Video Game: The Wolf Among Us (Fables)

The Wolf Among Us was released last month and appeared in the SurLaLune Fairy Tales Giveaway as the wishlist item of Sarah.

I had missed this release so I am sharing it today. The reviews for the game are all over the place depending on the platform it is played on--some platforms play the game well, apparently, and some not well at all.

There are some videos of the game for viewing on Amazon. They require age verification since this has a mature rating, so I decided to not share here.

The game is inspired by Bill Willingham's Fables series, so if you are a Fables fan and a video game fan, this is probably on your wishlist this season, too!

Game description:

The Wolf Among Us is a 5-episode series set before the events seen in the first Fables (DC Comics/Vertigo), an award-winning comic book series, it is an often violent, mature and hard-boiled thriller where the characters and creatures of myth, lore and legend are real and exist in our world.

• Episodic Game - All 5 Episodes Included
• Based on Fables (DC Comics/Vertigo), an award-winning comic book series by Bill Willingham.
• Play as Bigby Wolf: formerly the most feared monster among the Fables, now Sheriff of Fabletown and protector of those he used to hunt. He must restrain the beast within if he is to earn the trust of those around him.
• The characters of myth, lore and legend are real, and exist in our world. Your choices matter and will change and define the story you experience.

Princess and Frog in Just Dance 2015

So one of our family activities during the holidays of late has been to play Just Dance. Thanksgiving night last week I cracked open the new Just Dance 2015 - Xbox 360 for the first time. The entire family--ages from 2 to 68--was entertained and many videos were filmed. There is a gag order in the family that NONE of those videos shall go beyond the family borders. With the exception of perhaps some adorable ones that don't have me in them.

One of the fun moments for me--in the I can't get away from fairy tales EVER vein--was that one of the songs on this release has dancers dressed as a princess and a frog. I'm embedding the teaser video above. It wasn't one of our favorite dances, I'll admit, but it was a fun one for the kids especially with all of the Rayman characters in the background distracting them.

Of course, this one also has Frozen's Let It Go on it, so our family's four-year-old took this one very seriously because she wants to be Elsa and regularly begs her mother to let her change her name to Elsa. Oh, the power of Elsa! Girls definitely need more superheros with powers. I loved Wonder Woman almost as much when I was that age.

Fairy Tales in Video Games: Quest for Sleeping Beauty (PS2)

Quest for Sleeping Beauty (PS2) is a Playstation 2 game that was released only in Europe in 2006. It has never been released in North America. I stumbled across it when looking for something else recently and thought I would share. It received pretty lousy reviews for game play which makes me sad because it could have been a cool concept.

Here is a video demonstration of the game:



About the game:

Quest for Sleeping Beauty adds challenge and intrigue to the classic tale of the sleeping princess revived by a handsome prince. As Prince Charming, players must fend off multiple opponents in pursuit of the princess, and manoeuvre their way through labyrinths to reach their destination the tower in which Sleeping Beauty lies.

By default, Prince Charming is the central character, who must make his way to the Sleeping Princess. In two-player mode, a Woodland Sprite joins the prince on his crusade, providing defensive support. Players also have the option of swapping the traditional roles of Prince and Princess, so that the Princess can also crusade to save her Prince.

Accumulate points by collecting the coins in your path as you make your way through the various levels en route to Sleeping Beauty. Fend off your opponents with artful manoeuvring along with your arsenal of potions. Track down the keys you need to make your way from one level to the next and defeat the guards that protect them. As levels increase in difficulty, you'll move from the forest to the castle grounds, and make your way through the castle dungeon to infiltrate the castle and approach the tower where Sleeping Beauty awaits.

Amass your arsenal of potions as you make your way towards Sleeping Beauty you can collect them as you do coins, but they may be guarded by opponents, so you'll have to manoeuvre carefully. Your potions bolster your powers of self defence send attackers fleeing from fear, freeze them in their tracks, or pass by them undetected in a cloak of invisibility. Brave the spooky forest and haunted castle passageways Quest for Sleeping Beauty's convincingly eerie graphics add a chilling edge to an exciting journey.

