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Conservative Christian site decries Game of Life's 'gay agenda'
Uber-conservative Christian site WorldNetDaily recently published a hard-hitting investigative report into Hasbro's downloadable PC title The Game of Life, an adaptation of a board game created by Milton Bradley in 1860. Their qualm with the game stems from the fact that it allows players to have same-sex marriages. A WND representative elocuted his or her hang-up with a review on the game's hosting site, explaining, "Many sections of society accept this as normative, but many also would consider this too mature a theme for children. Others would consider this downright offensive."According to the WND report, one unnamed "concerned mother" found that the inclusion of same-sex marriages raised questions in her six-year old daughter that she wasn't ready to answer. She posted a similar review containing these concerns, which was quickly deleted by an administrator for being "inappropriate." Her response to this censorship is where the story really jumps the shark -- "I had no idea how insidious they were being with pushing the homosexual agenda," she explained to WND.It's great when parents keep an eye on their youngsters' gaming habits, especially when they play said games with them. We understand a parent not wanting to discuss sexuality with a toddler -- what we don't understand is how the mere inclusion of same-sex marriages in the PC version of Life is the same as endorsing, or insidiously pushing, an "agenda." As WND concedes, even the original Life board game allowed players to bond two same-colored (and similarly gendered) pegs in holy plastic matrimony.[Via GamePolitics]
Mr. Potato Head presents: Hasbro Game Night Achievements
A list of Achievements has made its way online for this month's release of Hasbro's Family Game Night collection of Xbox Live Arcade titles. The list of 70 milestones totals 1400 Gamerscore points, which may seem like a Gamerscwhore's dream, but know that the sum is calculated using all seven separate XBLA games. Mathematically, that's seven classic board games (which we're told will cost 800 each) multiplied by the Arcade's standard 200 Gamerscore, which gives us the 1400 total. That said, Evel Knievel Mr. Potato Head still approves of the digital board games.
Hasbro Family Games to release mid-March, include Avatar support
Nestled in a press release announcing the inclusion of Yahtzee in Hasbro Family Game Night (something we already knew) is confirmation that four Hasbro games will be releasing on Xbox Live Arcade sometime this March. Scrabble, Connect Four, Battleship and Yahtzee will be the first four Hasbro titles made available when Xbox Live's special Family Game Night Destination launches next month. Boggle, Sorry! and Sorry! Sliders will release later this year. The press release also confirms Avatars will be supported and that each title can be purchased individually for 800 ($10). If that wasn''t enough information, we're told the Family Game Night Destination lets players launch Hasbro games from their own customized game room. This uniquely decorated space accommodates Mr. Potato Head, can be shared with friends and sounds to be somewhat inspired by Home. %Gallery-45867%
Yo Joe? More like: Oh no, G.I. Joe game impressions
EA is talking up its first G.I. Joe game, a movie spin-off, as "cross-generational." It's so easy to control that even "mom" can play. Which means, moms -- if you're reading -- not only will you be subjected to chaperoning a mission to the local theater to suffer through the G.I. Joe film adaptation this summer, you also may be expected to idle away your weekends with the game. Let's hope it's a short one.G.I. Joe: The Game plays as any generic third-person shooter, with the bonus of the aforementioned base layer Mom Controls®. Literally, all that is needed to proceed is the left thumb steering the on-screen character and the right index finger, locked down on the designated shooting button -- just keep on holding it and the game will automatically target a new enemy once the current one has absorbed too many laser blasts and disappears into the well known in-game ether. Of course, "hardcore" gamers will find melee and character-exclusive secondary attacks, along with a rolling dodge and cover mechanic mapped to their controllers.EA is throwing out some big-name inspirations for its game: Contra, Ikari Warriors and Ikaruga. We suppose you could consider G.I. Joe as a like-designed title in so far as it is built as an "arcade" throwback, with high scores being the ultimate reward. Actually, the ultimate reward is unlocking all twelve playable characters -- unlocking characters requires score points, though. Scoring is linked directly to difficulty setting and one's play. Dying, for example, decreases one's overall score, but, on the lowest difficulty setting, will not produce further setbacks. Think of this as a "no fail" setting -- you know, the one mom can play.
