We talked to video game couples about how gaming effects their relationships and what advice they have. In-Game's Todd Kenreck reports.
We take a look at three games that can help keep long distance relationships alive. In-Game's Todd Kenreck reports.
Winda Benedetti
For family game night at our house, my husband Richie and son Oz jump into the Wii game "Kirby's Return to Dreamland" together.
According to a recent study from the NPD Group market research company, 91 percent of kids in the U.S. between the ages of two and 17 are now gamers. But here is the surprising bit: The fastest growing group of young video game players is the toddler set — between two and five years old.
While some parents worry about whether playing video games is good for young children, I've found that gaming — when properly supervised and balanced with other activities — can be a great pastime not only for kids but for parents' relationship with their kids. Playing video games with your child is an absolute blast! It's a fun way to bond with your kid, plus it's a superb way to teach children some teamwork and puzzle-solving skills without ever letting on that you're actually, you know, teaching.
It just so happens that I have my own young gamer — my almost-five-year-old son Oz. He's been helping me test out some of the latest video games in an effort to find titles that are enjoyable and appropriate for kids four to 10. What you'll find below is a look at the pros and cons of seven games that are not only easy for young players to jump into, but are great for parents and kids to play together.
Kirby's Return to Dreamland – Wii - $50
Nintendo
Pros: Learning how to use video game controllers can be difficult for the youngest players, but this laid-back title — starring Nintendo's famous pink protagonist — is a fun, easy way to teach young hands to work buttons and a directional pad. The game is also downright adorable and relatively non-threatening for little players just trying to get the swing of things.
"Return to Dreamland" can be played by up to four people at a time which makes it a fantastic all-family game night option. Playing as Kirby and his pals, you and your children will need to use teamwork and cooperation as you to explore bright, colorful worlds and try to find the pieces of a lost spaceship that crash-landed on Kirby's planet, while fending off a host of relatively non-threatening foes in the process.
For this game, your child will turn Nintendo's Wii Remote controller on its side and use it as a traditional controller. And since this is a two-dimensional side-scrolling game, figuring out how to run, jump and fly the characters around the screen is fairly easy for kids to do. Meanwhile, the difficulty level ramps up veeery slowly, which means your child (and therefore you) won't get frustrated.
My son loves watching Kirby suck up his enemies to absorb their powers and is wowed by Kirby's new eye-popping, screen-filling Super Abilities. And when the going does get a bit tough, he can have his character jump onto my character's back for a piggy-back ride past the rough patches.
(It's worth noting that another excellent Kirby game to consider playing with young kids is last year's superb Wii game "Kirby's Epic Yarn.")
Cons: There really isn't much of a downside to this game other than the fact that seasoned, grown-up gamers familiar with Kirby's history may find this particular installment a bit too easy. But then again, this isn't about us is it?
Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster - Xbox 360 (Kinect required) - $50
Double Fine Productions
Pros: "Once Upon A Monster" offers everything a conscientious parent wants from a video game — non-violent gameplay that both activates the body and the mind. It also offers that delightful Sesame Street sensibility and, well, Elmo ... lots and lots of Elmo along with his adorable monster pals.
With the Kinect motion controller reading your child's body movements, this game acts as a kind of interactive story book throughout which your child meets various colorful characters and tries to help them solve the problems they're facing.
Winda Benedetti
Oz tries out his Kinect-enabled flying skills in "Once Upon A Monster."
To cheer up an unhappy monster, your child will make music by flapping their hands to bang on virtual drums. To help clean up a flower creature's garden, they'll hurl balls of virtual garbage into virtual garbage cans (as if tossing basketballs). And since the game features easy drop-in/drop-out cooperative play, mom and dad can jump into the action at any time.
Cons: The Kinect controller is often pitched as the perfect device for allowing young children to interact with games and virtual environments. After all, there's no controller to hold in tiny hands and no buttons or sticks to struggle with. And yet, my son ran into more controller-related frustrations with this game than any other on this list.
The thing is, little kids have a hard time standing in one place. They jump and flail their arms when they're relaxing. "Once Upon a Monster" asks kids to perform some pretty specific movements but frequently seemed to have a hard time reading my son when he performed them.
Be sure to take the time to make sure the Kinect is perfectly calibrated to your child's size (the game will walk you through the process). Meanwhile, urge your wiggle-worm to hold still a bit and try to focus on the specific gestures they need to execute to interact with the game. It may take some practice and some patience but the little whippersnappers learn very quickly.
Kinect Disneyland Adventures - Xbox 360 (Kinect required) - $50
Frontier/Microsoft
Pros: Imagine going to Disneyland — but a Disneyland without all the crowds and lines and cost ... not to mention the parental misery created by all three.
Welcome to a little game called "Kinect Disneyland Adventures." Sure, the Disneyland you'll find here is merely a digital recreation. But it is a pretty impressive digital recreation and one that you and your child can jump into and explore at your own pace.
Almost all of the Disneyland grounds have been recreated within this game and are ready to explore. With the Kinect camera reading your child's body motions, your kid makes an avatar to look like him or herself and then steers that avatar around the Disneyland grounds by pointing where she would like to go. She can run up to Mickey and give him a high five or give Snow White a hug. And these characters will send your child on various quests that will have them exploring the famed park.
Meanwhile, the rides are where the gaming action comes in. Head over to Peter Pan's Flight, where you and your child can fly through the air collecting coins or sword fight with Captain Hook. Step into the Matterhorn where you'll race bobsleds or ski down snowy hills.
The $50 lifetime ticket for you and your family to enter this virtual park will seem downright cheap compared to the hundreds of dollars a trip to the real Happiest Place on Earth will run you.
Cons: If you're not a fan of the Disney marketing machine, then this game is not for you.
Rayman: Origins - PlayStation 3; Xbox 360; Wii - $50 to $60
Ubisoft
Pros: One of the great joys of parenting is hearing your children laugh. And if you want to enjoy the sounds of your young gamer guffawing uproariously, then grab "Rayman: Origins."
