After Agents, Racing, Party, Kingdom and others that I may have forgotten, MySims are now entering the Danger Zone with SkyHeroes; a flight combat game that reminisces of titles like Snoopy Flying Ace and Crimson Skies. Let me begin by saying that whoever reads this review should know that SkyHeroes can be easily enjoyed by adults, but the whole point is to please the younglings first and invite their parents to join the fun. If you suffer from ADHD and already skipped to the bottom of this review, the chances of our final score surprising you are high.

A nameless pilot finds himself stranded on a beach after his plane crashed. Afflicted with memory loss, he gets recruited by a rebel group known as the SkyHeroes, who seek to clean the skies from the Chaos Pirate organization led by the evil Morcubus. From there, players are tasked with defeating Morcubus and his acolytes and earn victory in the different aerial combat set-ups and racing challenges.

I won’t spend much time making you believe that the storyline presented in SkyHeroes is groundbreaking and amazing because it isn’t. It’s highly forgettable, so much so that even the cleverest kid will end up losing any interest in the characters or the main plot. However, SkyHeroes scores positively on everything else…given that you understand that this game is strictly aimed at a young audience. The story mode is made of several plane races and dogfights that award the player with unlockables which allows for creating, modifying and improving the planes as well as customizing the main character at will. The rewards are based on how high players rank on each given mission and how fast they’re completed. Finish a mission, return to base, talk to the obnoxious characters, find out that you’re being sent to another dogfight or race…rinse and repeat. Even though the mission structure becomes repetitive quickly, the simple and straightforward combat is what makes this game somewhat fun. Controls are responsive and intuitive. The respawn system is almost instantaneous. Planes don’t explode when hitting structures. Defensive and offensive power-ups (which act as a secondary weapon) are scattered across the maps and can be picked up at any time.

To increase the game’s appeal, a Quickplay mode as well as a two-player local and 10-player online multiplayer mode is also available. Unless there are people on your friends list playing, finding random pilots online might be a difficult task since no one is playing the game (at least during my review time). I don’t know if the £30 price tag has something to do with it, but if a game like Snoopy Flying Ace (a £5 game mind you) has trouble filling its matchmaking lobbies nowadays, EA shouldn’t be surprised to see this game get snubbed. I’ve said it countless times, if a developer is going with a simplistic experience while aiming at kids and families, the price should reflect that. Games like these don’t get the same budgets other AAA games do. So why not go the budget-title route? By the way, MySims SkyHeroes isn’t better than the aforementioned Snoopy Flying Ace. Knowing there’s a £25 gap between the titles (one being retail and the other downloadable), the purchasing choice between the two is painfully obvious.

Of course, when evaluated from an experienced gamer point of view, MySims SkyHeroes is a disappointing title. Enemy AI is cheap and has overpowered aerial manoeuvres. You are able to pull off evasive movesl with the right thumbstick but compared to what the AI can do, your moves aren’t that efficient against the enemy. The targeting system isn’t very precise either. Matter of fact, power-ups makes it easier to get rid of enemies so make sure they’re used as often as possible.The gameplay has a hard time following the story too. It seems to be a bit confusing when not finishing first is considered winning. As long as you finish in the top three – in spite of the enemy ranking above you – you’re a winner. The game does suffer from its giving nature and it could have certainly been handled differently. SkyHeroes doesn’t take advantage of the Xbox 360/Playstation 3 hardware capabilities either. Despite the large and diverse environments, the visuals are extremely simplistic and won’t ‘wow’ anyone. Keep in mind that this is looking at it from an experienced gamer’s point of view. Kids – which is the target audience here – won’t be concerned about most of these issues. Oh, if you haven’t played a MySims game prior to this one, be ready to get annoyed by the Sinmlish dialogue. Just saying…

Despite its negatives, MySims SkyHeroes does a good job at keeping the young and/or inexperienced player interested. Its solid level of customization and intuitive flight combat mechanics make it a worth checking out, but not at the current price point. Pricing a game at the same level as other, more adult oriented and full featured AAA titles, even though the game in question is clearly target for kids and stripped back a bit in certain areas, is a fail in my book. If it’s geared toward the younger set, then it should be priced accordingly. As for the hardcore gamer, don’t go in expecting a story-driven Crimsons Skies-like experience. You’d be better served keeping your £30 for something else.

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Smart Bomb, known for the development of such popular games as Snoopy Flying Ace and National Geographic Animal Jam, are developing the upcoming free-to-play flight combat game that will have players taking flight in customizable airplanes built for fast-paced multiplayer battles in an attempt to rule the skies.  Scheduled to launch in the first half of 2011, players can learn more about the game and register to receive news updates at www.skylegends.com.

