GrE writes, "To discover whether a game that is marketed for kids (and the young at heart), all one needs to do is the following:
* Find a seven year old boy. My son fits this demographic nicely.
* Place said boy in front of large TV screen, running an Xbox 360 and copy of said game.
* Place a controller in his hands (of course he already knows how to use it; he IS my son…)
* Start the game, while helping him navigate through menus that are too hard for him to read.
* Watch him play.
Throughout this process, data collection is essential. Two data points must be observed, and recorded. The first essential point is the length of time spent playing the game, with a secondary variable being the amount time spent asking to play the game, while the television or console is not on. This requesting process includes asking, normally in a plaintive voice, or outright manipulation in the form of hugs, kisses, and "you're the best dad, ever" statements. The second key data point to be recorded is the incidence and volume of exclamatory statements and giggles while playing the game in question. If the experimenter can hear said statements and laughter from upstairs, then one can be assured of a positive result..."
Backlog Quest is a month long special event on Clearance Bin Review featuring daily game reviews of the games that have sat on the shelf for simply too long; old and new.
From Day 11 – Where the Wild Things Are, Tristan Rendo writes,"Taking a book that is literally only a few sentences long and turning it into an hour and a half movie is no easy task. Turning that same book into a five-six hour video game would have been next to impossible. A few liberties pretty much had to be taken. Viewed in that light we might be a bit more forgiving of Where the Wild Things Are, after all, making anything that isn’t pure trash in that situation is noteworthy. Beyond that though there isn’t much of note about Where the Wild Things are."
The lads berate Steven for being absent for the past two weeks, talk all the news, the Bioshock Infinite trailer and Alan gets to grips with another bargain-bin game in Alans hit or shit.
OXCGN:
"Video games that tie into major film releases targeted at kids are a dime-a-dozen, but a video game aimed at kids based on a surreal movie not necessarily aimed at kids? Now things get interesting!"
Wow...low score. I didn't know much about this one anyway and didn't see the movie.
Man as a kid I remember reading that story. Oh I'm old.
Haven't seen the movie and am not inclined to play the game either though.
Once again, crappy licensed movie games, FTL
When will studios learn to stop trying to cash in on movies with mediocre games?
I'm at least 7 and 3/4 years away from having a 7-year-old son, so this doesn't really appeal to me now. Ask me then. I'll probably forget and just wonder what the hell you're talking about
Even Pixar can't get the medium right. Find your audience people and make a good tie in for once. Do we really want Riddick to hold the hot spot for over 10 years?