Today, Electronic Arts have announced their UK Christmas 2008 family gaming line-up. While many of these titles will already be familiar to both Casual and Hardcore Gamers, there may also be one or two surprises.

Spore

Dubbed “the most ambitious game ever” Spore, the new game from EA's Maxis Studio and industry veteran Will Wright, is a personal universe in a box. In this universe players can create and evolve life, establish tribes, build civilizations and even sculpt entire worlds.

In Spore, there are a variety of creation tools that allow players to customize nearly every aspect of the universe: creatures, vehicles, buildings, and even spaceships. While Spore is a Single-Player game, gamers' creations and other players' creations are automatically shared between galaxies, providing a limitless number of worlds to explore and play.

OUT NOW / RRP £39.99 / PC

Boogie Superstar
 

For any girl who has ever dreamed of being a star, EA Casual Entertainment brings you one step closer with Boogie SuperStar.

Boogie SuperStar features more than forty songs made famous by popular artists such as Rihanna, Fergie, Katy Perry, Maroon 5, Leona Lewis, Alicia Keys, Good Charlotte, Britney Spears, Kanye West, and more.

In Boogie SuperStar, you don't just play along, you are the show. Be "discovered" and whisked away to a secret, tropical island where you learn what it takes to be a star. Customize your character to create a performer who represents your unique style. Build your singing and dancing skills by performing in posh environments fit for a star. Have a blast playing with or against your friends, belting your favourite tunes into the microphone, and performing real dance moves that are captured on screen using the Wii's motion-sensing technology.

Once your skills are perfected, perform for the judges in the ultimate competition, the Boogie Star Show! Only the best and the brightest will be able to outshine the competition to become a Boogie SuperStar!

Release date - October 2008 / RRP £49.99 inc. microphone / Wii

Littlest Pet Shop
 

Littlest Pet Shop brings the magic of owning your own pet shop to your home, where your favourite Littlest Pet Shop pets come to life! Based on the globally successful collectable toys, Littlest Pet Shop lets you collect and play with thirty-two of the series' most popular pets. Explore four unique environments as you unlock new pets, play sets, accessories and more.

Explore and interact with your pets in four unique worlds, pet plaza, winter, jungle and garden. Complete and achieve sixteen puzzles and Mini-Games to earn new pets, accessories and playsets. Celebrate pet birthdays on the NintendoDS by planning festive Littlest Pet Shop style birthday parties.

Release date TBC / RRP TBC / Multi-Format

Zubo

Brand new for the NintendoDS! Launched into the fully 3D world of Zubalon, players meet the colourful and zany stars of the game, the Zubos.

Zubalon is under siege by the evil Big Head and his army of Zubo clones, the dastardly Zombos!

Whilst travelling through the game, players can befriend any Zubos they meet along the way, feeding and nurturing them, helping them gain skills and strength, and assisting them in chasing off the evil Zombos in strategic battles with an innovative rhythm action mechanic.

Explore the ten Worlds of Zubalon- get lost in the multiple lands, including Wild West, Fairytale, Pop and Horror! Befriend Over fifty characters - create your dream team to battle the Big Head's army of Zubo clones- the evil Zombos!

Take the Zombos on in Style - master the accessible strategy system and rhythm action mechanic across more than one-hundred hilarious animated battle moves and ten custom composed team musical themes.

Engage in a Variety of Mini-Games - blow away cobwebs, play the drums, escape the Heart Maze, pop balloons, dig for treasure, Whack-A-Zombie, and much more in order to proceed to the next exciting Level! Challenge your friends - put your team of Zubos to the test with the Multi-Player Mode!

Release date - 3rd October 08 / RRP £29.99 / NintendoDS

Hasbro Family Game Night
 

Hasbro Family Game Night creates a whole new way for families and friends to play together. Join Mr. Potato Head as your personal game room host and coach in your very own customized family game room.

Play classic Hasbro games in brand new and fun ways in addition to the original rules that everyone knows and loves. Hasbro Family Game Night features classic and party game modes of family favourites such as Connect Four, Battleship, Yahtzee, Boggle, Sorry! and the all new, Sorry! Sliders.

Play games in several different themed rooms, Earn points by playing games and completing challenges to trade in for new items to make your game room unique, and display your game successes in your own trophy area.

Release date - November 08 / RRP £39.99 / Wii

Monopoly
 

Celebrating over 70 years of family fun, the legendary property trading game Monopoly is hitting video game consoles in a whole new way!

The world's most popular board game returns in 2008 with Monopoly Here & Now: The World Edition, a modern makeover of the classic game.

With a host of current-day cities and landmarks from all over the world, this new version will let players wheel and deal and compete to own some of the most recognized locales on Earth.

EA brings this exciting new edition of the beloved board game to videogame consoles for the first time along with entirely new features that focus on super-fast play, fun and interactive Mini-Games and four-player simultaneous gameplay.  Players can now host the ultimate Monopoly night with family and friends.

Get Rich Quick in this all-new, super-fast version, trade properties and compete in exciting mini-games to see who makes the top of the rich list! Group Play allows up to four players to simultaneously join in on the "rags to riches" fun.

Monopoly Past, Present & Future - the most extensive collection of Monopoly boards all in one package - from the newest Monopoly Here & Now: The World Edition to classic Monopoly.

 Release date - November 08 / RRP £39.99 / Multi-Format

Kev J.

24/09/08