Zany, crazy and hilarious not to mention utterly creative, "Rayman: Origins" is not only a delightful platforming game for up to four players, it is a gorgeous work of animated art.
My husband, son and I have been having an absolute blast playing this game together. Here Rayman and his friends have awoken a cranky granny and her minions with their snoring. And now you must run, jump, swing and fly through one surreal level after another, each filled with a colorful host of outlandish baddies to beat. My son unleashed the most splendid, unstoppable peals of laughter when we encountered the chicken-headed boss pictured above.
Kids will love this game because it is silly in all the best ways. Adults will love this game because each level is a cleverly constructed work of gaming art. (See In-Game editor Todd Kenreck's full video review at right.)
Cons: This game will grow more demanding for the very youngest players far more quickly than something like "Kirby's Return to Dreamland" and will have them facing down more intense challenges than some young kids may be ready for. But it's worth noting that, if a child fails to get past a particularly difficult part in the game while playing with a parent or older sibling, he or she will find his character popped into a bubble that floats safely along until another player pops him out to rejoin the action at a more manageable point.
Medieval Moves: Deadmund's Quest - PlayStation 3 (Move controls required) - $40
Sony
Pros: My son loves both skeletons and swashbuckling tales of sword fighting, so perhaps it's no wonder he's a huge fan of "Medieval Moves." This game puts young players in the role of the boy Prince Edmund who finds himself transformed into a skeleton and thrust into a battle against a nefarious sorcerer and his army of undead.
Skeletons? Army of undead? Well, yes. "Deadmund's Quest" may sound scary but it is cartoony as can be. The story of Prince Edmund-turned-Prince Deadmund is presented in comic-book-style cut scenes and the bad guys are more goofy than they are blood-curdling. Meanwhile, this is an "on rails" game, which means your child doesn't have to worry about maneuvering Deadmund around this world. Instead, the hero is whisked through the medieval-themed environments almost as if on a roller-coaster ride. All your young player has to do is focus on knocking out the bad guys.
Since this game uses the PlayStation 3's Move motion controllers, kids get to do battle with a host of skeletons by swinging the orb-topped wand controller like a sword, or drawing it out like they would a bow and arrow. And the Move controls here work superbly. They are highly responsive and my son found the gestures and button presses easy to get the hang of.
The Move controls really pull young players right into what is nothing short of a thrilling adventure. And the multiplayer modes mean that we parents can jump in and try our own sword-swinging, arrow-shooting skills alongside our young companions.
Cons: Each youngster is different and you should consider whether doing battle with skeletons — no matter how bloodless and cartoony those battles are — is something that will thrill your child ... or scare 'em. This game may be most appropriate for slightly older kids (think seven to 10).
Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure - Xbox 360; PlayStation 3; Wii; Nintendo 3DS - $70
Activision
Pros: This title blends two things that kids love into one bright, enjoyable package. That is, it combines real-world toys with video gaming.
The starter pack comes with the game disc, three Skylander figurines — Spyro, Trigger Happy and Gill Grunt — and a plastic Portal of Power peripheral that you plug into the game console. Fire up the game disc and then pop an action figure onto the Portal of Power and suddenly an animated version of that action figure appears inside the game.
You and your child will take these characters on a colorful, humor-filled quest to save the Skylander world from the evil powers of Kaos. Each of the different action figures has unique powers and abilities and your child will need to think about how to best use these unique strengths to conquer the challenges and puzzles they face.
It really is pretty neat to swap these toys on and off the portal and see them pop into and out of the video game on the fly. Meanwhile, the more your child plays the game with a certain character, the more that character is upgraded with additional powers and abilities. And here's another cool bit: All those upgrades are uploaded to an RF chip in the matching action figure. What that means is, your kid can take their own action figures over to a friend's house and, even if that friend has the game on a different kind of game console, your child can pop their figurines onto their friend's Portal of Power and play the game with all their own characters' unique upgrades and customizations intact.
Cons: The $70 price tag for the starter kit is steep to begin with, but you may end up spending even more money than that. While the "Skylanders" game can be won with just the three initial characters, there are actually 32 Skylander figurines in all to collect (i.e. buy for around $8 a piece) and these additional characters unlock additional challenges and additional areas within the game.
My son was perfectly happy with the initial three action figures, but that doesn't mean every kid will feel the same. The more your child delves into this "Skylanders" adventure, the more you may hear them beg "I want more."
Fruit Ninja Kinect - Xbox 360 (Kinect required) - $10 download via Xbox Live
Oz and his friend Dexter - both 4 years old - slice and dice (and wear themselves out) with a game of Fruit Ninja Kinect.
Pros: I cannot tell you the joy that "Fruit Ninja Kinect" has brought to our household ... and to our son's bedtime routine. Simply put: There is no better way to wear out your kid to the point that he or she has no strength left to fight sleep.
"Fruit Ninja Kinect" (which I reviewed in full here) takes the gameplay found in the hit smartphone/tablet game and puts it up on your TV via Xbox Live and Kinect. Rather than swiping your finger across a touchscreen to slash fruit that's tossed up into the air, the Kinect camera keeps track of your body movements as you swing your arms and legs to cut down pineapple, kiwi, bananas and other nefarious foods.
This game was not made specifically for children, but it certainly brings out the child in everyone who plays it. More importantly: It's easy for children to jump into and I can promise you, their enthusiasm for the fruit-slashing ninja arts is a joy to behold.
The multiplayer mode is especially enjoyable to play with young kids. Sure, you can play it competitively, but there's also a cooperative mode that allows you to work together as you slash your way to a joint high score. And there's nothing like conquering evil fruit to bring you closer to your adorable rugrat.
Cons: The menu screens are very sensitive to motion and can be difficult for wiggly children to navigate, so you might need to help them get things started. Meanwhile, the difference in an adult's height and a small child's height can make it so the Kinect camera has a difficult time fully reading both players' movements. I suggest you have Kinect calibrate to your child (giving them the best game experience) and then play on your knees beside them.
