THE SMURFS DREAMS VIDEO GAME

From French-based video game publisher Microids comes THE SMURFS: DREAMS which allows players to pretend they've stepped into the cartoon adventures of the tiny blue gnomes who live in mushroom homes hidden away within a magical forest. THE SMURFS: DREAMS is available now for the Nintendo Switch and Sony PlayStation gaming consoles as well as via Steam for PC. The game can be played in one or two player modes so you can go solo or team up with a friend to try and foil the evil wizard Gargamel's most recent plot to capture the Smurfs so he can use them as an ingredient for his magical potions.

In Gargamel's newest scheme to catch the Smurfs, he has cast a cunning curse on the sarsaparilla bushes they eat causing any of them that take a bite out of the delicious leaves to fall into a deep slumber. Discovering the wizard's plot, the lone Smurfs not to have fallen into his trap must magically enter the dreams of those who have been enchanted to attempt to wake them up. Each dream is a unique adventure in a setting tied to the personality of the cursed Smurf where players must overcome challenges and solve mind-boggling puzzles to break Gargamel's enchantment. Hurry there is no time to waste as you must wake up the sleeping Smurfs before Gargamel reaches their village.

Michael Duport and Thomas Freund who headed the video game development team for Microids shared an interview dubbed into English for American audiences with ageekdaddy.com. They share with us some insightful tips about THE SMURFS: DREAMS including how it was inspired by an earlier Nintendo Game Boy title and how they attempted to match the quality of the animated tv series and movies within their game's scenery and action sequences. It is really amazing how much attention they put into this game to ensure it was true to the vision of the Smurfs' creator, Belgian artist Peyo.

This video game takes fan favorite aspects of classic 2D scrolling video games like Super Mario Bros and Sonic the Hedgehog and adapts them to a 3D platform with modernized graphics to provide a delightful gameplay experience. The game will have you singing la la la la la enjoying yourself while playing it instead of screaming ugh in disgust. It is not the most challenging game but it isn't meant to be. The Smurfs: Dreams is about enjoying an adventure and playing the game is meant to be a relaxing activity not something to get you stressed. Therefore, because it is a good old fashioned fun game to play that makes me nostalgic for '90s era side scrollers enhanced with outstanding eye-catching animation that makes you truly feel like as you've become part of a Smurfs' cartoon, THE SMURFS: DREAMS has earned a Geek Daddy nod of approval.

Highlights of THE SMURFS: DREAMS include:

Solo or with a friend? Prevent Gargamel's evil plans from suceeding, alone or with a friend for a smurfabulous 2-player experience 

Dive headfirst into other Smurfs' dreams. Visit unique and vibrant worlds as you hop from dream to dream, and discover all of the Smurf Village's secrets 

Delve into the Smurfs' imagination. Each dream hides a nightmare - help the Smurfs overcoming their fears through puzzles, boss fights and many other surprises.

A Smurf like you. Collect magic orbs and patterns to customize your Smurf 

Jump, hop and dash. Use your movements and tools to overcome the many challenges dreamed up by the Smurfs.

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FREE MICROIDS VIDEO GAME DEMOS ON STEAM

Are you a PC gamer? If so, you will want to check out several playable demos that will be available for FREE on Steam, offering players a sneak peek at some of the most anticipated titles from video game publisher Microids. The free demos will be available starting Monday, October 14, at 1 PM EST, as part of Steam Next Fest. Demos will be available for Empire of the Ants, Flint - Treasure of Oblivion, Amerzone - The Explorer's Legacy, Little Big Adventure Twinsen's Quest, and The Smurfs - Dreams. 

EMPIRE OF THE ANTS

Experience an immersive journey and defend your lands through tactical and strategic battles in an epic, microscopic world. Become #103,683, the Ant Savior: lead your colony, rebuild a home, protect it, make it prosper, and conquer new territories throughout different seasons. Exploration, strategy, combat skills, and alliances with local wildlife will be crucial to emerge victorious from the many challenges lying ahead. 

Inspired by Bernard Werber's bestselling Empire of the Ants, the game offers a strategic experience right off the pages of the iconic book series. Empire of the Ants will be available on November 7, 2024, on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.

FLINT: TREASURE OF OBLIVION

Prepare to embark alongside Captain Flint, his first mate Billy Bones, and a crew of seasoned pirates in search of a legendary treasure that promises freedom and fortune. With a unique narrative style inspired by traditional comic books, the tactical RPG Flint: Treasure of Oblivion invites players into a historically inspired pirate adventure mixed with a touch of fantasy. Flint: Treasure of Oblivion is scheduled for a November 14, 2024 release for PC.