Players will take flight in this unique browser-based game where they will fly customizable open cockpit era airplanes and battle other players in fast-paced multiplayer combat.  Influenced by FPS titles and based in a fictional fantasy world, Sky Legends will feature multiple factions to join or battle against as a work-for-hire mercenary that seeks to restore order to the world! The game’s item shop will include hundreds of items to enhance the player’s planes, weapons, and piloting skills, presented in numerous categories with exclusive items on offer.  Airplanes in Sky Legends reflect the personalities and combat styles of their pilots; and with the diverse, fun art styles of three airplane classes to choose from and hundreds of possible enhancements, players will discover endless customization options.

“Sky Legends expands the typical flight combat genre of games and brings a fun and irreverent feel to the gameplay experience,” said Peter Cesario, Director of Product Development of UTV True Games.  “Smart Bomb has an excellent pedigree of high-quality, fun and dynamic flying titles so we are confident that Sky Legends will be another amazing product from this team.”

At launch, players will be able to master the skies by battling in three fast-paced game modes including Dog Fight, Team Dog Fight, and Capture the Flag.  Additional launch highlights will include community features such as friend’s lists, guilds, achievements, rankings and leaderboards.  A diverse cast of characters, multiple weapons to earn and unlock, extensive customization features and diverse mission environments will appeal to both shooter fans and players who wish to reconnect with the aerial combat genre or try it out for the first time.

“Our team has an extensive background with successful flying games, and we are confident that Sky Legends will be an instant multiplayer hit,” said Graham Kays, Game Director of Sky Legends at Smart Bomb.  “Our goal is to deliver the pulse-pounding action and intense competitive gameplay of aerial dogfighting without the complexity and inaccessibility of conventional aerial combat games.”

For more information and to join the community, visit www.SkyLegends.com.

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The title is available in high definition for the Xbox 360, PS3, and on Wii and Nintendo DS.

“MySims SkyHeroes strikes the right balance for players of all skill levels with three levels of difficulty, making it an ideal game for everyone from fathers and sons to play together, to hardcore gaming fans looking for high-speed aerial maneuvers, boss battles and multiplayer action,” said Scott Evans, General Manager of the The Sims Studio. “This makes the game a must-have for any gamer this holiday season, especially as the MySims franchise expands to new platforms to bring even more fans into the fold.”

Players begin the game as a pilot who has crash landed on an island, waking up with amnesia. He joins a group of fellow stranded pilots in a quest to take down the villain Morcubus, who is doing everything in his power to prevent anyone from flying in an attempt to rule the skies.

MySims SkyHeroes pilots jump right into the action in Single Player Campaign mode, flying through 42 different missions over 12 vastly different environments as they gather power-ups and assorted unlockable upgrades while trying to rack up the best score along the way. With each accomplished mission, the player becomes an increasingly high profile and feared hero by defeating deadly enemies, testing his mettle in high-speed challenges, or facing down huge bosses. While progressing through the game, players use power-ups such as radar jammers and giant laser attachments to temporarily punish the enemy. They can also use unlockable elements to customize their planes and outwit foes. For instance, players can swap in a new engine or upgrade wings to create a faster, more nimble aircraft; paint and detail planes to blend and disappear into the environment to evade combatants; or upgrade weapons as well as the pilot himself with new facial features and hats. The customization combinations are endless, which is part of the MySims SkyHeroes strategy and fun.

Branching storylines also keep MySims SkyHeroes interesting at every looping turn. For example, if a player is engaged in a mission that has him facing off with a difficult boss, he can temporarily leave the battle to rescue a fellow MySims character who may be able to assist in the battle against that boss.

MySims SkyHeroes also offers two Quick Play modes — Dogfighting and Racing. Dogfighting allows players to challenge foes in dangerous aerial maneuvers like barrel rolls and loops against a cityscape backdrop or a lush tropical paradise, complete with an active volcano. The Racing mode tests a player’s twitch reflexes during high-speed solo or team challenges. Both styles ratchet up the adrenaline when players click into online multiplayer action allowing up to 10 players on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, six on the Wii or four on the Nintendo DS. The game becomes even more riveting by viewing the action in local split-screen format on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 33, allowing players to team up in co-op play against eight AI opponents, or go head-to-head against each other in competitive play.

MySims SkyHeroes for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii and Nintendo DS is rated 3+ by PEGI. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions carry an RRP of £39.99 while the Wii version has an RRP of £29.99 and the Nintendo DS version has an RRP of £29.99.

We managed to get hands on with the game a month ago and must say that it was a lot of fun.

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From 10 November 2010, TV will take a step into the future with the full integration of Kinect and Sky Player on Xbox 360.  Controllable with gestures of your hand or using your voice, Sky Player subscribers will be able to quickly access up to 32 live TV channels and over 100 on demand programmes including movies, sport and a wide range of TV programmes.  Selecting a favourite show, changing live channels, or easily scrolling forward and back through on-demand content is all made possible by a simple wave of a hand.

