There is one Activision games title which will be on many people’s Christmas lists this year but it may not be the one you are thinking of. Skylanders have already enjoyed a phenomenal amount of success in the build up to Christmas, bewitching children and adults alike with their cool designs and collect-ability. Naturally, the franchise is measured against the behemoth that is Pokemon, however their success is due to a much more measured and calculated sales strategy.

The top seven games featured in the GfK chart track (Elder Scrolls, Modern Warfare 3, Fifa 12 to name a few) have spent considerable amounts of money on television advertising in a bid to increase sales.  Skylanders have taken a rather different approach to great success. By establishing exclusive deals with top US retailers Walmart, Target and Toys R Us for sales of specific Skylanders characters, Activision have created a huge buzz around which Skylanders figures are available.  Additionally, some are only available with certain console starter packs such as the Skylanders Ignitor Figure and Skylander Dark Spyro Figure, both of which are only available with the Skylanders Nintendo 3DS Starter Pack.

This tactic has been considerably effective in creating a huge interest in the products and their availability across console platforms. Furthermore, it allows the retailers to take an invested interest in marketing their exclusive products in a way which would otherwise be quite expensive for Activision.

With over 30 Skylanders to collect and an average retail cost of £7.95 each, this is certainly one franchise which is enjoying healthy returns – even if at the dismay to parents who have to foot the bill!

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The Wii Sports Resort technology

Wii Sports Resort utilizes the Wii MotionPlus hardware accessory, which is included in the game package. This responsive tool plugs into the Wii Remote to make the game more in tune with players’ movements. The Wii MotionPlus is a small device that does not weigh down the Wii remote or make it overly bulky. Its purpose is to recognize more complex motions than the remote could respond to on its own. Additionally, the Wii MotionPlus enhances response time so that users’ motions are instantly reflected on the game screen. In addition to Wii Sports Resort, the Wii MotionPlus has also been used with Crazy Mini Golf, Red Steel, Academy of Champions, and other newer Wii games.

A fun, family friendly multiplayer game

Like the original game, Wii Sports Resort is designed for multiplayer usage and for friendly competition among family and friends. As such, it can accommodate up to four players in each game. Nintendo has yet to reveal all the potential games available, but some of the sports options will include Frisbee, jet skiing, sword play (Kendo), ping pong, and golf. All in all, at least ten games will be included with Wii Sports Resort with the potential for more to be made available through an expansion pack at a later date.

Users playing Wii Sports Resort play using their Mii characters. A Mii is a virtual avatar that users can create and use with a wide range of Wii games. A Mii also allows a player to keep track of high scores and earn bragging rights both with friends at home and across the Wii network.

Wii Sports Resort is a simple, intuitive game designed for users of all levels. Players do not need any familiarity with video games to appreciate the Wii Sports Resort experience, and there is little, if any, learning curve associated with game play. Plus, like many Wii games, Wii Sports Resort gets players off the couch and promotes active play instead of sedentary gaming. The game is set to be released in the summer of 2009, and will likely boast top sales marks among Wii owners.

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