We are proud to announce our first annual "Game in the New Year" party this year.  Join us for a family friendly New Year's Eve party at our private arcade and events facility in Austin!

Each ticket includes pizza, snacks, sodas, water and other nonalcoholic drinks as well as sparkling cider for a midnight toast! Also included is complete use of our private arcade facility throughout the night. This includes 25+ arcade games, 15+ TVs with video game consoles, skeeball, basketball, foosball, air hockey, ping pong, and more all set to free play!

Throughout the night we will also be hosting Halo 4 and Skeeball tournaments with fun prizes for the winners.

Tickets are just $50 for adults and $35 for children 12 and under. Children 3 and under are free.

Reserve your tickets now by clicking here: http://gameplanentertainment.eventbrite.com/

We take the time at Game Plan Entertainment to customize our space to fit your needs. We cater our games to best fit your crowd. From the old school Atari consoles, Nintendo, and Sega systems, all the way up to the latest Wii U, Xbox 360 with Kinect, and Playstation 3 with Move, we have the games to please any crowd.

Our birthday party packages start at reasonable rates for up to 15 guests. We have several party add-ons, from themed packages, to providing all of the food and drinks, and even party favors. Have a favorite video game? We’ll be sure to have all of your personal favorites up and running for your party.

Companies that want to give their employees a little something special away from the office find our private facility the perfect place to let loose and bring on some friendly competition. Our skeeball lanes, foosball, air hockey, and ping pong games allow people of all ages to have a good time. Let us organize a game contest throughout the evening to encourage team-building. Or dive into the latest casual video game consoles, easy for anyone to pick up and play. Catering may also be brought in from outside sources, or we can help with the food planning to make things easier on you.

We offer a little something for everyone here at Game Plan Entertainment. Whether you are looking to host your bar/bat mitzvah reception, rehearsal dinner, bachelor party, church lock-in, or school fundraiser, we are here to provide the very best in private event entertainment.

It has been more than half a decade since a major new video game system has been introduced. While the Kinect and Playstation Move are much newer, they are really more tweaks to the existing consoles than they are a new system. This adds up to a lot of pent up anticipation regarding what will be in store for us as the new generation is rolled out.

The Wii U will bring with it many upgrades from Nintendo’s current console. Many of which, are little more than playing catch up with other current generation consoles that have since passed them by. However, there are a few features that just might take off and make the Wii U the frontrunner in the industry once more.

Innovative Controller

The centerpiece of the Wii U system is the new GamePad controller. The hardware itself looks to be somewhat of a hybrid between an iPad and a traditional controller. Game developers have already come up with some creative ways to utilize this new extra screen that are sure to result in some fun new games. Since the current generation Wii controllers will also be utilized, games will allow for very different experiences for people playing the same game together.

True HD Content

The Wii U Nintendo will finally join its competitors in the HD age with full 1080p video output. While this is not the most exciting news related to the new system, it is nice to know that the new games will take full advantage of our nice new LED TVs.

Fun Event Games

Wii U Sports

Nintendo wrote the book on this type of game, and now it seems that the most popular casual games for each of the three major players is their version of the original Wii Sports. With the Wii U, it seems that Nintendo is looking to utilize its new accessories to enhance some classic titles and add some new ones to the mix.

SiNG

Music-centered games have always been a staple for many of our past events. Kids love them from the get-go and adults seem to love them even more after a couple drinks. SiNG will offer a more performance oriented game by allowing the singer to read the lyrics off of the Game Pad and sing directly to the crowd in front of the TV. Rather than just listen though, others will be encouraged to dance along using the other Wii remotes.

Game and Wario

Every console needs a great collection of random mini-games. This game appears to provide just that for the new console. From steering a disco skier down a mountain, to taking the best pictures of a series of digital criminals, it’s hard to think of a more random collection of games. However, it looks to be a fun addition that will lend itself well to a party atmosphere.

Even as the number of adult gamers continues to climb, there still exists a certain stigma associated with choosing to spend your free time engaged in a great video game. While I was listening to sports radio the other day in Houston, one of the hosts launched into a tirade against gamers asking “when did it become OK for adults to play video games?” This got me to thinking more about the stigma that still exists against those that choose to continue playing video games after joining the 9 to 5 crowd.

Apparently, many adults that grew up with Pac Man and Donkey Kong never got the memo that once they grew up they were supposed to trade in their controller for a more age-appropriate hobby. This could have something to do with the generations that grew up gaming simply coming to age, or that video games have just evolved to a point where they are much more entertaining than they have been in the past. There are certainly more options available than ever before, so there is likely to be a game out there at any given time that is the perfect fit for a given person.

One of the driving factors in distinguishing a video game hobby from many other pastimes is that in many cases there is no set end time as there is for a movie or TV show. This makes it very easy to lose track of time for those that are deeply absorbed into a great game. Since oftentimes family members, boyfriends, or girlfriends may not all share the same passion for gaming, this can often lead to friction within relationships. Coupled with the large gender imbalance among core gamers and you have a great recipe for relationship poison.

