EA Playground

Last updated
EA Playground
EA Playground.jpg
Developer(s) EA Canada
Publisher(s) Electronic Arts
Platform(s) Nintendo DS, Wii
Release
  • NA: October 23, 2007
  • EU: November 2, 2007
  • AU: November 8, 2007
Genre(s) Sports game
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

EA Playground is a video game for the Nintendo DS and Wii by Electronic Arts. The game is inspired by Wii Sports . [1]

Contents

Gameplay

The Wii game features various mini-games structured around a singleplayer "campaign" and a multiplayer party mode. All of the mini-games are based on well known playground games. [2] These include Dodgeball, Tetherball, Slot car racing, paper airplane racing, dart shootout and wall ball. Also included is "Kicks", which is a mix of the sports Soccer and Volleyball (Sepak takraw). More games can be unlocked by progressing through the single player campaign.

The Nintendo DS version of the game includes several exclusive game modes including Spitballs (which uses the microphone input), Bug Hunt, and Skateboarding which takes advantage of the stylus. Again, the games are unlocked by going through the Single Player Campaign. These games can then be played in the Quick Play mode.

After you complete all the games and dares, you can play the (Gauntlet) a game made by the sticker king, Connor. After you beat him, you unlock the sticker king's sticker showing the player's winning emotion. This emotion can also seen by winning a tourney in multiplayer. (Only Wii version) you can also unlock the sticker king in multi player.

Included games and version differences

Games included in EA Playground
TitleWiiNDSGame description
Dart ShootoutYesNoGoal: to shoot the targets with sad/mad faces on them to earn points(not the happy faces; those subtract points), shoot people to also earn points, and beat the level boss.
DodgeballYesYesWii: Goal: to get all the players on your opponent's team out by hitting them with balls.
NDS: Using the stylus, you control 3 players on the bottom screen in a game of Dodgeball against AI opponents on the top screen.
KicksYesYesWii: This game is a mix of soccer and volleyball. You have to kick the ball over the net and into the opponent's goal.
NDS: Soccer-inspired game against an AI opponent.
Paper Racers [3] YesNoGoal: to steer a plane through obstacles to the finish line getting power-ups like speed boosts extra time, and sometimes red, green, and blue rings.
Slot Car RacingYesNoGoal: to get to the finish line in first place.
TetherballYesNoGoal: to smack the ball around the pole so that your opponent can't hit it back while your opponent tries to do the same thing.
Wall BallYesNoGoal: to hit the ball against the wall through power-ups (for example, warp holes) so that it goes past your opponent. If you do this, you score a point.
Bug HuntYesYesMoving the player with the stylus, collect butterflies and avoid stinging bees for as long as possible.
HopscotchNoYesRhythm game where you must reproduce patterns on the court.
HoopsYesYesPick up balls and throw them in the basket, using score multiplier zones to score higher than your AI opponent.
RC Car RacingYesYesTop-down racing against 3 AI players. Pickup weapons and turbos on the track.
Skate & SketchNoYesJoin the dots with the stylus to perform tricks on the half-pipe. Increasingly complex shapes must be drawn faster as the game progresses.
Spit BallsNoYesBlow into the microphone (or use the trigger buttons) to fire spit balls at kids in the playground.
TrampolineNoYesBounce higher than your opponent while avoiding birds and bursting balloons.

Reception

The game received mixed reviews, with the DS version getting slightly better reviews. For the Wii version, IGN gave the game a 6.6/10 rating, saying that it was a passable effort to emulate Wii Sports, praising the marble and stickers system to upgrade abilities along with its presentation, but criticizing the game for its lack of a mini-game as fun or addictive as the Wii Sports ones were. [4] They also gave the DS version a 7.0/10, stating that it was slightly better than the Wii version and that it would appeal better to younger gamers due to it being on the DS. [5]

Related Research Articles

Mario Kart is a series of kart racing games and a spin-off Mario franchise developed and published by Nintendo. Players compete in go-kart races while using various power-up items. It features characters and courses mostly from the Mario series as well as other gaming franchises such as The Legend of Zelda, Animal Crossing, F-Zero, and Splatoon.

<i>Mario Party</i> Party video game series published by Nintendo

Mario Party is a party video game series featuring characters from the Mario franchise in which up to four local players or computer-controlled characters compete in a board game interspersed with minigames. The games are currently developed by NDcube and published by Nintendo, being previously developed by Hudson Soft. The series is known for its party game elements, including the often unpredictable multiplayer modes that allow play with up to four, and sometimes eight, human players or CPUs.