Additional Amazon description:

The Sleeping Beauty legend dates from medieval times, and first appears in print as Sleeping Beauty in the Woods in the late 17th century. The version with which most modern audiences are familiar is based on a tale published in Germany by the Brothers Grimm in the early 1800s, popularised as a ballet in 1890 and later as a movie by Walt Disney.

Quest For Sleeping Beauty is not the developer's first foray into the fantastical. Spiral House's past projects include Ghost Master and Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare.

In order to ensure an entirely child-friendly game, with a PEGI rating of 3+, the developer has created a "combat system" based entirely on immobilizing, scaring or avoiding enemies, with no blood or violence.

Lil’ Red: An iPad App

From Revisit a Timeless Tale Made Modern with Lil’ Red – iPad App Review by Emily:

Lil’ Red brings a modern aesthetic to the well-known story of Little Red Riding Hood. As Lil’ Red’s creators know, they probably aren’t introducing readers to Red for the first time, so they get to have a little fun by creating beautiful streamlined graphics that tell the tale without a single written word.

To quote American Modernist Paul Rand, “Design is so simple, that’s why it’s so complicated.” Apps often fail because their design is unnecessarily complex or downright unattractive. Despite falling for the Big Bad Wolf’s Granny impersonation, Lil’ Red avoids this common pitfall and doesn’t get tripped up over aesthetics.

Lil’ Red is restrained, using only black, white, and red in its illustrations, yet these restrictions (along with her oversized black eyes and exaggerated lashes) set off Red’s playful, inquisitive nature.

There's more review, so do click through to read it. The app is available in the iTunes store.

Trailer for Disney Princess: My Fairytale Adventure.

Here is a new trailer for the upcoming video game: Disney Princess: My Fairytale Adventure. I posted about the game earlier with the press release but thought I would share this since I've been very slow with posts the past few weeks!

Upcoming Video Game: Disney Princess: My Fairytale Adventure

From the press release found at Market Watch. The games are already listed for preorder at Amazon, too, at Wii(TM), Nintendo 3DS(TM) and Windows PC/Mac.

Go on a Royal Journey with Princesses in "Disney Princess: My Fairytale Adventure" Coming This Fall to Wii(TM), Nintendo 3DS(TM) and Windows PC/Mac

Players Will Enter The Kingdoms of Classic Disney Princesses: Cinderella, Rapunzel, Ariel, Belle and Tiana

BURBANK, Calif., Apr 17, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Disney Interactive today announced the development of "Disney Princess: My Fairytale Adventure," a new interactive journey from the globally successful Disney Princess franchise. Slated for release this fall, the video game will be available for the Wii(TM) system from Nintendo, Nintendo 3DS(TM) hand-held system and Windows PC/Mac. In the game, players will find that a spell has been cast over the beloved Princess worlds and will need to use their magic wand to help Cinderella, Rapunzel, Ariel, Belle and Tiana restore peace and bring "happily ever after" back to each kingdom.

"The collection of Disney Princesses featured in 'Disney Princess: My Fairytale Adventure' have continued to timelessly captivate and charm audiences," said Javier Ferreira, senior vice president of publishing, Disney Interactive Media Group. "This new game will allow fans of all ages to enter the worlds of favorite princesses while experiencing iconic locations such as Beast's castle, Rapunzel's tower and Cinderella's ball."

In "Disney Princess: My Fairytale Adventure," players will take on the role of an apprentice to the Fairy Godmother and will accidentally set off a series of events that cause friendly Sprites to transform into mischievous Imps. The evil Imps make their way into the worlds of Cinderella, Rapunzel, Ariel, Belle and Tiana, and players must pursue the Imps into each Princess kingdom to prevent them from causing any harm. With the use of their magic wand, they'll need to turn the Imps back into their original Sprite form, and return them to their rightful home in the Magical Kingdom.

Each of the Princess worlds will allow players to explore and interact with familiar Disney characters such as Lumiere, Pascal, Flounder, Gus and other fan favorites who will help guide them through missions and progress though the game. Quests and mini-games, including platforming, hide and seek, and puzzles, are designed to test the skills of the youngest players and challenge older players alike.

Players can also customize their avatar and room in the Fairy Godmother's Castle, utilizing gems that are earned throughout the game to trade for items in the in-game "Wishing Well" store. Outfits, accessories and tiaras can be purchased to dress up avatars, creating hundreds of different combinations. Special items like floor patterns, wallpaper and furniture can be used to personalize and build out each player's room in the Castle.