As with anything these days, the media portrayal of gamers in both news and pop culture has a lot to do with perception. Take the following clip from Law and Order: SVU for example.  The over-the-top stereotype of the typical gamer is laid out perfectly here: overweight, obsessive, living in squalor, and completely out of touch with reality. And let’s not forget the South Park World of Warcraft episode.

Gamers certainly aren’t doing themselves any favors with stories such as this http://au.gamespot.com/news/spot-on-korea-reacts-to-increase-in-game-addiction-6132357http://www.spike.com/articles/id98jf/the-top-10-deaths-caused-by-video-games in the news. However, these news stories are more about addiction than gaming itself. While video game addiction is not entirely uncommon, it’s not nearly as serious of a problem as alcoholism, gambling addictions, or overeating. So why are those that spend a couple hours a day playing games looked down on so much more than those that spend the same amount of time watching TV or movies?

When taken to the extreme, even the most innocent of activities can become something rather insidious. Don’t believe me? Check out this completely unresearched list of perfectly acceptable activities and what taking them to the extreme looks like:

•  Weekly poker game → Gambling addiction
•  Pet lover → Animal hoarder
•  Motherhood → Octomom
•  Outdoorsman → Unibomber
•  Christianity → Westboro Baptist Church
•  Wine Enthusiast → Alcoholic
•  Chemist → Meth Producer

In many cases video games are a more constructive alternative to watching your average prime time TV show as well. For example, doctors that spend at least three hours per week playing video games make 37% fewer mistakes when performing laparoscopic surgeries compared to their non-gaming counterparts. This can be attributed to the increased hand-eye coordination, which most traditional controller-based video games require. While most of us are not surgeons, increased hand-eye coordination can certainly come in handy for a variety of real world applications. There are other potential benefits related to the problem solving and social aspects involved in many games.

“Being immersed in a video game, and having your brain stimulated, can encourage creative solutions and adaptations. These beneficial ideas and thoughts can then be applied to real life situations. The results can be surprisingly positive for individuals, communities, and society as a whole.”
-Allen S. Weiss M.D., President and CEO, NCH Healthcare System

And finally, to all those radio personalities out there still upset by the growing acceptance of video games in our culture, take a moment to allow the following statistics to sink in…

That’s right; you non-gamers are actually in the minority. According to the Entertainment Software Association, 72% of households played video games in 2011 with the age of the average gamer being 37 years old. Video games have become a huge part of our culture and as technology improves, will likely continue their ascent and become an even larger part of our lives. In the meantime, can we agree to stop giving gamers such a hard time?

Video games and weddings: two wonderful things that are not often thought of together. However, there are many great reasons to include some form of interactive entertainment as part of a perfect wedding. Whether you are a serious gamer whose wedding wouldn’t be complete without your favorite childhood arcade games, or just a member of a family with unruly children you are looking to distract, there are all sorts of options out there to satisfy your needs.

Wrangling Unruly Kids

There are entire websites (or at least parts of them) dedicated to discussing how unruly children ruined their wedding day. For many people, they couldn’t imagine their wedding day without seeing their favorite little nephews, nieces, and other favorite kiddos. For others though, kids are just too unpredictable on a day in which everything has been meticulously planned for so long. One solution is to simply not invite any children to the wedding. However, when family politics and other issues prevent that, the alternative is to create a room so fun that they will have no choice but to leave the main reception area for the grownups. This is where setting up a fun mini-arcade can be a perfect option. Be sure to find out the favorite games of the children most likely to cause a stir and have them on hand the night of the ceremony.

80’s Themed Wedding

Are you still preoccupied with 1985? Do you long for the days of Bruce Springsteen, Madonna, Rubik’s Cubes, and leg warmers? Then why not celebrate your love for all things 80s on your wedding day? Have an 80’s cover band, take decorating notes from the Wedding Singer, and of course add in some iconic arcade games from the 80s such as Pac Man, Galaga, and Dig Dug. The arcade games work great if you have a cocktail hour in a separate room from the main reception room as well. This could then double as the kids’ area after everyone else moves inside.

Alternative Entertainment

Perhaps you’re the type of person that can’t seem to bring themselves to dance unless following the lead of a digital helper. Or maybe you just want some extra entertainment options available for your guests. In any case, a prominently featured game area at a reception will certainly be something that your guests will remember.
No matter what your individual tastes, or goals in planning your wedding, video games can easily be incorporated. The important thing to remember is to have fun with it.

One of the best ways to get the most people involved with video games is to incorporate some type of competition. Most people are competitive by nature even if they tell you that they aren’t, so tapping into that can be a great way to encourage people to get involved. Through our experience in helping to organize all sorts of different competitions revolved around video games, we have found some good guidelines for what works…and what doesn’t. Outlined below are a few tips that will help ensure that your next party is a success.

