Free Spore download - franchise 65 million pieces of user-created content shared online

The Spore franchise is evolving! With more than 65 million pieces of user-created content shared online, fans from around the globe have gravitated to the game’s powerful creativity-centered experience and massively single-player content sharing site.
This year, the award-winning Spore franchise continues to evolve as Maxis, an Electronic Arts studio announces four new titles, each designed to deliver a unique experience to a specific audience; Spore Galactic Adventures, Spore Creature Keeper*, Spore Hero* and Spore Hero Arena*. This roster offers unique gameplay for space hunters, creature creators and action adventurers, proving that Spore has something for everyone – gamers, kids and Nintendo fans alike.

“Last year was a very exciting year for Maxis with the release of Spore. We were overwhelmed by the massive response to the game from the millions of people that created, shared and played in the Spore universe,” said General Manager of Maxis, Lucy Bradshaw. “This year we’re going to experiment with new experiences that extend the powerful creativity tools of Spore to all-new audiences. With the universe as our backdrop, the only limit in the Spore universe is your own imagination.”

The next big bang for Spore on PC comes this spring with the deeply immersive and customizable expansion pack, Spore Galactic Adventures. Spore Galactic Adventures adds a tremendous amount of variety and depth to the original “space game” in Spore, allowing players to beam down to planets, play mission-based adventures and even create their own customized adventures for the first time. Each adventure has a unique reward to upgrade a space creature with special accessories – from an Energy Blade and Stunning Charm to a Jump Jet and more. Players can fight their way to victory as a Warrior, dance with new friends as a Bard, and much more. With an almost unlimited number of user created adventures, there’s more to play than ever before. The “adventure creator” in Spore Galactic Adventures gives gamers the tools to make their own missions and share them with friends via www.spore.com.

Younger Spore fans will have a blast with the Spore Creature Keeper, a stand-alone PC game that has players nurturing, training and playing with their own personally-created creature. With lots of toys, clothes and gizmos to play with, players can pamper their pets to perfection! With Spore Creature Keeper, fans can play with their creation alone or have a play-date online for endless creature fun. Spore Creature Keeper brings all the fun of creature creation to a new level by adding nurturing, teaching and social components to the experience.

Spore will make its highly-anticipated debut on the Nintendo Wii with Spore Hero, an all-new adventure game focusing on creativity and evolution that was built from the ground up for the unique controls for Wii. Spore Hero takes players on an exciting adventure through a beautiful, colorful world. Spore Hero Arena for Nintendo DS builds on the success of 2008’s hit Spore™ Creatures and allows players to create fully-3D Spore creatures and take them into battle with an array of other creatures across the galaxy. Spore Hero and Spore Hero Arena offer two all-new Spore experiences available exclusively for Nintendo platforms this fall.

To learn more about Spore, to download a free trial of the Spore Creature Creator, or to visit the more than 65 million player-created creations to date, please visit www.spore.com.

Dawn of Heroes - Nintendo DS Fact Sheet

The once great Kingdom of Brimthule is in despair following the loss of its lord and champion. King Leroy sacrificed himself to entomb the great beast Ragnakore in a body of stone. Without its leader, the kingdom has split into baronies and is beset by curses, monsters, and misfortunes, with some believing Ragnakore, though trapped, is responsible. The time has come for new heroes to stand tall against the realm’s greatest foes; the time has come for the Dawn of Heroes.

Overview

Dawn of Heroes features classic RPG concepts, character development, epic combat, quests and puzzle solving. Dawn of Heroes differs from other RPGs with hilarious dialogue, customizable parties, a variety of dungeons and items, and multiplayer features geared towards building a community of heroes all over the world.

