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Court denies Ubi's request to restrain Get Up and Dance
Oh, it's the dancing neon people. Which one is this again? Ubisoft's lawyers have learned -- and a judge has confirmed -- that you just can't stop the beat. "Get Up and Dance," a rhythm game and euphoric command from OG International, can sway American customers unimpeded after a Californian court hip-bumped Ubisoft's request for a temporary restraining order. It's published in North America on PS3 and Wii by O-Games. Legal action sprang from Ubisoft's belief that OG's dance game uses on-screen avatars that are a mite too similar to the ones in Just Dance (pictured), the wildly popular franchise that we only write about because of how wildly popular it is. According to MCV, the court was not satisfied with demonstrations that the games are "substantially" similar. Ubisoft is said to be appealing the decision in the hopes of telling OG to Sit Down and Cease Your Gyration. [Update: Crave Entertianment was erroneously listed as the publisher of Get Up and Dance. This has been corrected.]
Cartoon Network crossover fighting game hits 3DS this spring
Cartoon Network's stable of characters will make the jump to stereoscopic 3D this spring thanks to an agreement with Crave. The publisher announced a deal through which it would release an "action-packed battle game" on 3DS starring characters from various current and classic Cartoon Network shows, including Ben 10, the Powerpuff Girls, Dexter's Lab, Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, and not Adventure Time. Developer Papaya Studios is also working on versions of the game for Xbox 360, Wii, and PS3 for release in holiday 2011, but without the appeal of new hardware, those aren't nearly as exciting!
Preview: Crave's E3 lineup, featuring Deadliest Catch, Man vs. Wild and Brunswick Pro Bowling
For every Batman: Arkham Asylum or Epic Mickey, there's got to be someone out there bringing shoddy licensed games to the floor of E3. Bless Crave Entertainment then, because the publisher was back at it this year, showing off titles based on Discovery Channel's Deadliest Catch and Man vs. Wild TV shows, and a Brunswick-licensed PlayStation Move bowling game. The trio was quite generally terrible -- unpolished, unfinished, pretty blatant attempts to take a familiar name, slap it on some semblance of gameplay and make a few bucks from people buying something for the name on it. So don't read the rest of this post because you're thinking of buying any of these games -- even if you happen to be a Deadliest Catch or Man vs. Wild fan, there are better and more enjoyable ways to spend your time with the properties (like, you know, watching the shows, which are both pretty well done). Instead, read on about the three most awkward moments of my time spent in Crave's E3 booth.
Crave crawls back to ESA; PlayLogic, Koei join organization
The Entertainment Software Association announced today that Koei, PlayLogic and ... Crave Entertainment are "the three newest members" of the trade organization. Okay, Koei and PlayLogic are new, but Crave would fall under the Gamestop definition of "new."Crave left the ESA last year, but it appears that even the trade organization didn't notice in the midst of losing Activision/Vivendi, LucasArts and id. Oh well, Crave. Allow us to welcome you back to the ESA.
Destroy All Humans! Intellivision Lives! New Xbox Originals Sept. 15!
It's high time for some real talk about Xbox Originals. Specifically, who's choosing what makes the cut? Not that Destroy all Humans! or Intellivision Lives! are bad games by any means. It's just that, when you think of a service that could be offering the best, exclusive games from a system's previous generation on the current one via the interwebs, you'd hope they'd be more ... original and memorable. As it stands, we're getting a complete mish-mash of revered and forgettable moments from the annuls of the original Xbox. How about some Panzer Dragoon Orta or Star Wars: Republic Commando before the likes of Kabuki Warriors? Ahem. Ranting aside, both Destroy All Humans! and Intellivision Lives! hit the Xbox Live Marketplace on September 15 for 1200 ($15) each. We'd love to hear which Xbox games you would have join the ranks of the Xbox Originals in comments.
