We received Victorious Time to Shine for Kinect Xbox 360 and it’s by D3 Publisher one of our favorite video game publishers. Based on Nickelodeon’s hit live action comedy series Victorious, the games allow players to dive into the world of Hollywood Arts High School where they can star in their very own music video or in a big showcase along with Tori Vega and her wild, crazy, artsy friends! Have you seen the show? I haven’t, so if you’re like me I thought I would include the show’s bio:

Chaos is coming to Tori Vega’s life. The 16 year old is starting at a new high school; but not just any school. This is Hollywood Arts, a performing arts school where crazy talented students learn how to become real artists.. Until now, Tori didn’t think she had much talent of her own, and was content to live in the shadow of her older sister, Trina. Now, that’s all about to change… if Tori can see herself in a new light, even a spotlight! But Hollywood Arts is still a high school, and Tori is still the new kid. She’ll have to find new friends, do homework, and just try to fit in. Will Tori grab a starring role in her new life?

Now, Victorious is a video game for all of us to play.

Game Details:

• Take part in crazy adventures with Tori, Beck and all the stars from the show
• Explore Hollywood Arts and find hidden items and unlockables around every corner
• Create and customize your own character with clothes, accessories, locker decorations, and more!
• Exciting and intuitive mini-games using the stylus such as dancing and singing with Tori!

Game Features:

• In Victorious: Time to Shine for the Kinect, players create their own Hollywood Arts performance where they act, play an air instrument, sing, dance and star in a music video featuring hit songs from the series!
• First of its kind, based on the hit live-action comedy series – The video game is based on Nickelodeon’s hit show, Victorious.
• Reach Hollywood Arts stardom – Players will feel as if they are a student at Hollywood Arts High School and the game includes the voices of the Victorious cast, including Victoria Justice, who stars as Tori Vega.
• Be the next superstar while enjoying hours of gameplay – The game is loaded with mini-games, activities, hit songs from the show such as "Freak the Freak Out" and "Beggin’ On Your Knees," and players can even wear the same outfits as Tori Vega and the cast!
• Exciting family-friendly competition – The perfect game for sleepover parties, family gatherings and more, Victorious: Time to Shine offers multiplayer gameplay so friends can either work together or compete to create the best music video ever! Full body motion tracking with the Kinect™ Sensor for both players makes the game even more fun and active for everyone involved!

In Victorious: Time to Shine, exclusively for the Kinect, players can partner up with friends in co-op or competitive gameplay to create a Hollywood Arts talent show where they can act, sing, dance and more, all to the soundtrack of hit songs from the series. Victorious: Hollywood Arts Debut, exclusively for the Nintendo DS, takes players right to the heart of Hollywood Arts High School, where they join Tori and the rest of the Victorious gang on crazy adventures throughout the school year.

Victorious: Time to Shine is developed by High Voltage Software; Victorious: Hollywood Arts Debut is developed by Behaviour Interactive, and both titles are rated “E” (Everyone – Comic Mischief and Mild Violence) by the ESRB. For more information about Victorious: Time to Shine and Victorious: Hollywood Arts Debut, please visit www.d3press.us.

Earlier today I reviewed Twister Mania with a glowing review as a family game, Michael Phelps Push the Limit is MY GAME! I love swimming, it’s my favorite sport. I used to swim so much that I became a lifeguard in college. It was my part time job, I was quite excited to try out Michael Phelps: Push the Limit for Kinect Xbox 360.

Michael Phelps: Push the Limit offers players the chance to compete against each other as well as against one of the most decorated athletes of all time, Michael Phelps. I don’t really know much about Michael Phelps, I just wanted this game so that I could get some exercise pretending to swim. This game is INTENSE. And I have to mention that it’s picky. It’s not easy for the kids or for me because it’s picky about your body position and your location on the screen, it’s not very forgiving and I think Kinect games need to be forgiving, but I still liked this game for me, it’s just not an easy to play as a family game. It’s not easy to compete against each other.

