Apples to Apples Xbox Live Arcade Game
Written by Heather Leister
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Last week the popular board game Apples to Apples came to the Xbox Live marketplace. We own both the original Apples to Apples and the Apples to Apples Kids version and my children really wanted to try this new game out. If you’ve never played the original game here’s a quick run down. One player is the judge and they select a green apple card which shows a descriptive word. The remaining players have a hand of red apple cards, each with a word on it. These cards are all over the place, everything from famous people to landmarks to modern slang. My kids describe as random, unexpected, funny and weird. Players select a red apple card which they think best matches the green card. The judge then looks at the red cards and picks the one that they think makes the best match which makes the game completely subjective. The player who played the chosen card earns a point. That’s the classic version of the game and there are several variations that add in fun twists.
There’s the gist of the board game now how does it translate into a video game? First of all, it’s possible to play the game by yourself but this is really a party game for three or more players. If you play alone then the computer gives you a green apple card and you must choose from three red apple cards and select the one you think is the best fit. The computer then judges your answer and picks the “best” one. It’s very random. The best way to play is either locally or over Xbox Live. If you choose locally you’ll need to have 3-4 players. My kids were disappointed by this because we have the right number of players but only two Xbox remotes. So local playing is out for us unless they can talk me into another remote. If you are able to play locally then the game play will be similar to that of the board game but you’ll have animated apples and cards that shuffle and rearrange themselves. Not having played this version I’m not sure how the game prevents the judge from seeing what cards the other players submit. That’s part of the fun with Apples to Apples. The judge has no idea who submits which card and I’m sure the video game handles this issue, I just can’t tell you exactly how it’s done.
Now for the Xbox Live experience. My kids were able to test this out with their cousins in California. Since both families had played Apples to Apples before they were familiar with the rules, the only learning curve was the online controls. Again, you’ll need at least three players for a game and this time you can play with up to six total players. In the options you can set the total amount of players at four which means you can have a smaller game. If you have friends that also own Apples to Apples (and an Xbox Live account) you’ll need to send them an invitation to join your game. Or you can create an Xbox Party and then invite the party to join the game. If you don’t have friends with the game, or if no one is online, opponents will be found for you. You’ll have to wait until enough players are found before the game will start. If you’ve set the game for a smaller number of players this won’t be as long of a process. We had two players, one in Idaho and one in California, and the rest were filled in with other random Xbox Live players. From there the game begins and you play just as you would with the board game. My kids had a lot of fun playing with their cousins and it was fun to see what they were submitting for the different words. On several of them we were left wondering if it was the kids or adults who were playing! If you have your headset plugged in then you can communicate back and forth as you play the game.
There was one thing that we would have liked to see differently in the game, something that would have made the experience even better for our family. The main thing we wanted was a way to play the game with only two players – both locally and online. Basically, we would have liked to see an AI (artificial intelligence or the Xbox) player. This would let my kids play locally and it would also allow cousins to play without having to invite in strangers from around the world. Overall we had a great time with the Xbox version of Apples to Apples and if we can convince the other members of our family with Xbox Live to grab the game then we’ll have a great big cross-country party game going on.
*Update - Amanda asked an excellent question in the comments below – “How are kids prevented from seeing each others cards when they play on the live version? Can’t your two kids see what each other has on the screen?” - I should have mentioned that! Only one player can use the Xbox Live account at a time so the kids have to take turns (or work together) when they are playing the Live version.
Contest Closed! Congratulations to #3 Joel & #12 Sherry. I’ve been given two promo codes for free downloads of the Apples to Apples Xbox Live Arcade Game. These codes will get you the full game. Interested? Leave a comment below and two winners will be chosen on Friday, December 16th.
Apples to Apples can be downloaded from the Xbox Marketplace and there is a free trial available. The full version will cost you 800 Microsoft Points or approximately $10.00.
Disclosure: I was provided with two free copies of Apples to Apples, one for myself and one for our cousins so we could test out the game. The opinions in this review are all my own.
By Marianne Szul on Dec 12, 2011
My kids LOVE Apples to Apples….and my oldest loves his X-box. Put them both together? I’m sold!
By Alicia Bates on Dec 12, 2011
We love Apples to Apples board game, especially to play during the holidays with the family. I would love to try out the xbo version!
By Joel on Dec 12, 2011
Is this a foreshadowing of “Xbox Mom”?
I’d give it a whirl.
By Jeff Keeme on Dec 12, 2011
That’s cool. I have been wondering lately if Microsoft had promo codes for Xbox Live games. We (myBlackDogBooks) have been thinking that it would be cool to bring our interactive books to the Xbox platform with Kinect support.
By Sandra S on Dec 12, 2011
I’ll love to try this game with my kids
My favorite game to play with my daughter is Rock Band, but maybe this game takes this place
Please consider me for the promo code.
By Bernard on Dec 12, 2011
I would love to play this game with my family!
By Amanda on Dec 12, 2011
How are kids prevented from seeing each others cards when they play on the live version? Can’t your two kids see what each other has on the screen? Sounds fun though, we love Apples to Apples!
By Heather Leister on Dec 12, 2011
Excellent question – going to add this to my update! On that one Xbox only one player from the household can play the Live version at a time.
By Heather Leister on Dec 12, 2011
Jeff – That would be very cool…..
By Heather Leister on Dec 12, 2011
Oh my kids wish!
By Christina on Dec 15, 2011
My family has played Apples to Apples with friends! We’d love to try the XBox version. Thanks!
By Sherry on Dec 15, 2011
Our family would have a blast playing this together!
By Brian Rota on Jan 1, 2012
Do you know if there will be a Apple to Apple jr version? My 9 year old had some issues with the words but she loves the jr edition board game.
Thank you
By Heather Leister on Jan 1, 2012
I haven’t heard…but fingers crossed here as well. I agree that a Jr version would be terrific, even if it’s an update to this one. We have to censor our younger kids too.
By five on Mar 11, 2012
how do you play with other players locally without seeing each other’s cards?
By Heather Leister on Mar 11, 2012
I’m not sure…we don’t have enough Xbox controllers to try that out…has anyone else tried it?