Features

Take in breathtaking 3D graphics, from the massive world of Brimthule to the unique look of all its inhabitants.
Immerse yourself in a deep storyline as you experience multiple quests and dangers.
Play more than 50 missions with branching paths and side quests.
Over 25 playable classes from 6 unique factions let you create your own party of heroes to work together as the ultimate team.
Face a multitude of enemies from 12 unique factions.
Collect hundreds of items during your adventure and share them online with friends.
Awesome local and Wi Fi multiplayer action has players constantly optimizing their parties for a different battle every time they seek a new challenge.
Streamlined user interface allows players to command all aspects of their adventure using the touch screen and stylus.

Fact Sheet

Publisher: Majesco Entertainment
Developer: Wicked Studios
Platform: DS
Genre: Tactical RPG

The Lord of the Rings Online - Mines of Moria named best MMORPG of 2008

Turbine announce that The Lord of the Rings Online - Mines of Moria was named “Best MMORPG” in the 1up.com 2008 Reader’s Choice Awards. Mines of Moria, Turbine’s latest expansion to the increasingly popular massively multiplayer online game (MMO) The Lord of the Rings Online dominated the results, securing nearly half of all votes in the “Best MMORPG” category over nominees including World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King, Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning, Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures and Pirates of the Burning Sea. 1up.com is a leading online destination for videogame news, reviews, previews, features and additional content.

“We are honored to receive this award from the 1up.com readers and are delighted they have been enjoying the new classes, levels and quests as well as the groundbreaking addition of Legendary Items where players can forge unique weapons and equipment that grow in power along with their character,” said Jim Crowley, president and CEO of Turbine, Inc. “Mines of Moria was one of many MMO titles released in 2008 and we are pleased that our team’s dedication to delivering fresh and innovative content and features has been so broadly recognized by the gaming community. Wait until they see what we have in store for them during 2009!”

The Lord of the Rings Online is the ultimate interactive adventure. Join Gandalf, Frodo, Bilbo, and many other characters in the war against the Dark Lord Sauron to save Middle-earth. This award-winning MMORPG recently expanded with the critically acclaimed launch of Mines of Moria where players can venture into the largest and most dangerous online underground environment ever created while extending the challenge to new heights with two new classes, ten additional levels and hundreds of new quests including a faceoff with the Watcher, the Balrog and more. The Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria is available for purchase across North America and Europe. For more information, please visit www.lotro.com/moria.

Warrior Epic PC game full character class details for MMORPG

Pit Fighters, Illusionists, Pangolans, Dungeon Archers, Devotresses and Assassins Make Up The Six Unique Classes In the Game

Full details of each of the six character classes which include Pit Fighters, Illusionists, Pangolans, Dungeon Archers, Devotresses and Assassins.

PIT FIGHTER: Pit fighters are the most powerful melee warriors. Hailing from two different regions, each specializes in different areas of combat. While the two vary in practice, both are adept in the base tactics taught by their masters. Targets that stray from the herd are dominated by the sheer power of the Pit Fighter's melee swings. They are experts in hand-to-hand combat which allows for skills in AOE melee strikes. Their instincts are to defeat enemies swiftly, while escaping danger when overwhelmed. Pits have the
ability to "Master" equipped weapons and items. This skill allows Pit Fighters to have altered weapons unique to any other weapon in the Kingdom of Providence.

Outcast - Outcast Pit Fighters are from the harsh Northern Wilderness. Far from towns, cities, or any form of civilization, Outcasts from this region are used to fighting alone, and as a result have become highly skilled in survival tactics, making them an excellent tanking class.

Berserker - Berserker Pit Fighters are from the far reaches of the molten lands known as the Searing Plains. As their name suggests, searing anger is what drives these Warriors; allowing them to channel berserker energy to decimate foes into oblivion. They excel at fighting masses of great hordes and are particularly deadly with hand-to-hand AOE attacks.

ILLUSIONIST: The Illusionist is a harbinger of torment and a master of illusion. She harvests stray souls and determines the fates of weak minds. Her rumored ties with the underworld make her one of the most feared and persecuted warriors in the realm. Her sweet façade is a deception to the cold savagery she wields with indifference.