Kinect for Sky Player on Xbox 360 will also let viewers control TV with their voice to pause, fast forward, rewind and play content.

BSkyB’s Sky Player service brings with it a vast array of channels and programmes that subscribers can view live or on-demand. The successful collaboration between Xbox and BSkyB continues to develop and grow – with over 1 million Sky Player application downloads on Xbox 360 since launch.

The addition of Kinect functionality to the popular Sky Player service extends consumer choice even further, putting viewers in more control than ever before.

Available from: 10 November 2010

For more information on Sky Player on Xbox 360 and to sign up visit. www.xbox.com/skyplayer

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The EA Play Label of EA today announced MySims SkyHeroes, a new flying action-adventure and the next installment from the MySims franchise is in development for Wii, Nintendo DS, and for the first time, the Xbox 360 and PS3.

“MySims games have truly become favorites among kids, families and gamers alike, so we have challenged ourselves to take development to the next level and deliver a new style of adventure for fans with game features and MySims-style fun that can be enjoyed equally by all,” said Scott Evans, General Manager of the The Sims Studio. “We are thrilled to have many firsts with MySims SkyHeroes, like introducing epic boss battles, cooperative gameplay missions and online multiplayer, all available for the very first time in any MySims game.”

In MySims SkyHeroes, players take to the sky to lead the resistance against Morcubus and his drone army and to stop his plans to take over the skyways. Starting as an unknown pilot, players fight to become a celebrated hero as they defeat dangerous enemies in aerial combat, test their reflexes in fast-paced speed challenges, and take on massive enemy bosses that demand all their skills as a pilot to survive. As they progress, players build, customize and tune their aircraft to give them an edge in combat – upgrade wings for swifter maneuvers, switch out the engine for a speed boost, or change the paint job to camouflage the plane and avoid enemy fire.

The popular MySims franchise, which has sold over 8 million units worldwide, will debut for the first time on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 with MySims SkyHeroes. Expanding to these new platforms, the game will feature a full solo campaign, as well as local split-screen and online multiplayer where fans will be able to fly with or against up to 10 friends in – cooperative or competitive modes.

Developed by The Sims Studio in the EA Play Label, MySims SkyHeroes is scheduled to be available worldwide Autumn 2010.

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As well as 24 live streaming channels, Sky Player offers thousands of hours of on-demand programmes, making it the most comprehensive web-based on-demand service available from any UK and Ireland broadcaster.  There are over 400 movies to watch at anytime from Sky Movies, over a thousand sporting highlights from Sky Sports, and hundreds of other programming highlights spanning entertainment, drama, comedy, music, documentaries and kids.

To watch Sky Player on Xbox 360, customers will need an Xbox LIVE Gold membership.  Non– Sky Direct to Home (DTH) customers will also require a monthly subscription which starts at £15 per month to Sky Player’s Base Entertainment Pack. Customers who want to watch Sky Sports 1, 2, 3 and Xtra, ESPN and the Sky Movies channels will be able to add these channels to their Base Entertainment Pack for an additional cost.  In addition to the live channels, customers will also have access to on-demand programmes from channels they subscribe to. Existing Sky customers with Xbox Live Gold membership will be able to access Sky Player’s on-demand content in line with the channels they are able to access through their core Sky TV subscription.  Customers with Sky Multiroom or Sky Broadband Unlimited subscriptions are additionally able to access live channels for no extra charge.

Sky Player is the latest addition to Xbox LIVE’s ever increasing range of entertainment. From enjoying high definition blockbuster movies, watching the best music videos, video chatting to friends, or playing games with people wherever they are, Xbox LIVE offers the best entertainment whether you’re into gaming or not.

A Sky Player retail bundle pack including 1 month Sky Player Subscription (Sky Sports Pack), Media Remote and 3 month LIVE Gold Membership Subscription Card will be available from stores priced at £29.99 and it is a deal that could be a necessary welcome as we have looked into the add ons which can amount to a total of £38 per month which is a huge amount to pay on top of your live subscription.

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1. Sky TV on 360 goes live this month

Microsoft has confirmed today that the sky player for xbox live will go live on October 27th.

“October 27 – that’s the date when you’ll be able to watch TV from Sky on your Xbox 360,” said Graeme Boyd, Microsoft Europe’s Xbox community manager.

Announced in May, the service will allow Xbox 360 owners to access a range of channels and programmes to view live or on-demand. Content will initially be offered in standard definition only, and won’t be recordable.

While Boyd added that channel line-up and pricing are “to come at launch”, users can expect to be able to access movies and entertainment shows, as well as documentaries and programming dedicated to kids, music, the arts and sport, including Premier League football and Test Match cricket.

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