The PS3 plays catch-up with the Xbox 360 with PopCap announcing a partnership with Sony’s Playstation Network. Starting today, dazzle your children with the trippy audio and visual stylings of Bejeweled 2. Future titles include Zuma, Heavy Weapon, Peggle and Feeding Frenzy.
Just another reason to convince the missus!
Source: PopCap bringing Bejeweled 2, Peggle, and more to PSN
Finally, something else to do with your Wii.
EA recently announced the sequel to its high-praised, slow-burned Boom Blox, entitled Boom Blox Bash Party. According to MTV Multiplayer, it brings several enhancements to the franchise:
Thus, “Boom Blox Bash Party,” the Spring 2009 Wii-only sequel. Like its predecessor it is a game full of hundreds of levels, each consisting of stacks of blocks that need to be pulled, smashed, knocked into or otherwise toppled with swings of the Wii remote. Some blocks have special qualities, like being explosive or acidic. Some player moves are more potent in knocking the blocks down, like throwing bowling balls at the blocks or yanking at them with a little hand. Most levels are puzzles and all are designed to be played with friends.
The biggest addition to the sequel may be the ability to share levels online, something Rahimi said Spielberg had been asking for. The system does not use Nintendo Friend Codes, allowing any Internet-connected Wii owner to download and upload levels through EA’s servers. Users will be able to download, rate, remix and upload levels. “With the push of one button, you can send [a level you create] to EA and we will broadcast it to the world,” Rahimi said.
The biggest news is that EA may ask Boom Blox creator Steven Spielberg to create a level for the game. Maybe he’ll throw in one of his famous dolly zooms as well?
Source: EA Will Ask Steven Spielberg To Make A ‘Boom Blox’ Level
One of MDIAG!’s favorite print mags, Time Out Kids, is now on Facebook:
You’ll get the inside scoop on TOKids’ contests, events and more. And if you’re not on Facebook, well, it’s bout time. Next year, Twitter!
TOKids might be a little New York City-centric, but it’s a valuable reference for any parent living in or near a big city. Plus we hear NYC is kinda cool for kids these days…
MDIAG! feels your pain. You want to move the Apple TV upstairs to the kid’s room. The problem is, WiFi signal strength is spotty two floors up. What do you do? Engadget reports Netgear is now accepting pre-orders for their MCAB1001 MoCA Coax-Ethernet adapter, which will allow you to use your house’s existing coax cabling to distribute data.
At $229.99, is it worth it? For those who would rather keep their dry walls intact, we think so.
Sci-Fi blog io9 gives us a quick taste of what we’re in store for this Friday’s Clone Wars episode:
In a new clip from Friday night’s episode, “Trespass,” Obi-Wan and friends discover a grisly sight… but the decapitating culprit isn’t the Separatists.
Source: Battlestar Carnage, Clone Wars Decapitations And Wolverine’s Explosions
Better think again before dragging your toddler to McDonald’s to get that Clone Wars Happy Meal toy. Dads, you know who you are.
French fries, the most kid-friendly food on the menu outside of chicken nuggets, got a workover from Yahoo! Food’s Sarah Fuss, who compared fries from seven popular fast food joints. She goes through serving sizes, calories per gram, trans fat and saturated fat per gram.
Who is the best? Who is the worst? Follow the link and read on.
For every geek east of the Mississippi and north of the Mason Dixon line, you probably already have the weekend of February 6-8 2009 booked. But for the rest of those who don’t already know, that weekend is the annual event that is the New York Comic Con.
You’re probably asking yourself, “why would I drag my kids through an ocean of inappropriately dressed cosplayers and dudes reeking of the funk?” Well, aside from two important words (“Joss…Whedon”), they are having Kids Day on Sunday, February 8. From the website:
Kids Day is NY Comic Con just for kids! On Sunday, February 8th, come to the Galleria in the Javits for panels and performances from your favorite authors and characters! And if you love to draw, perform and create, we’ve got something for you too! Test your skills in our Battle Zone, have your face painted, learn how to make your own super hero, or find a seat for one of our exciting presentations!
Best of all, it’s free for children 12 or under. There isn’t anything cooler you could do for your kids that’s free in NYC. Unless it’s a stroll in the Park, but then all you have to do is stare at boring things, like nature.
Source: New York Comic Con is proud to present Kids Day on Sunday, February 8th
What, the missus only got you socks and a tie for Christmas? Well, have no worries, because Amazon.com is lookin’ out for ya. Their Video Games Deal of the Day
Remember, this deal is good only for today and while supplies last, so buy now and ask for forgiveness later!
High-Def Digest reports the film Arctic Tale, from the filmmakers who brought us March of the Penguins, will be getting a Blu-ray release this April.
Though ‘Arctic Tale’ didn’t set the box office alight the way ‘Penguins’ did, Paramount will debut the family-friendly doc on Blu-ray in time for the Spring thaw, with a April 21 release date. (The studio previously-issued the title on both HD DVD and standard DVD in late 2007.)
MSRP is at $34.95. It’s not listed on Amazon yet, but you can always get the HD DVD version
High-Def Digest reports The Cartoon Network’s Clone Wars will be getting a release this spring.
Following the release of the theatrical feature ‘Star Wars: The Clone Wars‘ on Blu-ray late last year, the company revealed it will debut the first four episodes of season one of The Cartoon Network series on high-def in late March.
Now here’s a real head-scratcher:
In the same announcement, Lucasfilm also says it is planning a more elaborate, complete season one box set for Blu-ray later this year (timed to coincide with the premiere of the show’s second season).
Why would Lucasfilm waste their time with two releases this year, with separate volumes of season one along with a complete season set? Could this be because of price considerations, with the cost of Blu-rays markedly higher than standard DVDs, to give cash-strapped consumers an option as well?
If this is all because BD production costs ain’t cheap, that’s just another reason to hate Blu-ray. And that’s not helping the consumer, it’s just confusing them into potentially double-dipping.