Scrabble is XBLA bound, Hasbro channel coming soon
After it was first rumored nearly a year ago (along with Monopoly), EA has announced that Scrabble is indeed heading to Xbox Live Arcade. The company also announced the creation of a brand new Hasbro Family Game Night "channel" in Xbox Live Arcade. The channel will serve as a "digital game closet," according to EA Hasbro general manager Chip Lange, where players can quickly access various Hasbro games without leaving the channel. Players will be able to "earn virtual trophies, furniture and themes" to decorate their closets by playing Hasbro games. In addition to Scrabble, other titles planned for the service include Sorry!, Sorry! Sliders, Battleship, Connect Four, Boggle and Yahtzee. The Hasbro Family Game Night channel is set to debut this spring, though no specific dates have been given for any of the individual game releases. Oh, one more thing: No Monopoly mentioned, folks. Sorry. [Via Joystiq]
XBLA receiving Hasbro game channel; EA's Scrabble coming to handhelds, consoles
Electronic Arts announced today that Scrabble will make its way to the DS and PSP in March, and to Xbox Live Arcade at a later date. Beginning in spring, XBLA will not only receive the perennial wordsmith board game, but also Boggle, Battleship, Yahtzee, Connect Four, Sorry! and Sorry!Sliders. In a very interesting development, XBLA will also receive a branded "Hasbro Family Game Night" channel. Chip Lange, general manager of EA Hasbro, says it'll allow players to easily find family-friendly digital board games. We only wish that Microsoft would extend such a courtesy to the high-quality European board games that are also available on the service.
SCRABBLE coming to PSP in March
The beloved crossword game is coming to handhelds in March, courtesy of EA. SCRABBLE will feature three gameplay modes, including: Classic, which offers traditional play; Speed, where players race the clock; and, the new SCRABBLE SLAM card game. In SLAM, players must make four letter words in an attempt to get rid of all their cards.There will be six difficult levels, including a Training mode, which offers six training exercises. There will also be multiplayer features.SCRABBLE is expected to retail for $30.%Gallery-40844%
America chooses Nerf over nothin': EA/Hasbro partnership a success
The agreement between EA and Hasbro has brought us Wii games like Nerf N-Strike (with its awesome Nerf gun peripheral) and Family Game Night. The line of games, across multiple platforms, has just sold over two million total copies, with the Wii games contributing significantly to that total.Nerf N-Strike has hit #10 on NPD's Wii sales chart since its October release, according to Gamasutra. Family Game Night and Monopoly Here and Now had solid, but unspecified, launch sales as well, and "continue to build momentum," according to EA's Chip Lange.Really, we're pleased with anything that encourages the combination of Nerf guns with any hobby.%Gallery-29967%
Scrabulous suit dropped by Hasbro
Hasbro has dropped its lawsuit against the creators of Facebook app. sensation Scrabulous. No reason was given in court documents as to why Hasbro dismissed its suit against the makers of the Scrabble clone, but a statement by the defendants reveals an "agreement" between the two parties "avoids potentially lengthy and costly litigations."Electronic Arts has had an authorized Scrabble app. on Facebook since July. Mattel, which owns the rights to Scrabble outside North America, also currently has a lawsuit pending against the Scrabulous creators in its home country of India. There's currently no update of the status of that lawsuit.[Via GamePolitics]
Nerf N-Strike performs pre-emptive attack, debuts first trailer
Aside from some screens and our brief time with the title, not much is known about Nerf N-Strike. Well, that's about to change, courtesy of the debut trailer for the game. In the video above, you'll find some gameplay, as well as plenty of Nerf firearms. It kind of makes us wish we were a kid again and could run around our living room, chasing the cat with our Nerf bow and arrow.%Gallery-29967%[Via Go Nintendo]
Bandai's Luminodot: 1,600 glass pegs for your child to swallow