Also be absolutely sure you give each other enough room when you play together — otherwise, with all those flailing arms, someone is liable to get a karate chop to the nose.
For more game news and holiday buying guidance, check out:
Winda Benedetti writes about games for msnbc.com. You can follow her tweets about games and other things here on Twitter or join her in the stream here on Google+. And be sure to check out the In-Game Facebook page right here.
ThinkGeek
Have a gamer you're trying to buy the perfect gift for this holiday? We have some great/goofy ideas for you.
The gamer in your life has probably already given you an extensive list of the many video games he or she would love to find wrapped up in a gift box this holiday season.
But there's more to life than just video games. Or rather, what I mean to say is ... when it comes to giving gifts to gamers, I've been thinking outside the box.
What follows is a look at some fun, if not downright goofy game-themed toys, trinkets, odds and ends sure to put a smile on the face of the game enthusiast you know and love.
Portal 2 Aperture Laboratories Shower Curtain - $20, ThinkGeek
ThinkGeek
What gamer doesn't love the "Portal" games? More importantly, what gamer wouldn't appreciate a little something to help inspire them to belt out that beloved "Portal" tune "Still Alive" while showering in the morning?
You'll be happy to know that this "Portal 2"-themed shower curtain "contains less than 1% mercury" and is most likely not radioactive. Though, as the sales pitch suggests, you might want to consider wearing your lead underwear when you're behind this curtain ... just to be safe.
Speaking of neat-o "Portal"-themed gift ideas, check out these Portal bookends as well as this Portal 2 Cave Johnson Talking Portrait. In fact, here's a handy link to all of ThinkGeek's Portal-themed gift items.
iCade iPad Arcade Cabinet – $80, ThinkGeek
Know someone who'd enjoy playing some old-school Atari games on their new-school iPad ... but may not be too excited about the touch-screen interface? The iCade cabinet offers an eye-catching, retro-cool solution.
Download this Atari's Greatest Hits app, then simply slide the original iPad or iPad 2 into this desktop-sized cabinet and fire up retro hits like "Centipede," "Asteroid," "Missile Command," "Tempest" and loads of other old-school faves.
Meanwhile, for a slightly less expensive way to add joystick controls to your iPad games, check out the $18 Joystick-It iPad Arcade Stick.
Video game controller charms - $7, Etsy.com
Etsy/Outpost8
Here's a surefire way to charm the girl (or boy) gamer in your life. These hand-made charms come in the shape of Sega Genesis, Wii, PlayStation, NES, Xbox 360 and Atari controllers. But the seller — Alia B. at Outpost8 — says she can custom make other controller charms as well.
Lootiful.com
iPWN! 4 Case - $18, Lootiful.com
Here's a little something for the Nintendo/Apple fanboy or fangirl in your life. The iPWN! 4 case transforms your iPhone into an old-school Game Boy – at least on the outside. Lootiful also offers a silicone model and is taking pre-orders for a case that turns your iPad into a giant Game Boy.
Meanwhile, you can find a couple of similar offerings over at Etsy. Check out this hand-sewn Game Boy-themed iPad case ($50).
Etsy/DigitalSoaps
Game controller soaps — prices vary, Etsy
Does someone you know spend too much time playing "Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim" and too little time taking care of, oh, personal hygiene? Well, here's the perfect gift (and not-so-subtle hint) for that particular gamer in your life.
Etsy seller DigitalSoaps offers a variety of scented soaps in the shape of various game controllers. There's the NES controller ($11) and the PlayStation 3 controller ($22) as well as soap in the shape of an Xbox 360 ($9).
And speaking of nifty controller-themed items on Etsy, check out these very cool controller ornaments ($30).
Jinx.com
T-shirts, T-shirts, T-shirts - prices vary
Whether the gamer in your life adores "Minecraft," "Warcraft" or "Starcraft," you can't go wrong with a gift that lets them wear their love of gaming on their sleeve (literally).
Several websites offer a variety of gamer T-shirts and clothing items. Check out the "Minecraft" tees at Jinx.com, the 8-Bit Dynamic Life shirt at ThinkGeek, or the various video-game-themed tees at Splitreason, SharkRobot and Threadless.
And if T-shirts aren't quite their thing, how about these gamer socks and undies.
Zynga/Best Buy
FarmVille plush toys - $10, Best Buy
Speaking of game addictions, surely the "FarmVille" player in your life will love you for making their Facebook gaming habit just a little bit more tangible with these collectible "FarmVille" toys.
"FarmVille" creator Zynga has partnered with Best Buy to sell a series of eight plush farm animals. And the good news for the gamer you'll gift these trinkets to is that each plush animal unlocks an exclusive virtual animal within the Facebook game and comes with 10 Farm Cash to use in the game as well.
Angry Birds: Knock on Wood - $30, various retailers
Rovio/Mattel
Here's a painless way to ease the "Angry Birds" addict in your life away from playing the game on their smartphone or tablet ... and into playing it with you out here in the so-called real world.
That's right, the hit game app has been turned into an officially licensed board game complete with bird-flinging sling-shot, building blocks and tiny pig enemies to knock down. But no matter how hard you try, you won't be able to download this game. You'll find it at retailers such Amazon, Target or ToysRUs.
ThinkGeek
Pac Man Plush Hat - $30, ThinkGeek
It's cold outside. This hat is warm. This hat is awesome. This hat is also ... a little creepy. Surely, someone you know and love should have this hat.
For more holiday gift ideas for the gamer in your life, check out these stories:
Winda Benedetti writes about games for msnbc.com. You can follow her tweets about games and other things here on Twitter or join her in the stream here on Google+. And be sure to check out the In-Game Facebook page here.
Rockstar Games
Whether the gamer on your shopping list enjoys a good crime saga, a swashbuckling adventure or an epic medieval tale, here are some of the video games that scratch the narrative itch.
