Grown-Up Gamer

Scribblenauts

2009-09-13T09:07:00.001-04:00

Two days until Scribblenauts!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/mpd/permalink/m3Q6H6T9P286LH

Bowser's Inside Story: New Video

2009-09-03T07:35:00.003-04:00

I wrote about Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story a few weeks back. Here is some new footage.

This game is looking more and more like a winner. As I had mentioned previously, it might require a lot of reading out loud to younger players, but the gameplay looks like it will fun enough to keep kids (and grownups) of all ages interested.

Nintendo News

2009-09-01T06:23:00.004-04:00

Nintendo made a few interesting announcements yesterday.

It looks like a new version of Wii Fit called, you guessed it, Wii Fit Plus will launch on October 4. Additionally, starting September 13 you'll be able to get a white or pink DSI. Finally, just in time for the holidays...black Wii remotes!

You can read all the details on Nintendo's media site.

Best. Wedding cake. Ever.

2009-08-21T07:36:00.004-04:00

Okay...this might be a little off topic. But I had to post something about this incredible Super Mario Bros wedding cake.

Check it out. It's a work of art!

Sorry for the digression. The next post will be back on topic.

NEW New Super Mario Bros. Wii footage

2009-08-20T07:01:00.006-04:00

I love side scrollers -- particularly the DS classic New Super Mario Bros. I was therefore pretty excited when New Super Mario Bros Wii was announced a few months ago.

It's slated for release in November, but if that's too long to wait, here is some newly released footage of the game (my blog template seems to cut off the right edge of the video. Sorry about that! If it's too annoying, check out the video here.)

Simultaneous 4-player multiplayer action through the Mushroom Kingdom -- what could be better?! This looks like it has the potential to be a family gaming classic.

More Spore!

2009-08-17T07:28:00.003-04:00

It looks like Maxis will be growing its successful Spore franchise. Spore Hero Arena is coming to the DS.

An evil force is wreaking havoc across the galaxy, and only you can stop it! For the first time ever, build fully 3D Spore creatures on your Nintendo DS and take them into battle. Explore planets all over the galaxy, fight creatures, and gather parts to customize and enhance your mighty hero. Compete in a variety of arena battles against dangerous enemies in your quest to become the Galactic Champion and save the galaxy!

Sounds interesting -- very Pokemonesque. It might be a little too complex for young kids. But we'll have to wait and see. In the mean time, here is a video of the game:

But wait! There's more!

For the Wii, we have Spore Hero.

Spore finally comes to the Wii in this all-new adventure. Create your own creature hero and fight to save your planet. This all-new story begins as you crash land on a strange alien world. But something evil has followed you and is threatening to destroy the creatures of the planet. Only a true hero can save the world from this new threat! Earn unique new parts to adapt your hero for courageous battles and amazing adventures.

And the video:

You can pretty much apply my comments for Hero Arena to this game. Honestly, I'm not sure how much headway Maxis will be able to make into Pokemon turf. Pikachu et al have a 14-year head-start on the whole monster fighting thing, but we'll see.

Both games will be out this fall.

Dino Delight

2009-08-17T06:05:00.004-04:00

Fossil Fighters was released for the DS a few days ago. Although there is no review available at Metacritic (yet), the write up for the game certainly sounds fun:

Fossil Fighters invites players to enter a world in which fearsome creatures are hidden as fossils for players to collect, using the unique touch-screen controls of Nintendo DS. Players can clean, collect and battle their discoveries.

Seems like creative use of the touch screen. Plus, according to GameGuru, players use the microphone to blow sand off of the fossils. We have a few games that use the mic in this fashion -- and the kids LOVE IT.

We'll have to get some hands-on experience with this, but it certainly sounds like it'd be a great family title. Kids love dinosaurs and collecting. Grown-ups love battles.

Updates to come...

There are a lot of grown-up gamers out there

2009-08-12T06:54:00.007-04:00

Nielsen released their numbers for June yesterday. As USA TODAY points out, almost half of all game play came from gamers aged 18 years and up. Our numbers are growing!

Other interesting tidbits...

