Holiday Gift Guide 2007

Movie games extend film experience and spark imagination

Great films entertain the masses and spark imagination, but once the movie is over the adventure ends. However, this is no longer the case as video games based on popular hit films allow gamers to take the storyline to new levels and keep the characters alive by participating in all-new adventures and experiences.

In fact, this holiday season some of the most sought after gifts for kids of all ages are video games based on popular movies, including four titles inspired some of DreamWorks' most successful and recently released movies. These titles, allow players to immerse themselves in the excitement and imagination of the movie action and go far beyond.

Transform Gaming Experiences

Based on this summer's live-action smash-hit, Transformers: The Game lets players choose their side —Autobots or Decepticons — in the battle to either protect or destroy Earth. With fully destructible environments, an army of playable characters, split second changes from robot to vehicle form, and a storyline that goes beyond the film to include elements from the animated series' long history, this game will appeal to Transformers fans old and new. The console and PC versions of Transformers: The Game are rated "T" ("Teen") and the handheld versions are rated "E 10+" ("Everyone 10 and older" – violence) by the ESRB.

Have a Honey of a Time

This fall, creator Jerry Seinfeld introduced the world to Barry B. Benson and changed everything we thought we knew about bees. Bee Movie Game allows players to race, chase, fly and blast their way through the adrenaline-fuelled world from the feature film and beyond. Assuming the role of the witty and courageous Barry, gamers are propelled on their own exciting adventures to explore the "human" world and save the bees' production of honey. This is one game kids will be "buzzing" about for months to come. The console and Games for Windows versions of Bee Movie Game are rated "E" ("Everyone" - mild cartoon violence) and the handheld versions are rated "E" ("Everyone" - comic mischief) by the ESRB.

Third Time's a Charm

In a year packed full of "three-quels," Shrek the Third is by far, far and away the kid favorite. Activision's Shrek the Third video game captures the film's signature humor as it takes players on a grand journey featuring original characters and storylines created exclusively for the game. Players will enjoy hours of fun and hilariously engaging gameplay as they travel through the Shrek universe in 20 action-filled levels and encounter a cast of twisted fairy tale characters such as Pinocchio, Prince Charming and a dim-witted Cyclops. The console, PSP system and PC versions of Shrek the Third are rated "E10+" ("Everyone 10 and older" – cartoon violence, crude humor), the Nintendo DS version is rated "E" ("Everyone" – cartoon violence, comic mischief) and the Game Boy Advance version is rated "E" ("Everyone" – cartoon violence) by the ESRB.

Full House of Fun

For the Shrek enthusiast looking for something a little different, Shrek: Ogres and Dronkeys challenges them to train, play with and care for Shrek and Fiona's energetic Ogre triplets and Donkey and Dragon's playful offspring, the Dronkeys. Once ready, players use the mischievous youngsters' newly learned skills and talents to embark on an exciting journey of puzzle solving and mini-game mayhem throughout the hilarious fairytale world of Shrek. Shrek: Ogres and Dronkeys is rated "E" ("Everyone" – comic mischief) by the ESRB.