Whether it’s the history-spanning tale of an assassin and his family or an elaborate narrative about a medieval kingdom plagued by civil war and dragons, some of this year’s best video games feature enthralling stories deftly told.
If the gamer in your life (and on your shopping list) loves a good yarn, here are some games that would make excellent gifts for them this holiday.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim — PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Rated M, $60
Bethesda
The epic medieval role-playing game "Skyrim" is so full of story you could spend months on end trying to get to the bottom of it all. Just to start with, there is the enthralling main story to dive into — a tale about a kingdom in the grips of a civil war during a time when dragons have also suddenly reappeared. You, of course, play the protagonist — the "dragonborn" hero whose coming was foretold.
But there is so much happening beyond this main plotline it's hard to know where to start. The numerous side quests are filled with tales of intrigue, treachery and adventure of all sorts. Want a vampire story? It's in there. How about a story about werewolves? That too.
And as if that wasn't enough, throughout this digital world you'll find books to read that tell the tales of various people and various events that have happened during Skyrim's history. This library alone could keep you occupied for days or weeks on end.
If you know someone who enjoys George R.R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" books, then it's a good bet "Skyrim" will be a big hit with them.
Assassin’s Creed: Revelations — PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC, Rated M, $50
Ubisoft
If the gamer on your holiday shopping list is the kind of person who'd enjoy an epic story that weaves the past and present together into one thrilling, history-and-globe-spanning adventure — then look no further than this fourth game in the "Assassin's Creed" main series.
"Revelations" drops players into an ambitious tale about a man and two of his ancestors caught up in an ancient war between the Templars and the Assassins. It's a story that's set both in modern times as well as in ancient Constantinople.
Part historical epic, part sci-fi brain bender, "Revelations" delivers a story filled with vibrant characters and an abundance of big ideas. In short, it's the kind of story you'll happily lose yourself in.
L.A. Noire — Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC, Rated M, $40
Rockstar Games
Murder, betrayal, drugs and corruption — the open-world action adventure known as "L.A. Noire" has all of this in spades plus a cool old-school 1947 Los Angeles setting that just begs to be explored.
The game drop you into the shoes of a cop returned from World War II — a cop who must try to get the bottom of a series of crimes using his wits, his observational skills and his ability to get information out of people.
This is a story filled to the brim with unique, well-drawn characters stunningly rendered thanks to some amazing motion-capture technology and superb voice acting. In fact, "L.A. Noire" does such a good job weaving an intrigue-filled tale in the gritty film noir style that, earlier this year, it became the first video game ever screened at the Tribeca Film Festival.
If you know someone who loves the film noir detective movies of the 1940s and 50s or the old hardboiled crime novels, then this game is a must for them.
Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception — PlayStation 3, Rated T, $60
Naughty Dog
For those looking for a big, cinematic storytelling and gaming experience, the latest in the "Uncharted" franchise is sure to fit the bill.
This swashbuckling tale sweeps players up into the globe-trotting, treasure-hunting adventures of Nathan Drake — a modern-day Indiana Jones if ever there was one. This time around, players find Drake heading into the Arabian Desert on the hunt for the fabled city of Ubar — also known as the "Atlantis of the Sands."
Of course, there are plenty of twists, turns, narrow misses, intrigue and even a little romance along the way ... making it so this game is nothing but pure adventure-filled fun.
Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword — Wii, Rated E10+, $50
Nintendo
Speaking of adventure-filled fun ... there's nothing like experiencing a story that sweeps you up and takes you along on an epic voyage. And that's exactly what "Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword" does ... while tossing in some top-notch Wii Motion Plus sword fighting to boot.
What's especially cool about this tale is that it's an origin story that not only takes us along on an enthralling journey with childhood friends (and Nintendo favorites) Link and Zelda but reveals the land of Hyrule's past.
The game's film-like cinematics do much to help deliver a narrative that's full of magical, family-friendly adventures and lively characters as well as some truly heartfelt moments.
Of course, this is just a short list of games that feature top-notch stories. What do you think: Which games would you recommend for someone who likes a well-told tale?
For more holiday shopping recommendations, be sure to check out:
Winda Benedetti writes about games for msnbc.com. You can follow her tweets about games and other things here on Twitter or join her in the stream here on Google+. And be sure to check out the In-Game Facebook page here.
Supergiant Games
Some of this year's best video games are interactive works of art.
With all the big shooting and action games that have launched in recent weeks, it can start to seem like this holiday's video game offerings are all about big explosions and even bigger body counts.
But this holiday, if you're looking for the perfect gift to give the gamer in your life who appreciates something a little more ... let's say cerebral ... there are plenty of excellent options out there to choose from.
Here are five great games for those who appreciate the arts ... not to mention, those who appreciate video games as an art form.
El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron — PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Rated T, $30
Ignition Entertainment
This shape-shifting, eye-popping action/platforming game is one that dares to take risks. And while it occasionally trips and stumbles while bravely marching to its own beat, it certainly offers up a genuinely unique gaming experience so full of artistry that it will leave players entranced.
How unique is this game? Well, to start with, "El Shaddai" is inspired by the ancient Jewish work called the Book of Enoch (hardly your standard video game foundation). And as it weaves a dreamy, otherworldly story about heaven, hell, angels and mankind it moves between 2-D and 3-D gaming styles. You've got side-scrolling areas mixed with more free-roaming spaces. Meanwhile, its highly stylized visuals — which change in tone throughout the course of the game — are absolutely magnificent to behold.
Yes, the story — a decidedly modern and abstract interpretation of an ancient work — can be difficult to follow at times, and the combat can be repetitive. Still, "El Shaddai" earns high marks for daring to be different.
LittleBigPlanet 2: Special Edition — PlayStation 3, Rated E, $60
Media Molecule
It's been three years since the first "LittleBigPlanet" game debuted, making everyone who saw it gasp in wonder at a hand-crafted world that it seemed you could reach out and touch. When "LittleBigPlanet 2" launched earlier this year, the crafty, whimsical art style dazzled everyone yet again while the 2-D platforming and puzzle-solving proved to be even more inventive and thrilling than ever.