     1.Get organized early

One of the biggest problems we have encountered with putting together a competition (that we haven’t organized of course) is that halfway through, they realize that there isn’t going to be enough time for everyone to finish. So it is important to figure out in the early planning stages all of the details surrounding the event that you will be having. Some important things to consider are:

• Length of the event
• Time devoted to games within event
• Number of contestants
• Number of video game stations budgeted for

Once you know the basics of the event, then you can move forward and decide what games you want to use based on the calculated time constraints.

     2. Choose games that are easy to learn (we call them “event-friendly” games)

Another potential pitfall you may encounter when planning a contest involves choosing the right games to fit the skill level of the group you want to involve. For example, you don’t want to try and teach a group of people that have never touched a video game how to compete in a Halo Reach tournament. There’s just not enough time. Games that the average non-gamer will not be able to learn within an event setting are typically termed “core” games.

The games that work best for most groups involve mini-games. Typically, the sports mini-games seem to offer the most options and are thus the most popular.

Once you have chosen the games that work best for your event, you will need to calculate how long it will take for each person to complete the game.  Be sure to take into account differences in skill level as well as transition times between players.

     3. Make sure the point system works

There are many really good games that do not make good event competition games simply because of their scoring system. Some games do not allow you to see your score at the end of a round while others don’t create enough differentiation between the players to be meaningful. If you are having your teams compete across multiple games and combining the score, it is very important that the scoring systems between the games match up well. For instance, you do not want to directly add scores between games with scores averaging 20 points with those of another game averaging 20 million points. The higher average point value game would render the lower score meaningless. A way around this issue would be to keep the scores separate until the end and assign points based on how well each contestant did compared to everyone else on a given game and only then adding the points together.

     4. Have a prize for the winner, but not necessarily an extravagant one

Having a prize to compete for can be a great way of encouraging more enthusiastic participation. However, if you make the prize too extravagant, you might be opening the door for your guests to be hypersensitive to even the slightest hint that something isn’t 100% fair between all of the contestants. Typically a simple trophy will be sufficient to get everyone interested without creating a monster.

There are many other things to consider during the planning process for a great video game contest. But if you follow the guidelines laid out in this article, you should be well on your way to a successful event. And remember, if you ever need any additional guidance, a friendly Game Plan Entertainment employee will be happy to help you put together the perfect competition. 

With the casual gaming space becoming increasingly crowded with competitors, you may be asking yourself which game console is right for your event. The best answer of course is always to include all of them and let your guests choose for themselves! J Though we’ll do our best to give the pros and cons of each system so that you might be better informed if you have to decide on one system or another.

The Wii was the first to jump into the casual games arena in 2006 while its biggest competitors scoffed at the idea of creating games that appealed to the masses. What followed was essentially a gaming revolution. Wiis flew off the shelves and into households that had never been interested in the medium before. Children challenged their grandparents to games of tennis and countless televisions were ruthlessly destroyed by overenthusiastic bowlers.

Seeing how huge the potential market was, Microsoft and Sony began at this point to develop their own products to compete in the new casual games market. Their products (the Kinect and Move respectively) would not hit the market until late 2010.

Below is a quick overview on each of the 3 systems and how they can best be differentiated.

Nintendo Wii

Overview:

The Wii revolutionized the video game industry by introducing the casual games genre. The motion-sensing controllers were revolutionary for their time and the intuitive and addictive games captured the attention of people of all ages. Since then, Nintendo has done little to improve the formula and the novelty has worn off for many people. That said, the Wii still has some fantastic games available and name has the name brand that consumers most associate with casual games.

Controllers:

The main controllers include the Wii Remote (with optional Wii Motion Plus accessory) and the Nunchuck attachment. The controllers use a combination of infrared sensors and accelerometers to detect the motions of the players.

The Wii Remotes are powered by 2 AA batteries and the Nunchuck is powered by the Wii Remote, allowing for an easy fix if the batteries run out during an event.

Additional accessories that work in conjunction with the traditional controls include: steering wheels, guns, fishing poles, boxing gloves, and various other sports equipment.

Games:

Since the Wii had a good 4 year head start, there are a lot more choices than there are for its competition. There’s no shortage of sports, hunting, fishing, party games, racing, fighting, and many other event-friendly games. However, many of the titles are cartoonish, and geared more towards children than for the general public. People never seem to get sick of classics such as Wii Sports though.

Graphics:

While many of the games look decent on the Wii, there are severe limitations due to the fact that it does not have the ability to output in HD (480p). It thus does not look nearly as sharp when positioned side by side with its HD competition.

Ideal Audience:

Due to its technical limitations, the Wii is best suited for audiences that are either unaware or indifferent to these limitations. Thus, the Wii is ideal for younger children as well as non-technical or at least non-gamer adult professionals.

Kinect for Xbox 360

Overview:

The Kinect is the new kid on the block. Rather than try to create a better motion controller than the Wii, they took the controller out of the equation completely. Instead, the Kinect works by tracking the movement of the players using special sensors. This provides a perfect platform for many dance and sports games but limits its functionality since there’s no way to press a button with no controller.

