Start the Party!

Start the Party! is a 2010 augmented reality party video game developed by Supermassive Games and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 3. It utilizes the PlayStation Move controller. It is the first game developed by Supermassive Games. The game is a collection of augmented reality mini-games which use the PlayStation Eye.

Gameplay

Start the Party first snaps a picture of the players using the PlayStation Eye, then displays a real time video feed of players their surroundings in the game. The game consists of a wide variety of mini-games, including bug-swatting and painting games, played using the PlayStation Move motion controller. In the game display, the controller often transforms into animated objects similar to the film Who Framed Roger Rabbit which features real-life people holding cartoon-like objects. The controller can transform into a variety of things depending on the game such as a cartoon tennis racket for swatting bugs, a spiky prod for popping balloons which are shown in the game as being held by the player. The game also allows for multiplayer modes with up to four different players with the use of a single PlayStation Move controller.

Reception

Start the Party received "mixed or average" reviews, according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. In Japan, where the game was ported for release under the name Move de Party on 18 November 2010, Famitsu gave it a score of two sevens, one six, and one seven for a total of 27 out of 40.

Sequel

A sequel, titled Start the Party! Save the World, was released for retail in Australia on 24 November 2011, and in Europe the next day; and as a downloadable game for PlayStation 3 through PlayStation Network on 6 March 2012. In the game, the player is cast as a superhero, tasked with saving the world.

Reception

Start the Party! Save the World received "mixed or average" reviews, according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.