Moshi Monsters Moshlings Theme Park for DS and 3DS (Holiday Gift Guide 2012)

The newest Moshi Monster game for Nintendo DS is here in time for the holidays. 

“Based on the worldwide phenomenon Moshi Monsters™, and building on the ever-growing popularity of the Moshlings characters, Moshi Monsters™: Moshlings™ Theme Park takes fans on an exciting journey into a new Moshi universe. The game invites players to explore wondrous locations as they work to rebuild the legendary Moshlings Theme Park.”  - press release

Website and DS Game are Interconnected

Unlike many games, the DS game and online site MoshiMonsters.com are interconnected. You can find secret codes online that unlock special content on Nintendo DS or 3DS and you can unlock content on the website by achieving high scores in the DS game.

Nintendo 3DS Features New 3D Technology

For the first time ever, those playing with Nintendo 3DS can interact with other 3DS players using StreetPass™.  This technology brings a whole new dimension to the game.

Moshi Monsters: Moshlings Theme Park Features

• Furnando, a brand-new Moshling Character
• Comes with a free week-long membership to MoshiMonsters.com
• Redeemable code to interact with your new Moshling on the Moshi website.

Moshi Monsters Are New to Us

Moshi Monsters are quite popular with kids 6+ but my children who are five and six have not met with them yet.  However they love similar games where you have pets or babies that you care for and play games with so I know it will be a hit.

MoshiMonsters.com

“Moshi Monsters™ is an interactive social online world for kids aged 6-12 years, combining adoptable virtual pet monsters with online gameplay. With engaging puzzles, stories, and exciting missions, the Moshi Monsters™ world is an ever-growing success story with books, magazines and toys to name just a few of the available monster offerings.”

Where to Buy

Moshi Monsters: Moshlings Theme Park is available at most places that videogames are sold. Recommended Retail Price: DS $29.99 3DS $29.99

*Disclosure: I received the product mentioned above free of charge by the company or PR representative for evaluation purposes. No other compensation was provided. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Cognition: An Erica Reed Thriller Game for PC

Back when the only game systems were Atari and Nintendo (the first one), I used to play games on my computer. From puzzle games to arcade type games to mysteries, I loved them. Recently I’ve mostly played the Sims and occasionally Plants vs. Zombies on my computer so I was intrigued to hear about a thriller game for my computer.

Murder, Mysteries and Cognition

Cognition: An Erica Reed Thriller is a mystery following Erica Reed, Boston-based FBI agent, haunted by the unsolved case of a serial killer who took her brother’s life. Using her post-cognition abilities (seeing an object’s past with a touch of her hand) players figure out a complicated cast of characters, plots and puzzles over four episodes.

The first thing that struck me was the graphics. At the beginning, it looks like a comic, the images are still and there are captions. Then when we are able to actually play, the graphics are hand drawn but with incredible detail and actually a welcome rest from the computer generated games that are so common today.

As you can see, the comic book type captions appear later in the game too.

The game is setup so it’s pretty easy to follow but there are some challenging parts, you have to use your head. If you do get stuck though, you have a cell phone in the game and you can text your dad for hints. I like how the hints really were hints,  not just directly telling you the answer.

Choices, Puzzles, Characters

Do you remember those Choose Your Own Adventure books? The game reminded me of these a bit as in some spots of the game, what you choose to do will affect the outcome of the game. If you are a puzzle lover, this game doesn’t skimp. I love the mixture of action, mystery and puzzles.

The characters voices fit with their image and seem natural choices. After just the intro and first few minutes of episode one, I felt like I knew Erica and could tell how she was feeling. Being intense and suspenseful, and playing by myself at night with no one around, I was reeled in like I usually am with books.

On Development

It’s not surprising that the game looks like a comic at times. Comics artist Romano Molenaar (Batman, Witchblade, Tomb Raider, X-Men) acted as Art Director and adventure game designer Jane Jensen (Gabriel Knight, Gray Matter, and the upcoming Moebius) lent her expertise as Story Consultant.

Episode One Trailer

WARNING – not safe for children's eyes!!

