Game Wave

ZAPiT's Game Wave  is a DVD-based video game console  released by ZAPiT Games of Mississauga, Canada in 2005. The family entertainment system was launched in Canada in 2005 and is slated for a U.S. release in September 2006. It plugs into a television and plays traditional board games  without the board, dice or playing cards.

Description

The Game Wave differs  from other video game consoles because of its emphasis on social game play over more graphically intense action or sports-based games.  Many of the Game Wave's games are simply technologically-updated versions of casual trivia, board and card games  with a clear emphasis on cerebral and communal gaming. The games are easy to learn and play, making them more likely to appeal to non-traditional video gamers. While your grandfather wouldn't know what to make of a PlayStation 3,  this might be a more comfortable fit.

The Game Wave can receive signals from up to six color-coded wireless remote controls simultaneously.  The remotes have four multiple-choice buttons, DVD controls and a numerical keypad, making it possible to send different types of answers. The system comes with the game 4 Degrees- The Arc of Trivia, which lets up to six players answer multiple-choice questions as a clock ticks down.  Players are given four clues to each question in categories like arts, history, sports,science and lifestyle.  Points are awarded based on speed and accuracy.

4 Degrees - Bible Edition  functions just like the regular 4 Degrees but with content from the Bible. Categories include Old and New Testament People, Places, Books and Events.	Letter Zap  is a word search game that lets up to four players search a matrix of letters for words. Players can either hunt for words individually on four grids, or more competitively on a shared larger grid.	Zap 21  is composed of two games: a classic six-player blackjack game and the four-player QuickDraw in which players make multiple stacks of cards in an attempt to create as many sets of 21 as possible.	Rewind  is a trivia game  where players re-live the events of our past from the world’s greatest moments to its craziest headlines.	4 Degrees - Volume 2   The sequel to the multi-media trivia game where "everyone can play and anyone can win" in categories like Words & Song, Lifestyle, News & Events, Sports & Games, Movies & TV and Culture

Articles and reviews

Robert Cribb, Toronto Star, Feb 20th, 2006PC Magazine, February 7th, 2006
Warren Buckleitner, New York Times, Business - News, March 9th, 2006
Darren Bernhardt, The Saskatoon StarPhoenix, January 26, 2006

External Links

• Official Site -- Learn more about the Game Wave from the official source.
• Boardgames.com -- Lists the systems attributes.
• Canada.com -- A little more information about the Game Wave system.