"Disney Princess: My Fairytale Adventure" will be available this fall for Wii, Nintendo 3DS and Windows PC/Mac. Please visit www.Disney.com/PrincessVideoGames.com for more information.

Disney Interactive Media Group

Disney Interactive Media Group (DIMG) is one of the world's largest creators of high-quality interactive entertainment across all current and emerging digital media platforms. Products and content released and operated by DIMG include blockbuster mobile, social and console games, online virtual worlds, and the #1-ranked web destination Disney.com and the Moms and Family network of websites.

Disney Interactive Media Group is the interactive entertainment affiliate of The Walt Disney Company (nsye:DIS).

SOURCE: Disney Interactive Media Group

Happily Ever After Video Game

The above is a trailer for a new fairy tale influenced video game, Happily Ever After.

From the game's webpage where you can also download a demo:

The game will be priced at £2.99 for iPad and £9.99 for PC and Mac

When a problem page blogger starts to receive a series of weird and puzzling requests for help, they track down the source and go to investigate, only to end up in the Kingdom of Unbelievaville! Stuck there, their only means of escaping being turned into a doornob by the evil queen, is to help out the local inhabitants who are familiar characters with very unfamiliar problems!

It contains over 100 puzzles stretched through 24 levels with multiple endings in story mode, and if that's not enough, the game contains a bunch of against-the-clock minigames.

Happily Ever After will be available this Autumn/Fall!

In the mean time, why not follow either of the player character's twitter feeds at @TheFGM or @TheBlogFather1 or check out the Kingdom of Unbelievaville dating site FrogSnog.com.

And more from the press release:

Leading UK independent developer, Honeyslug, in ration with publishing partner Boiled Frog, are delighted to announce the forthcoming release of their modern fairytale puzzle adventure with a twist, “Happily Ever After”. Due for release on iPad, Mac and PC in October 2011, priced at £2.99 on iPad and £9.99 on PC and Mac. The title is supported with PR, trailers http://www.vimeo.com/30180207 and playable demo (PC only) on all formats. These, together with screenshots, are available at www.Honeyslug.com/happilyeverafter or www.Boiledfrog.co.uk.

Happily Ever After is a humorous puzzle adventure game which takes place in the contemporary fairytale Kingdom of Unbelievaville. After receiving a series of strange emails to your problem solving blog you find yourself trapped in the Kingdom. Following a hostile encounter with the Evil Queen, your only way home is to help out the cast of familiar fairytale characters with unfamiliar problems. These inhabitants include BB Wolff - the local smarmy, estate agent and apparent master of disguise, Goldilocks, a special girl with very particular tastes and an oafish, lazy prince who is charming only by name. Your adventure ends at the annual Unbelievaville “Know Talent” contest; will you find your way home or suffer the Evil Queen’s “hex” factor?

Happily Ever After is a hugely entertaining game, set over 24 levels with over 100 different puzzles. Players are set to enjoy many hours of gameplay with challenges including hidden object, logic games, mazes, spot the differences, riddles and more. With lavish comic book visuals, three fun arcade style mini games and a sparkling script penned by Childrens’ BBC script writer Hannah McKay, this title is sure to appeal to puzzlers and adventure game fans of all ages.

This one looks safer for younger kids--like 8 and up perhaps although I don't see an age recommendation, maybe even 5 although I think reading is needful--unlike make of the other video games featured on the blog previously which were definitely more adult.

Fairy Tales, Video Games and the Supreme Court

  

A small media frenzy has been centered around the Supreme Court's decision about regulating video games for children.

For example, from NPR, Weekly Standard: Violent Games Are No Fairy Tale by Jeffrey H. Anderson:

On Monday, in the case of Brown v. Entertainment Merchants Association, the Supreme Court struck down a California law prohibiting the sale of violent video games to children. In a 7-2 holding authored by Justice Antonin Scalia (with Justices Alito and Roberts concurring and Justices Thomas and Breyer dissenting), the Court ruled that video games enjoy essentially the same constitutional protection as books, with violent video games being, in Scalia's estimation, much like modern day Grimm's Fairy Tales.