Game Info:

Developer: Phoenix Online Studios
Publisher: Reverb Publishing
Genre: Murder-Mystery, Point-And-Click Adventure
Platforms: PC Digital
Rating: N/A (language, violence)
Price: $9.99/episode or $29.99 for Season Pass (all 4 episodes)
Launch Date: October 30, 2012

*Disclosure: I received the product(s) mentioned above free of charge by the company or PR representative for evaluation purposes. No other compensation was provided. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

REVIEW: Jump Start Get Moving Family Fitness Wii Game

The Wii is awesome for fitness games I think and so we own a few fitness types games. Some are designed for adults, some are designed for kids.

Get Moving Family Fitness from JumpStart is designed for the whole family although my kids enjoyed it more than me.
The game can be used with up to two Wii remotes and some of the games require the nunchuk. Only one game required the Wii fit board so you could get the game even if you don’t have one and just not play that game (which was so hard I GAVE UP.)

If your child’s type of fitness is sports, he or she will like this game.
The game is hosted by Brooke Burke, cohost of Dancing With the Stars.

What You Can Play

• Basketball
• Boxing
• Racing
• Football
• Balance
• Baseball
• Volleyball

There are a few different games in each section. For example, in Basketball there are two different kinds of basketball games. In balance there are two balance games and only one uses the board. It’s a step one and it’s SO much harder than the Wii Fit Plus one, I can’t even do it! I think there should be different levels for that one.

The game comes with a code to get exclusive discounts, wallpapers, incentives, pre-release notices and more at Jump Start.

The Best Part

The best part in my opinion is that you can do all these activities (15 total) in 11 different areas. In other words the background will change to look like you are in a certain spot like in a farm, moon, jungle, in an ancient world and my favourite, underwater (in a glass dome)

Where to Buy + Mobile Apps

You can get the game for only $19.99 at locations in the US and Canada that sell videogames. JumpStart also sells mobile apps that may interest you. There are tons to choose from.


*Disclosure: I received the product(s) mentioned above free of charge by the company or PR representative for evaluation purposes. No other compensation was provided. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

REVIEW: Silverlicious Game for Nintendo DS

If you have a daughter under age 8 you probably know who Pinkalicious is. She is from a book by authors Victoria and Elizabeth Kann. There are subsequent books called Purplicious, Silverlicious and Goldilicious and a whole set of other Pinkalicious books.

Just in time for Easter, Silverlicious the video game is out for Nintendo DS for only $19.99.

Just like in the book, Silverlicious the game has the player being Pinkalicious who has lost her ability to taste anything sweet. To get her sweet tooth back she must have sweet behaviour (kindness, good manners, helping others). Collect costumes and accessories that allow other abilities and unlock rewards such as butterflies, sparkle rides and fireworks. Each level is a new neighbourhood and there are some holiday themed ones like the land of Easter Excitement where you can play along with Edgar the Easter Bunny and his many Easter Chicks.

There are three holiday lands: Valentine’s, Easter and Christmas. Each land has 4 levels named after an aspect of that holiday. For example the Easter Eggcitement Land has:

1. One Teddy Bear
2. Two Flowers
3. Three Chicks
4. Four Eggs

You can find out more about Silverlicious at the Game Mill website.

*Disclosure: I received the product(s) mentioned above free of charge by the company or PR representative for evaluation purposes. No other compensation was provided. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.  

REVIEW/GIVEAWAY: Pop Cap Games (Plants vs. Zombies, Bejeweled 3, Peggle and Bookworm)

I have a new addiction. Plants vs. Zombies. If you have a computer gamer in your life, one of these games would make a great gift this season!

One of the earlier levels

Plants vs. ZombiesI must admit I thought this game sounded silly when I first heard of it but I agreed to try it. Boy am I glad I did, I LOVE it!  You plant the plants in your yard to defend your house against the zombies.  If the zombies get into your house, they eat your brains and the game is over. You start in your front yard with two plants. After each level, you get another plant and another type of zombie will start to come. Each plant does something different. e.g. Peashooter shoots peas, Wallnut acts as a temporary wall against zombies, Chomper eats a zombie whole. After Level 1-9 you progress to Level 2-0 where it's night time and you must use mushrooms such as Puffshroom which shoots a purple puff and hypnoshroom which hypnotizes the zombie and makes it work for you. More suprises await you on furthur levels such as a pool and even the roof! There are mini games and challenges to unlock as well.

