For dads tired of the same old board games, the Family Game Night series is worth a try. Earlier editions were video game versions of classics like Mousetrap or Clue, where you moved your game piece around a video board with some extra animations and touches thrown in. Now FAMILY GAME NIGHT 4The Game Show, for Xbox 360 (with Kinect functionalty), PlayStation 3 (with Move functionality), and Nintendo Wii, combines familiar games with more of the functionality possible in a video game.

In FAMILY GAME NIGHT 4 The Game Show, you can experience all the fun and excitement of the popular Hub Network TV show. This time you’re playing with larger-than-life pieces in re-imagined versions of your favorite Hasbro games. CONNECT 4 Basketball is more challenging than ever as you shoot hoops to score and YAHTZEE! Bowling puts a whole new spin on the popular dice game. You’ll also find fun new versions of SCRABBLE Flash, SORRY! Sliders, and BOP-IT Boptagon,and win MONOPOLY Crazy Cash, just like the game show.

Shout out to neighbors in San Jose! To celebrate the launch of the new video game Family Game Night 4: The Game Show, EA and Best Buy are teaming up to present FAMILY GAME DAY! Bring the whole family to the Santana Row Best Buy at 3090 Stevens Creek Boulevard Sunday December 4^th from Noon to 4pm, and play video game versions of your favorite HASBRO games like Connect 4 basketball and Scrabble Flash. Enter to win a fun-filled, family vacation or a new iPad 2 loaded with your favorite FAMILY GAME NIGHT games! For more information go to FACEBOOK.COM/EAPLAY .

GreatDad.com Review Policy: The featured product for this review was provided to us, at no cost, by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the sole purpose of product testing. We do not accept monetary compensation for reviewing or writing about products. We only review products that we have personally tested and used in our own homes, and all opinions expressed are our own.

Nintendo already announced it will roll out the next Wii gaming console at the E3 2011 conference in L.A. this week, and now a reliable source confirms much-rumored details of the new Wii’s unique controller, depicted in the graphic mockup above. [From Nintendo Wii 2 Touchscreen Controller Confirmed [REPORT]]

I was just about to post about a “new Wii to be announced at E3 in LA this week” when this popped up. I can’t say I’m really jazzed about this new controller. We like the Wii because it’s communal and bringing it back down to the controller, like PSP and XBOX means less time watching the same screen. We’ll have to wait and see how it works.

It’s a very vague launch date given that they plan to have a working prototype to show at the E3 Expo in LA in June 2011.

The update, though still a long way off, is none to soon, with the xBox Kinect fast on the Wii’s on the Wii’s heels. Wii still owns the mindshare for interactive, family-friendly games, but Kinect looks like it still has a year before Nintendo can come back with a response.

We love the Wii, and it’s still a hit in our house for games we can play together and for Wii Fit, but technology moves so fast that’s it’s surprising that an update is still so far away, not too mention, apparently after the holiday season.

Nintendo Confirms Wii Successor For 2012

Take Mario Party 8 and remove the tedium of waiting between mini-games and use your own avatar rather than playing as Mario and you have a good idea whatWii Party is all about.It’s big, big collection of mini-games that gives a fun play option for everyone.

We loved it. It’s simple to play. People can move in and out, and games are short enough that no one gets bored.

I count 46 games that can be played with four people, including five that are three against one. Add on another 40 or so two-player games and there are a lot of games to choose from.

There are also five other “House Party Games,” that use the remotes beyond interaction with the screen. In one, for example, a player hides the remotes and it’s up to the other players to find them within a given time based on their sounds. In another, players have to grab the remote making an animal sound corresponding to the one the screen.

We really like that a lot of the games are label on screen and in the instructions book how long they will take. Many are just five minutes, but some take 60 minutes and that’s the kind of info that’s helpful before dad makes a long term commitment.

Pros:

1. Lots and lots of mini-games, most for four players (or fewer).

2. Use your own avatar!

3. Inventive party games using Wii remotes

4. Easy to play lots of games with little waiting between games.

Cons:

Really didn’t see any cons for this game. There are many games to choose from and it’s a good value for the money.

