Topic: Groovin' Blocks is going from WiiWare to Retail

[Penguin_Of_Thyme]

Last September's musical WiiWare title is getting a full-blown retail disc release with new features and content. There will also be an iPhone version.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=18495

 Zoo Publishing recently announced that Groovin' Blocks, a rhythm puzzle game that originally debuted on WiiWare, will be available for purchase in stores, later this year, in both Europe and North America. To entice owners of the WiiWare version, the retail release is slated to include all new levels and music.    

As in many popular puzzle titles, blocks will drop from the top of the screen and must be arranged in groups of the same color to be obliterated. The unique hook of GroovinÂ’ Blocks is that bonus points and special items are awarded for dropping blocks in time with the musical beat. The publisher's CEO Mark Serement said, "Pounding rhythms beat out the tempo of each puzzle—like a pulse to each level—bringing whole new life to casual gaming." One can also expect the head-to-head and co-op modes of the original to make a return.    

All New Editions Of GroovinÂ’ Blocks Keep The Beat    

Zoo Publishing, Inc. & Empty Clip Studios Partner on New Rhythmic Puzzle Games    

May 21, 2009 – New York, NY—This Summer youÂ’ll be nodding your head to the next big thing in casual gaming as Zoo Publishing, Inc. and Empty Clip Studios combine music and rhythm with traditional puzzle gameplay in GroovinÂ’ Blocks.  The successful WiiWare game is getting beefed up for an enhanced experience on Wii with all new levels, brand new songs, and more hours of puzzling play.  And for the first time, youÂ’ll be able to take GroovinÂ’ Blocks on-the-go with a whole new iPhone edition.    

GroovinÂ’ Blocks brings a new twist to classic puzzle gameplay.  Players maneuver colorful blocks and drop them in like-colored clusters to clear the board.  But an original soundtrack with all new beats really drives the gameplay in GroovinÂ’ Blocks.  Drop the blocks on the beats and play to the rhythm of the music for higher scores and bonuses—and really let the music take over!  ItÂ’s this simple addition—seamlessly integrating head-bobbing beats into each puzzle—that truly makes GroovinÂ’ Blocks an addictive guilty pleasure.      

“GroovinÂ’ Blocks really stands out as an entirely unique puzzle playing experience.  The way Empty Clip made music essential to the classic gameplay grabbed me right away, and we knew this would be a great fit for other gaming platforms,” says Mark Seremet, CEO of Zoo Publishing, Inc.  Â“Pounding rhythms beat out the tempo of each puzzle—like a pulse to each level—bringing whole new life to casual gaming.”    

“We are very excited to partner with Zoo to bring the extended versions of the unique musical game GroovinÂ’ Blocks to different platforms,” says Matt Shores, Managing Partner at Empty Clip Studios.  Â“North America will get to see more music and levels on Wii while the European market will have access to the game for the first time.  And introducing it to the booming iPhone™ market will really give that audience a whole new puzzle experience.”    

Check out zoogamesinc.com for more information and screen shots, and get in the game!

[Mop it up]

Awesome awesome awesome.

Oh man, this game needs to sell well so that it can open the floodgates of retail WiiWare releases. I'm gonna buy every copy I come across to ensure it happens.

[Jonnyboy117]

Many WiiWare games wouldn't work on a retail disc, unless bundled with several others as a compilation. Groovin' Blocks is one of the few that already felt like a regular retail game. With a few new songs, no one will be complaining about the size or depth of this game.

[DAaaMan64]

So what should I do buy it on WiiWare or wait for retail?

[vudu]

So what should I do buy it on WiiWare or wait for retail?

I'd like to know the same thing.  It probably depends on several different things, including

1)  Price of the retail release
2)  Added content
3)  How much you like the core game play

[Jonnyboy117]

Yep, vudu is right. We need more info to make that call. I hope to have some useful answers for you guys by tomorrow...

Also note that the WiiWare version is just 800 points.

[Stratos]

I've been meaning to get this game eventually on WiiWare. I may just hold out for the retail version and then decide between the two based on reviews of the new one.

[Flames_of_chaos]

I personally think that it would be better as a WiiWare game. Whenever I have the desire to play it, I just boot it up from my SD card before I play a retail game. I usually play this game in short bursts before or after a retail game. I really don't understand why someone would want this on a disc because you do get a lot of gameplay out of the 8 dollars that you pay for it.

[Mop it up]

I'm guessing this retail release is targeting those who do not have their Wii connected to the Internet and/or those who are unaware/indifferent about the Wii Shop Channel/WiiWare. Which is a pretty large percentage of the Wii userbase it would seem.

[Nick DiMola]

I like WiiWare, don't get me wrong, but I'd much rather see the "Best Of" titles make their way to the retail outlet. I've always been of the opinion that from now until the end of my time I can find any video game system that I grew up with somewhere. With WiiWare and the like, the day Nintendo (or whomever) decides to flip the off switch, bye bye downloaded games (if my system were to croak).

Plus the collector in me likes to see the physical form of the game on my shelf, rather than just a channel when I boot up my Wii.

[Flames_of_chaos]

I like WiiWare, don't get me wrong, but I'd much rather see the "Best Of" titles make their way to the retail outlet. I've always been of the opinion that from now until the end of my time I can find any video game system that I grew up with somewhere. With WiiWare and the like, the day Nintendo (or whomever) decides to flip the off switch, bye bye downloaded games (if my system were to croak).

Plus the collector in me likes to see the physical form of the game on my shelf, rather than just a channel when I boot up my Wii.

The only problem with those are, you don't control which titles you are getting. I'm not sure how successful Xbox Live Unplugged was.

[TJ Spyke]

Probably not too well since it was called "Xbox Live Arcade Unplugged Vol. 1", but we have yet to see a Volume 2 (although they did make another XBLA compilation disc and currently bundle it with the Xbox 360 Arcade).