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You might be asking yourself — why am I reading a Bob The Builder press release on WiiBlog?
There’s a couple of reasons. First, is that I gave out a giggle reading their humorous jab at Obama’s campaign slogan. Second, I was intrigued by the co-op play that they mention in their press release. When it comes to children and video games, it’s vital that parents become part of the equation. Whenever the topic of conversation comes up concerning children and the games they play I always bring up a story from my past.
When I worked in the video game department at Best Buy, I had a parent ask me a question that has always puzzled me…
Is Grand Theft Auto alright for my 8 year old to play?
I was floored. She knew nothing about the game that apparently her husband suggested as a purchase for their 8 year old son. Which is why I’ve always said that in order to combat video game related problems with our children it starts with informing the parents. How do we go about doing that? Getting them involved with the games themselves. Which is why this press release of Bob The Builder really caught my attention.
There’s a way to play the game that allows parents to play alongside their children. Where a parent can steer, and the child can perform the more simple actions associated with the game. I have no idea how the quality of the game will turn out, but the addition of this feature alone has me pleased. If I had kids, I’d probably pick it up.
CAN Wii PLAY IT? YES Wii CAN!
Bob the Builder Comes to Nintendo Wii
Blast Entertainment Ltd, part of the Mastertronic Group, today announced the launch of Bob the Builder Festival of Fun for Nintendo Wii. Following the success of the PlayStation 2 and Nintendo DS Bob the Builder titles, this original game for Nintendo Wii, featuring the enormously popular Bob the Builder, has launched in the UK and European market.
Bob the Builder Festival of Fun Wii is a truly collaborative game for parents to play together with their children, so even very young children with limited coordination can play, with the child using the Wii Remote to control the action movement and the older player assisting by using their own Wii Remote to guide and steer. It really does enable young children to control the gameplay themselves and with help from their parents they can share and complete tasks together cooperatively.
Bob the Builder, currently airing on BBC2, Cbeebies and Nick Jr, is the number three pre-school boys brand in the UK* and is recognised as the most-loved character for children aged 0-4 in the UK**. Bob the Builder has enjoyed 10 years of success with 2009 marking his 10th anniversary, with a UK single release planned for summer 09 and the return of Bob the Builder LIVE global theatre tour this Autumn. Bob the Builder Magazine remains a Top Ten UK preschool children’s magazine and the official website receives on average 20 million hits per month globally, and nearly 1 million Bob books were sold in the UK during 2008, with 30 new titles to come from Egmont in 2009.
In Bob the Builder Festival of Fun Wii the player enjoys a vast array of fun and diverse story-based challenges and can tackle tasks with up to three friends or family members in numerous exciting multiplayer modes, enabling them to play competitively or play collaboratively to get the job done.
The game makes full use of the unique Wii technology to control the gameplay, using the Wii Remote as a hammer, a pick axe and spade, to pick up rubbish, blow the leaves, mix the cement or even spin pizzas to help the Bob the Builder characters put on a grand festival for the town. After all their hard work, they can grab the Wii Remote and follow the on-screen cues to enjoy a fabulous sing-along with Bob the Builder himself!
Kirsty Payne, Mastertronic’s Marketing Manager commented: “Bob the Builder: Festival of Fun Wii is a fun and colourful gaming experience for children and parents that reflects the spirit of the TV series and incorporates a great balance of fun and learning with all their favourite characters, engaging tasks and diverse challenges.”
“Bob the Builder Wii is different insofar as it’s a truly collaborative game for parents and children to play together, so even very young children who can’t quite co-ordinate the controller can play with a parent or older sibling with one player steering the truck while the other player controls the digging. It means that children can do it for themselves rather than get frustrated that they’re being helped with the controller. This isn’t a ‘babysitting’ game, it’s for parents and children to play together, sharing the tasks and controlling the play cooperatively. It’s a must for parents and Bob the Builder fans!”