It’s also fun creating your character

You can play in quick matches in the single player or local/online multiplayer against friends or immerse yourself in the challenging and fun Career Mode where they swim their way to the podium through some of the most breathtaking locations across the world, finally facing Michael himself in the final. But it’s a long difficult road to getting there. I knew what I was doing and it took me quite a few times just to get past the first race. Most of the time I didn’t finish fast enough to even qualify. Even though, I really liked playing this game, I think it should have started off a little easier, and yes we were playing on easy mode.

It’s fun hyping up the crowd, achieving the perfect dive from the start which somehow Zoe figured out how to do, swimming at the optimum rhythm, timing the perfect turn, or timing the last gasp reach to the wall, Kinect for Xbox 360 allows the game to accurately replicate those elements in the most fun and accessible way possible, by using simple body and hand gestures.

Michael Phelps: Push the Limit was developed by Blitz Games and published by 505 Games. For more information, including screenshots, movies and gameplay tips, visit www.michaelphelpsgame.com

I received this review as a member of the Game Review Network, no compensation was received

Growing up I always loved playing Twister. It’s such a fun party game to play with lots of friends and I loved the challenge. Thinking about playing this as a family on the Xbox 360 Kinect left me wondering how is that going to work when we merge into one solid shape as we get all twisted up. That’s where the mania came in turning Twister Mania for the Kinect into a smash hit in our house. The interface of the game gets an A+ because it was so easy for our family to use. This game works quite well for little ones and is an easy to play Kinect game.

This interactive digital Twister® experience allows up to eight players to twist into the action with 16 fun, unique ways to play in a TWISTER- inspired environment filled with iconic, colorful flair. We had the most fun playing as teams, we did two teams of two and it worked out fabulously. Most kinect games with the kids drive me crazy because it’s so hard to tell a 3 and 4 year old how to make the kinect work, but for Twister Mania it just worked and it was fun. I really enjoyed playing it.

To Play Twister Mania you use your body as the game piece. It challenges you to twist yourself in thousands of different ways and the quicker the better.

We chose from 3 main game modes:

         Party Play: Twirl the virtual spinner and advance around the Twister® mat with up to four teams of two in Party Play, a metagame that combines all game challenges. Party play was the easiest mode for us as a family. the kids could understand that when the color wheel came up with their color it was their teams turn. So we all jumped in and out of the living room and laughed as everyone tried to do the different objectives in party play.

        Play It All: Try your hand at every game challenge from start to finish in this campaign mode for the overachievers. I think my husband spent hours doing this game mode the other night while I was out having a moms night out. It was so funny to come in and see him making more poses, but I wasn’t just laughing at him, I was happy to see him enjoying a game. We haven’t enjoyed a Kinect game like this since it first came out.
        Quick Play: Jump right in and directly select any of the 16 ways to play and difficulty level for a quick challenge. Is a great way to just get started.

Now within each of the different game modes there are certain activities within each. Here is just a sampling of what you’ll find.  (a total of 16 ways to play)

        Shape Frenzy: Mimic the shape (there are over 1800!) that appears on screen and earn points based on how well you fill its silhouette.
        Twist & Fit: Avoid the wall and fit your silhouette through cutouts coming at you on a moving wall. Score points by passing through a wall without touching a thing; the more wall you hit the lower your score.
        Break It Down: Work your way through a stack of colored blocks by assuming their form. When a shape is removed, the wall above will begin to crumble.
        Spot On: Challenge up to three players (or four teams of two) in a game of contortion H-O-R-S-E. Create a shape and see if your friends can match it.
    Team up with another player for cooperative play or go head-to-head in any game mode. TwisterTM Mania supports up to eight players in turn based pairs.
   

I love how we can all look at the photos at the end of each game session, it’s fun to see who had the best pose, of course, we took actual photos too.

I received this review as a member of the Game Review Network, no compensation was received

Once Upon a Monster is the BEST game we have played so far on Xbox 360 Kinect for Zoe and Miles. They can do all of it by themselves and the game is smart enough to let them leave and come back as they feel like. When you have kids their age they are all over the place game wise. So I LOVE Once Upon A Monster.