Controllers:

The Kinect has taken motion-based gameplay to the next level by taking controllers out of the equation completely. The gameplay is controlled completely by the movements of the player. The Kinect sensor itself consists of two 3D depth sensors and a camera that are able to accurately track the movements of a person standing in front of it.

Games:

Games for the Kinect are somewhat limited for the time being due to the small amount of time developers have had. However, there are still some great titles out there that make great use of the new technology. Kinect Sports, Kinect Adventures, Fruit Ninja, and Carnival Games are the ones we’ve seen the best response to so far.

Graphics:

The new Xbox 360 Slim models that were introduced shortly before the Kinect have full 1080p capability, allowing for stunning graphics from games. However, most of the games that have come out so far do not take great advantage of this. Most of the Kinect games are somewhat cartoony in appearance and though they are a big step up from the graphics found on the Wii, they do not yet compare to other “core” titles on the 360.

Ideal Audience:

The Kinect is the latest development in the gaming world. Thus it is perfect for those who have maybe been over-saturated by Wii games and are looking for something new. Tech-savvy non-gamers are a perfect fit for Kinect games. Many core gamers will still have fun playing on the Kinect though they will never admit to it to their chat room buddies. Also, since there is a lot of movement involved in the gameplay, some overly shy guests will be hesitant to play before having a couple drinks.

Since the Kinect reads the movements of the players it is important that your event space has enough room so as not to get in the way of the players.

Move for Playstation 3

Overview:

With the Move, Sony looked not just to appeal to the new casual gamer market, but rather to utilize the ideas behind motion-based games and add that functionality to core games. This means that the Move has fewer casual titles that would be suitable for events and also that some of the controls may be less intuitive to a non-gamer. However, the Move has several things going for it and should not be ignored when planning a party involving video games.

Controllers:

The Playstation Move has adopted two types of controllers very similar to those on the Wii – a wand-style motion controller, and a navigation controller. The motion controller is the main component of the system and utilizes inertial sensors similar to the Wii controller. Rather than using infrared to track the position of the controller in 3D, it utilizes a camera positioned above or below the TV. The camera recognizes the controller based on the light emitted from a bulb on the top of the wand. This provides a more accurate motion tracking system than that of the Wii. The navigation controller is similar to the Wii’s nun chuck, only wireless and with more buttons for, well, navigation through menus and whatnot.

Both of the controller types utilize internal rechargeable batteries. This is a nice feature if you are playing out home. However, this limits their usability at events. If a controller runs out of juice, you don’t have time to recharge it. This means that you must always plan ahead and have extra equipment on hand in case this happens.

Games:

Similar to the Kinect, there are not an overwhelming number of titles currently available on the Move. Also, Sony has made a clear emphasis on focusing on integrating this new technology into core games, meaning less development time is spent trying to compete in the casual games market. All that said, there are still a hand full of great titles that work well for events. Sports Champions and Start the Party are both great options depending on the group you are looking to entertain.

Graphics:

Like the Xbox 360, the PS3 has full 1080p capability. Sports Champions is probably the best looking game in the entire casual games genre. However, the image provided by the Playstation camera falls well short of expectations. Images of players appear grainy and discolored. Overall though, you’re likely to find the most impressive graphics on the PS3 Move games.

Ideal Audience:

The Move, despite its advantages, has sort of been eclipsed by the Kinect in the casual games marketplace. That doesn’t mean that it can’t be a great complimentary piece for many events. It does not have the same space constraints as the Kinect and it has games suitable for people of all ages. Some of the titles can be slightly more difficult to pick up and play than those for the Wii and Kinect. For this reason, it is not ideal for groups that are completely technologically incompetent. It works great as a complementary piece for events with a variety of game systems. If you have a group of core gamers, you could also try setting up some of the more advanced titles.

Summary:

When determining the right games for your event just remember that just about anyone could have a great time on any of these systems. The Wii has the most games available, the Kinect is the newest and most innovative, and the Move has the best graphics and highest precision controls. Or for the pessimists, the Wii has the worst graphics, the Kinect is finicky in the presence of large crowds, and the Move has inconvenient rechargeable batteries and overly complicates what should be simple games.

I hope that helps, and feel free to leave a comment with your questions or contact us directly with any questions you may have about which console is best for your particular event.

Ease of Play: 10
Event Friendliness: 10
Overall Fun Factor: 9

The folks at Microsoft have managed to capture all the addictiveness and fun of one of the top iPhone games of all time and pair it perfectly with the Kinect. Fruit Ninja is not going to win any awards for its depth of storyline or its varied gameplay; however, as far as games that are easy to pick up and fun for people of all ages go, this one is near the top of the list.

The premise of the game is remarkably simple: chop the fruit flying across the screen while avoiding the occasional bomb. In order to make up for the loss of control resulting from moving away from a touchscreen, the developers inserted a glowing shadow outline of the player so that you can better predict where you will be chopping. There’s something really satisfying about being able to bust out your best ninja moves rather than running your finger across a screen as well.

