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06/10/2009 04:18 PM

E3 2009: Everyday Activities Turn Into Video Games

By: Adam Balkin

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The Electronic Entertainment Expo unveiled "casual games" that could be fun even for those who claim they don't play video games. NY1's Adam Balkin filed the following report.

"Press Your Luck" was a fun game show, but now gamers can personally feel that unique humiliation of defeat at the hands of "Whammies."

"It's got all the beloved features you would expect to have from the game, so you get your Whammies and when you get four of those you're out and they'll come steal your money if you get them," says Marcella Luke-Fernandez of Ubisoft.

If you prefer to keep Whammies at bay and use virtual money for virtual home improvements, the game "Our House Party" lets players work on nagging chores from the comfort of the couch.

"Pretty much it's based on home renovation, so you do things like exterminate the bugs outside in the garden, move furniture from Home Depot, which is in the game, move them into your house," says Joe Ronquillo of Majesco. "And you have to beat your opponents, get the best time, best score, things like that."

Big city apartment dwellers who are unaccustomed to such tasks can still have fun, as the same company is producing "Go Play City Sports."

"It's basically just a quick romp through games you'd play as a kid growing up in a city. So you have stickball, kickball, street hockey, jumprope, handball and soccer," says Joseph Goldstein of Majesco.

Finally, to appeal to both cities and the suburbs, skateboarder Tony Hawk has come out with "Tony Hawk Ride," which comes with its own skateboard, seen above.

"This thing has got a ton of technology," says Hawk. "It's got an accelerometer, it's got infrared sensors so it knows where your feet are. It knows your hands, so you can come in and go for grabs. You can lean in or kick it up. You can actually put your foot alongside of it, as if you're pushing along. The whole thing responds like a real skateboard."

The best part is, even if you wipeout really badly, the worst injury you're likely to sustain is a rug burn.