Peggle
This is my second favourite of the games. It's a type of strategy game in that you have to decide what to do as each turn affects your future turns. You shoot balls at a bunch of pegs (orange, blue, purple and green.) You must get rid of all the orange ones to complete the level before you run out of balls. The balls bounce off of each peg and you score points as you go. If you hit a purple peg you get a points boost and the green pegs do different things depending on which character you are playing with. You must complete all levels with a character before it introduces a new character. One you've unlocked levels and a character, you can play those levels with any character you want in a sort of practice mode. There are special bonues you can earn such as Long Shot (when you get one orange and then another orange right after that is far away.)

Bejeweled 3

I think most people might be familiar with Bejeweled. You get a block of jewels and you can switch any two that are adjacent to try to get three in a row. If you do, they disappear and the jewels in those rows move down to make room for more. You try to rack up the points and get special combos that are worth more points (such as 4 in a row or 5 in a row or special jewels.)

There is a whole challenge section that I have not tried yet but it looks like fun. Great for hand eye coordination! If you get stuck, try a hint which will flash the ones you can move. Sometimes after staring at the screen for a while your eyes just don't see what's right in front of you!

Bookworm

I've played different versions of this one before. You connect the letters to form words but the must be adjacent to each other and in the order of the words. You can only use each specific letter once. Make longer or rarer words for more points. Also sometimes you are given a specific word to try to make for points. Great for the word game lover.

I haven't gotten that far yet so who knows if something else awaits me in later levels.

GIVEAWAY

2 Winners will receive their choice of Plants vs Zombies, Peggle or Bejeweled 3 for PC or Mac

NOTE: Rafflecopter has changed how it's form works. You can log in via facebook or with your email so you won't have to enter your name and email each time. If you have any problems, let me know via comments or email callista83@cogeco.ca and I'll try to get it figured out.

A copy of the giveaway rules are below and on the rafflecopter form. Entering the giveaway means you have read and agree to the rules.

GIVEAWAY RULES:
One Person Per Household. Open Worldwide 18+. Giveaway open until December 21, 2011 @ 11:59 PM EST. Winner will be sent link to download the game on PC or Mac and will be given the code to make it a full version.  Odds of winning depend on number of valid entries received. Duplicate (accidental or not) entries will be deleted before a winner is picked and winner's entries WILL BE verified. Winner will be selected using rafflecopter's random.org on December 22, 2011 and will be contacted by email. Winner will have 2 days to claim their prize or their prize is forfeit and another winner will be chosen. Contest Void Where Prohibited. This giveaway is not associated, nor sponsored by Facebook. We hereby release Facebook of any liability.

Click Read More if you can't see the widget.

GIVEAWAY: Christmas Kinection (RV: $399.97) #xbox #kinect

Also check out my 12 Days of Gifts Galore Giveaway - $460-480 in prizes total to 2 winners - WW - 12/6 - you get an extra entry for entering this one.

Welcome to Christmas Kinection

coordinated by Tales From the Nursery and Formula Mom

Prize:

• Xbox 360 4GB Kinect Bundle ( Xbox 360 console, Kinect, and Kinect Adventures game) ARV$299.99
• Kinectimals with Bears (game) ARV$49.99
• Dance Central 2 (game) ARV$49.99

Total Value $399.97 (based off ARV/List Prices)

Reader Eligibility: Open to US and Canada; 18+; Limit entries to one per household

When: November 25 through December 6

Participating Bloggers:

Tales From the Nursery
Formula Mom
Di Doodlings
Mom with a dot com
Mama on a Green Mission
Callista's Ramblings
Sometimes U Win...
Just Married with Coupons
A Helicopter Mom
Shopper's Haul
Have Kids Will Coupon
A Pear of Sisters
Savvy Shopper Central
Married to a Geek
Simple Wyrdings
The Ordinary Aunt
Traci66
Moose and Tater
Celebrate Woman Today
Mary's Cup of Tea
The Maven of Social Media™
Passport To Frugal
Mom to Bed by 8
I Heart Giveaways
Pawsitive Living
Me, Him and the Cats
MommyBreakdown


How to Enter:

All entries must be submitted using the Rafflecopter form below. Comments will not count as entries.

First entry is to provide your name and email and which blog you are entering from (You only enter from ONE blog. The form is the same on all blogs and it will NOT increase your chances to enter on more than one. Duplicate entries will not count, but will not disqualify you.) The rest of the entries are optional but the more you do, the more chances you have to win!

*For daily tweet, if the form did not remember you, enter the mandatory with "Daily" or "Tweet" in Extra Info.

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Good luck and be sure to enter my 12 Days of Gifts Galore Giveaway too!