Wii Party is $49 on Amazon.

GreatDad.com Review Policy: The featured product for this review was provided to us, at no cost, by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the sole purpose of product testing. We do not accept monetary compensation for reviewing or writing about products. We only review products that we have personally tested and used in our own homes, and all opinions expressed are our own.

Wii Family Game Night 3 from EA is the ultimate game for city-dwellers who can’t store lots of boxes, or for harried parents who are tired of keeping track of lots of games pieces. Packed into a simple Wii package are Wii versions of old-time family favorites Clue, MouseTrap, The Game of Life, and Yahtzee. Dads who haven’t played these games in 20 years will recognize familiar rules and playing strategies for all of them, except Twister which resembles the down-on-the-floor human tangle in no way whatsoever.

Wii Family Night 3 will also appeal to dads who no longer have the energy to sit upright and roll the dice and move their playing piece along. Dad can lean back in a nice chair and just press the A button to roll the dice. His avatar happily moves the required number of spaces for him.

I may be missing something, but this is the first non-Nintendo game I’ve played I think where our Wii avatars were integrated into the game rather than having us create new characters or use ones already in the game. We all liked that since it was clear who was who in each game we played.

Our kids and I had a fun time with CLUE. I enjoyed reliving old memories of Colonel Mustard in the Library with a Knife. The game does exercise logic through the process of elimination and kept us interested for most of the 20 minute “short game.”   

Mousetrap was fun one time through, mostly to see how Wii would replicate the building experience. The game moved quickly up until the end when, as adults will remember, the finale takes forever as you wait for a player to land inside the “cheese wheel” (and under the cage” while simultaneously another player lands on the crank. At this point, the game went on five minutes too long. Unfortunately, for an adult, with all luck and no skill, loses its magic once you see the “contraption” in action a few times. Luckily, there is a remix that allows variations on this theme.

Twister is not the Twister you remember. It is a version of other “Tap Tap” games that have you hit different buttons on the remote in specified patterns in time with the beat. As it turns out, this is a game that is far easier for younger minds and fingers. After two tries at it, I vowed never to play again.

The other two games are Yahtzee and The Game of Life which are more true to the originals.

We also liked that all the games had a “remix” option with new variations on the original rules, but also allow players to choose a short version of a game so you can have a good play experience without staying up way past bedtime.

Family Game Night 3 has good playing value, especially for younger kids who have the patience to play games with spinners and dice for long periods of time. AFamily Game Night 1 and 2 bundle is available fro $49.00 on Amazon. It includes Wii versions of Connect Four, Battleship, Yahtzee, Boggle, Sorry, Sorry, Sliders, Operation, Jenga, Connect 4×4, Bop-it and Pictureka.

All games are available for up to 4 players, which is what we look for in family games.

Pros:

1. Fun and nostalgic

2. You can throw out all those boxes of games and lost pieces

3. “Remixes” of old games, especially Mousetrap add interest for players and dads curious to see a new spin on an old favorite.

4. Good for up to 4 players.

5. Allows “short game” options for faster game play (ex. In Clue, some possibilities pre-eliminated).

Cons

1. Something is lost without the family looking at each other across a table playing games. We talked and had fun, but I wondered whether something was missing versus a traditional board game.

2. Mini games are pretty lame, but not really needed given the other game play.

Wii Family Game Night 3 is $39.95 at Amazon.

GreatDad.com Review Policy: The featured product for this review was provided to us, at no cost, by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the sole purpose of product testing. We do not accept monetary compensation for reviewing or writing about products. We only review products that we have personally tested and used in our own homes, and all opinions expressed are our own.

We have not tried ANY of the following, but here are new Wii options this fall. Please comment if you’ve tried any. I’d love to see the 007 series, but if it’s anything like the Daniel Craig-as-Bond movies, it will be way too dark and gritty for my kids.