I completely agree with Samantha Ryan, Senior Vice President, Production and Development, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. She said, “Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster is a very engaging title, which provides families with young kids a quality experience unlike anything they have seen before”. It’s engaging because the kids want to make Cookie Monster and Elmo do the right thing. See I took a photo of Zoe and Miles trying to imitate the screen.

And they kept trying until they got it. You see, they had to make Cookie Monster and Elmo do that the brown monster was doing, (I already forgot the brown monster’s name.)

Samantha Ryan also said Once Upon A Monster is  “Full of life lessons, like building friendships and overcoming fears, the game combines the values and appeal of the beloved Sesame Street brand with Double Fine Productions’ talent for creating lush and exciting worlds while delivering a fun game that parents can feel good about purchasing.” I would totally buy this game. It’s perfect for them and gets them off the couch and dancing. Check out Miles grooving to some Disco fever music

Once Upon a Monster has six enchanting chapters to explore with multiple activities. They “turn” the page by pulling out. No I take that back, they jump into a chapter by pulling out and they turn the page by swiping. They know how to swipe, as the Xbox 360 dashboard is full of swiping.

As I sorta mentioned above it has drop-in/drop-out co-operative modes that work really well. This game is REALLY REALLY good at it. They can both leave and then the game pauses. When they return it picks them back up. Having played quite a few Kinect games, I really can tell you that this feature hardly ever works as well as it does in Once Upon A Monster.

My favorite feature of this game is that the kids are active. It actually gets them moving.

Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster on Kinect for Xbox 360 is rated “E” and available now at retail stores nationwide at a S.R.P. of $49.99.

We received samples.

All kids seem to find out about Spongebob sooner or later, I mean, my kids may have seen it ONCE but they ask to watch him all the time. Who knew a sponge living under the sea in a pineapple would be so popular, only Nickelodeon right? Well, THQ is getting in some Spongebob action with Spongebob Squigglepants – uDraw.

SpongeBob SquigglePants gives you the iconic SpongeBob SquarePants character in a unique experience utilizing the innovative functionalities that are available only on uDraw from THQ. It is a fast-paced, frenzy entertaining experience that will have you testing your reflexes and agility with:

• Wacky Nanogames – Delivering more than 100 frantic “Nanogames,” SpongeBob SquigglePants challenges players with super swift gameplay that will let them use the uDraw in myriad ways as they draw, tilt, tap, drag, press and flick their way through six zany worlds. 
  “There is really no other game quite like SpongeBob SquigglePants,” said Martin Good, THQ’s Executive Vice President of Kids, Family and Casual Games.  “Discovering what you need to do during a particular Nanogame – in a matter of seconds – is just half the fun, complemented by uDraw’s creative capabilities.  The game is addictively engaging and makes a truly fun pastime for the whole family.”
• NEW! Splashin’ SpongeBob Looks  – Never-before-seen SpongeBob art collections unlocked from the Nickelodeon vault and featured in six zany worlds
  “The uDraw is an incredibly creative device, and we’re really happy to have SpongeBob featured as the very first cartoon character to star in a uDraw title,” said Manuel Torres, Senior Vice President, Global Toys and Video Games for Nickelodeon Consumer Products.  “SpongeBob SquigglePants captures the fun and excitement of SpongeBob and his friends and gives fans a new way to experience the world of Bikini Bottom.”
• Patchy the Pirate LIVE! – President of SpongeBob’s fan club, he serves as a guide for the game in a never-before-seen live action experience adding hilarity and under the sea silliness.
• Endless Creativity – Create, color and draw anything imaginable with custom paints, palettes, stamps and art tools to create a masterpiece worthy of a place in Patchy’s own collection of SpongeBob art, or your own refrigerator!
• SD-Card Support – uDraw capability enables players to save, share and print their artwork

Spongebob Squigglepants Game Features include:

• Tilt, flick, tap and draw through more than 100 Nanogame challenges, frantically timed for laugh-out-loud and fast-paced excitement
• Never-before-seen SpongeBob art collections unlocked from the Nickelodeon vault and featured in six zany worlds
• President of SpongeBob’s fan club, Patchy the Pirate, serves as a guide for the game in a never-before-seen live action experience adding hilarity and under the sea silliness
• Create, color and draw anything imaginable with custom paint, palettes, stamps and art tools fit for Patchy’s own collection of SpongeBob art, or your own refrigerator
• uDraw GameTablet capability enables players to save, share and print their artwork

SpongeBob SquigglePants is rated E for everyone and is available exclusively on uDraw GameTablet for Wii, selling for $29.99. 

