Game Party
| Industry | Video games |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Game Party (video game series) |
Game Party is a party video game created by FarSight Studios and distributed by Midway. This budget-friendly title for the Wii initially launched in North America on November 27, 2007, before becoming available in Australia and Europe in February 2008. It marks the first installment of the Game Party franchise.
Development
In 2006, Midway collaborated with FarSight Studios to produce a minigame compilation specifically designed for the Wii. Early in 2007, Midway revealed its fall lineup for Nintendo platforms, featuring Game Party as an affordable option. The release encountered certain production difficulties.
Gameplay
Game Party presents a variety of traditional skill-based games sourced from different cultures, utilizing the Wii’s motion-sensing capabilities. Players engage in activities such as darts, air hockey, basketball hoop shooting, and multiplayer trivia challenges. The game includes more than six minigames and employs a ticket system that allows unlocking extra content like additional games, characters, and play tables.
Reception
The title was met with predominantly negative feedback, receiving a low Metacritic rating of 25/100 and being labeled among the worst games ever made. IGN criticized it as an early example of Wii "shovelware," pointing out deficiencies in both graphics and gameplay. Eurogamer gave it a score of 1/10, condemning its visual presentation and lack of fun. AceGamez also delivered a harsh review, highlighting poor control mechanics and an inability to capture the charm found in similar games such as WarioWare: Smooth Moves.
Sales
The original Game Party achieved a "Platinum" sales certification from the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA), indicating sales exceeding 300,000 units within the UK. As of February 12, 2009, Midway announced that the series had surpassed total sales of 3 million copies.
Sequels
On April 18, 2008, Midway unveiled Game Party 2 during their Gamer Day event held in Las Vegas. The sequel was released on October 6, 2008, for the Wii and was marketed as More Game Party in European and Australian markets.
Midway announced Game Party 3 on April 6, 2009, through their 10-K report. Following Midway’s bankruptcy, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment acquired most of its properties, including the Game Party brand, subsequently releasing Game Party 3 for the Wii on October 6, 2009.
The series also expanded with titles such as Game Party: In Motion for Xbox 360 Kinect and Game Party Champions on Wii U.