Spellbinder - The Spellbinder Illusionist is a weaver of mental imagery and horrors specializing in skills that confuse her foes. She can plunder the minds of those foolish enough to stand in her path and has the capability to invade private thoughts in order to use the victim's own fears and weaknesses against them.

Necromancer - Tales of the Necromancer Illusionist's exploits are often told in legend alone as there are usually no survivors. She is closely tied to the dark underworld lords, calling upon their minions to do her bidding. The Necromancer specializes in skills that connect the underworld to the living.

PANGOLAN: The Pangolan ("people of the tree") come from regions where the Giant Trees grow. They act as the custodians of nature. They live as one with the forest and are often seen working as guides or trackers. It would be foolish to mistake their gentle demeanor for weakness, for they can be as fierce as they are kind. Pangolans are
well educated in ancient healing practices; making them a welcome addition to any party.

Shaman - Shaman Pangolans have been handed down the
secrets of the "Golin Pa Uru" or "Magic of the Dark Forest" for thousands of generations and can call upon nature's forces as well as its inhabitants. Shaman Pangolans specialize in utilizing elemental forces to defeat enemies and heal party members.

Tamer - Tamer Pangolans come from the largest forest known as Evervale. They are known for their extreme devotion to the forest, and their chosen lifestyle as guardians of the Tree Regions. As the protectors of Evervale, they can call upon the assistance of the creatures that live among its lush forests.

DUNGEON ARCHER: The Dungeon Archer is a Master of Ranged attacks. He is also well versed in survival skills and trap making. Although Archers come from all over the world, there are very few that can master the art of bow and arrow. The Dungeon Archer has the ability to infuse elements into the arrows he shoots, allowing for ranged damage of all
types.

Stalker - The Dungeon Archer Stalker is a Ranger at heart and a true Master with the bow. He has the ability to shoot from great range with high accuracy. He can channel his energy into his attacks, often doubling the damage dealt from normal arrows. He can also channel his concentration into his reflexes, boosting his agility and accuracy boosts.

Warden - The Dungeon Archer Warden is often known as
a musician. He is able to influence others by playing mesmerizing notes with his bowstring. These mysterious sounds can both inspire fellow warriors or confuse and demoralize the enemy. He specializes in dealing mid-range damage and applying significant buffs to allies.

DEVOTRESS: From an ancient order of Guardians, Devotresses seek to protect civilians from harm. After the Fall of the Great Kingdoms, many ranks of Devotress broke off into different Orders, each following their own core beliefs. Many Devotresses are still hunted by those who seek to fully destroy any evidence of the old Kingdom. Masters of sword and shield, Devotresses fight using skills in melee attacks and block defenses.

Sentinel - All Sentinel Devotresses share horrible memories from the great "Falling of Kings". They journey through life with sorrow that both focuses and fuels their need to help others. They aspire to restore the prosperity of the Old Kingdom. Sentinel Devotresses will sacrifice themselves in order to help their allies. She specializes in melee skills that will protect the party from any foe.

Avenger - The Avenger Devotresses hold onto emotion and anger, seeking vengeance against those responsible for the Great Falling of Kings. Avenger Devotresses are well-seasoned fighters that emphasize their training in agility. In order to put their restless minds to peace, Avengers have learned to channel their anger into their skills. As a result, she has the swiftest attacks that are fueled purely by her emotions.

ASSASSINS: The Assassins are mysterious nomads known for their adventurous nature and signature weaponry. Many take the trade of bounty hunter, privateer, or mercenary. All are known for their unmatched skill with firearms and tenacity in battle.

Dead Shot - Dead Shot Assassin's skills excel in ranged combat. Using her firearms as extensions of herself she is a fearsome shooter. Dead Shot Assassins are able to shoot with amazing accuracy and evade at the same time. They are untraceable, deadly warriors.

Trapper - The Trapper Assassin employs numerous trap and ambush techniques to slay her quarry. She takes personal joy in catching an unwary enemy off guard. In addition, Trapper Assassins can add extra firepower for her allies by mounting her guns. She specializes in burst-ranged damage.

