Game Party
European box art
Developer(s)FarSight Studios
Publisher(s)Midway Games
Platform(s)Wii
Release
  • NA: November 27, 2007
  • AU: February 14, 2008
  • EU: February 15, 2008
Genre(s)Party game
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Game Party is a video game developed by FarSight Studios and published by Midway Games. Game Party was retailed as a budget title for the Wii. It is 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 Games 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.[citation needed]

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 darts, modern favorites such as air 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.

Sequels

Game Party 2 was announced on April 18, 2008, at Midway's Gamer Day event in Las Vegas. The game was released on October 6, 2008.[1] In Europe and Australia it was known as More Game Party. In their 10-K filing, Midway announced Game Party 3 was developed and released on October 6, 2009.[2]

Reception

Game Party received vehemently negative reviews from critics, some of whom listed it as one of the worst games of all time, with a Metacritic score of 25 out of 100.[3] IGN said that this game started the wave of "shovelware" on the Wii, criticizing the graphics and the mini-games.[4]

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."[5] AceGamez criticized the controls and said that the game is trying to simulate the fun of games like WarioWare: Smooth Moves, unsuccessfully.[6]

Sales

The first Game Party received a "Platinum" sales award from the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA),[7] indicating sales of at least 300,000 copies in the United Kingdom.[8]

On February 12, 2009, Midway Games announced the Game Party series had sold over 3 million units.[9]

References

  1. ^ "Game Party 2 Announced". IGN. April 18, 2008. Archived from the original on April 24, 2008. Retrieved May 18, 2008.
  2. ^ "Midway Announces Game Party 3, Teases Secret Project". That Gaming Site. April 6, 2009. Archived from the original on April 9, 2009. Retrieved April 6, 2009.
  3. ^ "Video Game Reviews, Articles, Trailers and more - Metacritic". Metacritic.
  4. ^ "Game Party Review - Wii Review at IGN". Archived from the original on March 28, 2012. Retrieved November 21, 2009.
  5. ^ "Wii Roundup • Page 5". Eurogamer. March 7, 2008.
  6. ^ "Game Party Nintendo Wii Video Game Review by AceGamez". Archived from the original on July 26, 2009. Retrieved November 21, 2009.
  7. ^ "ELSPA Sales Awards: Platinum". Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association. Archived from the original on May 15, 2009.
  8. ^ Caoili, Eric (November 26, 2008). "ELSPA: Wii Fit, Mario Kart Reach Diamond Status In UK". Gamasutra. Archived from the original on September 18, 2017.
  9. ^ "MIDWAY'S U.S. OPERATIONS FILE FOR CHAPTER 11 REORGANIZATION". February 12, 2009. Retrieved February 22, 2009.
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