Adorable Sackboy returns to "LittleBigPlanet 2" to traverse worlds that seem stitched together from real fabrics, yarns and cardboard cutouts. Meanwhile, as with the original game, the sequel gives players the tools to create their very own video game levels. But more importantly, "LBP 2" greatly expands on the kind of games players can create. That's right, here's your chance to play game developer by building racing games, role-playing games, arcade games, etc. ... all within the game of "LittleBigPlanet 2." (Check out In-Game editor Todd Kenreck's video review at right.)
Meanwhile, the newly released "LittleBigPlanet 2: Special Edition" adds the option of using Sony's Move motion controls with the game and bundles in loads of bonus content including lots of new levels.
All in all, "LittleBigPlanet 2" is an excellent game for the player who not only appreciates the artistry of others ... but likes to get creative themselves.
Bastion — PC, Xbox 360, Rated E10+, $15
Supergiant Games
This bright, imaginative game from the small team at Supergiant Games will absolutely delight both your eyes and your ears while digging its addictive action/role-playing talons right into your gamer heart.
A wonderfully original game full of intriguing characters, "Bastion" tasks players with traversing a world that has been shattered into a series of floating islands. You'll have to search for survivors and fight strange beasts, customizing weapons and building your powers along the way.
But what really makes this game pop are the gorgeous hand-painted environments that literally rise and fall into place at the feet of your character as you explore, not to mention the gripping, distinctive narration that tells you the story of your game step-by-step as you play it.
From narrative, to art style, to gameplay, "Bastion" is a joy to behold on every level. (Check out In-Game editor Todd Kenreck's video review at right.)
Meanwhile, because this is a downloadable game, you'll want to gift the Xbox version to your favorite gamer using Xbox Live or an Xbox Live points card (available at many retail outlets). And you can gift the PC version through one of these online game services: Steam, GamersGate, Origin, Green Man Gaming, Direct2Drive, and OnLive.
Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet – Xbox 360, Rated E, $15
Shadow Planet Productions
Created by Fuelcell Games in collaboration with artist/animator Michel Gagne ("The Iron Giant," "Horton Hears a Who"), "Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet" acts as both a 2-D side-scrolling game filled with brainy puzzles as well as an eye-grabbing piece of interactive art.
Here players navigate a tiny ship as they traverse this bizarre, wondrous world drawn from Gagne's mind — a world at once full of vibrant colors and yet veined with deep, eerie blacks. With various tools at your disposal, you'll find yourself exploring, shooting and puzzle-solving — that is, if you can tear your eyes away from simply watching the thing unfold.
"Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet" was inspired by a set of creepy-cool animated interstitials that Gagne created for Nickelodeon. You can check them out here. And you can check out more of Gagne's work at his website here. Meanwhile, check out Todd Kenreck's video review above.
If you want to give an insanely twisted gift this holiday, head over to Xbox Live or pick up an Xbox Live points card for the gamer on your list. (They make great stocking stuffers, by the way).
Child of Eden — PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Rated E10+, $40
Q Entertainment
Speaking of interactive art ... the trippy "Child of Eden" is a sensory sensation, not to mention a game to show people who have yet to understand the artistry and creativity found within the video gaming medium.
"Child of Eden" is a lush blend of electronic music, trance-inducing visuals and target-shooting gameplay. The game sends players on a journey to revive the persona of the first human born in space in an online archive of human memories known as Eden. But you'll have to rid the archives where these memories live of a virus that has invaded.
Created by Tetsuya Mizuguchi — the man behind the similarly trippy cult hit "Rez" — "Child of Eden" is a gorgeous explosion of sound and color. You can play it either with a standard controller, the Kinect motion controller on the Xbox 360 or the Move motion controls for the PlayStation 3. I highly recommend using the motion controls to those who want to fall right into this moving piece of game art.
For more holiday shopping and video game news, check out:
Winda Benedetti writes about games for msnbc.com. You can follow her tweets about games and other things here on Twitter or join her in the stream here on Google+. And be sure to check out the In-Game Facebook page right here.
Sony/Insomniac Games
The family that games together, stays together. This holiday, Ratchet & Clank and crew can help show you how.
It's official. The holidays are upon us. And you know what that means: In the coming weeks you and your kinfolk will have ample time to sit cooped up together in one house for way too long.
It’s during these desperate times that you will search for something to keep the people related to you amused (and from strangling each other). And in these moments, a video game can be the perfect rescue.
Much like the board and card games of yore, video games can be a great way to pass the time with the entire family. They can offer everyone a chance to connect, a chance to laugh and, most importantly, a chance to totally crush one another in bit of friendly competition.
The members of your extended family don't play games, you say? Pshaw! They simply need a gentle and amusing introduction. Here are five video games to play with the whole fam damily.
Microsoft
1. Kinect Sports: Season Two — Xbox 360 (Kinect required) $50
Here's a good way to burn off all the calories from the turkey or figgy pudding that you and your fam just packed away ... and all without actually having to brave the freezing weather outside.
With this follow-up to last year's "Kinect Sports" game, Microsoft delivers another solid package of sporty mini-games that the whole gang can jump into using the motion-and-voice-sensing powers of Kinect.
This time around you'll play mini-games based around the real-world sports of golf, darts, tennis, baseball, skiing and football. With Kinect watching your every move, you'll pantomime the actions you'd really use when playing these games — swing your arms to swing a bat in the baseball game, lean side-to-side to ski your way down a digital snow hill, etc.
It's nothing but good fun for everyone ... and you might even break a sweat.
Extra! Extra! Sports mini-games for the family have been a staple of motion-controlled gaming for years now. If you don't have an Xbox 360, grab "Wii Sports Resort" for the Wii or "Sports Champions" for the PlayStation 3. Since both games are a year or more old, you'll find them at some nicely discounted prices.