Runes of Magic - Patch - Enter the competition and win a new in game two story house.

Housing Competition and patch: in game currency now convertible in item shop

With the turn of the year, numerous pieces of new furniture and decorative items for player housing were added to the fantasy world of Runes of Magic. Publisher Frogster is now using this occasion to challenge Taborea’s creative amateur interior designers in an exciting competition with a twist.

Every active player with character level 10 that signs up for the contest at http://www.runesofmagic.com/en/taborea_living.html before the ‘event’ ends on the 2nd of February will receive a magnificent two-story house to permanently reside in. Those who send in a screenshot of their homey domicile also have a chance to win a brand new Gainward GF 9800 GTX+ graphics card, virtual war horses and fan T-Shirts.

Besides the player’s house, Frogster has re-worked the item shop in Runes of Magic. After updating their game software with a new patch, players can now spend in-game coins in the online store. Investing their in game money players are now able to acquire helpful potions, mounts or teleports without using real currency. Moreover, the update integrates the new instance “Cyclops Stronghold“ and the event “Flower Festival” for Valentine's Day.

In Runes of Magic, players can start furnishing their house at Level 1. For this, a broad range of items is available – ranging from decorative interactive weapon racks, fireplaces and candle holders to more practical furniture like treasure chests that can store items, mannequins to display spare armour or anvils for crafting. Players can also give their unique house code to friends to invite them over for a viewing.

Runes of Magic started the open beta with an English and a German version in the middle of December 2008. All interested players can now download the online-role playing game and enter into the fantasy world after creating an account for free on www.runesofmagic.com.

Runes of Magic – a world full of wizardry and adventure
With an extensive range of features Runes of Magic prepares to redefine the standard of free2play MMO games. Runes of Magic conveys an absorbing story through more than 1.000 quests embedded in an atmospheric fantasy setting. Players can choose between six main classes and combined with a secondary class they present 30 individual combinations of character classes over all. All characters possess unique skills with impressive combo attacks and can use mounts like war horses and more. A particularly attractive feature for guilds and players is the possibility to arrange their own virtual homes with individual furnishing. Thanks to an extensive crafting and reputation system, thrilling PVP, as well as demanding dungeons and boss-monsters, no wishes remain unsatisfied. The Taiwanese developer Runewaker has developed Runes of Magic according to western MMO standards within a time frame of three years. The studio will provide new challenges for players every three to four months with free add-ons and updates. MMO fans can find more information, pictures and videos on the official website www.runesofmagic.com.

Features

• Free2play: no monthly fees, free download
• Extensive dual class system (six primary and secondary classes)
• Versatile spell- and attack-combinations
• Enthralling background story
• More than 1.000 quests and quest series on launch
• No zone boundaries thanks to seamless architecture
• Dungeons: Instanced and tile based as well as persistent
• Individually developable skills and spells
• Armour sets with special bonuses
• Dynamic item system with hundreds of runes for upgrading
• Optional PvP system with arena battles and guild wars
• Ranking system with player-ranking lists
• Multitude of unique mounts
• Epic crafting system with the chance to improve existing items
• Personalization of player houses through individual furnishing
• Reputation system
• Customisable user interface with the option to use Add-Ons
• Map and radar system to find dealers, resources and quests easily
• In-game auction houses for trading items
• Teleport-Runes for instant travel
• Mouse and keyboard controls for movement
• Regular updates with new content
• Cross-server fights in three-server-battle in development
• Guild houses in special zones in development

PDC World Championship Darts 2009 website launched

www.dartsvideogame.com is the ultimate source of news, screenshots and information for the best darts game, coming out in Spring 2009. Keep up to date with all current darts news with a live feed of as-it-happens real world darts news from both the PDC and Sky Sports.

Full Events Calendar:
Want to know when the date for any PDC darts event is? There is an updated calendar direct from the official PDC darts website.

