I may be in the minority here, but I'm not a huge fan of the summer. For some, the hot sun and the sandy beaches are where it's at, but not for me. Sand in my toes, sweat in my eyes. Plus, there's no way I'll have time to get my body swimsuit-ready this year, what with me being busy prepping for GDC and the world of other excuses I have for not going to the gym. 

Thanks to Destineer, we won't even have to leave our living rooms to experience fun and sun. Summer Sports: Paradise Island will be making its way to the Wii this March, and features a variety of summer-related recreational activities (read: mini-games) set on a tropical resort. Play basketball, croquet, lawn darts, badminton, volleyball, horse shoes ("A game of horse shoes!"), and mini-golf in a lush tropical environment, and you don't even have to wax your bikini line.

The game will (of course) take advantage of the Wii remote's "intuitive" controls, with unique gestures for each sport. As Destineer puts it, "Summer Sports is deeper than other sports compilations, yet every bit as accessible." That means your grandmother can participate in the game's multiplayer modes, either cooperatively or competitively with up to four players.

But my favorite feature? "Taunt your opponents with distracting noises." Sold.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – January 17, 2008 – Does winter make you yearn for a Tropical getaway? Destineer is proud to announce “Summer Sports: Paradise Island,” which will turn your Wii™ system into a luxurious island resort! Check into the Paradise Island Resort and explore the vast array of recreational activities in this lush tropical environment, such as Basketball, Croquet, Lawn Darts, Badminton, Volleyball, Horse Shoes, and Mini-Golf. Bump, set, spike, throw, putt, shoot, swing, and more – all with intuitive Wii Remote™ gestures! Summer Sports: Paradise Island - Enjoy your stay!

Features:

    * Seven Addictive Games: Challenge your friends to seven different Summer Sports: Basketball, Croquet, Lawn Darts, Badminton, Volleyball, Horse Shoes, and nine uniquely-themed Mini-Golf holes. Basketball even features two distinct courts and three game types: Shot Clock, Around the World, and HORSE.

    * Intuitive Wii Remote Controls:  Summer Sports captures the authentic actions and motions of each sport. With distinct motions for bumps, sets and spikes in Volleyball; forehand and backhand swings in Badminton; and a completely unique Wii Remote gesture for Basketball, Summer Sports is deeper than other sports compilations, yet every bit as accessible.

    * Island Living: Paradise Island is the ideal vacation destination, complete with the most visually pleasing environments unmatched in the genre. Every aspect of the game, from the loading screens to the characters themselves, is designed to immerse the players in the world of Paradise Island.

    * Multiplayer: Up to four players can compete in multiplayer action. Play competitively or cooperatively with friends, experience both one-on-one and team-based games, and AI opponents of three different difficulty levels.

    * Exciting Additional Features:  Taunt your opponents with distracting noises, earn Accolades by accomplishing specific tasks during a game, and learn the definition of “squawker” in Lawn Darts!

Summer Sports: Paradise Island is scheduled for release in March of 2008.  For more information, please visit www.destineerstudios.com.