<i>Mario Kart DS</i> 2005 video game

Mario Kart DS is a 2005 kart racing video game developed by Nintendo EAD Group No. 1 and published by Nintendo. It was released for the Nintendo DS handheld game console in November 2005 in North America, Europe, and Australia, and on December 8, 2005, in Japan. The game was re-released for the Wii U's Virtual Console in North America and PAL regions in April 2015 and in Japan in May 2016.

<i>Tony Hawks Downhill Jam</i> 2006 video game

Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam is a skateboarding video game in the Tony Hawk's series. The game, named after the level "Downhill Jam" from Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, was published by Activision in 2006 as a timed Nintendo exclusive for the Nintendo DS, Game Boy Advance, and Wii. In 2007, it was published for the PlayStation 2. It is a spin-off in which accompanies the release of Tony Hawk's Project 8, which is conversely available on non-Nintendo systems.

<i>Need for Speed: Carbon</i> 2006 racing video game

Need for Speed: Carbon is a 2006 racing video game and the tenth installment in the Need for Speed series. Developed by EA Black Box, Rovio Mobile and published by Electronic Arts, it was released on October 31, 2006, for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox, Xbox 360, GameCube, Windows, and Mac OS X, and on November 19, 2006 as a launch title for the Wii and in 2008 for arcade cabinets. The game sees players conducting illegal street races within the fictional city of Palmont City, with the game's main story taking place after the events of Need for Speed: Most Wanted and focusing on the player's character taking control of the city from various street-racing gangs. While the gameplay is similar to its predecessor, Carbon introduced a number of new features, including crews and racing wingmen, Touge-styled racing events, and greater customization options.

<i>Bionicle Heroes</i> 2006 video game

Bionicle Heroes is a 2006 multi-platform video game published by Eidos Interactive and TT Games Publishing and based on Lego's Bionicle line of constructible action figures. The game was released in November 2006 on PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, Nintendo GameCube, Microsoft Windows, Game Boy Advance, and Nintendo DS; a Nintendo Wii version was later released in April 2007. The home console and PC versions were developed by Traveller's Tales, while Amaze Entertainment developed the handheld versions. A version of the game for mobile phones, developed by Universomo, was also released. The home console and PC versions of the game are third-person shooters, while the Game Boy Advance version is a run 'n' gun shoot 'em up and the Nintendo DS version is a first-person shooter. The story of Bionicle Heroes, where the player seeks to liberate the island of Voya Nui and its inhabitants from the villainous Piraka, is not canon to the official Bionicle story.

<i>Madden NFL 08</i> 2007 American football video game

Madden NFL 08 is a 2007 American football video game based on the National Football League that was published by EA Sports and developed by EA Tiburon. It is the 19th installment in the Madden NFL video game franchise. It features Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young on the cover; San Diego Chargers defensive end Luis Castillo was the cover athlete for the Spanish-language version. This was the first Madden game made for 11 different platforms, it was released on August 14, 2007, for Xbox 360, Wii, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, Nintendo DS, PlayStation Portable, Xbox, GameCube and Microsoft Windows. There was also a version for Mac released on September 1, 2007. This was the last version of Madden to be released for Microsoft Windows until Madden NFL 19, and the last video game for the GameCube produced and released in North America.

<i>Boogie</i> (video game) 2008 video game by EA

Boogie is a music video game developed by Electronic Arts for the Wii, PlayStation 2 and Nintendo DS. Being touted as a party-game, it enables players to create their character, then use the Wii Remote and a microphone to sing and dance through it. Each song within the game can be performed either as a karaoke or as a dancing game. The game is based around an alien theme. It was one of the first games released in Brazil for the Wii. Although anticipation was high for the game, it received mixed reviews.

<i>Geometry Wars: Galaxies</i> 2007 video game

Geometry Wars: Galaxies is a multidirectional shooter video game developed by Bizarre Creations and Kuju Entertainment, and published by Vivendi Games for the Wii and Nintendo DS in 2007. As the first Geometry Wars game to be released on non-Microsoft platforms, Galaxies is a spin-off of Geometry Wars, which was originally included as a bonus game within Project Gotham Racing 2 on Microsoft's Xbox console. This updated version includes a single-player campaign mode, several multiplayer modes, Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved, and support for online leaderboards. The Wii version supports widescreen and 480p progressive scan display.

<i>Mario Kart Wii</i> 2008 video game

Mario Kart Wii is a kart racing game developed and published by Nintendo for the Wii. It is the sixth installment in the Mario Kart series, and was released in April 2008. Like its previous installments, Mario Kart Wii incorporates playable characters from the Mario series, who participate in races on 32 different race tracks using specialized items to hinder opponents or gain advantages. The game features multiple single-player and multiplayer game modes including two to four person split screen. Online multiplayer was supported until the discontinuation of Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection in May 2014. Mario Kart Wii uses the Wii Remote's motion-controls to provide intuitive and conventional steering controls. Each copy of the game was bundled with the Wii Wheel accessory to augment this feature and mimic a steering wheel.

