Topic: EA Gets Ready to Boogie

[Bloodworth]

The studio behind SSX Blur is working on an exclusive rhythm game for Wii.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=13189

 EA Announces Boogie, a New Music-Based Videogame Exclusively for the Wii

   

EA Montreal Delivers the Complete Videogame Entertainment Package to Gamers of All Ages Adding Another Title to Their Roster of New EA Intellectual Property

   

MONTREAL-- Electronic Arts announced today that Boogie™ – an all new intellectual property in development at EA Montreal will be released exclusively for the Wii™ worldwide in 2007. Boogie is a unique music/rhythm-based game that takes advantage of the innovative Wii controls to get gamers off their couch, playing and dancing to a new beat.

   

“We’re creating something new and different for gamers of all ages to enjoy; the complete party package where gamers can dance as well as sing," said Alain Tascan, Vice President and General Manager, EA Montreal. “Nintendo’s Wii is an amazing console that really gives us a platform to be creative and to re-think traditional game development."

   

Boogie will have gamers dancing, singing and starring in their own music videos. Players can also choose and customize different characters in the game to best show off their dancing style and karaoke skills. With innovative gameplay that perfectly matches the unique Wii controls, Boogie is the ultimate videogame party package.

   

Boogie is the latest addition to EA Montreal’s roster of high profile games including SSX™ Blur and ARMY OF TWO™. SSX Blur is the newest version of the critically acclaimed snowboarding franchise that shipped exclusively for the Wii in February. EA Montreal is also working on ARMY OF TWO, the highly anticipated shooter and original intellectual property that will redefine strategic two-man cooperative play. The game was ranked at the top of the list in Electronic Gaming Monthly’s Top 50 Coolest New Games cover story in their August issue. ARMY OF TWO will be released for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and Xbox 360™ videogame and entertainment system.

   

EA established the studio in downtown Montreal in 2004. EA Montreal uses state-of-the-art technology and the remarkable creative talents of its game makers to develop the next-generation of interactive entertainment pushing the envelope in creativity and innovation. Since opening its doors in 2004, the EAM team has released NHL® 07 for current-gen systems which is the top selling game in Canada last year.

[TJ Spyke]

The pictures (which I saw at NeoGAF) make it look pretty good. The real exciting news though is this is basically the first confirmation that a mic is coming out for the Wii.

[Bloodworth]

The second.  The first was Disney's High School Musical, which was discussed on the podcast a couple weeks ago.

[TJ Spyke]

Ah, thanks. I rarely listen to the podcast.

[Djunknown]

So EA is muscling on Konami's territory eh? Not that Konami announced Karaoke Revolution on Wii or anything...

But how are they going to map the dancing? Will the players twirl the Wiimote/Microphone raver-style?

Still, its an interesting concept. EA Montreal more or less have a handle on Wii controls, if Blur's any indication.

[Bill Aurion]

From the screens it looked like the dancing is mapped to the movement of the nunchuck...

[GoldenPhoenix]

I'm interested in seeing what EA does with the dancing, I remember the short dancing segment in WarioWare Smooth Moves to be a BLAST though.