Atari confirms Jenga for Wii, DS

by John Bardinelli { Jul 6th 2007 at 4:30PM }

Atari today dribbled out screenshots along with a press release confirming the existence of a Jenga game for the Wii and DS to be released in November. The game doesn't appear to be much more than a stylized table-top Jenga with exotic backgrounds and textures, but according to Atari it features a "wealth of exciting new enhancements, power-ups and twists that are possible only in the videogame world". Bombs? Gravity-defying bricks? We'll have to wait and see. Jenga could be a lot more exciting with the right power-ups.

Gallery: Jenga (Wii, DS)

Tags: atari, boardgame, budget, ds, jenga, nintendo, wii

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Jacob P. @ Jul 6th 2007 4:33PM

I love Jenga!

CJC @ Jul 6th 2007 4:36PM

I love Jenga too, but this smells like a cheap cash-in.

slackerdan @ Jul 6th 2007 4:37PM

I know the Wii is geared for casual games, but come on.

Mr Khan @ Jul 6th 2007 4:38PM

Well, at least they're stating to think outside the box controls-wise

This could provide a basis for something more unique

But until then, no, no. A hundred times no

Charron @ Jul 6th 2007 4:40PM

As much as I like the Wii, and Jenga, this better be a WiiWare title. There's no way they can give this the needed depth for a retail game.

nawtyeravgjoe @ Jul 6th 2007 4:40PM

looks like a wiiware game.

Fernando Rocker @ Jul 6th 2007 4:43PM

WiiWare title... I hope.

Or at a maximun of $20 retail...

Jerk Face @ Jul 6th 2007 4:43PM

If this game costs more than twenty dollars, I assert that it is complete and undeniable Bull Shit.

I love my Wii and all.. but when I look at all the quality titles coming out for XBLA that look just as good as this if not better and cost Eight Fucking Dollars... I start to get a little mad at Nintendo.

At least I can go on the VC and buy R-Type Fucking Three for the same price.

Oh wait..

That is stupid.

(I secretly hate being a Nintendo loyalist.)

I mean, Nintendo is just trying to focus on the quality of the content, right? Like how Metroid Prime 3 doesn't have online multiplayer to get in the way of my single player experience!

Oh wait..

That is also stupid.

Fuck.

Jonathan Tran @ Jul 6th 2007 4:44PM

Cost of Wii Jenga: $50 + dignity
Cost of actual Jenga: Steal one from a Starbucks

This is atrocious. The only way this could be good:

1. Online play with rankings
2. The best camera controls in gaming history
3. Comes with a copy of real jenga
4. Comes with a mic so you can taunt online opponents and keep screaming "CHOKE!!"
5. The best 1:1 controls of any Wii game ever, maybe even lining up the wiimote with the position of the "real" block and sliding it out.
6. Comes with a t shirt that says " I bought Wii Jenga and all I got was a copy of wii jenga"

Anam @ Jul 6th 2007 4:45PM

I remember the revenge Joystiq took upon me after my sarcastic comment about Pac-Man Championship Edition...

This looks amazing. When does it come out?

quazi @ Jul 6th 2007 4:46PM

why?

nath225 @ Jul 6th 2007 4:48PM

YAY JENGA!!!!!!!!1111

Jonathan Tran @ Jul 6th 2007 4:50PM

The thing is, Anam, Pac Man is at least a game where you could imagine some fun depth added in, which is what they did.

now this POS, I mean what next?

-CONNECT THE DOTS: Wii
-ETCH A SKETCH DS
-SORRY! Wii Edition with REALY ASSHOLE PIECE BUMPING ACTION!
-CALCULATOR MAYHEM Wii/DS: Type naughty numbers into the machine then turn it upside down to see what it says! Motion controlz!
-DS (Wii edition): Use the unique motion controls of the Wii to play a virtual nintendo DS on your tv! Does not include DS games

Dustin @ Jul 6th 2007 4:50PM

Maybe this makes me into a loser, but I actually think this could be cool, but for god sakes Atari don't try to charge $50!!!

soccerdude21490 @ Jul 6th 2007 4:51PM

Yea, I mean it sounds cool... but my problem just with it is how sensative the thing will be.. like on the Wii, its VERY VERY shaky (for me at least) even if I just sit the controller on a flat surface, the pointer is still VERY shaky

Jerk Face @ Jul 6th 2007 4:51PM

CALCULATOR MAYHEM!? That is Comedy Fucking Gold!

Holy shit I laughed so hard at that!

Jerk Face @ Jul 6th 2007 4:54PM

soccerdude brings up a valid point:

Unless you have 3 inch thick lead curtains, the Wii pointer dances across the screen like one of those little girls from Amsterdam if there is even ANY sun outside.

That is like playing Jenga with Muhammed Ali.

...

...

Yeah, I said it.

mccomber @ Jul 6th 2007 4:56PM

5319009, brought to you by Nintendo and Jonathan Tran.

Leobebes @ Jul 6th 2007 4:56PM

Coming to the Wii in December 2008!!!

Wii: Tic Tac Toe

Only for $49.99!!!!

Pre order while supplies last. "It's not about graphics its about the gameplay!"

Émile-A @ Jul 6th 2007 4:56PM

''4. Comes with a mic so you can taunt online opponents and keep screaming "CHOKE!!"''

