uDraw Game Tablet review

The uDraw Game Tablet brings digital scribbling to the Nintendo Wii,
but how does its three launch titles --
1.uDraw Studio,
2.Dood's Big Adventure
3.Pictionary


And any piece of kit that encourages creativity is welcome. But the biggest compliment I can pay THQ is that the gametablet feels exactly like something Nintendo would make. It's almost friendly, comforting in its chunky white aesthetic. The Wii remote powers the tablet, slotting into a nest on the left hand side (also supplying you with buttons to go with the scribbling). It's comfortable to use, and while the tethered stylus may be a bit irritating, it's no wonder Nintendo have thrown their weight behind the device.

STUDIO:

But what of the software? THQ have promised to support the GameTablet until at least 2013

The Game Tablet's flagship piece of software comes bundled with the device. Simply put, it transforms your TV and Wii into a basic but accessible art studio.

Upon starting the software you are given a few basic tutorials in using the tablet before letting you loose with an impressive array of brushes, pens, crayons, charcoal and pre-defined stamps.

There's a little lag between sweeping your stylus across the tablet and your handiwork appearing on screen, but is easily accounted for....

ACVENTURE:

The most "videogamey" of uDraw's release titles, Dood's Big Adventure takes plenty of cues from DS platform games.
Kirby's Canvas Curse is the most obvious source of inspiration, with you drawing trampolines on screen for your Dood to bound across simple, obstacle-laden courses.

Controlling Dood is ever so fiddly, however, THQ inexplicably mapping his direct movement to the stylus rather than the dpad, jumping included

PITIONARY:

Pictionary, of course, sails by on the giddy silliness that lies at the heart of the original boardgame. But the digital quirks THQ have layered upon their interpretation genuinely add a great deal to a time-honoured concept.
The drawing set you're offered is basically a pared-down version of uDraw Studio, with different materials and colours to scribble with