Sometimes, a product hits Iconic Gifts Towers and is met with huge excitement. iPieces from family favourite Jumbo Games is one such product.
Turn your iPad into a playing board and get stuck into Snakes and Ladders, Air Hockey, Game of Goose and Fishing.
The idea is simple enough, but when you throw in Apple’s technology with sound and visual effects, the traditional games come to life.
We tried out the fishing game and were more than impressed. I loved the version of this that floated around our childhoods, but the game is revolutionised using the iPad.
The game play is unexpected and addictive. Just as important, it’s very simple to get the hang of, meaning little ones can join in the fun too. Just catch your fish (the most wins) and place them in your ‘bucket’…but watch out for the pesky heron!
Major selling points for these games include no more missing pieces, a perfect travel accessory for kids and the price. All these games cost £9.99, around the same price as the games in original format, but with much more whistles and bells.
For some time now, this has been the sole use of the iPad. That should give you some idea just how good they are!
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If you haven’t heard about It’s Your story, then I am more than happy to tell you all about them and their newest adventure. Just think of how happy you little one would be to receive a book in which they star! Well, thanks to the ingenious It’s Your Story, this can be made into reality.
Being the first company in the UK to sell photo-personalised books on the web, they have a superb range of 26 books as well as cards, party invites, e-books, e-cards and even a photo-personalised Father Christmas letter. Sounds good, doesn’t it! And now, they have a fantastic E-Book available which will be delivered to your inbox in less than 5 minutes after completion of your order! And it couldn’t be easier to do!
There are two stories available, the very popular SuperSox and an Animated Snowman story. I have actually seen both of these in the book style, with my own children being the star’s of the book! The stories are absolutely fantastic. But now with computers becoming increasingly in use with the younger generation, the version of the E-Story is a splendid idea.
Let me tell you a little about SuperSox and the vanishing teddies. The story follows the child’s adventures as they track down the evil Professor and Noxious Weed who have stolen the children’s teddies. You will be able to see how SuperSox squeezes through keyholes, blasts through walls and flies through the sky to rescue the teddies. It’s a fun story which will guarantee a lot of giggles!
Once you have placed your order you will receive an email with a link to view the e-story as many times as you want. This can be forwarded to friends and family so they can see your superhero in action!
All you have to do is give details of the child’s surname, address, family members, names of two friends, age, hair and eye colour, favourite TV programme, weight, height, size of feet and the name for the teddy bear that will also features in the story. Simply pay the small fee of £4.99, and you will have your story completed and delivered in 5 minutes. You have got to love this one!
Check out http://www.itsyourstory.co.uk for ordering details.
Posted by Paul Handley on Mon 12th December 2011 at 01:23 PM, Filed in Computer Games
All the fun of a pet, but without the hair or poo….!
In short, Sims 3 Pets, the new release from Electronic Arts is addictive fun, but the game is much more than that.
To start with, players with Kinect can take control of their pets and Sims by voice commands, telling your Sim dog to sit is very rewarding – and also very funny when your real life version does the same!
There are over 100 breeds of dog and cat and these can be customised. The possibilities are endless. You can also determine your pets character with different traits - intelligent, friendly, proud or playful, adventurous and aggressive.
Once you have created your perfect Sims pet, you can immerse yourself in the Sims world.
You can now use your pet to explore towns seeking out treasures or you can just be the single chap in the park, using your cute pet to pick up ladies!
It is the endless possibilities of this game which will appeal. Just how long you spend in the Sim world cannot be measured. Just creating the pet is an enjoyable and lengthy experience.
With the added bonus of actually being able to control your pet on screen gives this game another dimension.
This is a great Sims release, perfect for Christmas. True to the saying ‘a dog is for life not just Christmas’, Sims 3 Pets will be played with and loved long after the festive period is over.
Best Sims release yet?
Posted by Paul Handley on Mon 12th December 2011 at 06:38 AM, Filed in Computer Games
Are you ready for some Wii fun this Christmas? Get Up And Dance lets party for Nintendo Wii is a fun dance party game that anyone can play.
Maybe not the only dance game for the Wii, but Get Up And Dance features the actual music videos of the artist, making you feel more part of the action.
The tracklist is pretty good too, with something for everyone including Katy Perry, Timbaland, Taio Cruz, Jessie J, Nicole Sherzinger, Girls Aloud, LMFAO, Cheryl Cole and many more.
For Dad, there’s Elton John’s ‘Saturday Night..’ and for Mum Dusty Springfield’s ‘I Only Want To Be With You’.
The Unique group mode is where this all comes together. Up to 4 players can dance together in your own dance group. Choose from lead or backing dancer each with their own choreographed routines for the ultimate dance group experience. Dance together and be scored on your groups dancing ability rather than individually scored.
So for any really bad dancers out there, this is where you need to be! Let your group carry you through the stages.
With the excess of Xmas, you might be keen on the Shape Up mode with fitness planner and unique choreographies specifically created for the shape up mode for increased cardio workouts targeting specific muscle groups. Shape up mode gives you the complete workout whilst feeling like you are just dancing and having fun.
This game is a lot of fun, and pulls together family. It has legs, and after playing the game all yesterday afternoon, the same cannot be said about me…but I had a lot of fun in the process!
Another bonus? Amazon are selling this for just £13.99 right now!
If you are looking to buy a good 3DS game for Christmas, Horrid Henry is ideal for young kids.
Young gamers will probably already be a fan of Horrid Henry from the TV cartoon. My boys go into some kind of dream like trance when they watch it….It’s great, I get things done!
Chief mischief maker Horrid Henry is wrongly accused of losing his brother’s rabbit and it’s up to you to restore Henry’s good name. What follows is a platform game filled with fun and simple gameplay – all set in a 3D world.
The gameplay is simple, but when you consider the target market, this is an essential. Kids will immerse themselves into the 3D world that works reasonably well in this 3DS game.
Fans of Horrid Henry will delight in using the goo shooter over three different worlds. Lovely Land which is based on Horrid Henry’s brother, Peter’s imagination and where the enemies include happy hippos and carrots, the Pirate Mangrove, which is a swamp level and the final world, Darius Drek’s Fortress.
Each world has an end of level boss to conquer and the gameplay here does get a little tougher, but kids like a challenge.
The voices in the game are straight from the cartoon and the visuals are spot on. This is a well thought out platform game with enough of a challenge for the gamers it is aimed at.
A great 3DS release for kids, absolutely perfect for Christmas. Available at Amazon and all other game retailers.
