If you’re going to watch the parade, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the Power Rangers Rose Parade Float.

Here is to an amazing 2012!

D23 Expo is all about first looks, sneak peeks, and special experiences, so it’s fitting that fans and gamers would be able to get hands-on with Xbox’s latest venture, Kinect: Disneyland Adventures.  Scheduled to be released mid-November (just in time for the holidays), children and adults will experience the park in a unique, immersive, and personal way.

Having grown up at the Disneyland Resort, this is as close to the real thing as you can get.  The premise of Kinect is controller-free gaming so players will fly through Neverland with Peter Pan, dodge the snowballs being pelted at you by Yetis on Matterhorn, and play croquet with Alice in Wonderland.  Xbox and the game’s developers did an incredible job of recreating the magic that is Disneyland.  Get an autograph, hug and even take a photo with your favorite Disney character…FASTPASS your way onto your favorite “ride”…be part of the park’s parades and fireworks displays.

The game is fun, interactive, and visually stunning.  So far Xbox has announced the following mini-games:

• Alice in Wonderland
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
• Haunted Mansion
• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
• Matterhorn Bobsleds
• Peter Pan’s Flight
• Pirates of the Caribbean
• Space Mountain
• Splash Mountain

Kinect: Disneyland Adventures will be available in the US on November 15th, 2011.

No compensation was received for this post. Photo credit Xbox/Disney.

Do you ever get bored with exercise?  I do!  And if I’m not bored, I’m tired…or busy. Too often exercise takes a back seat, despite the fact that it’s vital for physical health and emotional wellness.  I’m a firm believer in changing up your exercise routine. Not only will it help you stay motivated, your body will appreciate the change.

I really enjoy fitness gaming because I can exercise on my time and have fun doing it.  My favorite types of games are those that involve dance.  THQ recently released Dance Paradise on Kinect for Xbox 360 (more about my new Kinect/Xbox 360 in a upcoming post).  The game features 40 chart-topping dance hits in a variety of genres including Hip-Hop, Rock, and R&B.  Play solo or side-by-side as you mirror the movements of the on-screen avatars.  Because the game was designed for the Kinect platform, you don’t need a controller which means you can focus entirely on getting those moves down.

Photo Credit: THQ

I’ve played another dance game on this platform and while this post is not about comparing the two, it’s worth mentioning that Dance Paradise makes it very, very easy for players to pick up the dance moves.  Unlike other dance games, I can definitely see children enjoying this game without getting frustrated. In fact, my nearly four year old son often jumps in to play with me, even though he’s definitely still working on his moves!  The multi-player aspect means that families can play together which I always advocate for with regards to video games.

The game is definitely about having fun, but I challenge you to play this for 20 or 30 minutes to see if your heart gets pumping!  Speaking of challenges, try the “versus” mode which has players replicating moves as accurately as possible before their avatar reaches the end of the four colored bars.

For more information, just visit THQ!

Win It! TWO of you will win a copy of Dance Paradise on Kinect for Xbox 360 (ARV $49.99).  Simply leave me a comment with something you like about the game!  Comments will close on June 1st, 2011 at 11:59 PM PST.

US Residents only.  Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.

Want an extra entry? Do any or all of the following and receive an extra entry for each one. Be sure to leave me a separate comment for each additional entry.

Follow me on Twitter AND tweet about the contest.

Like me on Facebook

Subscribe to my feed via email or reader.

Blog about this giveaway. It doesn’t have to be a separate post. Just include a blurb about it when you blog about other giveaways.

Click on one of the very cute buttons below and digg, stumble, fav, etc. Just let me know what you did in the comments!

No compensation was received for this post. Items for review/giveaway supplied by THQ.

Photo Credit: THQ

Yesterday THQ, a leading developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software debuted SpongeBob SquigglePants for Nintendo Wii (with DS to follow).  The game is played on uDraw, an accessory that allows users to draw and then visualize their creations on the screen.  Players will tilt, flick, tap, and draw through over 100 Nanogames in 6 different worlds.  I can tell you from seeing the game for the first time last night, that each world looks very different, thereby giving you a unique experience.  Patchy the Pirate, who is the president of SpongeBob’s fan club in the show, guides players through the game where players can create, color, and draw with custom paints, palettes, stamps, and art tools.  What’s neat about the game is that the artwork created can be printed, saved, and shared.  And, many of the art styles featured in the game are never before seen artwork from the Nickelodeon Vault.