The 9-year-old PlayStation 2 continues to be one of the most played systems
Females prefer Wii
Males prefer Xbox 360

Recommended: Mario Kart Wii

2009-08-10T06:54:00.012-04:00

My younger daughter's tricycle is named The Red Racer. It's a fitting name. The trike looks old-school, with fire-engine red paint and shiny chrome accents. I don't remember how we came up with the name, but we've always called it The Red Racer.

I recently asked her what I should name my bike. I suggested The Crimson Avenger, since it is also red. My older daughter, who has a bike named Goldie, liked that idea. But her younger sister vetoed it. Her suggestion: Mario Kart Wii.

Strange name for a Diamondback BMX. Even stranger considering it was suggested by a 3 year old.

But, it makes more sense when you consider how we passed many long nights last winter: playing, you guessed it, Mario Kart Wii. My wife and I are big kart racing fans, so we were eager to pick up the latest installment of the Nintendo classic for ourselves. But, needless to say, when our kids saw the brightly colored packaging adorned with the likes of Mario and Peach, they wanted in.

We let them race a few laps with us and it was a disaster. They were driving the wrong way, crashing into walls, and having a miserable time. Clearly, this wasn't a game for young kids.

But after a few weeks with the game, my wife and I tried Battle Mode -- a type of game where your team drives around in a large open environment trying to gather more coins than the opposing team, or trying to pop more of the opposing team's balloons.

Battle mode, with it's wide-open spaces, seemed like a good option for the kids. In battle mode, there were no tracks to drive the wrong way on and no getting left behind. Players simply cruise around, jumping off things, and crashing into each other. So, we let them take a crack at it.

Two things happened during those action-packed free-for-alls.

My wife and I had a blast trying to beat the opposition with a severely handicapped team. At first, we got romped. But eventually, we improved enough to make the games competitive.
The girls were slowly learning the basics of the game -- especially my 5 year old. After a few nights of playing, she started to grasp the controls and the objective. Before long, she was less of a handicap and more of a secret weapon. Meanwhile, my 3 year old was having a great time driving around, launching the occasional turtle shell.

By playing in Battle mode, Mario Kart Wii went from being an adults-only affair to a highly recommended whole-family mulitplayer experience. We had a ton of laughs.

Granted, now it's summer and the days are long. Mario Kart Wii the game rarely gets played. But Mario Kart Wii the bike regularly rolls down the sidewalk alongside The Red Racer and Goldie. And that's just fine. Winter is always right around the corner.

New trailer for Mario & Luigi: Browser’s Inside Story

2009-08-01T08:56:00.005-04:00

There is a new trailer available for Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story available.

Like I said earlier, I've haven't played any of the other games in the series, but I have to admit...this looks pretty fun. The plot certainly seems original, and the game appears to make good use of the dual screen.

We have to wait and see if it's a good family game. Mario and Luigi games are always a big hit with kids...but RPGs aren't. This might be a good one for older kids. But younger kids (like mine) might get tired of listening to me read dialogue to them. Time will tell...

Sensational Sidescroller: New Super Mario Bros.

2009-07-30T22:07:00.019-04:00

I have a confession to make. I never owned an NES.

I know; it's shocking.

But it's especially shocking when you realize I was around 8 years old when the NES was released. I was in the key demographic! Why didn't I have one? Simple. When my mom told me I could get an NES or an Atari 7800, I made the epically wrong decision to go with the Atari.

It was a choice that almost ruined my early years. If not for the kindness of my NES-owning friends, I would have had a Marioless childhood.

Now...Mario games have come and gone over the past 20+ years, but when New Super Mario Bros. was released in 2006, I couldn't pass it up -- I had to correct my long-standing mistake. It took me a while, but I finally got my hands on a DS...and the rest is history.

To put it simply, New Super Mario Bros. is sidescrolling perfection. The game retains the charm and excitement of its 1985 sibling, while managing to feel fresh and new.

The concept is simple -- Mario jumps, ducks, and chucks fireballs in his quest to rescue Princess Peach from the clutches of the vile Bowser. The levels are challenging, but like any well-designed game, never frustrating. The graphics are vibrant and crisp -- delightfully good for a handheld.

