Much like Madden and other sports games lost features in the transition between the last console generation and the current one, EA's skateboarding games have been downgraded rather than upgraded as technology has improved. Skate on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 offers only one option in its title (the imperative "skate") versus the two options found in their 1987 skateboard game Skate or Die. Perhaps in the next year's iteration, EA will be able to reinstitute the "dying" feature, although we're doubtful -- the latest skating game from the company, Skate It, goes so far as to tell you what to skate (it) instead of allowing you to specify the object of your skating.Posts with tag EA
Virtually Overlooked: Skate or Die
Much like Madden and other sports games lost features in the transition between the last console generation and the current one, EA's skateboarding games have been downgraded rather than upgraded as technology has improved. Skate on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 offers only one option in its title (the imperative "skate") versus the two options found in their 1987 skateboard game Skate or Die. Perhaps in the next year's iteration, EA will be able to reinstitute the "dying" feature, although we're doubtful -- the latest skating game from the company, Skate It, goes so far as to tell you what to skate (it) instead of allowing you to specify the object of your skating.Survey says: Rock Band 2 headed Wii-ward
Rock Band is a sore subject among Wii owners, since we'll be getting the gimped version of the game. Even so, that won't stop a Rock Band 2 from landing on Nintendo's console. At least, that's what a recent survey conducted by Listen Research for EA hints at, which has been asking gamers some questions about the pending sequel.Most of the things that EA wants to know have to do with the player's likelihood of purchasing things. The survey includes (paraphrased) questions like: Would you buy the Special Edition set for Rock Band 2 (i.e., the version that includes all the instruments)? And: How many Rock Band Track Packs for the Wii would you purchase within six months? The inquiry we found to be the most interesting, though, asked whether consumers would be more inclined to buy Rock Band or Guitar Hero, which will also utilize multiple instruments soon.
While some people may be more invested in one franchise over the other (depending on which game and instruments they already own), we think that gaining the loyalty of Wii owners is relatively simple. Easily enough, the company who issues the least broken game for Nintendo's console will win this guitar and drums arms race on the Wii.
MySims Kingdom: The Home of Princess Butter
That's still the basic gameplay, but this time you're building (medieval) stuff and making (ye olde) friends at the behest of King Roland (and his daughter, the amusingly-named Princess Butter), who charges you with improving his kingdom. As you build and achieve goals, you'll unlock new building capabilities including bridge-building (or at least bridge repair). These will allow you both to increase the size of your kingdom and to expand into other kingdoms, each with their own unique inhabitants.
Surprisingly, given the setting, you'll also be able to create electrical devices. We assume you will then be run out of town by a frightened mob.
Wii Warm Up: Best use of Wiimote controls yet?
We were all excited about Skate It, even more so when we found out it featured Balance Board support, but now we're even more pumped to try it ourselves. But, does it tout one of the best Wiimote control schemes yet? We'll have to wait and see, however, in the meantime, tell us what titles you think best utilize the Wii's wonderfully unique controls? We'll get you started with an easy one: Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure.
Get to know EA's Facebreakers
We've been keeping our eyes on Facebreaker, EA's charmingly silly boxing title. The latest slew of videos feature some "getting to know you" segments with two characters in the game, who are, in a word, strange. It's these quirky characters that make Facebreaker stand out from some of the other boxing games on the Wii, though.
The trailer above shows Romeo, who looks even scarier when he's washing a car than when he's boxing. After the break you can also check out Steve, the nerdy black-belt that likes to ride rhinos and play "Wizards and Lizards."
Skate It: EA announces it
The Wii version will use Wiimote motion controls, of course, but it will also use the Wii Balance Board! Check after the break for a trailer demonstrating the controls, and hit the link for IGN's interview with producer Scott Blackwood.
WRUP: Exploding blocks edition
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EA plans Western-style exercise game for Balance Board
EA Sports' new "Freestyle" brand will feature more casual sports games than the Madden-type stuff found under the main EA Sports brand -- think EA Sports BIG, but in 2008. The first game to come out under the brand will be FaceBreaker, the cartoony boxing game. EA Sports president Peter Moore has already revealed a second Freestyle game, though an official announcement has yet to be made. The new exercise game will support Nintendo's Balance Board peripheral in much the same way that Wii Fit does.
To differentiate between Wii Fit and the new project, Moore describes a "Western," cardiovascular style of exercise, as opposed to the tai-chi-like anaerobic "holistic fitness" in Wii Fit. Which sounds like a great idea.
