EA To Expand Boom Blox Franchise

Electronic Arts has announced its going to expand the Boom Blox franchise it created in collaboration with film director and producer Steven Spielberg: coming in “spring 2009″ to Europe and North America, Boom Blox Bash Party will add more than 400 new levels and more intense multi-player action to the destructive, puzzle-solving animated action game.

“Boom Blox Bash Party is a wild social gaming experience,” said Steven Spielberg, in a statement. “We know families and friends really enjoyed playing the original Boom Blox together, so we designed more explosive multiplayer experiences with Boom Blox Bash Party.”

Bash Party will feature new block types (including a conveyor box and a “virus,”) along with new block shaps and tools that create new kinds of mayhem. Players will also be able to use cannons, paint balls, and slingshot tools, as well as throw and grab blocks. Players will also be able to download new levels via the Internet, as well as rate levels created by EA and the Boom Blox user community. A Create mode will enable players to make their own levels to share with friends or submit for worldwide distribution—and the Create mode will feature all the tools EA uses to make their levels.

Boom Blox Bash Party will be available for the Nintendo Wii; the game has not yet been rated.

EA’s deal with Spielberg—announced way back in 2005—also has the director collaborating on two other game titles: one is a realistic, story-based action game with a female protagonist codenamed “LMNO.” EA hasn’t released any information on the additional Spielberg titles since 2007, although EA has denied rumors that either of the games have been cancelled.