AMERZONE: THE EXPLORER'S LEGACY

As a young journalist, you’ve been entrusted with a crucial mission: to cross the globe and reach the heart of a mysterious, faraway land. Your goal is to bring back the last egg of the mythical “Great White Birds”. According to legend, they are bound up with the fate of the only country they call home: a land with strange, dangerous plants and wildlife that has been devastated by years of bloody dictatorship.

Solve puzzles, find clues that will help you along your way, and get immersed in the spirit of adventure, the beauty of the landscapes and the depth of the story. A release date for this PC video games has not been announced yet.

LITTLE BIG ADVENTURE: TWINSEN'S QUEST

 First released in 1994 as “Little Big Adventure”, this action-adventure classic by Frédérick Raynal (Alone in the Dark) captivated audiences worldwide. With new artistic direction, updated gameplay, and a completely remastered soundtrack by Philippe Vachey, this remake brings back the original magic with a modern twist. Players will rediscover the enchanting world of planet Twinsun, master the Magic Ball for exciting adventures, and dive into a deep narrative, all while exploring reimagined levels for a smoother experience. 

Little Big Adventure – Twinsen’s Quest will be available digitally on November 14, 2024 for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

THE SMURFS: DREAMS

Embark on a brand-new adventure in the world of the Smurfs with the 3D platformer by Ocellus Services, The Smurfs - Dreams, where dreams collide with the darkest nightmares. Whether playing solo or with a friend, explore enchanted or eerie locations and dive into your favorite Smurfs’ dreams through levels packed with varied gameplay in this magical adventure. Each world brings its own unique challenges, offering a fully immersive experience where imagination comes to life. 

The Smurfs - Dreams will be available on October 24, 2024, in physical and digital editions for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch, and in digital formats on PC (Steam, GOG, Epic Games Store, Microsoft Store) and Xbox One/Series.

Arckit Go Colours

If you have an aspiring young architect at home you'll want to pick up an Arckit Go Colour modeling system to help him or her develop those all so important STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) skills.  Designed for kids 10+, Arckit Go Colour allows children to create a 1:48 scale model of a home they design themselves through a set of interconnecting pieces.  The modeling system also includes free access to Arckit Digital Sketch 3D Warehouse which allows kids to create detailed blueprints for the architectural masterpieces they design.  Children can be spontaneous and quickly 'click and connect' together the glue-less building blocks to create physical structures or they can meticulously plan out what they want to do using the available online tools to create their designs digitally too.  Either way children are encouraged to bring their architectural ideas to life through this Arckit freeform model making kit.

I've been really impressed by the products available from Arckit which are designed to inspire kids to be creative and learn STEAM concepts.  Unfortunately, the ArcKit Go Colour modeling system is too advanced for my 7 year old twins to really be able to enjoy at their present age.  So I've arranged a giveaway to provide a set to a family who will really appreciate it instead of A Geek Daddy providing a review of the product.  If you know a student 10 years old or older that would enjoy a ArcKit Go Colour modeling system follow the instructions below for a chance to win it for them.

Follow @Geekdad248 & RT before 10/15/16 for a chance to win a @Arckitmodel Go Colours architectural model making system for kids #ad pic.twitter.com/oOJZeVeohI

— A Geek Daddy (@GeekDad248) October 10, 2016

To be eligible for this giveaway you must follow @Geekdad248 on Twitter and retweet our original contest tweet embedded above before October 14, 2016 @ 11:59 pm EST.  Must be a US  resident over the age of 18 to participate.  No P.O. Boxes allowed for delivery of the prize.  One entry per person and winner will be randomly selected from all eligible entries.  Arckit will be responsible for the delivery of the prize to the selected winner. Each household is only eligible to win once via blog giveaways.  If you have won this movie on another blog, you will not be eligible to win it again and the prize will be forfeited.  Winner is subject to eligibility verification. By participating in this promotion you waive any liability of any kind against the publisher of this blog. A Geek Daddy is providing this giveaway contest as a benefit to our readers and social media followers and has not been financially compensated for this promotion.

Arckit GO Colours includes 170+ construction pieces inspired by real colors used in modern architecture, an illustrated instruction manual to guide children in building structures, and access to the online SketchUp 3D Warehouse that allows budding architects to create digital designs in additional to the physical concepts that they can create with this modeling system.  Arckit GO Colours is available at Barnes & Noble, Marbles: The Brain Store, and Mindware.