Of course, there is very little similarity between reading (or, for that matter, watching film adaptations of) Snow White or Cinderella and deciding whether to murder, disembowel, or rape one's victim in a video game (all of which, as Justice Alito details, are features of some of these games). That the Court's majority fails to see this distinction shows how inapt it is to have that body engage in such line-drawing for an entire republic. Further demonstrating this, Scalia also compares such video games to The Odyssey, and he somewhat mystifyingly declares that literature and video games are similarly "interactive."

From the majority opinion by Scalia, available here:

Like the protected books, plays and movies that preceded them, video games communicate ideas—and even social messages—through many familiar literary devices (such as characters, dialogue, plot and music) and through features distinctive to the medium (such as the player’s interaction with the virtual world),” Justice Scalia wrote. “That suffices to confer First Amendment protection.”

Certainly the books we give children to read–or read to them when they are younger–contain no shortage of gore. Grimm’s Fairy Tales, for example, are grim indeed. As her just deserts for trying to poison Snow White, the wicked queen is made to dance in red hot slippers ’till she fell dead on the floor, a sad example of envy and jealousy.’ . . . Cinderella’s evil stepsisters have their eyes pecked out by doves. . . . And Hansel and Gretel (children!) kill their captor by baking her in an oven.

Some other links:

At PBS: Citing Violence in Fairy Tales, Justices Strike Down Calif. Video Game Law

At the New York Times: Justices Reject Ban on Violent Video Games for Children by ADAM LIPTAK

At the Miami Herald: Justices don’t live in the real world by Cal Thomas

And Maria Tatar also posted about this on her blog.


I'm not jumping on the opinion train here--although I admit I have one as someone who works with kids and it is about to become obvious anyway--but I find no end of amusement that centuries old literature is being used to defend a very recent invention which is rather unrelated. Yes, both are graphic, but their means of delivery are so very different in intent and impact that it is almost disturbing to compare them. In other words, I read and deal with fairy tales most of the hours of my life but I can't stand to watch the violence of many of these games. Yes, I had a nightmare when working on Bluebeard, but that is the exception not the rule.

And, no, parents in my experience aren't usually sharing the most violent versions of fairy tales with the kids anyway. It's the high school and college students who learn that the tales are much more violent than they knew and feel like another level of their innocence has been eroded away at the discovery. Then they either beg for the violent ones--I get emails!--or run for familiar relative safety of the Disney versions although I contend those are much more violent than we admit.

Fables Will Be a Video Game

There's not much on the game company's site yet, but here's more info from Telltale Signs That Videogames Will Be Downloaded, Not Sold at Retail by Tricia Duryee:

But a small San Rafael, Calif.-based videogame company thinks it has the winning formula as the business moves to digital.

Today, Telltale Games is announcing an exclusive worldwide publishing agreement with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment to develop videogames for the comic-book series Fables...

Telltale’s games are written as a narrative or a cinematic adventure and are divided into five separate episodes. Players download a new one every four weeks for a six-month period. A season pass for a game, including all episodes, costs roughly $35.

Telltale then repeats the process and sells the games across a combination of consoles, mobile devices, tablets, PCs and Macs.

  

FarmVille and Fairy Tales

I've explained I'm not much of a gamer, but I am at least aware of FarmVille and know some people who play it. Last week's Farmville update included some limited time fairy tale themed bits. Since I can't explain more than that myself, here's an excerpt from FarmVille Fairy Tale Decorations: Prince and Princess Gnome, Enchanted Forest, & More by Brandy Shaul:

As part of tonight's FarmVille update, we see the release the Fairy Tale theme in the game, which contains (as of this writing) five different decorative items that you can use to decorate your farm like a fairytale wonderland. Two of these items go for coins (luckily, the most impressive decoration is one of them), while the other three decorations are premium, Farm Cash items.

The two coin items are the Enchanted Forest and the Golden Rose Arch. The Golden Rose Arch costs 10,000 coins, and looks exactly like most other arches in the game, save for its inclusion of golden roses. Meanwhile, the Enchanted Forest costs 200,000 coins, but might just be worth the high cost, as it is an animated item, with trees that drop multicolored leaves onto the colorful grassy area below.