Disclosure: Product Information, photos and product provided free of charge by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the writing of this review; however, opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

If you have heard of the latest in artistic fun on the Wii known as the uDraw GameTablet then you may be interested in what games you can play on it. One of those games is Pictionary – uDraw .

Are You Ready for…uDraw Pictionary .

A Whole New Way To Play Pictionary™! Ready? Set? Draw! Welcome to the game of Pictionary – guess words from sketches made by other members of your team. The words can be objects, people, actions, places, animals, or the challenging “difficult”. You don’t have to be an artist to play – all you need is a little imagination and the uDraw GameTablet!

One thing about the Wii is the fact that the accessories are endless. THQ came out with a really family fun addition to the Wii family, it’s called the uDraw Studio – GameTablet . The Game Tablet Bundle includes the uDraw GameTablet, and the game uDraw Studio.

The Udraw GameTablet Product Features include:

• Using an SD card, you can share your masterpieces with friends and family
• Use templates or your own imagination to paint, draw, color and sketch using Udraw Game Tablet
• Tablet is bundled with the uDraw Studio game
• Tablet will be supported with other games including Pictionary and Dood’s Big Adventure available at launch
• Watch how a work of art is created stroke-by-stroke for a true learning experience using the Replay Feature

With these fun key game features in uDraw Studio you’re sure to have hours of fun:

• Painting – Paint or draw using over 9 different media options
• Toolbox – Change colors, brushes, or canvases with your toolbox at the flick of a button
• Coloring Book – Color in the lines or out, choosing from a variety of styles and themes
• Replay – Watch how a work of art is created stroke-by-stroke for a true learning experience
• Gallery – Peruse your latest masterpieces in an easy-to-use, organized manner; or replay and augment your creations
• Save and Share – Using an SD card, you can share your masterpieces with friends and family

I love painting and just haven’t had time to explore my creative skills since I started blogging. I guess it’s a fair trade because I do like to write as well. uDraw gives you the opportunity to find the inner artist with simple and intuitive games. You can create your own masterpieces and share them with your friends and family. From simple doodles to intricate works of art, you can even try your hand at learning how to draw, paint, and color simple shapes with some very basic tools. Try your hand at different painting styles and different artistic concepts like shading, and layering.

Basically the uDraw GameTablet is a wireless sketch tablet with tethered stylus developed by THQ. It builds upon the innovative wireless functionality of the motion-sensing Wii Remote controller by integrating a removable Wii Remote (sold separately) directly into the tablet design. This integration opens up entirely new gameplay and input options by allowing the uDraw GameTablet to track your drawing movements more accurately than you ever thought possible, while still allowing easy access to Wii Remote buttons. This integration also allows the tablet to draw just enough energy to power itself from the Wii Remote, meaning less batteries to change and zero battery drain when the tablet is disconnected and not in use. In addition, added sensors in the tablet make the Wii Remote respond even quicker to the slightest movement, motion, or twist of the wrist, while the interactive pen enables you to intuitively connect with your television and games utilizing pressure and tilt-sensitive technology. The uDraw Studio allows you to paint, draw, sketch and color to your heart’s content utilizing nine different media options, and saving and sharing finished work via the Wii’s SD card memory functionality. This combination can also be used as a teaching tool as users take advantage of Replay Mode to explore creations and art techniques on a stroke-by-stroke basis.

Disclosure: Product Information, photos and product provided free of charge by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the writing of this review; however, opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

Fantastic Pets came out for Xbox 360 for Kinect April 12th and we love it. In Fantastic Pets kids get to create, collect and interact with unlimited varieties of pets. And if you’ve seen the game you have to know that Zoe’s favorite animal is a purple unicorn and Miles loves his orange dragon type creature. Both of the kids picked animals that can fly and were actually able to play the game from set up, to animal training, tutorial to actual play mode.