<i>Sega Superstars Tennis</i> 2008 sports video game

Sega Superstars Tennis is a sports video game developed by Sumo Digital and published by Sega. It is the second title in the Sega All-Stars series, preceded by Sega Superstars (2005), and crosses over characters, locations, and soundtracks from several Sega franchises, including Sonic the Hedgehog, Space Channel 5, and Super Monkey Ball.

<i>Skate It</i> 2008 video game

Skate It is a skateboarding video game developed by EA Montreal, Exient Entertainment and EA Black Box for the Nintendo DS, Wii, and iOS. The game is a spin-off of 2007's Skate and was released in 2008.

<i>Need for Speed: Undercover</i> 2008 racing video game

Need for Speed: Undercover is a 2008 racing video game, and is the twelfth installment in the Need for Speed series. Developed by EA Black Box and published by Electronic Arts, it was released on November 18, 2008, for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS, and a number of mobile phone platforms. An edition of the game for iOS was later released on April 27, 2009. The game sees players conducting illegal street races within the fictional Tri-City Area, with the main mode's story focused on the player operating as an undercover police officer to investigate links between a criminal syndicate, stolen cars, and street racers.

<i>Need for Speed: Nitro</i> 2009 video game

Need for Speed: Nitro is a racing video game and the fourteenth title of the Need for Speed series. It was published by Electronic Arts for the Wii and Nintendo DS platforms. It is also one of only two games in the franchise to date to not be made for PC and the only game of the franchise to be released only for Nintendo consoles. It was announced in January as part of a three-game announcement that includes Need for Speed: Shift and Need for Speed: World. The game was developed by EA Montreal who have previous experience with Nintendo titles, although the DS version was developed separately by Firebrand Games' Florida studio. An improved version of the DS edition of the game, Need for Speed: Nitro-X, was released for DSiWare on November 26, 2010.

A number of adventure/rhythm video games based on the Disney Channel show Hannah Montana and the film have been released. All the games were published by Buena Vista Games / Disney Interactive Studios.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fun4All</span> 2009 Activision brand of video games

Fun4All is a brand made by Activision for their line of family-friendly video games for the Wii. The brand launched in Europe on February 13, 2009 and is exclusive to PAL territories. Activision planned to launch a similar brand in North America called "Wee 1st", but decided later to name it "Designed Exclusively for Wii". There are currently six titles that are a part of the Fun4All-brand.

<i>Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games</i> 2011 video game

Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games is a 2011 crossover sports and party game developed by Sega Japan. It was published by Nintendo in Japan and Korea and by Sega elsewhere. As the third instalment in the Mario & Sonic series, it was released on the Wii on 15 November 2011 in North America, 18 November 2011 in Europe, and 26 December 2011 in Japan. It was also released for the Nintendo 3DS in February 2012. Mario & Sonic is the official video game of the 2012 Summer Olympics and is licensed by the International Olympic Committee through exclusive licensee International Sports Multimedia. The game is the only Wii title to come in a yellow keep case.

<i>101-in-1 Explosive Megamix</i> 2008 video game

101-in-1 Explosive Megamix is a video game developed by Nordcurrent and published by Atlus for the Nintendo DS. It was released in Europe on November 28, 2008 and features 10 hours' worth of 101 minigames. A version for the WiiWare service was released on September 22, 2011 in Europe and on October 13 in North America.

<i>Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed</i> 2012 video game

Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed is a kart racing video game developed by Sumo Digital and published by Sega. It was released for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Wii U in November 2012, for PlayStation Vita in December 2012, for Windows in January 2013, for Nintendo 3DS in February 2013, and for Android and iOS devices in January 2014. The PS3 and Wii U versions of the game were released in Japan on May 15, 2014.

Fast is a series of racing video games developed by German game developer Shin'en Multimedia. Released exclusively for Nintendo platforms, the series consists of three games, all following the same racing and phase-shifting formula, Fast Racing League, Fast Racing Neo, and Fast RMX.

References

  1. "Exclusive: EA Playground". IGN Entertainment Games. IGN. Archived from the original on May 13, 2007. Retrieved 29 June 2011.
  2. IGN Exclusive: EA Playground
  3. EA Playground Wii back cover at mobygames.com
  4. "EA Playground Review". IGN . 2007-10-25. Archived from the original on 2022-05-17.
  5. "EA Playground Review". IGN . 2007-10-26. Archived from the original on 2012-02-25.