I would buy it ONLY for that.

quazi @ Jul 6th 2007 4:56PM

@dustin

this is one time i will agree with the people who say
"why play rock band? why not buy a real guitar".....
WHY THE FUCK WOULD YOU EVEN WANT THIS? i can guarantee you that the real jenga has better controls,unless you have Parkinson's, and graphics.if you want power ups drink alcohol while playing jenga.
plus you can get mad and knock over whole tower and turn the jenga pieces into projectiles!

Dustin @ Jul 6th 2007 5:00PM

True, but Im a sucker that will buy almost anything...

Benjamin Heckendorn @ Jul 6th 2007 5:01PM

WOW. Just think, if the Wii wins (as Fortune magazine claims it already has, which is like Newsweek doing an article called "How McCain Became the New President") this sort of crap would spew onto all consoles. A flood of cheap cash-in minigames... and we could have the crash of 1984 all over again.

36-DS FTW (I hope to God)

Anam @ Jul 6th 2007 5:03PM

@Jonathan Tran

You see, the thing is I've always "loved" Pac-Man. It's such a "classic" that I "played" for years. I mean, you could move in four directions! How "amazing"! And the way all of those levels were so similar, it's so "fantastic" how they stayed true to the original level's feel and meaning.

Wii Jenga will surely be just as "good" as the real thing. I "can't" wait.

...

h2c @ Jul 6th 2007 5:04PM

Good thing Atari had the presence of mind to unobtrusively add the word "JENGA" to four of the six sides of every single block:

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2007/07/jenga_(e3)-wiiscreenshots17322screenshot_015.jpg

This way I won't confuse Jenga with the other block tower building game...

vidGuy @ Jul 6th 2007 5:04PM

I look at this and I look at the list of quality titles I'm going to be buying up for the Wii and 360 in the next year, and I'm glad I get to choose what I spend my money on. This is crap, total crap. I don't even think the casuals will buy it.

Unless it comes out for WiiWare and costs roughly the same as Uno, the number one most played XBLA game. Then I withdraw my criticism.

BPM @ Jul 6th 2007 5:07PM

Yes, Ben, because cheap, crappy, cash-in games never existed before Wii... [rolls eyes]

Seriously, though, this looks terrible.

Zertoss @ Jul 6th 2007 5:07PM

@13 Jonathan Tran

lmao

How about:
-Clue Wii: Who Killed Your Mii With a Nerf Weapon?
-Paper Mario Football: Flick the paper through the goal post fingers! Don't let Bowser the teacher see you!
-Rock, Paper Scissorz Wii: Rock Paper Scissors without the guns and other bullshit!
-Mii Staring Contest: Stare at your screen for hours!

Leshrac @ Jul 6th 2007 5:11PM

I'm just not sure this will translate well, unless you're a proponent of the "1-touch" rules. Part of the fun of Jenga is finding those pieces which don't seem to be supporting much by "tapping" a few pieces. If you just have to point and click, it'll be very difficult to figure out whether the block is actually helping keep the structure together or not.

-Jeff
http://alinktothefuture.com

Vince @ Jul 6th 2007 5:11PM

Even the DS has a rocky start. Give the Wii a few more months.

seakae @ Jul 6th 2007 5:14PM

zomghalokiller!

mastafool @ Jul 6th 2007 5:14PM

How could you be mad at jenga on the Wii. After all, UNO was a blast on the 360. The question is, how much will Jenga cost?

Spongie @ Jul 6th 2007 5:17PM

No thanks...

Shagittarius @ Jul 6th 2007 5:18PM

@Leshrac

The more supportive a piece is the more vibration you get when you start to move it.

Not that I'm defending this piece of dog shit.

arrrgh @ Jul 6th 2007 5:23PM

O NOES!!! NOT WII JENGA!! Wii is ABSOLUTELY the first system to have games like barbie was on ps2...snes...genesis...nes... ohhhh so this sort of shit has ALWAYS been happening?

So why do ass fisting fanboys claim this will be the end of the gaming world (if/when wii wins)? ohhh right..the ass fisting

Anam @ Jul 6th 2007 5:23PM

@mastafool

The difference is that Uno was a good game to begin with...

*realizes John Bardinelli is still watching*

...just like Jenga!

Shagittarius @ Jul 6th 2007 5:27PM

I hope the pieces can fall into the glasses of coacoa around it that would be rad! I'd definately buy the game if it were that realistic!

Jonathan Tran @ Jul 6th 2007 5:28PM

lol @ paper mario football

I can see the good thing about this is that you don't have to remake the whole tower every 5 minutes when your stupid cat cannot STAY OFF THE TABLE WHICH IS FOR PEOPLE, WHEREAS THE ONLY PLACE FOR YOU WHISKERS IS YOUR CAGE

Just like how poker/Magic the gathering/monopoly in games saves you from picking up every little piece of crap

Also Jenga is no fun if you can't blow lightly on the tower to taunt your friends

I guess the DS can add that though. Although that will make the game more frustrating since you can't slap your online competition for doing it.

Oh yeah 1 more thing that will make this game a Halo killer:

ATARI CONFIRMS JENGA HAS ITS OWN FRIEND CODE, for ARBITRARY REASON 1,336

Sloar @ Jul 6th 2007 5:33PM

I cannot believe that some of you are looking forward to this garbage. Jenga is a game based on touch and no matter how next-gen the Wii's controls are, you can't duplicate that. That's like playing Wii Bloody Knuckles! Maybe the nursing homes that bought the Wii will buy this, but I pity the poor kid who tells someone at school that he bought this. He'll be taped to the flagpole in his underwear by lunchtime, guaranteed!