There are several different game modes to choose from with varying levels of franticness in the game play from the peaceful and bombless “Zen Mode” to the fast-paced “Arcade Mode.” There are both cooperative and head-to-head multiplayer modes too, but, overly enthusiastic players should be careful or else someone’s real melon could get smashed.

Overall this game may have limited playability for someone purchasing it for himself, however it has all the ingredients for an outstanding party game.

Event Theme Integration:

There are a few obvious themes here that would work great with Fruit Ninja: Ninja, Martial Arts, Eastern etc. This is also a great opportunity to introduce different ninja props to the game. You could also hone in on the fruit angle and use that to tie it into a tropical theme. Perhaps have the game set up next to a bar that is serving an array of tropical drinks that all feature slices of fruit found in the game.

At this year’s E3 conference, Microsoft unveiled its newest addition to the Kinect lineup: Kinect Fun Labs. The contents of the labs are more of a demonstration of the Kinect’s abilities rather than actual games. However, that doesn’t mean that they don’t have a lot of potential for fun. So far there are a total of 4 gadgets available, 2 that focus on the Kinect’s people scanning ability and 2 that focus on its object scanning ability. There are many different possible applications in the event world for the technology on display.

Bobble Head and Kinect Me

Both of these gadgets focus on the Kinect’s ability to utilize 3D pictures of the users. Kinect Me takes a couple of pictures of the player and creates an avatar (basically a 3D cartoon character) of them that can then be played around with. The new avatar will mirror the player’s movements in real time. Bobble head is similar, though it creates a digital bobble head rather than a correctly proportioned avatar.

While neither of these gadgets can really be considered a game, they could prove to be fun at an event. The characters that are created can really be thought of as digital caricatures. I could definitely see this being a fun activity for a group of people to enjoy as many of the creations would be hilarious to the group.

Googly Eyes and Build a Buddy

Each of these gadgets utilizes the Kinect’s 3D object scanning abilities by taking pictures of each side of a given object. Googly Eyes uses the images to create a googly-eyed mascot of whatever object you scanned in. The user can then control the new mascot and even record a short skit with it. Build a Buddy takes the same 3D image and allows you to choose a personality for it which it then uses to create a character based on your choices.

During an event, fun props could be provided along with these Kinect games in order to create some outlandish characters. You could even create a contest in which people had to create an original character from the props, scan their character into the game, and create a quick sketch. At the end of the night the sketches could all be shown and the favorites voted on with a prize for the winning bit.

There many other potential possibilities for utilizing this technology in events. These are just a few of my initial thoughts on how I think it could be used.

Ease of Play: 8
Event-Friendliness: 9
Overall Fun-Factor: 9 

What’s the latest game to draw in the crowds and get everyone on their feet? That would be the one and only Dance Central on the Xbox 360 Kinect, letting players choose from a wide variety of songs such as pop sensations from Lady Gaga all the way to old school Salt ‘N’ Pepa hits. No need for controllers or bulky dance pads! The Kinect camera tracks the movements from your body and allows for a fully immersive dance game that any group, young or old, can enjoy.

Dance Central is definitely a game that puts the spotlight on the ones who are dancing, so first be sure you have the right crowd. Players need to be outgoing and not afraid to get up and show off their moves. This game certainly draws in a watching crowd as well, so this might make some of the players uncomfortable or hesitant to play. If this may be an issue or concern, have a different game in at the beginning of your party or event, and roll out Dance Central as the eve has progressed and guests have had a few drinks to loosen up. Once people begin to see what a hit it is, it will open up the floor and everyone will be waiting for a turn!

To get started, players have several songs to choose from and each range in difficulty. It’s always best to get started at the beginner level to see what the game is all about. Once you the swing of things, you may want more of a challenge and can try medium or difficult.

There are a few different ways to get started playing the game. If the dancer chooses the “Break it Down” option, a slow paced, broken down version of the song is provided, where the avatar shows you the steps little by little, and you have a chance to practice. You are rated on how well you are doing and given lots of helpful tips to perfect those dance moves. The only problem with this option is that it takes a little while to practice and get through the whole song, sometimes allowing a watching crowd to get antsy or you just wanting to get started already.

If you’re like me, you might be ready for a challenge, and you can choose to “Perform It!” without practicing. I prefer just winging it and getting started this way. It’s fairly easy to just follow the avatar on screen and pick up the moves as you go. “Flashcards” of the moves appear on the right side of the screen to let you know what move is coming up next and how long each move lasts. As you dance through the game, you are awarded points for each move you successfully complete. Once you finish the song, your points are added up, and you get a percentage score on how many moves you passed. You are also given stars – 1-5 for how well you danced to the song. This option only allows 1 person at a time, but sure attracts a group of people that want to check out what all the excitement is about!

