Bringing The Whole Family Together This Holiday (NAPSA)—Americansare serious about playing video games, with 2006 sales of games, consoles and accessories reaching $12.5 billion. Video games are expected to be on top of wish lists again this year, as gift givers across the nation gear up for another holiday season. But how can you tell which games are the most family friendly? Here’s a look at some top picks that will help bring the whole family togetherthis holiday: Dance Fever Gamerswill play to an all-new beat in “Boogie.” The ultimate party package for gamers ofall ages, “Boogie” will have players dancing, singing and creating music videos to hit songs from over four decades. Grab the microphone included with the game, and enjoy your moment in the spotlight. Show your moves and take your dancing act on the road with the unique version of “Boogie” on the Nintendo DS that allows for 3D gameplay using 3D glasses. Available for PlayStation 2, Wii and Nintendo DS. Magical Fun In “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,” players join Harry, Hermione and Ron as they play key moments from the movie— from the Dementor attack in Little Whinging to the battles at the Ministry of Magic. Gamers also explore Hogwarts and discover its magical secrets as they interact with virtually everything they come across. There are even Exploding Snap and Gobstone competitions as well as Wizard chess games, just like in the film. Available now for the Wii, PS2, PS3, PSP, Nintendo DS, GBA, Xbox 360, Mac, PC and mobile. Get Smart The whole family can enjoy a game of trivia with “Smarty This year’s family-friendly video games feature familiar charac- ters, hot dance moves and allagestrivia fun! Pants.” The game levels the playing field for people of all ages with age-targeted questions and by automatically adjusting difficulty levels to provide continuous stimulation. There are even exciting Wii gestures, from spinning the category wheel and tug-of-wars over correct answers, to “dance- offs” for additional points. The game also boasts multiple modes, including a family mode, a singleteam race against time and a rapid-fire competitive mode that’s great for groups of friends. Available now for the Wii. Blast From The Past “EA Playground” captures the exuberance and nostalgia of the neighborhood playground, offering up interactive fun and new twists on someclassic favorites. Swing the Wii remote to excel in tetherball, blow into the Nintendo DS mic to fire spitballs or battle your friends and family in dodgeball. Gamers are even joined by wacky in-game characters who challenge them to playground activities. Available now for the Wii and Nintendo DS. All of the video gamesare offered by EA, Electronic Arts. For more information, visit www.EA.com.