Game Information:
The site also provides information on which of the final 18 players have so far have been included into the videogame and a brief profile for them. It currently shows four of the best that have been included (if you hadn’t guessed already from looking at the boxshot!). So you can be one of the first to play the new darts game on Wii or Nintendo DS, there is a pre-order page so you can be the first to get your hands on them.

Darts Forum:
Knowing that darts and videogames fans are passionate and want to be heard, there is a Forum where you can give us advice on what to put into the darts game, or talk about anything to do with darts, or even if you just want to talk about anything else that’s on your mind (within reason of course!)

Win yourself an Xbox 360:
If that wasn’t enough, there is a great competition to win a copy of the previous darts videogame as well as a brand new Xbox 360!

So click on to www.dartsvideogame.com now! Game On!

Planetstorm - all-out battle of Man versus Machine

Challenge Online Games, Inc. (Challenge Games) is releasing its newest massively-multiplayer, collectable card game Planetstorm (www.planetstorm.com). The world had been a lush utopia, but after having been ravaged by a generation of warfare of Man versus Machine, the world is now in ruins. It is now up to every player to build a team to crush the Machines and determine the fate of humanity.

Planetstorm is a free-to-play, massively multiplayer, collectable card game which can be played asynchronously with your friends even if they are online at different times. Planetstorm is the first spinoff of the successful Warstorm (www.warstorm.com) collectable card game series. While Planetstorm maintains a familiar layout, the developers have created a universe that is unique in its game play. The military influence flows throughout the design whether cards are infantry, armor, aircraft or even structures which can be strategically used for cover or offense. Players can complete missions and challenges to acquire rewards, or they can buy in-game currency to purchase new card packs. Developers have added new daily missions which can reward a player for specific tasks.

Planetstorm can be played for-free directly from any browser. Signup is made even easier due to Planetstorm's integration of Facebook Connect. A Facebook user can simply click-to-register and a fully authenticated Planetstorm account will be created within seconds. The player will be asked to create an avatar and join the battle. This same technology was used by CNN.com to let Facebook users share comments with their friends during the live-streaming Presidential Inauguration of Barack Obama. Challenge Games is well known for early Facebook integration since their initial launch title Duels (www.duels.com), and Planetstorm now supports the latest updates in Facebook platform technology.

Duels, was the first massively multi-player role-playing game (MMORPG) to be integrated directly with Facebook. It currently has over a quarter of a million players worldwide. Challenge Games' second title, Baseball Boss, is an official licensee of MLB Advanced Media and the MLBA, and it is the first game to combine baseball simulation games with collectable card games. Warstorm takes collectable card games (CCG) into the massively multiplayer online (MMO) world. Planetstorm builds on the success of Warstorm as a collectable card game where mankind must prevent machines from causing the end of the human race.

To play Planetstorm, visit http://www.planestorm.com. To play Duels, visit http://www.duels.com or http://apps.facebook.com/duelsfb. To play Baseball Boss, visit http://www.baseballboss.com. To play Warstorm, visit http://www.warstorm.com. For more information on Challenge Games, visit http://www.challengegames.com.

PikMin and Mario Power Tennis New Player control series for Nintendo Wii

Lateral thinkers and tennis fans alike will delight in NEW PLAY CONTROL! Pikmin and NEW PLAY CONTROL! Mario Power Tennis - two Nintendo classics originally released on Nintendo GameCube but now which have been reworked in widescreen for Wii’s NEW PLAY CONTROL!, a new series of games powered up to take advantage of the Wii’s unique control system!

Fun and challenging gameplay will delight a whole new generation, while some additional features will excite existing Mario Power Tennis and Pikmin fans.

The compulsively cute Pikmin, available on 6th February 2009, will test the brain and stun the senses, while Mario Power Tennis, available on 6th March 2009 will challenge your hand-eye coordination and see you pitting your abilities against friends and family.