The coolest, and most popular way to play Dance Central though is by competing in a “Dance Battle” with a partner. This is especially a hit at parties and events as it takes them to a whole new level. Players choose their song, and it starts with Player 1 showing off his/her moves. Player 2 has an advantage here because he/she can see the dance moves they will have to perform. Mid-way through the song, Player 2 is invited up, and Player 1 gets a break. Each player dances one more round, and once the song is over, the final scores are posted, where the overall winner is revealed. Be prepared to have a group of people behind you, cheering you on!

A favorite feature in this game is the Kinect camera that takes photos of the dancer during the “Freestyle” break. At a few moments in each song, players are asked to show their moves, where the camera snaps a few fun shots. These always offer a good laugh to the dancer and viewers and allow you to incorporate any of your own specialty moves into a song.

One thing for sure is that this game gets you and your guests up and moving. Even those just watching have an exciting time checking out the players and clapping along. Don’t be surprised when you feel like you’ve had a workout and have broken a sweat at the end of your dance session. Next time you need a great game for your party or event, pop this one in and let your guests get their dance moves on!

Event Themes Integration

Dance Theme
Pop Icon Theme: Lady Gaga
Disco Theme
Decade Parties (‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s, ‘00s)

This is the first installment of an ongoing series we plan to write in which we highlight the very best, most event-friendly games and give a detailed review with an event planner in mind.

Ease of Play: 10
Event-Friendliness: 9
Overall Fun Factor: 9

Overview

Kinect Sports is currently one of the marquee titles for the Kinect. It is very easy to play, has great multiplayer options, and it is a lot of fun. The mini games are just the right length of time in order to keep a good flow of people moving through the game. There are several mini games that lend themselves perfectly to contests for the guests as well. This game, like many for the Kinect, allows you to control the avatar on the screen, meaning when you play with your hair so does your avatar. This can prove to be quite amusing on its own for those that haven’t experienced it yet. Overall, this is a great game, with incredible event potential.

The Games

Bowling: The bowling game is great, and very intuitive. Simply hold your arm out to grab a ball, and then bowl as you normally would. The only tricky part is if you want to try and put any spin on the ball, but for the average bowler, the experience is very enjoyable. Those looking for a realistic bowling simulator should probably look elsewhere though. In a 4-person game, I don’t think a single person had a split. The graphics are very good as well, and the cheering fans make the occasional strike all the more gratifying.

Boxing: This is a very fun game, but be warned; you will likely be sore the next day after your first bout. This game picks up where boxing in Wii Sports left off. You are able to ditch the controllers and box the air as if you were Rocky Balboa warming up for his showdown with Mr. T. It will take a little while to get used to things, but the controls are very intuitive (punch to punch, put your hands in front of your face or stomach to block).
Beach Volleyball: Bump, set, and spike your way to victory. Two people are able to play either against each other or on the same team against a computer. The first to 7 points wins using rally scoring so the games go rather quickly despite the potential for some pretty long rallies. This is one of the more active games that requires both bending down and jumping, so it is not a great fit for crowds that have limited abilities to perform those tasks.

Soccer: I definitely wouldn’t call this the highlight of the game, but it isn’t necessarily a bad one. You have the option to play alongside, or against another player. Running has been taken out of the equation, so all you do on offense is kick in the direction you want to pass or shoot, and all you do on defense is stick your leg out to try and intercept a pass, or act as the goalie to try and save shots on goal. The good news is that it goes rather quickly and is easily picked up. If you have a soccer theme you are trying to accommodate, this would not be a bad choice, but otherwise there are several other more entertaining options.

Table Tennis: This is a fun one and is very intuitive and easy to pick up as well. The only problem that I have is that I wish that I had an actual paddle in my hand as I was playing rather than just swinging an empty hand around. This is another 2 player capable game with matches to 11 points.

Mini Games

The mini games within Kinect Sports are probably the most “event-friendly” aspect of the games. The action moves quickly and the point systems lend themselves nicely to contests.

Bump Bash (Beach Volleyball): In this game, various pieces of sports equipment are hurled at you and you must dodge, duck, dip, dive, and dodge out of the way to avoid getting hit. A very entertaining game both to play, or watch others play.

Body Ball (Beach Volleyball): This game is similar to the bump bash game, except that instead of getting out of the way of the incoming volleyballs, you use your head, hands, and feet to knock them back.

Rally Tally (Table Tennis): This table tennis mini game just involves seeing how many times you can hit the ball back and forth with the computer without letting it hit the ground. The game goes a little too quickly, especially for first time players and isn’t particularly fun. I’d pass on this one for your event.

Panic Paddle (Table Tennis): In this game, you are bombarded by ping pong balls and must hit as many of them back in an allotted time as possible using the paddles in either of your hands. For event purposes, this is the table tennis game that you want to be using for any sort of contest.

One Bowl Roll (Bowling): The objective of this game is to pick up as many spares as you can in a row before you run out of smiley faces (you lose one smiley face each time you fail to pick up the spare). The gameplay moves quickly, which makes it a great alternative to bowling a full game if you are trying to keep things moving a little quicker.