Real-time strategy -- you know, for kids
We're often critical of some of the children's games released on the Wii (one reason being, perhaps, that we're not the target market, but mostly because just how many pet sims do we really need for one console?). Crave seems to be taking a different route this time, though -- one that we can actually respect -- by coming out with Defendin' De Penguin, a real-time strategy game for kids. You can see this idea realized in the trailer above.In the title, you are trying to protect a penguin village from wolves and other vicious animals who keep eating the town's fish supply. The focus on cute penguins and (we assume) the difficulty are what makes this game "kiddie," but we still like the idea of a niche genre being developed for children. Considering that vein of thought, what other uncommon genres do you think should be made into kids game? Of course, we might like to see a few more RTS games geared toward us on the Wii, too, if that's not too much to ask.As for Defendin' De Penguin, it releases later this month for both the Wii and DS.
Crave leaves ESA, still showing at E3
The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has confirmed this morning's GamePolitics report, which labeled Crave Entertainment as the latest company to leave the ESA; however, the publisher will still be showing at E3 next month. Crave is responsible for games such as World Championship Poker featuring Howard Lederer and other titles from the D-list (if last year's E3 showing was any indication). The ESA has released a statement (full text after the break), saying it respects Crave's decision to leave and that Crave representatives say the publisher still remains committed to the goals of the association. Although Crave walking out certainly counts as another publisher leaving the ESA, it feels more like a footnote in the wake of departures by Activision/Vivendi, LucasArts and id.
Defendin' de Penguin would be easier with a gun
Everyone was quick to point out that the Wiimote might just do a reasonable job taking over from a mouse in real-time strategy games. Ditch those PCs if you must, but this latest announcement won't satisfy the hardcore C&C and Starcraft junkies.Defendin' de Penguin is an RTS geared towards gamers twelve and under. The hero is Little Blue, and you move his tiny penguin hide all over the icy landscape to go fishing and upgrade "towers." Exactly what these towers are remains to be seen, but we know you have to defend them from hungry invaders. Okay, so it won't be the deepest RTS ever made, but it might just fill a gap in the Wii library ... right?[Via NeoGAF]
Napoleon Dynamite gets a PSP videogame
Crave Entertainment announced their plans on bringing the cult-favorite Napoleon Dynamite to smaller screens, or more specifically, PSP and DS screens. The game will include popular characters from the film, like Pedro, Uncle Rico and our favorite, Kip. No word yet on LaFawnduh Lucas. We hope the game includes a (sweet) bike race with Napoleon dodging ligers and Deb tossing boondoggle key chains at chickens with large talons. The possibilities are endless. No further details at this time other than the announcement, but stay tuned for more.[Via DS Fanboy]
Become a portable Kingpin
The only bowling games I've had fun with are Wii Bowling, Super Monkey Ball Monkey Bowling and Strip Bowling (whenever I can con desperate women into playing). I understand though that not everyone is like me and also none of those games are serious bowling titles. It's with that in mind that bowling fans can look forward to the just announced Brunswick Pro Bowling. To be published by budget game publisher Crave Entertainment, Brunswick Pro Bowling will have players work their way from amateur to professional bowler by competing in a simulated year's worth of tournaments through ten authentic recreations of actual Brunswick alleys. When not tearing up the professional league you can bowl against friends in multiplayer. Beyond ad hoc wireless multiplayer, the PSP version of Brunswick Pro Bowling will have character customization options so you can personalize your ball thrower. Whether this game is a strike or gutter ball will be determined when it hits store shelves later this year. [Via DCEmu]
Because more Sudoku is what you need
The market may be glutted with oodles of puzzle titles, but there's always room for the right game to slide in. Crave Entertainment's trying to be that ultimate puzzle experience with Sudokuro, which features more than 6,000 Sudoku and Kakuro puzzles, plus a generator that can create more Sudoku puzzles. And all this for a budget price. Hey, when it's only $20, maybe more Sudoku is what you need.
