The Checkpoint 08.25.08: In The Words of My Uncle I Say Unto You…..What the F@*%?

Posted by John Curry on 08.25.2008

With the every growing popularity of the cooking style games on the Wii, it was only a matter of time before Food Network got in on the action. This week the Checkpoint looks at the positives and negatives of Iron Chef America: Supreme Cuisine.

Let's start this week's column out with the official press release:

Allez Cuisine!

Destineer and Untied Media Bring
‘Iron Chef America: Supreme Cuisine'
To Wii™ and DS™






MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Following widespread speculation and anticipation, leading software publisher Destineer has today confirmed its partnership with United Media, a leading independent licensing and syndication company, to publish the video game Iron Chef America: Supreme Cuisine exclusively for the Wii™ system and Nintendo DS™.

Developed by Black Lantern Studios, the game is based on the highly rated Iron Chef America program on Food Network, a spinoff of the worldwide hit Iron Chef, produced by Fuji Television. Iron Chef America: Supreme Cuisine features the voice and likeness of the show's host, Mark Dacascos, and Destineer will announce the involvement of additional talent from the show shortly.

"If the early buzz surrounding the game is any indication, then fans of the show and Nintendo owners are as excited as we are to be developing Iron Chef America: Supreme Cuisine," said Paul Rinde, CEO of Destineer. "With their innovative control dynamics, Wii and DS are the ideal system for the inaugural Iron Chef video game and believe the ultimate ‘secret ingredient' to these games will be family fun."

Adds Jean Sagendorph, Licensing Director at United Media: "Iron Chef America possesses all of the attributes for a successful video game: fast paced action, intense competition and a unique gamesmanship that is the hallmark of Kitchen Stadium. We are excited to partner with Destineer in a sure-fire recipe for success – Iron Chef America: Supreme Cuisine."

In Iron Chef America: Supreme Cuisine players square off in Kitchen Stadium and battle through a series fast-paced and intense culinary challenges. Each victory advances players closer to a final showdown that will determine who will reign supreme as the next Iron Chef America.

About Destineer

Destineer develops and publishes commercial videogames for both consoles and PC, and creates PC-based virtual training systems for military, intelligence and first-responder organizations. Destineer is a privately held corporation headquartered in Minneapolis, MN, with development studios in Minneapolis, Raleigh, NC, and Austin, TX, and publishes games under the Destineer, MacSoft, and Bold Games, brands. More information is available at Destineer's website: www.destineerstudios.com.

About United Media

United Media (UM) is a worldwide licensing and syndication company that focuses on building brand equity around a wide range of creative content. The company recently partnered with HarperCollins to build a licensing program around the publishing phenomenon Fancy Nancy. United Media licenses and/or syndicates other properties, including Peanuts, Precious Moments, Dirty Dancing, Televisa's El Chavo, Mary Engelbreit, Raggedy Ann & Andy, and Dilbert. United Media is an E. W. Scripps Company (NYSE: SSP). For more information, visit www.unitedmedialicensing.com.

So as you can tell, this past week I caught a glimpse of the upcoming game, Iron Chef America: Supreme Cuisine, for the Nintendo Wii from Destineer Studios. The game will feature the following as Chefs/announcers:

[] Mario Batali

[] Masaharu Morimoto

[] Cat Cora

[] Alton Brown

[] The Chairman


Now I am the first to admit that I am a secret mark for the Iron Chef series dating back to the original series that helped put the Food Network on the map as a serious network that can garner viewers and am developing a soft spot in my gaming repertoire for these different cooking games that are becoming more common in the game world. As a result, I am mildly intrigued by the possibilities of this game. With every bit of anticipation I have towards the game, I possess the same amount of hesitation. Like any good dish prepared by culinary royalty one must analyze all of the intricacies of the dish to determine if they make for a great meal or not, we must analyze the possibilities of this game.

Positives

[] The Variation Possibilities:

According to the official website, there will be over 15 main theme ingredients with hundreds of possible dishes. The more dishes that there are to make the more excited I will be to play the game. I also hope that in the variations that are presented are as innovative and intriguing as the ones on the show. If this game has mac and cheese as a freaking dish I will lose it. There are far too many possibilities for this game to take the easy way out and gear it solely towards children.

[] The Lack of Bobby Flay

Yeah, I said it. I don't like Bobby Flay and I actually think it is a good thing that he is not involved. Why is the primary question you should be asking right now. Right now Bobby Flay is the biggest star on the Food Network. My reasoning is with his ego and desire to make himself the primary focus of anything he is a part of, the developers would have had to pay him an astronomical salary to use his likeness which would have led to conflict with the developers and the other members who feel slighted by the difference in treatment.

[] The Food Network/Iron Chef Involvement

The involvement of the Food Network and the Iron Chef name is the critical to the success and quality of this game. This could potentially open the doors for future games based on Food Network shows depending on the success of this game. There is no excuse for them to make this game a horrible one if they plan to have successors to this series. The second aspect of their involvement is the input the chefs and announcers (i.e. Alton Brown) will give to the developers to create as real of requirements for the game and influence the styling of the game. If they can capture the feel of the "Kitchen Stadium" and the pressure it entails, the game will be a success.


The Release Video

Negatives

[] Monotony

Cooking dishes can be some of the most repetitive and monotonous things in the world. Add to this that you don't get to eat them when you are done it is going to be a pain. If they use the same old recipes and plans and behaviors that all of the other cooking games incorporate then this game will be a failure. I want to be able to cook everything at least once before there are any repeats. There is nothing worse than a game that prides itself on variety and yet repeats itself before it ever clears anything out first.

[] It's on the Wii

Unfortunately, when you own the Wii, as I do, there really isn't a lot of games that make you really proud to own the system. The biggest issue is that new games just don't lead you to have a giant amount of positive outlook for games. The saddest part is that although the Wii does incorporate many features that can (and have) revolutionize the way we play games, the actual games for the most part have fallen flat in terms of quality.

[] The Lack of Bobby Flay

Yep, I know I listed this in the positives section but the truth of the matter is you have to look at his lack of involvement in this game from his perspective. While I understand that his ego may have gotten in the way and may have been demanding, I have to think that Bobby Flay would never turn down ANY money for something he wants to be a part of. Beings as he is NOT a part of this game I have to say that there might be something about this game that makes me think that this is not exactly a great game.

[] WHERE IS MICHAEL SYMON???

Does anyone remember that the Next Iron Chef winner Michael Symon is actually an Iron Chef? Why in the world would he not be a part of this game. I am a big fan of his family style dishes and most importantly the fact that he does not come across like an arrogant ass. Any Iron Chef game without him is not truly an Iron Chef game. Plain and simple.

In the end I may just be nitpicking about the game and everything that may or may not be right about this game. I hope that in the end they succeed at bringing "Kitchen Stadium" into my living room. Until next week make sure you head over to the Iron Chef website atIron Chef Game and my a little reminder of how great this show has been and what DLC should include……….