Fantastic Pets Game features include Creation, or changing your animals features. Zoe was able to make some changes to her purple unicorn and she thought it was the greatest for her purple unicorn to get a bright sparkly blue horn. I think she was proud that she did it all by herself. She’s FOUR! Customization includes changing the skin, colors patterns, wings, horns tails and creation of your own species. We have yet to get that far in the game.

Other Fantastic Pets features hands on interaction with the pets, Zoe had to give her unicorn a bath, brush him and feed him. She quickly learned that horse type creatures do NOT like dog biscuits. There is also an occasional multiplayer option where the kids can work together. A feature we have yet to try is the voice command feature. So far all interaction has been responses to hand commands from the kids, and extreme jumping up and down to pop bubbles. That’s one of their favorite games because the more they move the more bubbles appear for them to pop with their fantastic pet.

There are also 12 mini games that include fetch, pet wash, piñatas bubble dodge, dressage, teaching tricks, grooming and much more. We’ve only begun to tap into the game. One thing that frustrates them is that some of the game is locked, they don’t understand yet that they have to earn jewels to pay for the unlockable new games to play. But we’re getting there, remember Miles and Zoe are ages 3 and 4 and this game is rated E for everyone it’s just that the Kinect can be frustrating for little ones with little patience and attention spans. That said, They LOVE Fantastic Pets

Now, I wanted to take a video of Zoe actually playing the game, but she flat out told me no, and I do have to respect her opinion, plus making a child do something just turns into a disaster and it looks like she’s not enjoying something when she really does love this game. It’s a perfect rainy day active option.

As a mom trying to keep her kids as active as possible I really appreciate Fantastic Pets because it makes them move quickly to achieve different goals with their animals. Some of the kids Kinect games we have don’t require them to actually get very active. So we’re pretty pleased with Fantastic Pets.

Enter to Win:

A Fantastic Pets themed Easter basket filled with prizes including a copy of the Fantastic Pets video game from THQ (available for Kinect on Xbox360), a Webkinz, animal stickers, bracelets, coloring book and other cool prizes. 

To Enter:

Tell me what your favorite animal is

Extra Entries:

Tweet or RT this post and include the link to the post

THQ Fantastic Pets XBOX 360 Kinect Easter Basket #Giveaway @MomStart http://t.co/DPL0oYy

Subscribe to MomStart
Comment on any non-giveaway post
List this giveaway on any giveaway site, dig, stumble, like or share on Facebook (or use any of the share options listed below)
Blog About this Giveaway (10 extra entries, linking to the giveaway)
Follow me on twitter tell me your twitter ID
Follow/Like Mom Start on Facebook
Follow me on Google Friend Connect

This giveaway ends May 9th. All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

Disclosure – A product was provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the writing of this review; however, opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

Starting today I will be asking you all two questions every day for five days. Everyone that participates will have the chance to win 1 of 5 prizes. The prizes are Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! Five Winners each receive Wheel of Fortune Wii, and Jeopardy Wii.

Sony and THQ released Wheel of Fortune, and Jeopardy to the Wii. Both games utilize the Wii Speak™ feature for an enhanced gameplay experience and also feature the voices of the show hosts, Pat Sajak, Vanna White and Alex Trebek.

“We strive to create video games that immerse players into the world of each game,” said Doug Clemmer, Executive Vice President of THQ’s Kids, Family and Casual Games division. “With the introduction of the Wheel of Fortune and JEOPARDY! video games, we will give friends and families a play experience that brings these two iconic game show properties to life in an entirely new and unique way.”

“We’re excited to partner with THQ to bring the Wheel of Fortune and JEOPARDY! properties to new platforms,” said Mark Caplan, Vice President Licensing, Sony Pictures Consumer Products, Inc. “Both video games include features and interactive experiences that will let players feel like true show contestants.”