Here are some photos from the launch party:

SpongeBob SquigglePants is available now for the Wii and retails for $29.99.

No compensation was received for this post. I attended a media event and received a copy of the game.

I grew up as an only child, and the time at home with my parents was often spent playing games…board games, computer games, video games…  To this day, I still enjoy games because they promote conversation and interaction.

At the beginning of November, Zoo Games released Minute to Win It for Nintendo Wii and DS.  The game is based on the NBC prime time show hosted by Guy Fieri.  Two weeks ago, NBC taped their holiday episode and offered demos of the newly released game.  Here is a brief synopsis from the site:

Take parties and family game night to a whole new level with Zoo Game’s Minute to Win It, based on NBC’s hit game show sensation. With the encouragement of All-American chef and TV personality Guy Fieri, who provides voiceovers for the game, players compete in ten, 60-second challenges to win the virtual grand prize of $1,000,000. Use everyday household objects to conquer these simple yet nerve-wracking challenges to win each round. Featuring both Solo and Multiplayer modes, and 36 fun and exciting challenges, Minute to Win It is the ultimate party game for all ages!

In the coming weeks, I’ll be sharing with you my thoughts and experiences regarding the game.

Win It! One of you will win a copy of Minute to Win It.  Simply leave me a comment with something you like about the game from the site!  Comments will close on December 18th at 11:59 PM PST.  US Residents only.  Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.

Want an extra entry? Do any or all of the following and receive an extra entry for each one. Be sure to leave me a separate comment for each additional entry.

Follow me on Twitter AND tweet about the contest.

Like me on Facebook

Subscribe to my feed via email or reader.

Blog about this giveaway. It doesn’t have to be a separate post. Just include a blurb about it when you blog about other giveaways.

Click on one of the very cute buttons below and digg, stumble, fav, etc. Just let me know what you did in the comments!

No compensation was received for this post.   Review and giveaway items supplied by the company.

The game was inspired by Disney/Pixar’s popular animated shorts and brings Mater and Lightning McQueen together for a new set of adventures in a collection of pick-up-and-play games. The game is great for family play (and was actually designed to be played with others) and can accommodate up to four players at the same time!  Cars Toon features fast-paced, multi-player fun and can be played competitively (against each other) or cooperatively (together).  Once you’ve achieved rewards (aka collectibles), customize the look of your car (from body type and color to tires and spoilers).

There are 30 levels and we’ve barely unlocked 5.  My son enjoys putting out the fires and chasing after the ambulance but he still needs some help with the controls.  The animation is phenomenal and identical to that in the shorts.  I can see us playing this endlessly without getting bored. Here is a quick preview of the game:

Cars Toon:  Mater’s Tall Tales retails for $49.99.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Disney Interactive Studios and received the Cars Toon: Mater’s Tall Tales Wii game to facilitate my review.

Last week, Disney Interactive Studios, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, and Disney Online held a holiday tour to showcase Disney’s latest film and game releases.  While we don’t have a lot of time to watch movies, our family really enjoys Disney movies (so much that my husband collects them!).  Here are the latest releases for the season:

A Christmas Carol

When three ghosts take penny-pinching Scrooge on an eye-opening journey, he discovers the true meaning of Christmas – but he must act on it before it’s too late.

Beauty and the Beast

Join the beloved, independent Belle and the Beast with the soul of a prince as they cast an enchanting spell like never before.

Fantasia

The dreams and visions of Walt Disney come to life in Fantasia, which blends music and film magic into an exhilarating movie-going experience. Unforgettable images are brought to life by some of the world’s best music, and highlighted by the comedy of Mickey Mouse as a troublemaking sorcerer’s apprentice, along with the beauty of winged fairies and cascading snowflakes, the majesty of Noah’s ark and even plump hippos performing ballet in
tutus.

Sorcerer’s Apprentice

A fun, modern-day adventure follows Dave, just an average college student, or so it appears, until the sorcerer Balthazar Blake recruits him as his reluctant protégé and gives him a crash course in the art and science of magic. As he prepares for a battle against the forces of darkness in modern-day Manhattan, Dave finds it is going to take all of the courage he can muster to survive his training, save the city and get the girl as he becomes THE SORCERER’S APPRENTICE.