Bandai's Luminodot is a godsend for the light peg artiste looking to take his work to the next level. What we have here is essentially an updated Lite-Brite with over twice the resolution (read: pegs) of the original. Just like Hasbro's classic toy, several design templates are included with the kit -- and if you're feeling creative, there is an online template generator that will render your own designs to PDF. Also included with the kit are 1,600 pegs in twelve colors (or about half of what you will need to fill up the Luminodot's 70 x 50, 3,500 peg display -- you can order additional pegs on their website). But the most impressive feature is probably the LED backlighting: in addition to lighting the pegs, the Luminodot has twenty-five preprogrammed animated sequences. As with most toys this cool, Luminodot is only available in Japan -- though we have seen at least one for sale on eBay. Video after the break.[Via technabob]
Scrabulous disabled for US, Canadian Facebook users
Hoping to make a comeback with that 365-point quixotry play in Scrabulous? US and Canadian Facebook users were likely dismayed to find out this week that Scrabulous has been disabled. The region-specific lock likely has to do with Hasbro's license for all Scrabble video games, which is for US and Canada only (Mattel owns the rights for the rest of the world). In the interim, you can always play the official Scrabble Facebook app care of Electronic Arts, although it lacks the panache of the seemingly now-defunct Scrabulous. [Thanks, Andrew B]
EA launches Scrabble on Pogo, coming to Facebook this month
Electronic Arts is looking to take on the biggest Scrabble clone on Facebook with -- what else? -- an officially licensed version of Scrabble. A free online edition of of the bombastic board game is available now on Pogo, with a Facebook version coming "later this month," according a press release. The application would go up against reigning champ Scrabulous, which despite litigation threats is still alive and kicking.The press release also confirmed that "many more Hasbro game properties in development and slated to launch on social networking sites later this year." Boggle knockoffs, beware!
Joystiq hands-on: Hasbro Family Game Night
Stepping into Electronic Arts' "EA3" event last week, we made a beeline for ... Hasbro Family Game Night, passing up the likes of Dead Space, Mirror's Edge, Mercenaries 2, and Tiger Woods Golf 2009: Busted Knee Edition along the way. We know, we know. But who can resist the lure of Battleship, Connect Four, Yahtzee, Boggle, Sorry and its new sibling Sorry Sliders? (Answer: you maybe; not us.) %Gallery-26011%
Video: Meet Hasbro's Ampbot, the mother of all Rollys
Cross a Segway with a Rolly and Miuro and out pops this A.M.P. soaked in a grey-goo afterbirth of Robotic procreation. The two-wheeled, dancing A.M.P. (Automated Music Personality or Ampbot) from Sega-Hasbro stands 2.4-feet tall and features a MP3 or iPod cradle on its back, stereo speakers, and the ability to follow and interact with its owner. There's a 5-inch mid-range speaker in the chest and a pair of smaller tweeters in the shoulders for a total output of 12 watts. Osamu Takeuchi of Sega Toys says, "The owner can also enjoy being chased around the house by the robot." Uh, yippee? The Ampbot and controller require 6x D and 3x AAA batteries for about 10-hours of continuous music. The stalking begins November for $745 $500 in the US and Japan.Update: Embedded video courtesy of Impress now available after the break. Be warned: the price tag is starting to look modest even at the cost of our own destruction.[Via Physorg and Impress]
Family Game Night is fun for the family
Remember when your family used to put one night of the week aside to play board games, so that you'd grow closer to one another amongst bouts of innocent fun and mayhem? Yeah, neither do we. Hasbro does, though, which is why the company is bringing six of its most popular board games to the Wii, in one small package. Called Family Game Night (not to be confused with Wii Fanboy's Game Night), this title includes the following classics: Connect Four Yahtzee (not the one that curses a lot) Battleship Boggle Sorry! Sorry! Sliders (who wants to tell EA and Hasbro that this doesn't count as a "sixth" game?) We know that going digital is the wave of the future, but is anyone else slightly against the entire "board games turned video games" genre? Call us old-fashioned, but when we cheat at Battleship, we want to cheat with style -- not by looking at a TV screen. If you think differently, though, keep an eye out for Family Game Night, which will hit European Wiis this fall. [Via press release]