Pin Rush (Bowling): This game is all about speed. You have about a minute to knock down as many pins as you can. The pins are arranged in their original 10-pin configuration, and once you knock all of them down, they are instantly reset. This is another good option for contests, or fast-moving events.

Super Saver (Soccer): The gameplay here is nearly identical to that of body ball, only a little less fun. Unless you have a soccer theme you are trying to stick to, I’d recommend leaving this one out.

Target Kick (Soccer): This game involves kicking at different targets within a soccer goal. The gameplay is pretty entertaining and more accurate than I would have guessed. If you are going for a soccer theme, this is a great option.

Track and Field Mini Games

With the exception of the discus, all of the track and field games are pretty fun. They are also very quick to play, which makes them good for larger events, when lots of people are waiting for a turn. They do require a lot of physical activity, so they are not well suited for those with limited mobility.

Discus: The discus event is probably the least fun or well-polished part of the whole game. All you do is basically make an underhand throwing motion across your body. The results seem to be rather random as well. Overall, I’d avoid this game if possible.

Javelin: If you were disappointed with the discus and are still looking to throw something, this is your game. The gameplay is fun and intuitive while still being challenging to master. Just be mindful of low hanging objects from the ceiling as you will be throwing your arm into the air with all your might.

Sprint: As far as simplicity goes, this is about as easy as it gets. If you can run in place, you can play this game. It still manages to be more fun than you would expect though when competing against a friend.

Hurdles: This is actually a pretty fun little game. You will have to mix in a few well-timed jumps while running in place to make it over the hurdles. Both the sprint and the hurdles races allow for 2 players at once, which add to the fun with a crowd around.

Long Jump: The long jump is well done as well. It picks up your running and jump timing very well, and is easy to get started.

Party Mode

This is a great option for including a big group of people all at once. First, you will pick two teams with up to six people each (or more if you have people that just want to cheer). You will pick a team mascot and then the game will randomly choose six different mini games for you to compete in. Assuming you have 6 people per team, each team member will compete in a single event. After all six events are complete, the team with the most points wins. This works well for team-building events, as it provides some healthy competition and camaraderie among teammates.

Event Themes Integration

There are many different possibilities for event themes that Kinect Sports would work well with. Below are just a few ideas for themes and the mini games that would best work for them.

General Sports Theme: All Games
Tropical/Beach Theme: Beach Volleyball/Body Ball and Bump Bash
Olympics Theme: All Track and Field, Table Tennis, and Boxing
World Cup/Soccer Theme: Soccer/Super Saver and Target Kick
Boxing Theme: Boxing
Casino Night Theme: Any of the games. Just have the guests gamble on the outcome of the matchups. Boxing would probably be the best choice though.

In any case, no matter what the crowd or theme, Kinect Sports is bound to make a great impression on your guests.

If you’re like me, you are passionate about video games. However, as game developers devote more and more resources into “casual games,” even those that have never picked up a controller can now have a great time playing video games with their fellow partygoers. There are countless ways that these new games can fit seamlessly into your next big event. Below, are just a few common event themes and explanations as to how you can increase the fun factor by incorporating video games into them.

1. Olympics Theme

After adorning the walls with flags from around the world, as well as the trademark multicolored rings, have stations set up with games in different places around the room. Kinect Sports offers many different track and field mini-games such as hurdles, sprint, javelin, and long jump (I would leave out discus throw as it is not as well polished). I would recommend having a dedicated TV and console for each of the various mini-games you want to include. Keep a leader board at each station to keep track of the high scores and at the end of the night have an awards ceremony bestowing medals upon the top 3 scorers at each station. A fun extra could be finding the overall best performer, displaying their country’s flag and playing their national anthem (this works particularly well if you have a very multicultural crowd).
There are many other games that would work for this aside from Kinect Sports so feel free to get creative!

2. Island/Tropical Theme

One of the all-time most popular party themes. Get your party-goers into a relaxed mood by having them sip on fruity tropical drinks such as Mai Tais, and Bahama Mamas. Then set the atmosphere with some island music and some tropical flowers, seashells, and inflatable palm trees (decorations are not my field of expertise so feel free to call in the pros). To add some fun to the party, set up video game stations with various games that you might find at the beach or on the water. Wii sports resort is the obvious choice here with choices such as beachside Frisbee, wakeboarding, and canoeing, you’re bound to have a great time. Kinect Sports also offers a great beach volleyball game that would fit right in to the tropical theme. Try to keep the games casual and non-competitive in order to match the relaxed “island” atmosphere you’re going for.

3. 80’s Theme

When I think of the best things to come out of the 80s, the first thing that comes to mind is all of the classic arcade games that were introduced. Pacman and Tetris are as much a part of the 80s as leg warmers and neon sunglasses. Set up a few of these classic arcade cabinets around the room, or in a designated 80s arcade area to really turn back the clocks at the party.