Toy Story 3

Toy Story 3 welcomes Woody, Buzz (voice of Tim Allen) and the whole gang back as Andy prepares to depart for college and his loyal toys find themselves in… day care!  These untamed tots with their sticky little fingers do not play nice, so it’s all for one and one for all as plans for the great escape get underway.

You can read my review here.

The Search for Santa Paws

When Santa and his new best friend, Paws, discover that the boys and girls of the world have lost the spirit of the season, they take a trip to New York City.  But after Santa loses his memory, it’s up to Paws, a faithful orphan named Quinn, her new friend Will and a wonderful group of magical talking dogs to save St. Nick and show the world what Christmas is really all about.

One of our favorite sites for crafts, recipes, and games is DisneyFamily.com.  Right now, the site has a special holiday section which includes how to have a budget-friendly Christmas to planning a Disney-themed party.  The site has a wealth of really great information and I could spend hours perusing all of the projects I’d like to work on with my son.  While crafts and recipes are a large part of the site, be sure to check out the sections on parenting, entertainment, and travel.  Kids should also check out Create, which offers a new way to interact with Disney characters and stories by creating and sharing personal works of art, and World of Cars Online, a free virtual world based on the hit Disney/Pixar animated feature where you are the car.

The highlight of the evening was the gaming stations set up around the room.  Kids waited patiently anxiously to play some of the season’s most sought-after games including Disney Sing It: Party Hits, Cars Toon: Mater’s Tall Tales, and Disney Tangled: The Video Game, and Phineas and Ferb Ride Again. I have to admit that both my son and I find the character-themed games highly appealing.  Beyond that, many of the games are interactive, educational, and relatable.

Here are Disney’s latest video game releases:

Cars Toon: Mater’s Tall Tales

Inspired by Disney/Pixar’s wildly popular animated shorts of the same name, the game will bring Mater together with Lightning McQueen and the Cars gang for a new set of adventures, capturing the endearing sense of humor of everyone’s favorite tow truck. Players will join Mater and his pals as they relive the wild stories he conjures up about hilariously unpredictable events that may or may not have taken place.

Club Penguin Game Day!

Based on the popular virtual world that’s captivated millions around the globe, Club Penguin Game Day! is a collection of fun new mini-games that will challenge and engage the whole family. Players can create a penguin, join a team and participate in a series of events, including Sumo Smash, Java Sack, Fast Freeze, Sled & Slide, and more. Each time players beat a challenge, they conquer a zone on the island. The ultimate goal? To work together with their team and conquer as much territory as possible.

Disney Channel All Star Party

Disney Channel All Star Party exclusively for the Wii, provide fans a truly immersive experience as Disney Channel worlds collide for the first time, allowing players to explore different locations and interact with characters from their favorite Disney Channel shows including “Sonny With A Chance”, “Wizards of Waverly Place” and “JONAS L.A.”

Disney Epic Mickey

Disney Epic Mickey is an action-adventure platforming game for the Wii console that sends Mickey Mouse on an epic journey of creativity and discovery.  As Mickey, the player is propelled into Wasteland, an alternate world made up of Disney’s forgotten creative efforts, and is given the power to wield paint and paint thinner to dynamically change the world while determining Mickey’s path to becoming an epic hero.

Disney Sing It:  Party Hits

The game feature songs and music videos from fan favorites including Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber, Black Eyed Peas, Jordin Sparks, Nick Jonas & The Administration, Paramore, Kelly Clarkson and more. Players will have a blast as they belt out their favorite tunes with friends in numerous multiplayer modes.

Phineas and Ferb Ride Again

Race in an awesome skateboard and mine cart, do cool tricks on your surfboard, and battle aliens in your spaceship.  Players will avoid obstacles, tackle new puzzles, use cool gadgets, and participate in zany mini-games.  It’s an adventure with Phineas and Ferb in four new worlds inspired by familiar locations from the show.  Fans can also jump into action and play as Agent P to save the day from the evil Dr. Doofenshmirtz.

Disney Tangled: The Video Game

In this story-based journey kids will venture into a  kingdom filled with colorful 3D environments , creative play, fun quests and competitive challenges.  Kids will discover multiple activities, meet interesting characters, befriend animals and work as a team to help the unlikely duo of adventurous Rapunzel and swashbuckling Flynn with their comical antics.

For more information about Disney’s Holiday Entertainment, visit Disney.com.