The three new Farm Cash items are the Prince Gnome and Princess Gnome (obviously a matching pair), and a Pumpkin Carriage, a la the fairytale of Cinderella. The Pumpkin Carriage here, however, is a mixture of what the carriage looks like while Cinderella is using it at the ball, and after it turns back into the orange pumpkin it originated from. You can add this animated item (complete with moving horses and chinchillas) for 18 Farm Cash.

These Fairy Tale items will only be available in the game's store for the next two weeks. If Zynga adds more items to this theme in the meantime, we'll be sure to let you know.

This page also has images of the animated characters which are quite cute.

LittleBigPlanet and Hansel and Gretelbot

I try to keep informed about many areas of society out of fascination and plain old desire to participate in conversations in the real world. Discussing fairy tales doesn't really work well for me often in my time away from the computer unless I am at a conference meeting you dear readers.

However, one of my greatest knowledge base weaknesses is in gaming. I'm not a gamer. I play FreeCell and a few simple word and brainteaser games online. That's the extent of my playing besides some occasional social bouts with the Wii. (I had a slight addiction to Link's Crossbow Training for a few weeks last year. I finally mastered it and then my gaming obsession went away again.)

So when I read about and see things like this:



I am amused but slightly confused. I know LittleBigPlanet and LittleBigPlanet 2 are popular. That little guy is a familiar image. But that is where my experience ends.

So I am not going to try to explain how or what this Hansel and Gretelbot really is. I know it is part of LittleBigPlanet 2 and that is sufficient for my needs at this point although I say that and will probably spend the next half hour trying to figure all this out.

If you understand the game, this may make more sense to you. From LittleBigPlanet 2 – New Community-Created Playable Theme Coming Soon:

Hi guys – I’m sure that lots of you LBP fans out there have worked your way through the LBP 2 Story mode, confronted the mighty Negativitron, and are now exploring the intricacies of Create mode and the hundreds of thousands of new user levels.

If you’re hungry for some more Story mode-type Sack-venture, or looking for some creative inspiration and examples of just how powerful the new tools are, then here’s some very cool news for you, direct from Media Molecule…

We are very proud to present to you the preview trailer for Hansel & Gretelbot [see above], a very special community project based loosely on an old fairy tale, and that’s nearly ready for you to play!

 

 

Oh, and here is more about the actual story. I understand stories!

Once upon a time, in a little cottage on the edge of the Dark Western woods, lived a humble Woodsman, his wife, their son Hansel and robotic daughter Gretelbot. One sad day, the Woodsman’s wife was taken ill, and passed away not too long afterwards. Time passed, but eventually the Woodsman became stricken by loneliness, and he remarried.

The Woodsman’s new wife was a wicked woman, who hated her new step children. They were the reason, so she said, that they had to live in such poverty. They would eat them out of house and home, the Woodsman must get rid of them! His will weakened by his heartbreak, the Woodsman relented, and led Hansel and Gretelbot into the Dark Western Woods, leaving them to fend for themselves, with no idea how to get home…

Hansel & Gretelbot should be out later this month, keep your eyes peeled for more info!

Gretel and Hansel Computer Game

Here's an article about a new computer game based on Hansel and Gretel as well as a link to the game.  I tried playing it for a few minutes and got stuck.  I don't have a gamer's brain.  But it is interesting to look at so take a peep if you are interested but not a gamer either.

From Death Is a Strange Reward: The 'Gretel and Hansel' Series by G. Christopher Williams:

Most modern versions of fairy tales also revise the more “questionable” elements of such stories, but David Bae and Nathan Ratcliffe’s Gretel and Hansel series returns to the uglier truths of a violent world that is unforgiving of the inexperienced and immature. Interestingly, the reversal of the protagonist’s names in the title, which signals the developers’ decision to make Gretel the clearly dominant hero in the story, seems to especially beg comparison to Perrault’s type of tale. It is the female character that is most at risk throughout the games, since that is the character that the player largely controls, making one wonder if there is a similar lesson intended, something about the fragility of children with younger women being made especially vulnerable here.


