Time To Play’s video game reviewer, Jeff McKinney has a new review on the site. The game is Sonny With A Chance and here is a snippet from the review:

“Sonny With A Chance is the latest Disney Channel hit show and stars Demi Lovato in the role of Allison “Sonny” Munroe, a teen who lands a role on her favorite TV show, “So Random”! The video game, of the same name, allows fans of the show to play as their favorite character in a collection of mini-games with a board game theme.”

You can read the entire review now by clicking here and check out more video game reviews in our Video Game section here.

Play Categories: Video Games

Time To Play’s video game reviewer, Jeff McKinney has a new review on the site. The game is Deca Sports DS and here is a snippet from the review:

“Following the success of the Deca Sports series on the Wii, Deca Sports DS is a diverse collection of ten sports games that range from standards like golf and Ping Pong to the more off-beat such as Arm Wrestling, Clay Shooting and Sepak Takraw (that’s a new one to me).”

You can read the entire review now by clicking here and check out more video game reviews in our Video Game section here.

Play Categories: Video Games

Every week, Time To Play’s Jeff McKinney, reviews a game that your family, friends and you will love to play.

This week’s game is World Of Zoo from THQ.

Here’s an exert from the review:

“Virtual Pet games have come a long way since the first Tamagotchi pets arrived in our pockets. While Tamagotchis are still around and getting more sophisticated all the time (best feature, the pause button so mom and dad don’t have to babysit), the current trend in virtual pets is bringing the pets out of pockets and onto game systems. Nintendogs revolutionized the category when it launched on the DS and now World of Zoo brings the long-running craze to the living room. Like all virtual pets, World of Zoo requires you to care for and raise an animal. However, this time there is a whole zoo full of animals.”

You can read the full review in our Video Game Review section by clicking here!

Play Categories: Reviews, Video Games

by Jeff McKinney (follow me on Twitter)

We just published a new review in the Video Game section on TimetoPlayMag.com. Following is the first paragraph, you can read the full review by clicking here.

“Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky is the current series of Pokémon games, introduced in 2005, in which players play the game as a Pokémon creature rather then a human trainer. The latest installment in the series, Explorers of Sky, is a continuation of the previous games-Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness-and features a similar dungeon-exploring gameplay experience with an expanded story line. In Sky, we learn what happened to Grovyle the Thief and find out how the Wigglytuff Guild comes together. These names might not mean much to you but fans of the series, of which there are many, will want to know all about them.”

Continue reading.

Play Categories: Reviews, Video Games

by Jeff McKinney (follow me on Twitter)

I’m going to go out on a limb and assume that if you are a regular reader of The Play Forum, then chances are good that you have heard of Zhu-Zhu pets. For everyone that just stumbled across this blog for the first time, Zhu-Zhu pets are a line of robotic hamsters that have become the runaway, must-have, hit of the 2009 holiday season. With the tremendous success of the toy line, the next logical step for the Zhu-Zhu Pets would have to be video games and that’s exactly where these little robo-rodents are heading.

The game company, Activision and Cepia, the toy-maker responsible for Zhu-Zhu Pets, announced that they plan to release a game for the Nintendo DS/DSi next year (2010). We don’t have any details on the game itself but I’m guessing we can expect a Littlest Pet Shop or Nintendogs style game, where kids care for and play with the hamster pets.

We’ll keep you posted on the Zhu-Zhu Pets video game as more information becomes available. In the meantime, there’s just 14 hours remaining until we give away a Zhu-Zhu Giant Hamster City Playset on TimetoPlayMag.com. Click here to enter the drawing and good luck!

Play Categories: Video Games

by Jeff McKinney (follow me on Twitter)

I know money is tighter then ever for many of us this year but I wanted to tell you about Child’s Play Charity. Established in 2003, Child’s Play is a game industry charity dedicated to improving the lives of children in hospitals around the world with toys and games. The charity works with each hospital’s staff to set up gift wish lists full of video games, toys, and movies. You can go to each hospital’s list and buy a toy, and that toy will be sent to the hospital.

Buying an item from the wish-list is easy, just visit the charity’s website at ChildsPlayCharity.org and select the hospital from a map. You will then be directed to the wish list on a partner site like Amazon.com. The Wish List includes a ship-to address, so you can pick out an item and have it sent to Child’s Play Charity at checkout. You can also make a cash donation through PayPal or by check directly to Child’s Play.

For more information or to make a donation, please visit ChildsPlayCharity.org.

Play Categories: Video Games, charity, holidays

by Jeff McKinney (follow me on Twitter)

Nintendo likes to pull out all the stops when it comes to releasing big video game titles and you can’t get much bigger than a new Zelda game. To celebrate the release of The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, the Nintendo World Store in New York City (just off Rockefeller Center) will open it’s doors this Sunday night at midnight for a special two-hour pre-sale of the game.

In addition to being the first on your block to own Spirit Tracks, anyone who buys the game during this event will receive a Feather stylus and 10% off all Zelda merchandise (excluding hardware and software). And, since nothing says hoopla like die-hard fans in costume, prizes will be awarded to customers who attend the event dressed as their favorite Legend of Zelda character.

The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks for the Nintendo DS is rated Everyone 10+. The game will be in all stores and available online December 7, 2009 for a suggested retail price of $34.99

For more information on the Nintendo World Store, visit the store’s website at NintendoWorldStore.com.

Play Categories: Video Games

by Jeff McKinney (follow me on Twitter)

Just because Black Friday and Cyber Monday have passed doesn’t mean that you can’t continue to find great shopping deals on video games. I’ll do my best to keep you updated on these deals over the next few weeks.

The first deal you might want to check out is GameFly’s daily deals on select used games. Each day this week, GameFly is selling used games at great prices and with free shipping for members. The games tend to be popular Teen and Mature rated titles–which are not for the little gamers in your household–and are likely on your gamer’s wish list, including today’s Call Of Duty for $20. GameFly’s used games are 100% guaranteed and come complete with case and manual.

You will also find great deals every day in GameFly’s Bargain Bin. Here you will find games for all ages at prices as low as $8. You can visit the Bargain Bin by clicking here.

Do you know of any great game deals out there? Let us know in the comments section.

Play Categories: Deals, Video Games

by Jeff McKinney (follow me on Twitter)

It’s the day before Thanksgiving and I’ve got food on my mind. Food and video games that is, which is why Cook Or Be Cooked is the perfect gaming compliment to tomorrow’s feast.

Cook or be Cooked from Namco and Food Network is a game that can also improve your real-world culinary skills. Using the Wii-Remote and Nunchuk controller, the game requires you to perform slicing and dicing actions as you play through over 30 actual recipes from the Food Network Kitchens. Play alone or challenge a friend to a cooking dual as you follow the on-screen cooking instructions.

If you enjoy the Cooking Mama games, then you will love Cook or be Cooked, which consists of a similar play-pattern but features real recipes that you can recreate in your kitchen.

Cook or be Cooked is in stores and available online now for the Nintendo Wii. The game is rated Everyone.

Play Categories: Video Games