Teen Detective Turns 85: Happy Birthday Nancy Drew

Before there was Veronica Mars or Katniss Everdeen, the teenage detective Nancy Drew opened the door setting an example that women can be strong leading characters on their own merit.  This year marks the 85th anniversary of the first Nancy Drew mystery novel, The Secret of the Old Clock, which have been since followed by numerous books, television shows, movies, and video games featuring the female sleuth.  As a father who doesn't want his daughter limited in life by stereotypes, I appreciate that Nancy Drew sets an example of women being able to be the standout hero of a story without a man coming in to save the day.  What was unheard of at the time the stories first came out in the 1930s, this girl drove a car, packed a gun, didn't hesitate about getting into a brawl, and most importantly relied on herself to get out of tough jams.

The Nancy Drew Mystery Stories were created by publisher Edward Stratemeyer after marketing research showed his successful Hardy Boys detective stories were very popular with girl readers.  He set about creating a similar series for girls featuring an amateur teen detective as the heroine.  Stratemeyer himself didn't write the stories though, the very first books were authored by a woman named Mildred Wirt under the pen name Carolyn Keene.  Wirt wrote 23 of the original Nancy Drew Mystery Stories with numerous other ghost writers joining her in drafting stories under the Carolyn Keene name over the years resulting in 175 novels being published between 1930 and 2003.

I've noticed that there is a lot of lip service by brands about providing more hero characters in books, movies, toys and video games but much of what I've seen out there in that regard has been more contrived at getting into parents pocket books rather then really addressing the need for such things.  The nice thing about Nancy Drew is that she really is genuine.  In fact, Wirt whose work really established the foundation and identity for Nancy Drew stated that she wanted to create a "genuinely adventurous heroine" that would inspire girls with stories featuring someone like themselves.  I wish more brands took this approach which seems so simple yet seems to confound so many in our society.

While I don't notice Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew books lining the book shelves at libraries and stores like they did when I was a kid, Nancy Drew is still out there solving mysteries and inspiring new generations of boys and girls to be inquisitive and adventurous problem solvers.  While the original Nancy Drew Mysteries Stories series was canceled in 2003, here are a few new adventures people can still enjoy.

Simon & Schuster is currently publishing a series of contemporary books titled Nancy Drew Diaries and penned by Carolyn Keene aimed at children 8 to 12 years old which has the young detective traveling the world and using her brain to solve brand new mysteries.  Nancy and her friends Bess and George tackle everything from sabotage to kidnapping, using impressive powers of deduction and reasoning to creatively crack cases and outsmart their enemies.  So far Simon & Schuster have published eight books in the series with two more set to be released in 2015 - Clue at the Black Creek Farm on May 12th and Script for Danger coming out on September 22nd.

Papercutz also publishes graphic novel adventures featuring Nancy Drew in a series also called Nancy Drew Diaries. There newest issue Nancy Drew Diaries - Volume 5 hits stores July 7, 2015.  This comic book story features Nancy Drew teamed up with an eccentric scientist to find a prototype engine that can operate at 200 miles per gallon that was lost during an experiment on a tank during the final days of World War II.  In addition to finding the engine there is one other problem to deal with...the engine and tank are haunted.

Additionally, Papercutz has 21 volumes of Nancy Drew stories available in an older series called Nancy Drew - Girl Detective that have more of a similarity to the original Nancy Drew Mystery Stories books and three other graphic novels Nancy Drew The New Case Files that have more of a trendy supernatural vibe to them and also feature the Hardy Boys joining her in the stories. Papercutz focus is providing quality comic books for kids and if you haven't checked out their products you really should.

By Her Interactive has an iPad app that allows you to solve a mystery as Nancy Drew titled Ghost of Thornton Hall which has some good reviews on the App Store.  Her Interactive's focus though has been more on PC games for Nancy Drew with several titles having been published over the last few years that have sold more than 9 million copies.  Their 32nd Nancy Drew video game - titled Sea of Darkness is scheduled to be released on May 19, 2015 and will be available for Windows and Mac PC operating systems. In the game, players take on the role of Nancy Drew as they must solve the mystery through interrogation of suspects, solving puzzles, and discovering clues.  These Nancy Drew games are also available through STEAM for cloud based play on your home computer.

Happy Birthday Nancy Drew! Thank you for being an inspiration for so many years and wishing you many more adventures in your future.