4. Golf Theme

Having your special event at a country club? Or just have an office full of golf nuts? In any case, a golf theme can be a simple and fun way to go. Have a contest where you set up 9 (or 18 if you’ve got a big crowd or are really ambitious) “holes” around the event room. Set up game stations at each of the “holes” and even mix in a few real putting greens to switch things up. There are many different games to choose from here. You can either pick one title and have different holes in the game set up for each station, or pick completely different games for each station. Wii Sports has one of the most user-friendly golf games available, while the Tiger Woods series is about as accurate as you can get indoors. Feel free to get a little creative and mix in a round of Frisbee golf in Wii Sports Resort as well. Carnival Games: Mini-Golf, We Love Golf, and Super Swing Golf are some more great golf titles to choose from.

5. Casino Night Theme

Casino nights are always a big hit with employees. Companies such as iHostPoker in Houston and Austin can provide all the games you’ll find in Vegas along with professional dealers for you. Usually you’ll give each employee a certain amount of chips to start with and then have some sort of auction at the end of the night with different prizes that people can bid on with their winnings. A great way to incorporate some fun games into the night would be to set up a few different gambling friendly games such as boxing or football. For a boxing match, make sure to use a motion-incorporating game that allows you to box somewhat naturally using actual boxing gloves (no physical contact of course). Schedule a few marquee matchups between employees throughout the night and allow betting on either side. Make the payouts higher than an even match on both sides to incentivize as many people to bet as possible. The end result will be a really fun and invested crowd cheering on your coworkers as they compete for victory.

6. Rock Star Theme

Let’s be honest, who didn’t want to be a rock star growing up? Just me? OK, well, at least some of your employees have dreamt of being cheered on by adoring fans while they rock out on stage. Give them that chance by setting up a stage with professional sound and lighting. Then, rather than traditional instruments, put out a Rock Band setup with drums, 2 wireless guitars, wireless keyboard, and wireless microphones. Rock Band 3 is a great title for your traditional Rock genre music. For more vocal-centric music, the Lips series offers a great alternative. There are more “poppy” titles to choose from and you are able to utilize 2 wireless microphones in order to sing duets. For those that have no interest in singing but would rather dance the night away, consider setting up a Kinect with Dance Central. This game allows you to learn and perform a variety of dance moves without the need for a pesky dance mat. The Kinect sensor reads the moves of your body and lets you know if a certain part of your body isn’t quite getting the move right.

7. State Fair Theme

So what do you do when you want to create a state fair atmosphere but you were told that the Ferris wheel you wanted won’t quite fit into your event room? The food is a good place to start. Think of all of your favorite foods. Then batter and deep fry them before serving them up. Corn dogs, funnel cakes, fried Twinkies, you name it and it can be fried. If you must provide some healthy options for your more discerning guests, try to keep them out of the way so as not to make those partaking in the festivities feel bad about what they’re eating. For entertainment, set up several boardwalk style games where your guests can exchange tickets for the opportunity to win prizes. The Carnival Games series has several titles on both the Wii and the Xbox Kinect that would fit perfectly into your event theme. Have attendants at various booths with stuffed animals for people that get above a certain score on one of the games. Choose from such carnival staples as ring toss, and dunk tanks or random new games such as catching funnel cakes from an out-of-control machine being run by a monkey.

8. Deer Hunting Theme

Have an office full of hunters? Then a hunting theme is a perfect way to go. Easily decorate with camo-themed decorations and you could even ask for a few volunteers to provide some of their trophy bucks for that hunting lodge ambiance. Set up a few different stations around the room with different deer hunting games. Deer Drive for the Wii paired with a couple of Wii Zapper controllers is my favorite title in this genre and has proven to be great for parties. If you want to take it to the next level, bring in a deer blind for your employees to crouch in while they take aim at all the virtual bucks they can shoot.

9. Nascar/Grand Prix/Racing Theme

Depending on what your audience is, there is a whole range of styles you can choose to decorate to within the racing genre. From the casual Nascar theme, to the elegant Monaco Grand Prix theme, there’s sure to be a balance that fits with your guests. No matter how fancy you choose to make it, be sure to have lots of great racing games. Mario Kart for the Wii is a title that just about anyone can pick up and play and have a great time. Racing simulators can be a great addition as well. Paired with such titles as Gran Turismo 5, this is the most accurate and visually pleasing way to race. Since Gran Turismo is a realistic simulator game though, some less experienced drivers might find it a little tough to adjust to the blistering speeds of real racing.

10. Nerd Theme

Bust out your pocket protectors and bone up on your Star Wars trivia for this one. There are many different ways you can go as far as décor goes, but the most important thing to remember is the video games, the staple of every socially awkward teenager. Be sure to load your event room with all of the classic arcade games such as Ms. Pac Man and Gallaga, along with some of the newer games for different systems. Just about any game will fit the theme, but you should probably stick to ones that lend themselves better to multiplayer gameplay so as to include more people.

Hopefully this list gives you some good ideas as to how you can incorporate video games into your next big event. Remember, these games aren’t just for kids anymore, and they just might be what you need to make your party a winner.