EA, Steven Spielberg reveal Boom Blox for Wii
Wednesday, February 6th, 2008 at 11:20am by Press Release
Chertsey, UK, February 6, 2008 - EA has announced that BOOM BLOX™, the first game developed in collaboration between EA and director and producer Steven Spielberg, is set for a May 2008 release for Nintendo Wii™. This high-energy game features more than 300 levels, a cast of more than thirty wacky characters, and an easy-to-use in-game editor that allows players to express their creativity.
“I am a gamer myself, and I really wanted to create a video game that I could play with my kids,” said Steven Spielberg. “BOOM BLOX features an enormous amount of fun challenges and cool scenarios for your kids to solve or for you to master together.”
Fun for kids and the entire family, BOOM BLOX offers action-packed interactive activities that takes Wii play to a new level of creativity and fun with single player, co-op, and versus gameplay. Players can experience the visceral gameplay - perfectly suited for the Wii’s interactive motion-sensitive controls - through brain-twisting challenges. They can interact with entertaining characters such as the block-laying chickens or baseball-throwing monkeys across four themed environments - Tiki, Medieval, Frontier, and Haunted. Additionally, players can remix any level of the game in Create Mode using props, blocks, or characters that have been unlocked during the game. Players can also virtually build anything they can dream up. Plus, their designs can then be shared with friends or used to challenge others to solve their newly created puzzle via WiiConnect24™.
“We developed BOOM BLOX with endless combinations of gameplay in mind,” explains Louis Castle, executive producer. “With over three hundred levels, built upon a full real-time physics model, your experience can be as easy or difficult as you want it to be - there really is something for everyone to enjoy.”
“My inspiration for this game came while I was playing the Wii for the first time,” added Spielberg. “From the initial concept to what the game is today, it’s always been built around the innovations the Wii brings to playing games. BOOM BLOX plays on the enjoyment of building and knocking down blocks, something that can appeal innately to kids and adults of all ages.”
Developed at EA Los Angeles, BOOM BLOX has not yet been rated by the ESRB and PEGI. For more information or to download artwork, visit http://www.BOOMBLOX.ea.com.
BOOM BLOX is also in production for mobile phones and will be widely available this Spring. The mobile version puts innovative BOOM BLOX gameplay on phones everywhere — delivering engaging, fun, and groundbreaking action. For the first time in a mobile game, players will be able to create custom levels and share them with their friends directly from the phone, enjoying a rich, interactive community experience. For information regarding mobile phone carrier availability, visit http://www.eamobile.com.
February 6th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Looks like it could be fun.
February 6th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
Saw the demo for it a while back and the basic concept seems interesting enough, though I highly doubt those characters will be as endearing or be cared about like they said they were designed to be. They’re certainly no Rabbids.
February 6th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
Sounds fairly good. Physics and custom levels is normally a good combination. i’d really like to see some video though.
February 6th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
I do like physics-based block hijinks, although that might be a holdover from my Lego experiences as a kid.
I’ll reserve further judgment until we get a gameplay trailer
February 6th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
looks like Lego Star Wars for kids that don’t dig Wookies.
But i like playing co-op with my little brother so might be worth a look.
February 6th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Sounds awesome in a Little-Big Planet, G-mod kinda way. Besides the LEGO formula (I’m talking about creative building) never dies were there is creativity there is fun. Still i don’t put much faith in the quality even with Stephen Spielberg plastering his name on it. Not because i think he is a genius but because i doubt he would put his name on anything he wasnt sure would be good…But good might easily be translated into money good instead of ratings good… Looks fun, uncertain about quality.
February 6th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
I’ve seen game play videos on IGN. It looks pretty good
February 6th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
Pass. Another game that adds to the stereotype of the Wii, and I’m not supporting it.
February 6th, 2008 at 11:35 pm
What exactly is the point of this game? It just seems like you’re arranging blocks and then blowing them up for no apparent reason. Wait…maybe that is the point.
February 8th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
One plea to the Infendo crowd: don’t dismiss the game until we actually get to see what it’s like.
Although I know very little about the game, seeing the trailers in action changed the game from a “definite do no want” to a “hmm… it’s got potential” in my books.
Physics-based puzzles, with customizable levels that you can trade with your friends? That’s definitely something with potential - I’m still delighted to play Lolo games after all these years, so good (and flexible) puzzle games definitely have legs. We’ll just have to wait and see if this fits into the good category or not.
It’s also nice to hear that they have apparently worked hard to build a robust physics engine for the game… Wii needs more games that are new developments instead of old ports. The creation of new graphics and physics engines is always good news, and gives other developers a foundation to build new games on later.