Joystiq hands-on: Carnival Games

by Alexander Sliwinski { Jul 13th 2007 at 1:11AM }

Carnival Games is exactly what it says it is. A Wii game that uses the Wiimote to mimic 25 carny games without the need to actually experience the smell of one. The title holds 25 games at the semi-steep $40 for a collection of minigames. The video pretty much tells all you need to know about this title. It's as simple as can be, while attempting to create depth by adding new things to your character as you win carnival tickets.

The game itself is perfectly basic fun minigames and is clearly designed for a family with small children. The guys showing the game reminded us that adults can use it as a drinking game, which isn't actually a bad idea and pretty much the only way a reasonable adult would play this. The thing that saves the game is that the minigames work just fine -- nothing more, nothing less. It's nothing special, but it's just not bad either, which you could say about a lot of games out there anyway.

Tags: carnival, e3, e307, minigames

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Fatass of Kickassness @ Jul 13th 2007 1:18AM

I'm in your Wii, shoveling your wares

bm @ Jul 13th 2007 1:27AM

Why the hell don't they just use the actual Miis for this, instead of trying to make Mii-like characters?

rockintom @ Jul 13th 2007 1:32AM

Do not want!

Ryuukuro @ Jul 13th 2007 2:29AM

Do not care!

jc @ Jul 13th 2007 1:44AM

This is the game I've been waiting for. I'll definately buy a wii once this comes out

GodisaMyth @ Jul 13th 2007 1:49AM

This game will sell bigtime to the casual crowd. The 40 dollars for this game is gouging the ignorant casual crowd. They have no idea (most of them) how much a typical game costs.

Nintendo will be banking some more cash with litlle effort.

Grog @ Jul 13th 2007 1:58AM

So far as I know, Nintendo makes pretty standard licensing fees on every game sold (other than 1st parties, obviously). Why exactly would you blame them for someone else's shovelware? Oh, and this is exactly the sort of situation that pops up when 3rd parties *want* to support your console.

If you don't want the game, don't buy the game. No one is being "gauged" if they buy this game. Heck, this sounds like a better game than most movie licensed games that get shoveled on the market, but I don't hear anyone complaining that the poor casual market is being gauged just because Happy Feet got released on every system known to man!

GodisaMyth @ Jul 13th 2007 2:07AM

I do not blame Nintendo 1 bit for doing this over and over. Why would they turn down BIG money? This game, for kids or drunk adults will be amusing until one gets sick of it. Just like Wiisports.

So, Nintendo or 3rd party will just change up the mini-games and wala...more money more money more money (in living color)

They can and will churn these out in a matter of months.

Indeed the Wii (for now) prints money.

But the King of money printing console wise is the PS2.

Cha ching

Macroy @ Jul 13th 2007 1:57AM

I WILL HAVE SKEE-BALL!

I mean, uh...I may purchase this title!

Elfonzyo @ Jul 13th 2007 2:06AM

I officially dub those characters "Wanna-Miis"

Ken Seang @ Jul 13th 2007 2:06AM

Ask if there wasn't enough mini games to play on the Wii... Nintendo definitely forgot about us hardcore players, who were the ones that stood by them through the harsh and good times. Now to be totally forgotten...

JodyAnthony @ Jul 13th 2007 11:15AM

yeah! how dare nintendo create this third party game!?

Martimus @ Jul 13th 2007 2:06AM

For the love of God...please no more f@#@$ mini games !!! All we get for WII is mini games and old games you can already get on Mame...

konducta @ Jul 13th 2007 2:18AM

next!!

sourpuss @ Jul 13th 2007 2:33AM

This game looks absolutely horrendous. Wii is becoming synonymous with shovelware. Wii is the new Atari. I smell a crash coming.

Andrew @ Jul 13th 2007 5:21AM

I dig the Hironobu Sakaguchi Ringmaster.

MDV @ Jul 13th 2007 5:51AM

"This game, for kids or drunk adults will be amusing until one gets sick of it."

That video is so boring and repetitive that I'm sick of it already. I've literally played higher quality carnival games in those 'Punch the Monkey' Flash banner ads. Look at the Milk Cans game - it's got that back-and-forth icon you have to time your buttonpress to..... hello innovative motion-based controls!