EA poised for family entertainment blitz

by Steven Williamson on 12 February 2008, 13:18

Tags: Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:EA)

Quick Link: HEXUS.net/qalpn

Add to My Vault: x

Fun for all the family -apparently

In a bid to put some life back into the family entertainment genre, Electronic Arts has revealed their line-up of Hasbro games for console, mobile devices and online.

Among the titles available this year will be Littlest Pet Shop and Nerf ‘N-Strike’ for Wii and DS, new Monopoly and Scrabble for multiple platforms, Risk and Trivial Pursuit for mobile phones, and the two downloadable PC titles, Operation and Pictueka.

“EA and Hasbro want to give families new ways to enjoy games; we want give them a new way to come together, connect, spend time and have fun around the TV or online,” said Chip Lange, vice president and general manager of EA’s Hasbro Studio. “Bringing the spirit of these games to life as video games has allowed us to create really unique and creative experiences for families and friends of all ages to enjoy together at home or online.”

Check out the full details from the Hasbro range:

LITTLEST PET SHOP for Wii, DS and PC, scheduled for release during autumn 2008

LITTLEST PET SHOP brings the magic of owning your own pet shop to your home. EA brings the quirkiness and cuteness of the popular Hasbro girl’s brand to life in a new digital world. Players can explore three unique environments as they unlock new pets, playsets, accessories and more.

Players will discover magical moments of delight as they build relationships with their pets. This game is the next must-have addition to fans growing Littlest Pet Show collection. Add to the ultimate Littlest Pet Show collection with three different versions of the Nintendo DS game; each with unique pets.

NERF “N-Strike” for Wii and DS, scheduled to ship autumn 2008

Become the master of mayhem in the first NERF blaster action game. In a world created to be the perfect landscape for NERF pandemonium, players can wreak havoc and perfect their blasting skills or challenge friends to clashes with both single and multi-player game modes. With the brand new custom NERF blaster, players can then take the action outside as their controller transforms to fire actual NERF darts.

EA MOBILE
SCRABBLE for mobile phones, currently available in North America

This exciting update of the classic board game now includes flexible difficulty levels, built-in word list, dynamic animations, scrolling and full-board views. Easy-to-use controls allow for alone play, a challenge with computer in a phone, or enjoy pass‘n’play with a friend. Easily keep track of game scores and statistics. Fun new features appeal to both wordplay fans and casual gamers.

MONOPOLY HERE AND NOW for mobile phones, scheduled for release in March 2008

Monopoly Here and Now, a modern makeover of the world’s most popular board game. Buy and sell destinations around the U.S. as you compete to own it all and win! Unique player icons, sound effects, vivid graphics and easy-to-use, one-button controls deliver all the excitement of the beloved game.

YAHTZEE ADVENTURES for mobile phones, scheduled for release in April 2008

Play the treasured dice game on your phone. Travel the globe, meet new characters and challenge them to a game, roll the colorful dice and be the first to score a YAHTZEE. Enjoy Classic, Duplicate, Rainbow and Battle modes. Pass‘n’play with your friends, or try your hand at a Yahtzee single-player adventure. Dynamic, exciting gameplay, easy controls, automatic scorekeeping deliver terrific mobile entertainment for you, your friends and family.

POGO.COM GAMES
YAHTZEE for online play: scheduled for release during summer 2008

Shake, score and shout YAHTZEE with family and friends online. There are two ways to win in this fun and addictive game from Pogo.com. Compete for the top score on a real-time leader board as you and up to 19 people roll the dice in a series of timed rounds. Show your team spirit as you collaborate with other players to advance your team goal and earn bonuses for scoring YAHTZEE together. Take the YAHTZEE fun online.

MONOPOLY HERE & NOW: WORLD EDITION for online play: scheduled for release during autumn 2008

Risk it all to own it all online. Jet set across the globe and buy and sell property in the most desirable cities in the world. Play alone or wheel and deal with up to three people using one of three sets of rules or make the game more challenging by customizing your own game. The unique player icons, sound effects and graphics deliver all the excitement of the beloved game. Will you be the next the next online billionaire?

TRIVIAL PURSUIT for online play: scheduled for release during autumn 2008

Get your daily dose of trivia fun online. Challenge your daily trivia knowledge with an easy to access, interactive online trivia game. Answer the trivia questions correctly and earn points towards your wedges in pursuit of completing your pie collection by the end of the week. The player with a full pie wins. Not a trivia expert? Take a stab at it; there's something in it for everyone.

OPERATION downloadable game for the PC: scheduled for release during autumn 2008

The medicine is madcap and you are the MD as the ER goes arcade-crazy in OPERATION. Your role: emergency surgeon. Your challenge: diagnose and treat patients by successfully performing operations, each one a mini-game. Resources are limited and the clock is ticking, so you've got to heal 'em up and move 'em out.... Do well, and you earn points and upgrades for your hospital. Do poorly, and you'll face malpractice lawsuits from angry plaintiffs with glowing noses. Either way, OPERATION will have you – and your patients – in stitches.