These games are clearly designed to be unsettling though. Their aesthetics make this notion abundantly clear from their opening cinematics to the beautifully rendered, but grotesque cartoon imagery to the remarkably strange score of the game. In the opening sequence and tutorial of Part 2, for example, the player learns how to move Gretel around and interact with items by yanking up what appears to be a weed growing against a stark background. Instead, it is the head of her brother Hansel that emerges from the ground, as does the head of another older man across the screen. When Gretel yanks on the man’s head, a tree erupts from the ground, splitting the man’s head open. Another tree quickly follows, destroying Hansel’s head. In a cinematic, Gretel flees the violence, but as she disappears from the screen, her shadow lengthens, and the player sees that another shadow now looms over Gretel. The shadow appears to be that of an adult woman, but a woman bearing an axe. The opening cinema demonstrates the nature of the world of Gretel and Hansel. It is terrifying and violent and flight to figures that might seem to offer safety, like an adult, holds no real promise of security.

The game itself is available for playing at Gretel and Hansel by makopudding.

Pet Society Fairytale Items

I am completely ignorant of these things, but this is fairy tale related, so I thought I would share:

From Let Your Imagination Wander With Pet Society Fairytale Items:

It’s another Monday in the world of Pet Society, and that means that a new item theme has been unleashed in the game’s many stores. This week, we take a trip to the world of princes and monsters – it’s Fairytale Week!

The theme starts in the game’s Gardening Shop, where you’ll find all sorts of architectural details like arches and waterfalls, that would look perfect as part of a Princess’s castle, or just as nice decorations if you happen to have an outdoor garden, or classical theme celebrating an era gone by.

Next, in the game’s Mystery Shop, you can pick up a Fairy Tale Mystery Box, either by its lonesome for 6 Playfish Cash, or in groups of 5 or 13 boxes for 24 and 60 Playfish Cash, respectively. These boxes contain bundles of Fairytale clothing items, with five different options being available to receive at random.

I really don't have anything to add.  Except for if I played this game, I would want the Princess and the Pea bed.  I've always wanted a Princess and the Pea bed.  At least in theory.  I still remember the thrill of the idea of using stairs to get into bed, from bunk beds to short stools.  I first read of one tall enough to require a step in Anne of Windy Poplars and dreamed of one for years.  Now I am much more practical--I like sitting at the foot of my bed to put on my socks, but I can still enjoy the fantasy....

American McGee and Little Red Riding Hood

This story is appearing on many gaming sites this morning.

American McGee Shows Off Little Red Riding Hood Concept

American McGee posted this concept image, painted by two artists from the veteran developer's Spicy Horse studio in Shanghai, on his Flickr account to share a game idea he's hoping to sell: Little Red Riding Hood with an axe thirsting for wolf blood.

"[The artwork] depicts a scene from a game concept I'll be pitching at this year's GDC," explains McGee. "If we're lucky, an interested publisher will help us move it into production. It's an idea that [Spicy Horse art director] Ken Wong and I have been toying with for years."

This isn't the first time the Alice developer has thought of featuring Red in a video game; his 2008 episodic PC game, American McGee's Grimm, featured a chapter devoted to the fairy tale character. She's also appeared in several other video games in recent years, such as The Path, Fairytale Fights, and Little Red Riding Hood's Zombie BBQ.

The original Grimm game was also made into a comic book, by the way, American McGee's Grimm. The game itself is available on GameTap with several packs. Here's a link to The Girl Without Hands, for example.

With the new movie in development, this game might have a better chance of being produced, too. Timing is often the most important factor...

Video Games: Storybook Workshop

As happens too often around here, I'm a little late on this one since it was released this past November. However, here it is!

Storybook Workshop is a new game for the Wii aimed at the preschool set. First, here's a trailer from Konami, the maker:



And further product information from Amazon:

Synopsis

Including 16 famous children's fairy tales, Storybook Workshop offers plenty of make-believe fun. Reminisce on your own childhood story time as you read well-known favorites such as Little Red Riding Hood, The Ugly Duckling and The Golden Goose. Read in your own voice, or use the Magic Voice feature to change your voice to sound like characters from the stories. You can also sing along to four classic children's songs and record them, so boys and girls can listen to the performances on their own.