Harmonix
2. Dance Central 2 — Xbox 360 (Kinect required) $50
You know what they say: The family that dances together stays together. That, or maybe it's the family that laughs together stays together. I dunno, but either way, both apply when it comes to this game.
The great thing about "Dance Central 2" is that you can have two left feet and still enjoy this game in which you pit your dance skills (or lack thereof) against those of friends and family. Like the original "Dance Central," this sequel uses the Kinect motion controller to read the movements of your entire body as you try to follow choreographed dance routines performed by a colorful array of characters on the screen.
You'll perform some sweet moves with names like "Say What," "Hot Feet" and "Mad Dash" to songs from Daft Punk, Lady Gaga, Sir Mix-A-Lot and yes ... even Justin Bieber. And, believe it or not, you may actually improve your dance skillz along the way.
The game's developer has made numerous improvements to this sequel — the most important one being that two players can dance at the same time. Also, the game now features a beefed-up "break it down" mode for teaching players each move. You can now select specific dance moves to work on, view each move in slow motion, and even record yourself dancing and see how you do compared to your on-screen instructor.
Leave your ego at the door, toss back some eggnog (spiked for the grown-ups) and put this game into your Xbox 360. The whole family will soon be doing the "Board Walk" and the "Beauty Step" ... and having a blast the entire time.
Extra! Extra! If dance games are up your family's alley but you don't own an Xbox, check out "Everybody Dance" for the PlayStation 3 and "Just Dance 3" for the Wii, PS3 and Xbox 360.
Magic Pixel Games
3. Carnival Island — PlayStation 3 (Move controls required) $40
If the members of your family aren't big video game players — or if they're simply not the dancing kind — then try easing them into things with this collection of motion-controlled, carnival-themed mini-games.
Everyone's been to a circus or a fair, and this PS3 game simply brings the midway to your living room. Using Sony's Move motion controls, you can compete against each other at games based on familiar real-world midway games such as skee-ball, ring toss and basketball shoot. Up to four people can play "Carnival Island" at one time and it features more than 35 games and attractions in total.
Yes, seasoned gamers will note that this is not the deepest or most impressive video game you'll find out there. But it does a really great job showing off the accuracy of Sony's Move controls and it's an easy one for everyone from junior to Gramps to jump right into.
Extra! Extra! If motion-controlled mini-games are up your family's alley but you don't own a PS3, consider the similarly carnival-themed "Carnival Games: Monkey See, Monkey Do!" for the Xbox 360 or "Wii Play: Motion" for the Wii.
Hasbro/EA
4. "Family Game Night 4: The Game Show" — Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Wii, $40
Speaking of easing your family members into the world of video gaming with something familiar, "Family Game Night 4: The Game Show" takes traditional gaming, crosses it with motion-controlled video gaming and tosses in some easy-to-pickup game show action to boot.
Here traditional games like Connect 4, Yahtzee and Scrabble are given the motion-control twist. For example, Connect 4 becomes a motion-controlled basketball game in which you must toss your colored-pieces into vertical and horizontal lines of four as fast as you can, trying to beat your opponent both with throwing accuracy and strategy.
Again, this is the kind of video gaming that shouldn't seem too intimidating to the non-gamers joining you for the holiday.
Insomniac Games
5. "Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One" — PlayStation 3, $60
If your extended family does have some game experience — enough to handle your basic game controller — then "Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One" is the perfect game for some quality holiday bonding.
Games starring Ratchet, the big-eared Lombax, and Clank, the tiny robot, have been PlayStation staples for years, but this is the first R&C title to include cooperative multiplayer gameplay. That means up to four players can jump in at one time and work together as they take these colorful characters on yet another sci-fi adventure.
Young kids will love the bright world and the zany sense of humor, casual players will love having friends in the game to help them out and more seasoned players will love the high quality of the platforming and puzzle-solving found here.
As Galactic President Qwark says in the game, "We must set aside our petty squabbles and act as a singular unit!" If that doesn't sound like family bonding ... I don't know what does.
Extra, extra! If this kind of mad-cap, four-player adventure is up your fam's alley, then other good options include "Disney Universe" (for the Xbox 360, Wii and PS3) and "Kirby's Return to Dream Land" for the Wii.
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Winda Benedetti writes about games for msnbc.com. You can follow her tweets about games and other things here on Twitter or join her in the stream here on Google+. And be sure to check out the In-Game Facebook page here.
Bethesda/Megan and Eric Kellermeyer
Welcome to the world young Dragonborn.
By Mike Wehner
Tecca.com
For expecting parents, coming up with a suitable name for a new bundle of joy can often be difficult. But when gamer couple Megan and Eric Kellermeyer realized their due date — 11/11/11 — was the same as the release day of the highly-anticipated "Skyrim" role-playing game, they made a big decision.
After reading a post on developer Bethesda's blog proposing that soon-to-be parents consider naming their child "Dovahkiin" — a word that means "Dragonborn" in the "Skyrim" world — they committed to the plan.
Originally, the developer's blog post seemed to be made in jest, and with a hefty disclaimer noting that "Bethesda Softworks is not responsible for your parenting," it appeared that it would be left as a joke and nothing more.
However, as word began to spread of the company's somewhat humorous suggestion, the company sweetened the deal. In an update to the original story, Bethesda promised that anyone willing to name their child Dovahkiin would receive every one of the developer's games free for life, on top of other unnamed goodies.
In a post on the couple's blog they announced their intentions, and the waiting game began. After all, newborns often miss their due date by a number of days, or even weeks, so fate would ultimately decide the child's name. But this time, the tiny warrior arrived right on time, and on 11/11/11, Dovahkiin Tom Kellermeyer was born.
The lucky couple contacted Bethesda, who verified the new baby's name and birthdate, and held true to their promise, granting the couple — and Dovahkiin himself — every one of the company's games free for life.
In the game "Skyrim," you play as the last in a long line of warriors blessed with the blood of dragons. This gift allows you to wield powerful magic to help you complete your quest. Despite being able to customize your name as you see fit, townsfolk in the game frequently refer to your character as Dovahkiin and Dragonborn. Dovahkiin Kellermeyer will hear plenty of that name in the years to come, and who knows, if dragons show up to terrorize our cities as they do in the fictional realm of "Skyrim," we may just call upon his services.
