Freshly squeezed into the fruity world of retail-landia, Bliss Island is currently out to the general market. Some of you guys are giving this title the cold shoulder, but honestly, you win some, you lose some, right? Not all games are made for everyone, so as Thumper from "Bambi" said, if you've got nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all.

We're thinking this game would appeal more to kids and/or the casual gamer type (although some "hardcore" gamers have expressed interest in it - and why not?).

The "pick-up-and-play" market is quite big when you think about it, so is Codemasters really taking a risk? Not necessarily. They're still beefing up this title which was originally only found on the PC. Now, they've got some multiplayer madness with the critters of the island.

This vid shows clips of the various mini-games available, from Brick Invaders to Bee Race. And is it just us, or do those little fuzzy creatures remind you of Koosh balls and the Fry Kids?

We know the weather's a tad bit cruel outside. And maybe, we haven't experienced the full brunt of winter just yet. That's why some lucky people might spend the holidays in the sunny shores of some quaint little beach out at the Caribbean. But for those that'll be stuck at home and snowed in, there's no excuse for you to have your own island fun.

Codemasters' collection of PC mini-games is now out for the PSP. Retailing for £29.99 (around US$ 60), Bliss Island could just be your plane ticket to tropical weather and sandy beaches. The game would be an "extended" version of the PC one and will bundle 50 challenges as you guide Hoshi and Zwooph through the island - jump, juggle, attack, defend, and race your way all around.

Exclusive to the PSP version are four multiplayer games that gamers can hack at. You've got the Bee Racer obstacle course, Flurry Football gridiron, the Brick Invaders masher, and the Forest Frenzy scavenger hunt.

Colorful critters and heat-pumping mini-games? Can't get any moire tropical than that!

Guys, we're planning to go on a trip this December. In case you want to come along, we suggest you start packing your things now. We know it's just October but we are going on a bizarre, funky, frantic and fiendish journey. And please, don't forget your PSPs because you are going to need it for sure. Folks, we're going to Bliss Island!

After being announced last month, developer Codemasters finally came up with the press release today together with the first preview video. Bliss Island is comprised of four mini-games that supports two-player action through PSP's wireless connection. Juggle, race, attack, defend and direct the critters by using only the analogue stick and an action button.

First of the mini-games is Fluffy Football which showcases two Zwoophs trying to outscore one another. The pitch is most interesting as it is blocked by boulders and littered by crabs. On the other hand, a blue and a red Zwooph are the stars of Brick Invaders. Objective of the game is to smash the most bricks colored the same as your chosen character.

Jump upwards through the forest while finding and gobbling hidden fruits in Forest Frenzy. Finally, Bee Racer features Hoshi’s pet bumblebee in a race through obstacle course gates.

Download: [Bliss Island preview video]

We've speculated about it before, now it's officially confirmed: Popular web-based mini game collection Bliss Island is headed to the Playstation Portable in a dedicated, extended version. Published by Codemasters and developed by Pompom Software, Bliss Island takes players into a tropical paradise where they juggle, race, attack, defend, and direct a collection of cute characters through a series of mini-games. All these mini games are based on one unique control method where kinetic objects need to be kept moving by utilizing the power of Hoshi the Zwooph. Hoshi is a cute blue critter with a special power: He can project air puffs from his long trunk. Players control Hoshi with the analog stick and an action button.

A wide variety of challenges will be offered on Bliss Island. The game has a vibrant and friendly visual style as well as a host of interesting, cute characters to play with. A total of 80 challenges, with names like Fruit Slam Dunk, Fluffy Mayhem, and Brick Invaders, will be offered. WiFi multiplayer features will be included to make it even more fun.

Codemasters currently has Bliss Island scheduled for a release this Winter - check for more coverage soon. Meanwhile, enjoy the screens!

Hoshi the Zwooph may lack the same cuteness factor that Loco Rocos have but he is cute in his own way. This fluffy blue creature is the star of the upcoming PSP title Bliss Island, which is dubbed by its developer Codemasters as a frantic, fun and fiendishly compulsive action puzzler.

Hoshi is a cloud maker for their tropical island, but he takes time off every Friday to play with other Zwoophs in puff power competitions. Hoshi's super blowing powers can be used to feed fruit to the ‘Jigoka’ monster, save flowers from swarms of aphids, or fight off marching blocks.

The PC version of this title - which will feature 90 stages and five game modes - is now available. If you want to have a sneak peek at what you'll be enjoying in your Sony handhelds, you can give the free web game a try. You can enjoy the game for a full hour, after which you'd have to pay £ 13 ($ 20) to continue puff-blowing adventures with Hoshi.

Check out the free web game here.

Just hours ago Codemasters revealed their new casual action puzzle game titled "Bliss Island". This multi-platform action game features over 90 stages and 5 extreme game modes. Over the period of the next few months this game is planned to evolve even further for its launch on the Playstation Portable.

Bliss Island is an original funky, competitive and accessible interactive entertainment property created by and licensed from Pompom Software, a London-based studio that focuses on accessible gaming concepts with distinctive visual styling. Pompom’s previous games include the award-winning blaster Mutant Storm.

Gamers will take the role of Hoshi the Zwooph, a small blue fluffy creature with a long trunk, as he competes in loads of mini games that revolve around his unique ability to expel precision puffs of air at high velocity from his trunk - the game’s signature and unique gameplay mechanic.

Hoshi's puffs can be used to manipulate different objects in the game in addition to bouncing. They note being able to divert pieces of falling fruit into hungry mouths, or blowing creatures around an obstacle course.

Says Nick Pili, Codemasters’ Director of Casual Gaming: “Signing Bliss Island is a key development in Codemasters’ activities in the casual gaming space. By bringing outstanding original product into the mix it strengthens Funsta.com’s attraction as an online destination for casual players. Extending the title and making it available as a casual try-before-you-buy downloadable PC game, then as a full title for the PSP system, gives the game an organic expansion as the audience for the game grows.”

Comments Michael Michael of Pompom Software: “Codemasters immediately understood the potential of Bliss Island and we’re delighted to be working with a company that shares our vision of ‘gameplay first’ games, as well as one that shows such innovative thinking in the way it plans to grow the audience and Bliss Island brand.”


Play Online version of Bliss Island via Read