Key Game Features:

Features 16 children's fairy tales to listen to or perform, such as Little Red Riding Hood, The Ugly Duckling, The Town Musicians of Bremen, Be Kind to the Earth, The Boy Who Went to the North Wind, The Little Match Girl, The Happy Prince, The Giant Turnip, A Glove and Hats for the Jizos, Three Wishes, The Star Money, The Elves and the Shoemaker, and The Golden Goose

Serves as an interactive book with fairy tales from around the world written by Hans Christian Andersen, the Brothers Grimm, Aesop and other famous authors

Play mini games and sing along to four classic children's songs

Record readings as well as the songs you perform in Singalong mode

Change your voice to match that of a fairy tale character with the Magic Voice feature

Earn rewards the more you read, such as the ability to feature your Mii in select stories

Virtual sticker pad helps track progress

So far, the reviews are limited and mixed. I think, as always, this type of game depends on the players using it and what they expect from it. As a tool for interacting with children with stories, it should be somewhat satisfactory. (Although I prefer an actual book myself!) As a tool for teaching literacy, not so much, which some parents seemed to think it would do. After all, the game is actually aimed at the pre-reading set.

I find the game interesting and would love to try it with a child, but am not going to buy it to test it. I have some of my own ideas about what would make a great fairy tale video game after all of the reading I've done this past year. And I am not a gamer although I admit the Wii has gotten me to play more than any other previous system. Current favorites: Just Dance and Wii Sports Resort...

Video Games: Big Brain Wolf

Okay, here's a video game I'm tempted to download because these are my preferred type of games--I've actually played Big Brain Academy and My Word Coach on the Wii more than any other console games in my life--so perhaps at some point I will get this to play. I like brain teasers and puzzle and logic games.

Publisher's description:

Big Brain Wolf is a hilarious point and click adventure game for puzzle lovers. The player takes upon the role of an asthmatic vegetarian wolf studying to become a genie. In the course of his adventures the player will encounter a large cast of famous funny characters and solve sixty different puzzles. Six neuroscientist designed highly replayable brain training exercises will earn the player precious hints to help solve the more difficult puzzles.

60 Different challenging puzzles and enigmas to solve

20 Puzzle filled scenes spanning a 5 chapters captivating story

A funny new take on universal characters that will appeal to all

6 brain training exercises designed and approved by the neuroscientists of Brain Center International

10 Original STEAM achievements

Great original soundtrack by a jazz quartet

Here are some articles:

Puzzle game Big Brain Wolf takes the 'bad' out of the Red Riding Hood story by Nellie Johnson

The game is mainly a wink-wink nudge-nudge version of the Red Riding Hood story but throws in other familiar fairy tale characters like the seven dwarves and the three little pigs for good measure. In this fractured fairy tale, the Big Bad Wolf isn't bad at all—in fact, he hates eating people and if he had his way, would sit around all day playing chess and eating boca burgers.

Against his will, he's pulled into an adventure through the course of which, he'll (read: “you'll”) have to solve over sixty puzzles and engage in six brain-training exercises. Get those brain cells ready because the exercises in BBW (which are designed to sharpen specific brain functions) were designed in collaboration with the neuroscientists of Brain Center International, who are responsible for the famous NeuroActive Program.

Big Brain Wolf Now Available on Steam: Geeky, vegetarian wolf stars in a puzzle-filled point and click adventure.

With a cast of familiar characters, including Little Red Riding Hood, the Three Little Pigs, and the Seven Dwarves, Big Brain Wolf gives a modern twist to all of your favorite tales!

A classic point and click adventure, Big Brain Wolf takes players through a fantastical world as a not so big, not so bad asthmatic vegetarian wolf studying to become a genie. This humorous tale has players solving sixty unique puzzles while trying to untangle a sordid murder mystery. To add another layer to the game, Frima Studio teamed up with the neuroscientists of Brain Center International to develop six fun brain training exercises for Big Brain Wolf. Completing these exercises will grant players useful hints to help them solve the game's hardest puzzles while also sharpening essential mental functions like memory, processing speed, decision making, and multitasking.

Big Brain Wolf is available now on Steam for $9.99. A downloadable trial is also available at Big Brain Wolf's official website.

And note that Little Red Riding Hood is in another video game. She really is the queen of the video game world when it comes to fairy tales.

No sales affiliations on this game folks, just news. There rarely are affiliations unless there are Amazon links. If I buy and try it out, I will post about it again.