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Zynga/Best Buy
Dear "FarmVille" addicts, you know you want one of these toys ... or better yet, all eight.
Watch out "FarmVille" addicts. As if you haven't spent enough of your time and money in the land of virtual agriculture, Zynga is launching a line of real-world collectible "FarmVille" plush toys to tempt you into opening your wallet this holiday.
The Facebook gaming king has also launched another new "Ville" game to suck you in.
Zynga has announced that it is partnering with Best Buy, which will sell the toys exclusively starting Nov. 25. There will be eight different farm animals in all — each one dressed up in jaunty winter wear!
Rabbit, cow, duck, goat, pig, horse, sheep and chicken — if you buy them all, you will be rewarded with a Super Orchard in your game ... or so says the Best Buy website, which is now taking pre-orders. Individual animals will run you $10 (though you get 10 free Farm Cash to use in your game as well). Or you can pay 99 cents for one of the fuzzy critters if you buy a $25 Zynga Game Card.
Of course, Zynga is simply following in the footsteps of Rovio — the company behind the mega-popular mobile game "Angry Birds." Rovio recently revealed that it is selling some 1 million "Angry Birds" plush toys and T-shirts per month.
And what game company wouldn't want in on that kind of action?
"FarmVille" took Facebook by storm ... er, plow ... when it launched on the social network in 2009. And with more than 30 million monthly users today, the game is still the fourth most popular app on Facebook, according to AppData.com.
Zynga
Zynga gets its Ville on again with "CastleVille" -- a game in which you create your own "happy ending."
Meanwhile, Zynga has created a string of hit "Ville" games — "CityVille," "FrontierVille" — that have both mimicked and expanded upon the "FarmVille" gameplay formula. And on Monday, Zynga launched its latest addition to the Ville line-up: "CastleVille."
This time around, players aren't tasked with creating the farm of their dreams, they're tasked with creating a castle and a kingdom of their dreams and with finding their own "happy ending."
According to the Zynga blog, "CastleVille" players will be able to do the following:
When "CastleVille" was originally revealed, Bill Jackson, the game's creative director, said he saw it as a step toward a deep online game like "World of Warcraft."
"Zynga is bringing massively multiplayer role-playing games to the mass market," he explained.
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Winda Benedetti writes about games for msnbc.com. You can follow her tweets about games and other things here on Twitter or join her in the stream here on Google+. And be sure to check out the In-Game Facebook page here.
PETA
Mario, where did you get that fabulous fur coat?
You have to give it to the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals — they know how to leverage a pop culture event to promote their own agenda.
You see, Nintendo has just launched its highly anticipated game "Super Mario 3D Land." The game — which you play on Nintendo's new handheld 3DS game machine — features the famed plumber Mario making his way through a cartoon land filled with cranky mushrooms, man-eating plants and nefarious turtle creatures. On occasion, the mustachioed plumber dons a furry raccoon-like "Tanooki suit" which lets him float in the air and swat this colorful host of bad guys with a tail.
PETA, however, thinks Mario's fur-wearing ways are offensive and has — just in time for the launch of "Super Mario 3D Land" — launched its own campaign pegging Mario as a killer of innocent animals.
To be clear, the E-rated "Super Mario 3D Land" never suggests that Mario slaughtered an animal for its fur. In fact, the magical Tanooki suits that he wears in the game typically spring from magical squares that magically hover in the air. These squares magically give up the suits (which at first look like magical leaves) when Mario bumps his head into them.
But according to PETA's new "Mario Kills Tanooki" website, in real life, tanuki are raccoon dogs who are skinned alive for their fur. By wearing Tanooki, Mario is sending the message that it's OK to wear fur."
The site then offers visitors a chance to play a game called "Super Tanooki Skin 2D" in which you try to help a skinned Tanooki chase down Mario and reclaim his fur. (Don't bother, gamers, it's pretty lame.)
It's hard to believe that the folks over at PETA truly believe that a video game starring tiny man in a magical children's costume actually contributes to worldwide fur wearing. If they did believe Nintendo's new game had that kind of impact on behavior, then they should have also mentioned Mario's abuse of the turtle-like Koopa creatures.
But this is not the first time PETA has skewered video games as a way to grab attention. A few years back it spoofed the popular "Cooking Mama" game with its own game "Cooking Mama Kills Animals" to bring attention to the Thanksgiving slaughter of turkeys. And last year the non-profit created the game "Super Tofu Boy" as a parody of hit indie game "Super Meat Boy."
Of course, if you watch this PETA video about what happens to real tanuki racoon dogs, you can certainly see why the organization is up in arms about the fur business. (WARNING: The video is graphic and horrible and sad.)
If only PETA didn't feel the need to drag innocent bystanders through the mud to make its point.
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Winda Benedetti writes about games for msnbc.com. You can follow her tweets about games and other things here on Twitter or join her in the stream here on Google+. And be sure to check out the In-Game Facebook page here.
Planning to play "Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim" for dozens of hours on end? Here's how to get in shape at the same time.
By Brian Crecente
Kotaku.com
A new fitness program that asks gamers to earn time gaming by exercising is targeting fans of one of the biggest releases of the year.
Skyrim Fitness pushes players of Bethesda Softwork's latest massive fantasy role-playing game to do 10 push-ups to earn an hour of time in a world that can take 60, 80, 100 hours to fully play and explore.
Yes, that could mean hardcore gamers who wrap up playing through "The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim" also rack up 1,000 push-ups.
Jason Cross, senior Editor at PCWorld, kicked off the "Skyrim" fitness program the day before the game hit shelves last week. To make it a bit easier to track, and a bit more fun to participate in, he tied it to community fitness website Fitocracy.