EA announces Hasbro Family Game Night for Wii, PS2
Electronic Arts has finally revealed the fruits of its recent partnership with board game evangelist Hasbro, announcing Hasbro Family Game Night, a collection of classic board games for the Wii and PlayStation 2. Shipping this fall, the game will include a wide assortment of Hasbro properties -- six in all -- from Battleship, Yahtzee, Boggle, and Connect Four to Sorry! and its more recent incarnation in Sorry! Sliders. Purists will be happy to know that they'll be able to play the classic games as they remember, though EA notes that new versions will also be included as well for those looking for a different way to play. In addition, the collection will let players build and decorate a virtual game room, earn trophies, and play various mini-games once they tire of sinking each other's battleships. However, even with support for between two and four players, we doubt the compilation will have us tossing out our boxed favorites just yet, though at least with this game we know we'll never have to go searching though couch cushions for missing pieces before we can play.
MONOPOLY announced it goes directly to jail
Earlier this morning, EA and Hasbro announced that MONOPOLY would be headed to all gaming platforms including the Xbox 360, but probably not how we all expected.MONOPOLY the video game, inspired by the MONOPOLY HERE & NOW World Edition board game, is set for release sometime this Fall and is one of those games that would be suited perfectly for the XBLA. But after reading the press release, we're under the impression that the game will in fact be a retail (and full priced) release. Boo! Boo! Boo! Also, per the release, it says that you'll be able to play MONOPOLY in "offline single or multi-player mode". No online multiplayer? Double boo to you EA! Go directly to jail, do not pass Go and do not collect our $59.99.[Via NeoGAF]
EA bringing Monopoly to 360, Wii, PS2
When the power goes out on Joystiq's mid-Atlantic hoverbase, we often use Monopoly to pass the time, or at least we did until we realized that every game ended after four hours with the board being flipped and somebody (usually Chris) getting punched in the face. This morning, EA announced that we wouldn't have to wait for an outage to start throwing fists: The company will bring the real-estate game to Xbox 360, Wii and PS2 this fall.This is apparently a sped-up version of the original game, with some new interactive minigames thrown in. We hope we can use waggle to hammer eviction notices to the doors of our slums. But that's just us. Oh, and just so we can cut this discussion off at the pass: No, there's no PS3 version announced. We trust PS3 owners can scrounge up $12.99, directions to their local Toys 'R' Us and a tabletop without our aid.
Off the Grid: Risk Black Ops and Hasbro's wrong direction
Every other week Scott Jon Siegel contributes Off the Grid, a column about card games, board games, and everything else non-digital.Risk: Black Ops is one of the most beautiful board games you'll never play. In anticipation of the newly updated release of Risk, Hasbro produced only 1,000 copies of this special edition game, distributing them to bloggers, journos, and gaming hobby sites for perusal and easy publicity.The response was unanimously positive. The updates to the rules -- handled by Risk 2010 designer Rob Daviau -- lower the game's initial barrier to entry, and make it possible to play through in under two hours (which is significant for Risk). Most media attention, however, was lavished on the slick, modern redesign, devised under the command of art director Lindsay Braun and visual designer Jason Taylor.Risk has always wanted to be taken seriously, but Black Ops is the first version of the game to look deadly serious. A matte black finish on the box is accented by imagery of barbed wire, dog tags, and the faintest hint of blood spatter, all rendered in a subtle gray. "History is written by the victors," the box declares in a modest sans-serif font. The game board itself is designed to look like something out of our modern war-rooms, with a visual style not unlike Introversion's apocalyptic strategy game Defcon. This is not the Risk you remember.%Gallery-20806%
