One of the truths that Wii has helped accentuate is that sometimes, simple is better. Take, for instance, the incredibly simplified control scheme powering Wii Sports bowling. All you do is pick up the virtual bowling ball with your Wii remote, swing backward, forward, and release. All the gameplay intricacies and all the hidden depth are tethered to the motion of your swing and the game is incredibly fun, if not completely addictive, as a result.
Perhaps JV Games was clinging to these very ideals when it decided to bring Pong Toss: Frat Party Games to Nintendo's WiiWare service. Unfortunately, though, there is also another videogame truth that the developer altogether ignored: execution is everything. Pong Toss is a simple idea brought to Wii in such a poor state, from lackluster graphics to uninspired controls, that it will turn you off to fraternities from here forward.
The third installment of the GameStooge Awards features Part II of the Technical Awards, which is the fun part. These Awards feature the stuff that don't easily fit under any category, such as Best Expansion or Best Editor.
The winners (or losers, as the case may be) are:
BEST ONLINE GAMEPLAY OF 2008: Left 4 Dead
BEST EXPANSION OF 2008: World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King
BEST GAME EDITOR OF 2008: Far Cry 2
BEST GAME YOU DIDN'T PLAY IN 2008: Roogoo
BEST SURPRISE OF 2008: Braid
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT OF 2008: Spore
MOST DEAD ON ARRIVAL GAME OF 2008: Wii Music
WORST DIGITAL GAME OF 2008: Pong Toss: Frat Party Games
WORST GAME OF 2008: Homie Rollerz
The final installment will be the Platform Awards, including Best Game of the Year.
GamesRadar writes: "There's a special corner of hell for frat boys, and in it they should be forced to play Pong Toss. The game – bounce balls into some cups – is a drinking game in real-life, making this virtual rendition conceptually pointless. Don't worry though, broken throwing and visuals that would make an N64 heave conspire to ensure that this is pointless through and through."
You'll love
* Party atmosphere
* Playable while drunk
* May appeal to frat boys?
You'll hate
* Ugly as a hangover
* Broken controls
* Nearly valueless
Gamertell Writes: "A Nintendo Wii game based on the drinking game Beer Pong has caused a bit of controversy with MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) due to its "Everyone" rating by the ESRB. As a result, developer JVGames has changed the game's name to Pong Toss and, rather than making it the dry version of Beer Pong, changed the in-game use of root beer to water."