Fitocracy, which is still in beta, is a website that allows people to track their workouts and earn points that are used to level up their account. While the website and the Skyrim Fitness program both use the honor system, trusting people to be honest about their workouts, there seems no point in joining if your intention is to lie your way through the game.
Cross said he signed up for the Fitocracy beta a couple of weeks ago to see what all of the hoopla was about.
Tying a role-playing game fitness program to a fitness program role-playing game seems like a perfect fit. The idea of creating a group in Fitocracy dedicated to "Skyrim" players, and then suggesting everyone work out to earn play time just popped into his head, Cross said.
"I figured I would be spending a whole lot of time on just one game over the next few weeks," he said. "It's certainly not completely original: gamers have done exercises as ‘punishment' for losing rounds in 'Starcraft 2' or 'League of Legends,' or during the long wait of flight paths in 'World of Warcraft.' Some have set up computers or consoles so they can play while on their treadmills or exercise bikes. I just thought it was be a good way to break up an otherwise sedentary game with a little exercise."
Cross settled on "Skyrim" because he felt it was a the best fit. It's a single-player game, so you can take breaks more easily. Also, it's the sort of game that inevitably sucks up a lot of time which could mean a lot of push-ups.
While Cross suggested players do 10 push-ups for every hour of gameplay, he's following a tougher schedule.
"I'm personally doing 12 pushups, and I'll increase that by two every 10 hours of cumulative game time," he said.
The reaction to Cross' idea, first presented on Google+ and then on website Reddit, has been overwhelmingly positive. Nearly 200 people have already joined the Fitocracy group and plenty of people are coming up with their own tweaks on Cross' "Skyrim" fitness plan.
"The biggest criticism seems to be from users that claim 10 push-ups is a trivial amount for any grown person and that the hourly number should be far higher," Cross said. "In truth, there are plenty of gamers who struggle to do 10 push-ups. They're harder than you think if you follow proper form and pace.
"Many people are substituting the push-ups with 20 crunches or 5 pull-ups or what-have-you, which is totally fine. It's not meant to replace the gym, and it's not going to make the extra pounds melt off or buff you up," he adds. "It's only meant to be a little physical activity to make your briefly exert yourself and take breaks while you play in a way that's fast and easy enough to do in your living room or den. If it's not something you'll stick with, it's worthless."
I've been using the program myself, not just for "Skyrim," but all of the games I play. I've also started using the same program with my 10-year-old son Tristan, who is allowed to game only for a limited time on weekends.
Tristan's program allows him to earn an hour's gaming time on the weekend by doing 10 push-ups, 20 sit-ups or 100 jumping jacks. He can earn two hours of game time by jogging a mile with his mother or I. As with the original Skyrim Fitness program, he's not allow to bank time. So he has to take a break every hour, or two, to earn more time.
Tristan ended up doing about 60 push-ups over the weekend, an amount that had him struggling by Sunday afternoon and sore Monday morning. The exercise requirement also led to his taking a break from gaming all together and going outside with his friends to play more.
While Skyrim Fitness is a neat idea, Cross reminds that it's not meant to be a complete fitness program.
"It's just meant to be a lot better than simply sitting in front of the screen for hours on end," he said. "While it won't turn you into an Adonis, I'm pretty sure you'll notice a difference if you play 100 hours of "Skyrim" over the next month. 1000 push-ups in a month is not trivial."
Well Played is an internationally syndicated weekly news and opinion column about the big stories of the week in the gaming industry and its bigger impact on things to come. Feel free to join in the discussion.
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Activision
From Kansas City to Paris, the "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3" launch has inspired some people to play mean.
How badly do people want to get their hands on the new “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3” game? Bad enough to do some really, really stupid things.
"Modern Warfare 3" launched Tuesday and appears to be on pace to become the best-selling video game of the year ... if not of all time. Of course, when something that big hits the street, that means a few nasties and nut jobs are bound to try and ruin the fun for everyone else.
One such alleged nut job (my professional assessment) is the man who, according to police in Aurora, Colo., threatened to blow up the local Best Buy after he arrived at the store to find out "Modern Warfare 3" was sold out.
According to NBC affiliate 9News, Aurora Police Det. Bob Friel said that 31-year-old Lomorin Sar was arrested early Tuesday. Witnesses told police that Sar became real, real angry with the customer service desk after they told him the video game he allegedly pre-ordered earlier in the day was no longer in stock.
If Sar really had pre-ordered the game and didn't get it when promised, it's easy to understand how he might have been pretty dang peeved. But Sar was reportedly so angry he vowed to not only blow up the store, but to shoot employees in the parking lot. He has since been charged with disorderly conduct.
But the madness doesn’t end there.
According to a Kansas City police report, a 27-year-old man reported that, after driving to a local Game Stop to pick up his pre-ordered copy of "Modern Warfare 3," he was followed home by a man in an SUV. The man in the SUV got out, pulled a gun, and demanded that the victim give him the game.
The guy with the game apparently had no intention of giving up his precious copy of "Modern Warfare 3" and refused to hand it over. Brave? Stupid? Either way, there was a struggle for the gun and one shot was fired, though no one was hurt.
Police later found the would-be robber back at the Game Stop store doing what he should have done in the first place: waiting in line to buy the game. They identified him as David E. Morales, 18, and prosecutors charged him with attempted robbery and armed criminal action.
But it's not just your gun-wielding Americans who have gone gonzo about getting their copy of "Modern Warfare 3." In Paris, France, armed, mask-wearing thugs robbed two trucks that were delivering the "Call of Duty" game to stores over the weekend.
In at least one case, the thieves reportedly rammed a car into the delivery truck and used tear gas to take out the drivers before they made off with 6,000 copies of the game.
Meanwhile, in other news, millions of perfectly reasonable gamers around the world waited patiently for their turn to buy and play "Modern Warfare 3."
For more game news, check out:
Winda Benedetti writes about games for msnbc.com. You can follow her tweets about games and other things here on Twitter or join her in the stream here on Google+. And be sure to check out the In-Game Facebook page here.
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