NEW PLAY CONTROL! Pikmin – Pikmin just got a bit more perfect! Whether you are a Pikmin fan or have yet to be bewitched by its charms, NEW PLAY CONTROL! Pikmin now makes full use of the Wii Remote’s point-and-select capability, which will delight anyone who enjoys a real-time strategy adventure.

You control a spaceman called Captain Olimar who has crash-landed on an unusual planet. The planet is inhabited by Pikmin - strange flower-like creatures that are half-animal, half-plant – as well as a variety of hostile creatures who will try and stop you in your mission. Captain Olimar must collect 30 sections of his crashed vessel which have been scattered across the planet to reassemble his ship and continue his galactic quest: luckily the obliging Pikmin are there to help him.

Each type of Pikmin has unique strengths, which Olimar must use to his advantage. Red Pikmin can withstand high temperatures, blue Pikmin can survive in water, while yellow Pikmin can destroy obstacles by using bomb-rocks. Players can control 100 Pikmin at any one time organising them individually, in groups, or in an army of 100 – and the Wii Remote makes selecting, grouping and giving orders to your Pikmin more fluid and more intuitive than ever before making it more accessible to all levels of players.

The NEW PLAY CONTROL! version of the game also sees an updated save mechanism, which now allows you to restart play from any day you please – perfect for retrying a particularly puzzling challenge! Pikmin will keep your brain burning for hours as you race against time solving puzzles and battling foes with an army of cute and loveable creatures to help you.

NEW PLAY CONTROL! Mario Power Tennis – Grab the opportunity to play as your favourite character from the Mario world, such as Mario, Bowser or Princess Peach and unleash some Power Shots on the tennis court – now using the Wii Remote to make the action more intuitive than ever before!

The NEW PLAY CONTROL! Mario Power Tennis, sports different replay camera options and a two-player split screen that will be familiar to fans of Tennis on Wii Sports. But the biggest advance is the ability to use your Wii Remote to play a wide range of different shots, from overhand strikes to backhands – and, of course the famous Power Shots, which are different for each character!. The game also offers levels of control types which increase in difficulty ensuring players of all levels of gameplay experience can enjoy the game.

The game also enables you to play on a range of courts as well as Gimmick courts. These feature elements that influence how the match will be played, such as the ghosts in the Luigi's Mansion court, which trip you up by placing banana peels under your feet. To keep the ghosts at bay, your tennis skills will have to be at their best to direct the ball onto light switches in order to turn on the lights and scare away the ghosts.

The central mode of the game is Tournament Mode, which is split between matches on regular surfaces and matches on Gimmick courts, and features a standard ladder-style advancement system. Winning tournaments can unlock new characters, new courts, and new gameplay styles for the Exhibition Mode.

A series of tennis-themed mini-games will also keep you coming back for more. "Artist on the Court" lobs special paintballs at you and challenges you to knock them onto the appropriate areas of an uncoloured picture that's sitting where the net would usually be. In "Terror Tennis", you have to keep a bunch of ghosts under control by hitting balls at any of them that start moving around. Five of these mini-games are available to begin with, but if you win enough tournaments you will unlock several more.

Single player mode enables you to choose your opponent and their ability, the court used and the number of games and sets required to win the match, whilst singles or doubles mode with friends will see you pitting your serving skills against them in a split screen affair!

Reworked exclusively for the Wii’s NEW PLAY CONTROL! series, Pikmin and Mario Power Tennis are now more fluid and intuitive to play whilst still providing the entertainment and challenges of the original Nintendo GameCube games, If that has got you excited than 2009 will be your year as Pikmin 2 and Donkey Kong Jungle Beat are also just one of many games which will be making their way to the NEW PLAY CONTROL! series - only on Wii.

Hotel Dusk's Heart Throb in Song -

http://www.gamepeople.co.uk/audio_ds_hoteldusk.htm

This week Hotel Dusk's Karl Hyde captures Rebecca Mayes’ heart. After a week of interviews with the national press and two video game song commissions, Rebecca Mayes is happy to get back to the song writing. Her latest Video Game Review song accounts her novice's experience of the film noire DS game.

