FANS in Birmingham were the first in Europe to get a glimpse of the latest version of smash hit video game Skylanders at the weekend.
The Skylanders Arena tour kicked off at the city's Bullring centre on Saturday, with the highlight for many being the chance to get some hands-on game time with the eagerly anticipated Skylanders Giants.
Due for release in October, Giants is the second installment of the Skylanders game saga, following hot on the heels Spyro's Adventure - which has been one of the gaming sensations of the last year for youngsters.
The title character and his quirky sidekicks, including Eruptor, Trigger Happy and Gill Grunt, leap into the onscreen game from the Portal of Power on a mission to save their mystical world.
As well as the chance to play the new game on a giant screen and go head-to-head with other gamers, visitors at the Birmingham event had the chance to play the original game on Playstation, Xbox and Nintendo Wii consoles, be photographed with their favourite characters thanks to the magic of movie-style 'green screen' technology and win prizes in a variety of Skylanders-themed games.
There was also free body art and goody bags at the free-to-enter event.
After kicking off at the Bullring the tour will head to London before heading out all over Europe throughout September.
Skylanders fan Rory Gibson, aged seven, from Halesowen, said: "Getting to have a go on Skylanders Giants on the big screen was wicked!"
Eight-year-old sister Millie added: "It was fun having my picture taken in front of a blank background and then choosing a Skylander to appear in the photo with me."
AVID gamers have the chance to meet the stars of one of last year's biggest hits when the Skylanders Spyro's Adventure Arena Tour comes to Birmingham's Bull Ring tomorrow (Saturday, August 11).
The multi-platform adventure has been a big-hit with kids with Spyro and his fellow Skylanders becoming firm favourites alongside the likes of Sonic the Hedgehog and Super Mario.
And the arena tour gives them a chance to meet the heroes - and be among the first to get a glimpse of the eagerly anticipated follow-up, Skylanders Giants, set for release this Autumn.
Attractions for visitors to the event, at the Bull Ring centre include:
· Meet the Giants: The highlight of the tour, kids will be among the first in the world to have a look and play of Skylanders Giants. There will be two Giants statues showcasing brand new characters - a huge photo opportunity!
· Trial Turrets: Game trials of both Skylanders Spyro's Adventure and the new Skylanders Giants game will take place all day on eight trial turrets, each featuring screens - so everyone gets a chance to experience new virtual adventures.
· Portal of PowerTM Stage and Play Podium: Hosted on a giant Portal of PowerTM, visitors will be encouraged to climb the podium throughout the day for epic Skylanders play-offs and the chance to win a special prize.
· The Green Screens: All kids will be able to take a little piece of the Skylands world home, with a souvenir photograph taken with their favourite Skylander within the magical Skylands world.
· Activity Zone: Featuring face-painting, fake tattoos and games like 'Match the Pairs', this zone is packed full of fun ways for fans to immerse themselves in the Skylanders world.
· Welcome to the Arena Rewards: Everyone who visits and experiences the magic of the Skylanders Arena will be given a wristband and a goody bag filled with treats.
Doors open from 12.00 noon.
Here's this week's all-important Apple download charts
iPhone (Paid):
1.) London 2012 - Official Mobile Game (Premium) - NEOWIZ Internet Corp.
2.) WhatsApp Messenger - WhatsApp Inc.
3.) Adrian James 6 Pack Abs Workout - Six Pack Productions.
4.) Free Music Download Pro - Downloader and Player - BSOSoft.
5.) Real Steel - Jump Games Pvt. Ltd.
6.) Summer Games 3D - Tangram3D.
7.) Toon Camera - Code Organa.
8.) Talking Ted Uncensored - NBC Universal, Inc.
9.) Angry Birds Space - Rovio Mobile Ltd.
10.) Offroad Legends - Dogbyte Games Korlatolt Tarsasag.
iPhone (Free):
1.) BBC Olympics - Media Applications Technologies Limited.
2.) London 2012: Official Results App for the Olympic and Paralympic Games - The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Limited.
3.) Shooting Showdown - Naquatic.
4.) Zombie Run HD - RetroStyle Games.
5.) Catapult King - Chillingo Ltd.
6.) Tom Daley Dive 2012 - Chelsea Apps Factory Ltd.
7.) Stickman Games : Summer Edition - Robert Szeleney.
8.) FlagsQuizGame - Atico Mobile S.L.
9.) Parking 3D - xian qing.
10.) WhatsApp Messenger - WhatsApp Inc.
iPad (Paid):
1.) London 2012 - Official Mobile Game (Premium) - NEOWIZ Internet Corp.
2.) Peppa Pig's Sports Day - P2 Games Ltd.
3.) Flick Champions World Edition - Chillingo Ltd.
4.) iTranslate Voice HD - Sonico GmbH.
