burgess — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 16:02:00 GMT

Don't be put off by Mercury Meltdown Revolution's $19.99 price tag: Though it's a steal when compared to the routinely higher-priced, bigger-marketed titles for the Wii, the game packs a ton of fun for the money. And if you're familiar with the PSP Mercury series that spawned this third installment, you'll be thrilled to learn that the biggest hurdle to nailing the game -- the ability to tilt your playable blob of mercury using true motion control -- has been solved via the Wii remote.

Playing like a mash-up between Marble Madness (for you old-school geeks) and the classic labyrinth game, Mercury Meltdown Revolution has you using your Wiimote to navigate a shiny puddle of liquid metal through more than 150 levels, each of which is a mini-puzzle requiring a balance of skill, speed and stealth to conquer.

MMR also packs some unlockable content that you can access by tracking down bonus items throughout the levels, as well as a handful of party games and some basic extras, such as local leaderboards for comparing personal-best scores. If you're a purist, it also supports the standard Nintendo controller, so you can relive the classic Mercury experience without tilt action. Not sure why you'd want to, though, especially after watching this trailer:

Mercury Meltdown Revolution is rated "E" for Everyone.

Fall Videogame Preview: Dewy's Adventure

Gwynne Watkins — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 14:08:00 GMT

This one is a little advanced for the younger kids, but we had to feature it anyway, because it's so frickin cute. Dewy's Adventure is a new action title for the Nintendo Wii, from the same people behind the popular (and similarly adorable) Elebits. To play this game, you become Dewy, a water droplet charged with saving the environment from a mysterious destructive force. Accomplishing this involves solving lots of puzzles while covering lots of pretty terrain, but here's the best part: Dewy has the power to change the temperature of the air around him. Meaning that he can make it really hot, which turns him into this:

A steamcloud! And if he tires of his steamcloud powers, he can make it really cold and turn into:

An ice droplet! See? Adorable. Dewy's Adventure will be released in late September and is available for pre-order on Amazon.