Fun Park Party/Summer Sports Party

The Wii has seen a variety of less traditional gaming genres flourish, and the console’s expanded casual audience has taken to mini-game compilations particularly strongly.

From the likes of Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Games to the Game Party series, friends and families still seem to love nothing more than a few entertaining distractions – rather than lengthy, deeper gaming sessions.

Ubisoft in particular has fared well with its mini-game offerings, such as its popular annual outings for the Rayman Ravin Rabbids series. And in June 2008 the publisher announced its new Playzone range. Exactly one year later and this property is still going strong with two new titles approaching, starting with Fun Park Party.

“Party games have been very successful on Wii and our Playzone range is definitely a part of this,”
says Ubisoft’s UK brand manager Ombeline Wallon.

“As a new addition to our range, we expect Fun Park Party to follow that trend. The release date enables us to capture children and families while they are on holidays and therefore have more free time to discover and play games.”

PARTY TIME
In Fun Park Party, players experience the fun and thrills of an amusement park. In the adventure mode, they can explore the park and unlock 40 mini-games including bumper boats, skee ball, haunted houses and batting cages.

Throughout the game, players can take part in 200 quests, and can even unlock quantities of items to customise their characters.

And, as with previous Playzone titles, they can enjoy all the games in multiplayer mode to share the fun with family and friends.

The setting of a theme park is perfect for the summer season, with children excited to experience the likes of rollercoasters and assorted sideshows. Fun Park Party should keep them satisfied until the inevitably drab British weather clears up – or their parents are able to drum up the funds to take them to a real one.

The variety of mini-games on offer are sure to keep young gamers and their families entertained in the evenings. But should they tire of the selection on offer, fresh challenges will be available in July when the next title in the range arrives.

“In the summer, we will also release Summer Sports Party, another Playzone title where you experience sports such as archery, bocce ball and basketball,” adds Wallon.

Again, the theme is more than appropriate for the hot summer months, keeping kids active regardless of whether or not they spend time outside. The conventions of the game will also be more than familiar to Wii owners, as sports mini-games have proven to be some of the most popular compilations on the format.
Players will be able enjoy a range of activities, from football to archery, and all in a tropical beach setting.

STROLL IN THE PARK
As appropriate as Fun Park Party and Summer Sports Party are to the current season, the games stand to become a long-tail success, much like their predecessors.

Thanks to the accessible controls, requiring nothing more than a Remote for each player, and simple premise, the latest Playzone games have everything Ubisoft needs to continue the series’ success.

“Our Playzone titles are family-friendly and Fun Park Party is no different: it is set in the fun and unique setting of an amusement park, includes a variety of games for hours of fun and comes at a reasonable price point, which is even more attractive,” says Wallon.

“The game has the potential to be a steady seller all the way up to Christmas as it will not go out of fashion quickly. We are planning very targeted activity online and in-store for launch.

“This will allow us to raise the awareness of the game and of the Playzone range in preparation for more activity pre-Christmas.”