Axel & Pixel now available on XBLA
2K Play’s new point-and-click adventure game, Axel & Pixel, is now available worldwide on Xbox LIVE Arcade. Axel & Pixel was developed by Silver Wish Games and utilizes a simple point-and-click interface. Players lead Axel the artist and his dog Pixel through 24 levels of photo collage environments where they encounter nature-inspired characters like the Ice Giant, his rat apprentice and other motley inhabitants of the Dream World. Along their journey, the duo will scale majestic mountains, build rafts to cross treacherous rivers, and fly away in a hot air balloon through the Dream World.
In addition to assisting Axel and Pixel on their adventures, players can race vehicles in Arcade Mode and post high scores to the online leaderboard. Players will also discover bonus items, including dog bones, sketches and paint tubes hidden throughout the Dream World that give Axel the tools and inspiration to complete his finest work of art.
Axel & Pixel is now available on Xbox LIVE Arcade for 800 Microsoft Points.
Birthday Party Bash shipping
2K Play has released Birthday Party Bash, a Wii party game that promises a Party–in-a-Box, including themed games, invitations, and offers from Duncan Hines, Party City, and Evite, and a how-to guide on planning a fun and original party for children. Sure, it’s kind of an oddball product, but no more so than, say, Wii Fit..
Up to 12 party goers can whack, roll, splash, pop, scribble, climb, jump, and shimmy their way through more than 20 birthday games, including Piñata Blast, Duncan Hines Cake Stacker, Pin the Tail, Hot Potato and Birthday Blowout. The birthday boy or girl can also choose from ten party theme rooms to set the scene for a bash, from Pirates complete with sword and treasure chest, to Princess with a royal castle, a fancy crown, and unicorn. When it’s time to break for cake, the traditional Happy Birthday song will play for everyone to sing along in karaoke-style, with a virtual cake on screen.
For right around $40, you get a guide filled with tips on planning a birthday celebration, 12 ready-to-mail party invitations, customized birthday party bash on-line invitations from Evite.com, a recipe and photo of an exclusive Birthday Party Bash cupcake tower from the authors of the Hello, Cupcake!, and coupons from Duncan Hines and Party City to help outfit the party with decorations, party supplies and dessert.
Take-Two and Viacom Enter Three-Year Deal
Ever hear of the Spielwarenmesse International Toy Fair in Germany? It’s not exactly foremost on many gamers’ minds, but today it was the source of the latest bit of news involving game publisher Take-Two. Earlier today, Arwed-Ralf Grenzbach, VP of videogames, music and special products for Nickelodeon and Viacom’s Consumer Products division, announced that Viacom has expanded its licensing deal with Take-Two Interactive to a new three-year deal, which will see many Nickelodeon themed preschool games hitting store shelves under the 2K Play label. The new deal covers four Nickelodeon properties: Dora the Explorer; Go, Diego, Go!; Wonder Pets and The Backyardigans.
The expansion of our partnership with 2K Play reflects NVCP’s strategic commitment to growing our casual gaming business and leveraging this exciting platform to deliver an even more dynamic and interactive experience to our worldwide audience, Grenzbach said of the partnership. 2K Play’s global expertise and innovative leadership is a perfect complement to our beloved characters and their broad consumer appeal.
