Dancing with the Stars Hits PC, Mobile

By Nick Mokey April 15, 2008

There may be no better evidence that casual gaming is coming to the forefront of the genre than the launch of Dancing With the Stars for PC and mobile phones, which turns ABC’s mom-favorite TV show into a playable game for the same audience. THQ’s ValuSoft division announced the game’s release on both platforms on Tuesday.

In the game, players take control of one of 26 celebrities, from Emmitt Smith to Mario Lopez, and choreograph their own dance routines in 11 different styles, including the Foxtrot, Cha Cha, Paso Doble, Waltz and Tango, before performing them for judges. Three different mini games make it possible to upgrade a celeb’s attributes, like rhythm, posture and showmanship, and players also get to pick out what they wear from a virtual wardrobe.

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The mobile version of the game focuses on five different mini games, but also allows players to compete in an eight-week competition to see how they stack up.

The PC version of the game is available for download from ValuSoft for $19.99, while the mobile version has yet to show up.

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Gaming

Hello Kitty: Island Adventure should be your next mobile game obsession

Sanrio characters hang out on a beach in Hello Kitty: Island Adventure.

I challenge you to find a video game with a better elevator pitch than Hello Kitty: Island Adventure. Get this: It’s Animal Crossing but with Sanrio characters. You don’t need to see a single screenshot or watch a trailer to know if you’re in or out on that idea.

Apple Arcade’s latest exclusive is the gaming platform’s best hope for a subscription mover yet. It’s an undeniably adorable adventure built to deliver on Apple’s promise of high-quality mobile gaming with no pesky ads or microtransactions -- and for the most part, it delivers. Though it lacks key hooks that make the Animal Crossing formula work, Hello Kitty: Island Adventure makes up for some of its shortcomings with an infectiously positive attitude and a downright pleasant visual style that I can’t help but soak in. It’s a summer getaway in your pocket.
Island time
It’s immediately clear what developer Sunblink is aiming to do upon firing up the adventure. After a cute introduction where Hello Kitty almost gets an entire airplane of cute animals killed (yes, really), players parachute onto an island alongside Sanrio staples like My Melody and Keroppi. Within moments of exploring that first hub area -- complete with a furniture shop, clothing store, and a town hall where you can check your “island vibe” score -- it’s pretty clear that Animal Crossing was a direct inspiration here. Even its crafting animation looks identical to the one in New Horizons.

Gaming

Best Lego deals: Save on Star Wars, Batman, World Map, Friends

legos new space shuttle set includes hubble telescope model lego discovery

Playing one of the best Lego games is always a good move but sometimes, you want to keep it more traditional and enjoy a few hours assembling a Lego set yourself. That's why we've looked at some of the best Lego set deals around right now. Typically, the best sets are far from cheap so being able to enjoy a discount on them makes them much more affordable, freeing up some cash for another sweet set to build. Whatever your intentions and interests, let's dive straight into what the best Lego set deals are right now.
Today's best Lego set deals
The fun thing about Lego is there's truly something for everyone here. If you just want a simple set, consider the Lego Star Wars Obi-Wan Kenobi Jedi Straighter at a sweet price of $24 at . Alternatively, you could go all-out with one of the biggest sets around in the form of the down to $220 from $250. It's an expansive project but one that's sure to while away many hours for the whole family. The result is fantastic too. Here's a look at everything else on sale today.

Retailers with Lego set deals
If you're not sure what set you want to buy among all the Lego set deals going on, it can be a smart move to check out the best retailers to see what they have to offer. Here's a quick look at your best options.

Gaming

Is Honkai: Star Rail free-to-play?

is honkai star rail free to play protag social 1

Honkai: Star Rail is advertised as a free-to-play game, yet many warn about the dangers of spending on it. That might be because of its status as a gacha game, one that gives you characters and weapons based on chance. You pull for characters and weapon-like cards called Light Cones from banners. However, you might not get the one you want, even over a hundred pulls later. Players often fawn over particular characters and weapons because of their stories and strengths. Still, HoYoverse says that the game is completely free-to-play.

Here's the verdict on whether or not Honkai: Star Rail is free-to-play, if there's anything you can buy in the game, and if you should buy anything in the game.
Is Honkai: Star Rail free-to-play?