5.) Pages - Apple.
6.) Where's My Perry? - Disney.
7.) Real Steel - Jump Games Pvt. Ltd.
8.) Spy vs. Spy - Robots and Pencils Inc.
9.) Where's My Water? - Disney.
10.) The Dark Knight Rises - Gameloft.
iPad (Free):
1.) London 2012: Official Results App for the Olympics - The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Limited.
2.) Shooting Showdown - Naquatic.
3.) Stickman Games : Summer Edition - Robert Szeleney.
4.) BBC Olympics - Media Applications Technologies Limited.
5.) Tom Daley Dive 2012 - Chelsea Apps Factory Ltd.
6.) Zombie Run HD - RetroStyle Games.
7.) Catapult King - Chillingo Ltd.
8.) BBC iPlayer - Media Applications Technologies Limited.
9.) 360 Panorama - Occiptal.
10.) Where's My Perry? - Disney.
Superb look at the evolution of the PC game. Love this.
A really difficult battle game today for the Atari 800 called Encounter.
I remember this game really well, it was nothing flash, extremely difficult and highly addictive.
Another example of how simplistic gameplay can win the day.
Yet another Atari 800 classic for you today.
A great little game that was about two feuding wizards, you seemed to spend all the time strolling around mazes looking for spell ingredients as bonkers, hypnotic music drummed into your cranium.
Then there would be an almighty bout of warfare when you had some spells.
Such an ambitious, well presented little game.
After starting a fond look back at some of the games I loved growing up here is another one for you.
This game on reflection looks so rudimentary and short, but hell I loved it!
Again this was one of those games I played on my Atari 800/XL/XE.
In the last few days I have realised that games I thought were obscure and remembered only in my brain actually have a presence on YouTube.
So to pay homage to some of my much-loved childhood games I will be posting the odd video on here.
First up is a game I NEVER completed and to this day bugs the hell out of me - Spellbound.
Anyone else remember it? I had it on the Atari 800.
iPhone (Paid):
1.) WhatsApp Messenger - WhatsApp Inc.
2.) Score! Classic Goals - First Touch.
3.) Grand Theft Auto III - Rockstar Games.
4.) iTranslateVoice - Sonico GmbH
5.) Hambo - Miniclip.com.
6.) Angry Birds Space - Rovio Mobile Ltd.
7.) Free Music Download Pro - Downloader and Player - BSOSoft.
8.) Cut The Rope - Chillingo Ltd.
9.) David Haye's Knockout - Grubby Hands.
10.) Fruit Ninja - Halfbrick Studios.
iPhone (Free):
1.) Hide the Fart - Santpal Dhillon.
2.) 100 Floors - Tobi Apps Limited.
3.) Cut the Rope: Experiments - ZeptoLab UK Limited.
4.) Cheats for Logos Quiz Game Pro - IFS.
5.) Facebook Messenger - Facebook, Inc.
6.) Instagram - Burbn, Inc.
7.) Facebook Camera - Facebook, Inc.
8.) Embarrassing Bodies My HealthChecker - Channel 4.
9.) Feed Me Oil - Chillingo Ltd.
10.) Logos Quiz Game - AticoD.
iPad (Paid):
1.) Grand Theft Auto III - Rockstar Games.
2.) Score! Classic Goals - First Touch.
3.) Tiger Woods PGA Tour for iPad - Electronic Arts.
4.) Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars HD - Rockstar Games.
5.) Pages - Apple.
6.) Virtua Tennis Challenge - SEGA.
7.) Bejeweled HD - PopCap.
8.) Infinity Blade II - Chair Entertainment Group, LLC.
9.) Fruit Ninja HD - Halfbrick Studios.
10.) Weather Live - Apalon.
iPad (Free):
1.) Cut the Rope: Experiments HD - ZeptoLab UK Limited.
2.) Hide the Fart - Santpal Dhillon.
3.) Skype for iPad - Skype Software S.a.r.l.
4.) Reflexions - YoYo Games Ltd.
5.) Men In Black 3 - Gameloft.
6.) BBC iPlayer - Media Applications Technologies Ltd.
7.) Cheats for Logos Quiz Game Pro - IFS.
8.) eBay for iPad - eBay inc.
9.) MotoHeroz HD - Ubisoft.
10.) Mini Motor Racing HD - The Binary Mill.
Authors
Steve Wollaston - Sunday Mercury games reviewer Steve has been writing about video games for donkey's years. In fact he is probably far too old for it now which is why you will see a lot of reviews been done by kids... He has been nominated three times for Regional Games Journalist Of The Year at the Games Media Awards, but never wins. His major love is sports games and rates Sensible World of Soccer circa 90's as the greatest game ever made - closely followed by Championship Manager 2. Skyrim has currently taken over his life.
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