Wii games available this fall and holiday season include:

Disney Epic Mickey for the Wii has amazing graphics and gameplay and allows you to draw and erase elements of the cartoon world known as ‘Wasteland.’

Mickey Mouse is the main character in this game, and he shares the action with memorable and forgotten Disney characters from the past 80 years in a game that has some role-playing elements. The choices that you make as a player – to create or erase – have wide-ranging implications on how the game unfolds.

The game launches Nov. 30. (ESRB Rating: Everyone).

Just Dance^® 2, The sequel to the hit original includes more than 40 new music tracks, plus dance moves choreographed by experts in all types of music.

Just Dance 2 launched on Oct. 12. (ESRB Rating: Everyone 10 and Older)

^{GoldenEye 007™} for Wii is based on the legendary GoldenEye movie. The game stars Daniel Craig’s James Bond and lets you take charge of the gritty action as you try to outwit, outmaneuver and overtake an arms syndicate that threatens the world.

GoldenEye 007 supports classic four-player split-screen modes and up to eight players can play together online. The game launches Nov. 2 and is also available in a special bundle with an ultra-cool gold-colored Classic Controller Pro^™. (ESRB Rating: Teen)

GoldenEye 007, also comes in a Nintendo DS version which offers all of the epic action in both single- and multiplayer modes ( available on Nov. 2)(ESRB Rating: Teen)

Get Moving Family Fitness is a new Wii game from Jumpstart. This series hosted by Brooke Burke starts off a little goofy with her introduction, but the games inside are all fun and games. They can be played by 2 players. They involve components of major sports like passing (basketball and football), setting the ball (volleyball), and running. Be ready for a workout. To compete against your kids, you’ll have to get out of your chair and really move. After 10 minutes, I needed a break and had a little residual soreness from muscles that don’t get used this way very much any more.

Get Moving is rated E for Everyone with Comic Mischief by the ESRB

Get Moving is $27.99 on Amazon.

Pros:

• Really does get dads and kids out of the chair. You have to get up to compete in these games.
• Uses more lifelike motions to create the action. You really have to pump your arms to make players run or shoot.

Cons:

• Goofy intro by Brooke Burke didn’t really add to the kids’ experience. Seems tacked on and just wastes time. Likewise, her avatar.
• Personalization features weak versus many other programs. Avatars lacked a “bald” option, so I did get to have a full head of hair again for the first time in ten years.
• Can only be played by two players at one time.

GreatDad.com Review Policy: Some of the featured products for this review were provided to us, at no cost, by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the sole purpose of product testing. We do not accept monetary compensation for reviewing or writing about products. We only review products that we have personally tested and used in our own homes, and all opinions expressed are our own.

I am a big fan of the Wii. Think of it less as a video game, and more as a family fun center that can replace static board games as an activity the whole family can do, when it’s raining or you just don’t have time for a longer outing.

Now there are more and more Wii games that are good for getting a bit of exercise. Notice, I say a bit of exercise. Like a lot of things, you get what you put in, so don’t expect the console to burn off 500 calories for you. But if you get up and get moving, you can easily burn off as many calories as in a walk at moderate pace. Put more into it, using some of the more programmed exercise routings (ie Wii Fit), and you can really see changes in tone and weight (I’ve lost 5 lbs and have more tone where it counts than I have had in a long time).

Here are five options that can get the kids up and moving their bodies while satisfying their craving for more video gaming:

Wii Fit Plus is an extension of the Wii Fit game introduced a few years ago, and has plenty of fun, creative games to play with your kids, including an obstacle course, tightrope walking and snowball fights. Only 2 can play at a time.

Wii Sports. This is the classic game that comes packaged with the Wii console in some cases. Here, tennis the big winner, but you’ll have to get out of your chair and swing like crazy to get exercise out of it. Many parents figure out right away that you can swing the controller like a fly swatter from a comfortable chair. Yes, that works. But don’t expect to work up a sweat, or rationalize a big appetite.