My kids loved the game. From the time we started playing it, our house was gripped with mock urgency to rescue Princess Peach (my girls are big fans of her majesty). My five year old enjoyed playing the earlier levels. But as the game progressed and things got more intense, she would frequently pass the DS to me. By the time we reached level 6, I was the primary player, with both kids eagerly watching. But don't get me wrong -- they enjoyed the entire experience. They couldn't take their eyes off the action flickering on the duel screens in front of them.

The bottom line: Some things are worth the wait.

New Super Mario Bros. is good. How good? If you or your child has a DS, go buy it now. If you don't have a DS, start checking craigslist for used ones today. You'll be happy you did.

Are you a gamer for life?

2009-07-28T22:24:00.006-04:00

So The Guardian poses an interesting question: are you a gamer for life?

...the games industry is too young to really know if consumers will actually play for life. Most of the Atari/NES/Spectrum/C64 gamers were kids and so mainly now in their 30s and 40s. We'll have to give it another 20 years or so to see if gaming really is for life. But as long as the industry continues to broaden its range – Gears of War 5 is really not going to appeal to your average 40-something – then I think it could be.

I think that the gamers mentioned above--the ones who played Ataris, NESs, and Commodores--will continue to game. I should know...at 32 years old, I'm the exact gamer the article describes. I have never not owned a video game system. Many of my earliest memories revolve around the Atari 2600 that was hooked up to our living room TV. As I've matured (some would debate this point), the games have matured with me. I've always thought that my generation--the first generation to literally grow up gaming--would continue to dictate what games should be.

Gaming has always been an entertainment staple for me. I don't see that changing anytime soon.

Breaking news: the Nintendo DS is pretty cool

2009-07-28T07:12:00.007-04:00

Maybe I'm a little behind the curve on this one.

Afterall, the DS family (DS, DS Lite, DSi) has sold in the neighborhood of 100 million units. But, up until a few weeks ago, I wasn't part of the DS-owning hoard.

But now I'm among the converted -- I love my DS Lite. It's a fantastic system with a huge array of games. The battery life is outstanding, the graphics are vibrant, and the sound is crisp.

This is a blog about family gaming, and to be honest, I don't know if there is a better system out there for a family to own. It offers entertainment for everyone.

Family. The DS has a great library of family titles. The first game I tacked with my girls was New Super Mario Bros (my review is coming soon). Now we're playing The Legendary Starfy. After that, after that we'll dive into Super Mario 64 DS.
Kids. The DS has a plethora of kid-only games that are simple enough for them to play on their own. My girls have been playing Super Princess Peach and Dora Saves the Mermaids.
Grownup only. This is where the DS really impressed me; it offers a surprising amount of games for adults to enjoy (after the kids are asleep). I'm currently ruling the underworld in Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars. After that, I plan to rule the entire world in Dawn of Discovery.

Okay...so maybe none of this is cutting-edge news. But if there is anyone out there looking for a system that offers something for everyone, look at the DS.

Rabbids invade the DS for the holidays

2009-07-26T18:05:00.004-04:00

Those wacky Rabbid games have always gotten pretty decent reviews. This holiday season, you'll be able to take them with you on your DS with Rabbids Go Home. There aren't too many details available yet, but it looks like it could be a fun one.

The future of motion controlls and family gaming

2009-07-26T08:22:00.004-04:00

Videogamer.com has a great interview with Harvey Elliott of Bright Light Studios about the future of family video games.

EA's Guildford-based Bright Light studio has a focus on creating games for kids and families, so it was only right that studio VP and GM Harvey Elliott was on hand at the recent Shine Week - a seven day festival to celebrate creative talent among young people. We caught up with him to discuss Boom Blox, potential sequels on other platforms and if we'll ever see any games based on the classic Bullfrog IP EA owns.

Read the interview here.

Super Mario 64 DS -- I'm looking forward to this

2009-07-26T00:10:00.006-04:00

I usually only tackle one or two games at a time (usually a kid-friendly game that I play with my girls and a grown-up game that I play solo). Right now those games are The Legendary Starfy (kid friendly) and Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars (grown up).