With her first two video game song reviews - Press A [http://www.gamepeople.co.uk/audio_wii_wiisports.htm] and I'm a Wolf [http://www.gamepeople.co.uk/audio_wii_okami.htm] - still going strong, she can't wait to hear what people make of her latest creation. In it she engages with the story and characters of the classic DS adventure Hotel Dusk in a way you've never heard before.

What started out as a hobby is fast becoming a full time concern for Rebecca as various parties line up to get their games covered. As her followers on twitter (http://www.twitter.com/audiogamer) will know, she has a new song in the pipeline about the new Hello Kitty game on DS. After that she'll be turning her attention to the mighty PopCap games library.

Keeping her going through the recording has been a stream of comments and praise from all directions. Of particular note are the emails and messages from non-gamers and parents who have heard the song and want to learn more.

Are you smarter than a Disney character? Disney Think Fast...

Playing Disney TH!NK Fast is a bit like going to one of their movies; it’s probably not something you would elect to do on your own, but you’ll tag along for the sake of the kids - and just like one of their movies, the game follows a tried and true formula, with a couple of tweaks to set it apart from the rest of the herd.

Featuring content from Disney’s animated movies both past and present, the kid-friendly quiz game parallels its ‘grown up’ counterpart in terms of general format and gameplay: there’s an over-the-top game show host in the form of Genie from Aladdin, flashy sets with Disney themes, up to four contestants eager to battle it out over rounds of buzzer-busting action, and of course tacky prizes and bragging rights for the overall winner.

Prior to play you select the game’s duration, however at five rounds the shortest option runs for approximately thirty minutes, while the longest drags on for about an hour. We found this to be too drawn out; imagine how it would feel for kiddies with their notoriously brief attention spans!

Some flexibility is provided with the custom game menu. You choose the rounds you want and the duration, but again you are limited to five, seven or nine rounds. We would have liked to have had an option for a shorter game – say three rounds max.

The usual pre-quiz routine follows, with selection of characters (all classic Disney favourites such as Micky and Minnie, Donald and Goofy), amusing buzzer sounds and difficulty level. The game caters to those with limited knowledge of Disney animated movies, which is a nice touch. It’s no fun trying to answer questions on an unfamiliar topic. Also worth mentioning are the four themed locations you can select as the backdrop to your game. Each is based on a well known movie such as The Lion King or Lilo and Stitch, and each features a ‘special guest’ character from the film. Small details perhaps, but they help distinguish Disney TH!NK Fast from the rest.

The rounds themselves offer a good deal of variety for young minds. The (extremely simple) questions largely revolve around general knowledge and Disney animated movie trivia, with true/false statements, observation-based questions and clue-based picture recognition thrown into the mix. There are even a few mini-game rounds to offer a little more variety and boost point scoring potential for players at the younger end of the scale.

The single player game has a lot more to offer than previous quiz games, the aim being to amass time and points over six rounds, before the final ‘beat the clock’ round. There are also several unlockable characters available only in single player; an incentive to try your best and score well. The developers obviously wanted Disney TH!NK Fast to be as much fun to play alone as it is with a bunch of friends, which it certainly is.

Being pitched at a younger audience, Genie’s in-game patter is more of a good natured slapstick style than the witty-but-derisory digs of that other game show host, Buzz, and the Robin Williams sound-alike does a remarkable job of his voice. As you might expect from a Disney title, graphics are stylishly executed, flashy and in glorious cartoon colour, with some genuinely entertaining animations from the contestants. No complaints here.

While Disney TH!NK Fast does not have an awful lot to offer adult players, you can rest assured the kids – especially younger ones - will have a good deal of fun with it… plus it provides another opportunity to dust off (and disentangle) those buzzers.
Source: GamePlanet NZ