Raving Rabbids. Uses the Wii Fit balance board to work on coordination of both sides of the body.

We Ski. Again, uses the balance board to develop core strength and body coordination. The user can stand or sit.

Get Moving Family Fitness from Jumpstart. This series hosted by Brooke Burke starts off a little goofy with her introduction, but the games inside are all fun and can be played by 2 players. They involve components of major sports like passing (basketball and football), setting the ball (volleyball), and running. Be ready for a workout. To compete against your kids, you’ll have to get out of your chair and really move. After 10 minutes, I needed a break and had a little residual soreness from muscles that don’t get used this way very much any more.

GreatDad.com Review Policy: Some of the featured products for this review were provided to us, at no cost, by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the sole purpose of product testing. We do not accept monetary compensation for reviewing or writing about products. We only review products that we have personally tested and used in our own homes, and all opinions expressed are our own. In this case, we purchased all of the items listed above, except for Jumpstart’s Get Moving, which was sent to us for possible review.

Family Wii games aren’t a slam-dunk. While the Wii is perfect for family play, too many titles are ported from Playstation or XBox and are really made for single players. Nintendo’s Mario Brothers, however, is a game that has always been available for multiple players (two), and the newSuper Mario Brothers for Wii now allows four players on that the same time. That means dad and two kids can jump, run, swim, and fly in the unique Mario world with familiar characters like Bowser and Luigi. Dads who, almost a generation ago, were experts at the original Mario Brothers, can connect with kids with their own insider knowledge of cheats and tricks.

While the peripatetic action in this game turned mom off, I like it because I can jump in and out of the action (literally and figuratively) and never feel like I have missed a key part of the story. Like a lot of Mario games (think Mario Party 8), some of the “progress” and lots of the “story line” are confusing. In these games, it’s less the destination than the journey unless you have spent enough time in Mario world to understand who these characters are and what they are fighting for or against (evil? coins? getting older?).

Super Mario Brothers is $49.99 at Amazon.

NOTE: We paid for this product with our own hard-earned money, and this product was not sent to us to review.

As a family with both a little kid (5) and an older one (10), we’re always looking for Wii games that we can play together. These tend to be physical games that require no reading. Here’s a title that we tried recently and all enjoyed because it kept us moving with music, if you call pop covers sung by chipmunks “music.”   Alvin, the Squeakquel, for Wii delivers what it promises, a fun music game for kids that older players can enjoy, at least for a while.

Alvin is a classic music rhythm game. Players just use their WiiMotes to match the required rhythm for Alvin and Chipmunks covers of hit songs like “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” and “Funky Town,” — titles dad knows — along with some more recent pop hits. Dads who have priced out the expensive Rock Band paraphenalia will be happy to note that there are no added accessories needed. Alvin for Wii works right out of the box.

Wii games aren’t a slam-dunk for family play. While the Wii is perfect for family play, too many titles are ported from Playstation or XBox and are really only made for single players. Alvin for Wii is one game that is made for multiplayers, not as an add-on feature. While Alvin, The Squeakquel can be played solo, it’s far more fun as a party game or played by dad and two kids (3 players max).

Th kids loved the songs and it was fun watching my kids discover Chipmunk versions of music I could sing along with. “How do you know all the words, Daddy?” they wondered. Because I knew the songs, I also dominated in point totals on almost every song. However, while the kids loved the music and played the songs several times, this game got tiresome quickly for older ears and its novelty value wore away after a few plays. For adults, this game will make a fun family hour, but don’t expect to take it out night after night for more replays.

All in all, if you want to try out a music and rhythm Wii title that will work for little kids, that isn’t too complicated, and that does not require a $300 investment in a Rock Band set, this is an amusing title to start with.

GreatDad.com Review Policy: The featured product for this review was provided to us, at no cost, by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the sole purpose of product testing. We do not accept monetary compensation for reviewing or writing about products. We only review products that we have personally tested and used in our own homes, and all opinions expressed are our own.