About the Wheel of Fortune Video Game

Making its high-definition debut, Wheel of Fortune brings the fun and excitement of TV’s No. 1 syndicated game show to life in this re-creation video game for the Wii and Nintendo DS. Voiced by show hosts Pat Sajak and Vanna White, the game will follow the format of the show by putting up to three players at the wheel to solve thousands of word puzzles to win virtual cash prizes. With the show hosts’ avatars cheering contestants on, players can insert their own favorite Mii character to represent them within the game. Contestants can play commercial break mini-games for an enhanced gameplay experience. As players work their way up proving their puzzle solving skills, they can unlock new sets and props, as well as customization options for their Mii character.

About the JEOPARDY! Video Game

For the first time, “America’s Favorite Quiz Show,” ‘JEOPARDY!’, comes to the Wii and Nintendo DS. The video game based on TV’s No. 2 syndicated game show is voiced by host Alex Trebek and comes to life with an authentic show set that includes lights, cameras and a “live” studio audience. Inviting up to three players to compete with each other and represented by their favorite Mii character, participants test their knowledge in Jeopardy!, Double Jeopardy! and Final Jeopardy! rounds by providing responses to the clues provided. The Wii Speak technology can also be utilized to verbally respond to the clues, as well as the handwriting recognition technology on the DS version. Additionally, the Clue Crew will make a cameo in the game to present contestants with visual clues. In addition to the main gameplay, participants can play the commercial break mini-games to unlock new, trendy outfits for their Mii characters. The JEOPARDY! video game includes a comprehensive tracking system that stores the players statistics, such as number of wins and fastest response time.

To Participate:

Fill out the Google form. This is just so that we don’t have the answers in the comments, but feel free to leave a comment saying you entered.

Today’s Questions are:

1. Who is the creator of Jeopardy!?

2. In which year did Alex Trebek make his Jeopardy! debut?

Wheel of Fortune

3. What was the original show title for Wheel of Fortune?

4. In 1992, what did the “Guinness Book of World Records” list Vanna White as?

Don’t forget to come back tomorrow for more chances to win. Giveaway ends December 13th.

Riiflex by powerplay is a great addition to any Wii video game, especially for any of the workout games. Riiflex is a dumbell set that weighs 2 lbs each. One of them is made just the right size for the Wii mote to fit inside. It is a perfect fit and with the sleeve of the Wii mote  it’s actually just a tad bit tight. There is no worrying about the Wiimote falling out of Riiflex.  The riiflex dumbbells interact with the sensor bar with no issues.

I let Miles help me out with this review and he told me that they were a bit heavy but he is only 2. I found them heavy after a while too but I’m quite a bit out of shape. I have no upper body strength. By using weights with any workout you are increasing your activity level and I’m all about that. I’m also very happy that gaming systems are getting people off of their buts and exercising.

Here are a few different angles of the Riiflex dumbbells.

Riiflex dumbbells retail $29.99 for a pair.

Riiflex Features:

• Adds 2lb. of resistance to your Wii workout
• Allows full functionality of Wiimotes
• Compatible with Wii Motion Plus and many aftermarket Wiimotes
• Durable, gym-quality construction
• Try it with Wii Fit Plus, EA Sports Active, Fitness Ultimatum, Golds Gym Cardio, Your Shape, My Fitness Coach, and more!

Why Riiflex over the competition?

• Compatibility: Most competitive products on the market today are not compatible with Wii Motion Plus, the latest motion-sensing attachment to the Wii controllers.

• Durability: Competitive products are made from cheap plastic and filled with sand or concrete for weight. Because they’re manufactured like toys rather than fitness equipment, these products typically crack or break with only moderate use.

• Usability: The most popular designs on the market require cumbersome installation that includes feeding cables through the end of the weight and attaching extra pieces to secure the controllers.

More About Riiflex:

The Riiflex 2lb. dumbbells are ergonomic, gym-quality weights that securely fit your Wii controllers to provide calorie-burning resistance while you play! Molded of tough polycarbonate, with cast-iron weights and a durable soft-touch rubber overmold, these weights won’t slip out of your hand and can withstand the rugged abuse of any household.

For even more information on Riiflex: 

• Join Riiflex on their Facebook Fan Page:
• Follow Riiflex on Twitter

I received the products mentioned above free to me from the company mentioned above to facilitate this review, all opinions are my own.