EA sets focus on Wii-exclusive versions of sports games
If you're in the gaming industry on the development end, odds are you've had plenty of meetings talking about the success of the Wii platform and how your company needs to get its own slice of the pie (well, unless you're Epic). EA has decided that they want a fairly decent slice of that pie, and are doing so with special Wii versions of their sports games. EA expects that sales of its sports games will account for $1.3 billion in its fiscal year (which just ended in March), coming to a third of their total revenue. The model for them (like others) has been Wii Sports. Peter Moore, head of EA Sports, commented that EA has "no intention whatsoever of dumbing down the experience that we all love and that drives this multibillion dollar business ... we need to make sports games more approachable." He then comments how Wii Sports became so popular "and we saw that and decided we needed to redefine what our sports games were about." These new accessible Wii versions of EA's popular sports games will have an "All-Play" label attached. Moore explains it as "like how swimming pools have a deep end and a shallow end. EA Sports has really only built a swimming pool with a deep end. It's intimidating for a lot of people to jump right in the deep end. With All-Play, we're building a shallow end."
Maybe with all this Wii support, Reggie will finally send Peter one.
Grab some real-life Boom Blox with the game
Although it lacks a ball to knock your blocks down with once you've finished building, assembling this puzzle is probably the perfect way to pass the time while your family plays on Boom Blox and you stubbornly refuse to admit that you might have been wrong. Bah. Oh, one word of advice, though: handle with care.
Gallery: BOOM BLOX
Metareview: Boom Blox
The answer to that question is a resounding yes:
- 1UP (100/100) loved the game so much that they gave it an A+: "Boom Blox is simply a laundry list of great features and options wrapped around an incredibly fun, expertly designed, and well-tuned puzzle game. Sure, its cute veneer won't do it any favors with the more intense console crowd, but I found it charming and refreshingly cheery. It's a casual game made for a casual crowd, but it's far and away the best one I've ever played."
- IGN (81/100) enjoyed a lot of the game's features, but felt that the title's biggest strength was its addictive multiplayer: "EA has really capitalized on the Wii remote to give you pinpoint accuracy as you make throws with real, calculated velocity -- throws that interact with block formations encased in genuine physics. You will find the single-player offering robust and varied, but the multiplayer mode -- compatible for up to four gamers -- is tantamount to crack cocaine in its ability to addict. And while there are hundreds of levels to keep you busy, there's also a full-blown stage creator that works hand-in-hand with WiiConnect24."
- Wired (80/100) praises the game's mass appeal: "Boom Blox does what so many Wii titles wish they could, by splitting the difference between casual players and lifelong gamers. You can pass the Wiimote to your grandma or a 5-year-old and they'll have a ball with its clever mix of brainy puzzles and satisfying explosions. But hard-core players like me will find a surprising amount of depth to the gameplay and a satisfying, addictive challenge."
Penny Arcade's eyeful of Boom Blox
Much like we were, Penny Arcade was driven into a frenzy of Blox-booming desire by the recent Boom Blox preview video. What sounded at first like a mildly diverting concept has become the kind of thing we'd basically want to play all the time.Tycho's enthusiasm for Steven Spielberg's latest (thing he's attached to in some unclear way) goes beyond wanting to play the game constantly. The fictional character based on the Penny Arcade writer wants to play Boom Blox not just while the Wii's on, but the rest of the time -- and meets with a somewhat unpleasant user experience with the "tabletop version" of the game. They're called Boom Blox and not Tumble Harmlessly Blox, after all.
Rock Band Track Pack no replacement for DLC, available July
Rock Band for Wii isn't even It's one thing -- and an acceptable thing -- to milk customers for a few bucks at a time for additional songs they really want. It's another thing altogether to offer up a full expansion for thirty dollars less than a month after the game is released. That's right: Rock Band isn't scheduled for the Wii until June 22, and this Track Pack is due July 15. And it's labeled Volume 1, naturally ... expect another round not long after that. We're anticipating September.
The only logical explanation for this travesty is that Harmonix is upset that they missed the Wii boat and are now scrambling to scrape as much quick cash as possible. The question is: will Wii owners take the rather unattractive bait? Fume your way past the break to see the full track listing for Rock Band's Track Pack Volume 1.
Continue reading Rock Band Track Pack no replacement for DLC, available July
Wii releases this week: Boom Blox edition
This week's releases are:
- The Dog Island
- Boom Blox
- Speed Racer
- Rebel Raiders: Operation Nighthawk
Gallery: BOOM BLOX
Friday Video: Boom Blox video explosion
Well now, we know our Friday Video feature is usually for the more, uh, let's say interesting videos out there on the net, but we just couldn't pass up this pile of videos from upcoming EA title Boom Blox. They all show off the content creator at work, as well as some fruits from the labor of creation. So hit up the video above, then head past the break for loads more.
Gallery: BOOM BLOX