Once I tackle (and review) Starfy with the kids, I'm eager to take on Super Mario 64 DS -- a remake of the classic N64 game for the DS. I've been looking forward to it since getting my DS for Father's Day.

Anyway, reading stuff like this at the Daily Dispatch only increases my anticipation. I played Mario 64 a bit on the Wii (purchased from the virtual store), but it looks like DS version adds a lot bells and whistles -- including multiple playable characters. Granted, the game isn't new; it was a DS launch title. But for anyone in the market for a good family game, I suspect this is a sure-thing.

Alice in Wonderland coming to Wii, DS, and PC

2009-07-24T23:11:00.008-04:00

Yesterday Disney Interactive Studios announced video game adaptations of Alice in Wonderland to tie in with the upcoming Tim Burton movie.

Alice in Wonderland for Wii™, Nintendo DS™ and Windows-based PC takes players on a topsy-turvy and immersive journey in Underland as Alice finds herself in a world of illusion and magic where nothing is quite like it seems. Alongside her endearing friends –Mad Hatter, March Hare, Cheshire Cat and White Rabbit – players aid Alice to defeat the Red Queen and Jabberwocky.

Sounds neat. Tim Burton's reputation for creating dark, atmospheric movies makes me think that the game could have potential for an adult audience. Good for kids? Too soon to say. We'll have to keep an eye on this one.

Grab a copy of Wario Land: Shake It!

2009-07-24T07:01:00.007-04:00

I'm old school.

I grew up playing Atari, NES, etc, and I love...LOVE...side scrollers. Sure, 3D graphics are impressive, but for me, a well constructed side scroller is gaming bliss.

And that's precisely why I loved Wario Land: Shake It!

From the moment I flipped my wiimote on its side and started using the d-pad, I was hooked. The first thing that struck me about the game was the vibrant color palette -- it was like a rainbow exploded on the screen (in a good way). The controls felt tight and the level design was innovative and challenging; I frequently found myself eager to see what was waiting for me on the next screen.

Is it a fun game to play with kids? You bet. My 3- and 5-year-old kids couldn't get enough, and here's why:

They loved the interactive controls. Shake the wiimote while Wario is holding a bad guy, and Wario shakes the garlic (literally) out of him. Slam the wiimote down, and Wario punches the ground. Tilt the wiimote, and Wario's cannon points in the corresponding direction.
As mentioned above, the vibrant colors are enough to make a 3 year old (and a 32 year old) say "oooooh."
It's pretty hard to die. Most bad guys don't inflict damage, they just bounce you back. Granted, the kiddies would hand the wiimote over to me for challenging sections, but that's what gaming together is all about.

My complaints with the game are minor. It is, overall, very easy to beat. Personally, I don't mind an easy game. Between work and kids, I just don't have 40 hours to devote to a game. So, a quick, easy game is a plus for me. But I understand that when people dish out $50, they might want something a bit more robust. Now here is the weird part -- while the game is easy overall, several of the bosses had me pulling out my hair. This contrast in difficulty made the game seem uneven. On a couple of occasions, I spent more time fighting the end-of-level boss, then I spent playing all the levels that lead up to him. But again, these are minor grievances.

Overall Wario Land: Shake It! is a fun, old-school platformer kids and adults will have a blast playing.

Natal Powered Xbox in 2010?

2009-07-22T21:33:00.004-04:00

At E3 last month, Microsoft made huge waves with the announcement of Project Natal. If you missed that, check out this video. It's a little mind blowing.

If the Natal promise is fulfilled, Microsoft will be simplifying gaming dramatically, while offering controls that are simple for both adult and child. Neat stuff.

Anyway, rumors are circulating that 2010 could bring a Natal powered Xbox to the market. But, right now, nothing is confirmed. Should we expect an add-on? Should we expect a new Xbox? Time will tell.

Ars Technica gives Wii Sports Resort a pretty decent review

2009-07-22T07:24:00.012-04:00

The original Wii Sports is perhaps the quintessential family game. It's fun for everyone.

