Game Party
Encyclopedia
Game Party is a video game developed by FarSight Studios
and published by Midway Games
. Game Party was retailed as a budget title
exclusively for the Wii
. It's the first game in the Game Party series. It was released on November 27, 2007, in North America; on February 14, 2008, in Australia; and in Europe on February 15, 2008.
teamed up with FarSight Studios
to create a minigame collection only for the Wii
. So in early 2007 Midway announced its fall lineup for Nintendo
consoles. Later Midway released new information and screenshots. Before the game's release, Midway announced that Game Party was going to be a budget title. The game was released, yet experienced some manufacturing difficulties.
, modern favorites such as table hockey
and hoop shoot
, or participate in multiplayer trivia
contests. More than a half dozen games are available. The player can earn tickets to unlock new minigames, characters, tables, etc.
. The game was released on October 6, 2008. In their 10-K filing, Midway announced Game Party 3 was developed and released on October 6, 2009.
score of 25 out of 100. IGN
said that this game started the wave of "shovelware
" on the Wii, criticizing the graphics and the mini-games.
Many places gave this game a 1 out of 10: Eurogamer
criticized the graphics and the fun factor of the game, saying "The Game Party experience is like going to a party where there's nothing to drink but Tesco Value brandy and there are only four other guests and they're all racist and then your ex turns up and gets off with a Danish supermodel." AceGamez criticized the controls and said that the game is trying to simulate the fun of games like WarioWare: Smooth Moves
, unsuccessfully.
FarSight Studios
FarSight Studios is an American video game developer established in 1988. They are an official licensed developer for all current home and handheld consoles including the Sony PlayStation 3 and Move, PlayStation 2, PSP, and PlayStation Vita; the Microsoft Xbox, Xbox 360, and Kinect; as well as the...
and published by Midway Games
Midway Games
Midway Games, Inc. is an American company that was formerly a major video game publisher. Following a bankruptcy filing in 2009, it is no longer active and is in the process of liquidating all of its assets. Midway's titles included Mortal Kombat, Ms.Pac-Man, Spy Hunter, Tron, Rampage, the...
. Game Party was retailed as a budget title
Casual game
A casual game is a video game targeted at or used by a mass audience of casual gamers. Casual games can have any type of gameplay, and fit in any genre. They are typically distinguished by their simple rules and lack of commitment required in contrast to more complex hardcore games...
exclusively for the Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
. It's the first game in the Game Party series. It was released on November 27, 2007, in North America; on February 14, 2008, in Australia; and in Europe on February 15, 2008.
Development
In 2006, Midway GamesMidway Games
Midway Games, Inc. is an American company that was formerly a major video game publisher. Following a bankruptcy filing in 2009, it is no longer active and is in the process of liquidating all of its assets. Midway's titles included Mortal Kombat, Ms.Pac-Man, Spy Hunter, Tron, Rampage, the...
teamed up with FarSight Studios
FarSight Studios
FarSight Studios is an American video game developer established in 1988. They are an official licensed developer for all current home and handheld consoles including the Sony PlayStation 3 and Move, PlayStation 2, PSP, and PlayStation Vita; the Microsoft Xbox, Xbox 360, and Kinect; as well as the...
to create a minigame collection only for the Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
. So in early 2007 Midway announced its fall lineup for Nintendo
Nintendo
is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
consoles. Later Midway released new information and screenshots. Before the game's release, Midway announced that Game Party was going to be a budget title. The game was released, yet experienced some manufacturing difficulties.
Gameplay
Game Party features a collection of classic skill games from around the world, from American sports venues to European gathering spots. Using the Wii's unique control interface, the player can compete in classic games such as dartsDarts
Darts is a form of throwing game where darts are thrown at a circular target fixed to a wall. Though various boards and games have been used in the past, the term "darts" usually now refers to a standardised game involving a specific board design and set of rules...
, modern favorites such as table hockey
Table hockey
Table hockey can refer to:* Miniature ice hockey games in general, see Table hockey games* The competitive sport organized by the International Table Hockey Federation, see ITHF table hockey* Air hockey...
and hoop shoot
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, or participate in multiplayer trivia
Trivia
The trivia are the three lower Artes Liberales, i.e. grammar, rhetoric and logic. These were the topics of basic education, foundational to the quadrivia of higher education, and hence the material of basic education, of interest only to undergraduates...
contests. More than a half dozen games are available. The player can earn tickets to unlock new minigames, characters, tables, etc.
Sequels
Game Party 2 was announced on April 18, 2008, at Midway's Gamer Day event in Las VegasLas Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
. The game was released on October 6, 2008. In their 10-K filing, Midway announced Game Party 3 was developed and released on October 6, 2009.
Reception
Game Party is considered one of the worst games of all time, with a MetacriticMetacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
score of 25 out of 100. IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
said that this game started the wave of "shovelware
Shovelware
Shovelware is a derogatory computer jargon term that refers to software noted more for the quantity of what is included than for the quality or usefulness...
" on the Wii, criticizing the graphics and the mini-games.
Many places gave this game a 1 out of 10: Eurogamer
Eurogamer
Eurogamer is a Brighton-based website focused on video games news, reviews, previews and interviews. It is operated by Eurogamer Network Ltd., which was formed in 1999 by brothers Rupert and Nick Loman. Eurogamer has grown to become one of the most important European-based websites focused on...
criticized the graphics and the fun factor of the game, saying "The Game Party experience is like going to a party where there's nothing to drink but Tesco Value brandy and there are only four other guests and they're all racist and then your ex turns up and gets off with a Danish supermodel." AceGamez criticized the controls and said that the game is trying to simulate the fun of games like WarioWare: Smooth Moves
WarioWare: Smooth Moves
WarioWare: Smooth Moves, known in Japan as , is a party video game developed by Nintendo SPD and Intelligent Systems. The game was published by Nintendo for its Wii video game system in Japan in December 2006, and in Europe, North America, and Australia in January 2007...
, unsuccessfully.