Bowling, for example, is so simple that when my daughter was 3 years old she was able to enjoy it. She was happy to simply roll the ball down the lane. Granted, she threw a lot of gutter balls, but, all in all, she was having a great time. I was having fun, too. While my daughter was learning the fundamentals of the game, I was honing my my spin. Family gaming at its best.

With that in mind, I turn my attention to Wii Sports' follow up, Wii Sports Resort.

If the "gimick" with the original Wii Sports was motion controls, the gimick for Resort is MotionPlus, a device that is packaged with the game. In reality, the majority of your purchase costs are going toward MotionPlus, much like buying Wii Play got you an extra wiimote and Wii Fit got you the balance board. MotionPlus attaches to your wiimote and offers improved motion sensing accuracy (one could argue that we were promised these high levels of accuracy when the Wii was relased, sans add-on).

Ars Technica has an in-depth review of Wii Sports Resort. Here's the bottom line:

This will be a disc you get out when you have people over, or to show your family, but the draw as a single-player game, or even a long-term party game, is somewhat questionable. What Wii Sports Resort proves is that no one can make motion-controls sing like Nintendo, archery can be a fun addition to adventure games in the future, and we need a new Wave Race and Pilotwings title. The Swordplay portions also prove that with a little more freedom, a high-class sword fighting experience is more than possible on the Nintendo Wii (we hope a future one will include lightsabers).

Sounds good. Not great.

I'm tempted to pick it up, simply to try MotionPlus, but at the same time, I'm peeved that I'm getting suckered into buying yet another Wii peripheral -- one that I didn't think was necessary when Nintendo pushing the system into homes 3 years ago.

Reserve Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story

2009-07-21T07:38:00.006-04:00

It looks like you can preorder Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story for the DS on Amazon. This is the follow up to the very well received Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time and Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, for the DS and GBA, respectively.

I assume Inside Story will be a turn-based RPG like it's predecessors, which means it may be tricky for hands-on controlling for young kids. But, being a Mario game, it's likely that kids will be content to have an adult explain the game to them as they play it.

I'm looking forward to more details as the game gets closer to release.

Preview -- Beyond the Yellow Brick Road

2009-07-21T06:51:00.007-04:00

At first glance, I was pretty excited about The Wizard of Oz: Beyond the Yellow Brick Road, which was announced by XSEED for the Nintendo DS yesterday. After all, the Wizard of Oz movie is a timeless kid's classic. And it sounds like the game will put a new spin on an old story, exploring what happened after the group reached the end of the yellow brick road. Sounds great. But great to play with young kids? I'm not so sure.

THE WIZARD OF OZ: Beyond the Yellow Brick Road presents an unorthodox yet accessible method of gameplay in a beautifully realized 3-dimensional Land of Oz with an original soundtrack. Utilizing the touch screen capabilities of the DS, all actions are completely controlled by the stylus, including Dorothy’s movement and speed which respond to the rotation of a large trackball on the bottom screen that is spun using the stylus. THE WIZARD OF OZ: Beyond the Yellow Brick Road also features turn-based battles from a first-person viewpoint, with multiple customization options allowing the game to recommend the best actions per turn for expedited play, or manual entry for more involved gameplay.

Time will tell. Even if it's too complex for kids to get down and dirty playing, the recognizable characters might make it a game they enjoy watching a parent play. Either way, it's worth keeping an eye on.

Welcome to Grown-Up Gamer

2009-07-19T22:14:00.002-04:00

Another blog. As if there weren't enough floating around on the internet already.

Why?

Because I love video games. I also love my kids. So, as you can imagine, I love gaming with my kids.

But here's the deal -- I don't like playing kiddie games...and neither do my kids. In the realitively short time I've been a father (5 years), I've been researching video games that both children AND adults can enjoy...together. And it's been going great.

So that's why I'm doing this blog thing -- to share information with the parents who aren't content to plop their kid in front of a Wii with the latest Dora game. Nope, this blog for the parents who want to sit on the floor next to their kids, controller in hand, ready to have a great time. Together.