2K Play today announced that Birthday Party Bash, an innovative game exclusively for the Wii system from Nintendo, is now available at retailers throughout North America. Birthday Party Bash gives savvy moms and dads a complete “Party–in-a-Box,” including themed games, invitations, and offers from Duncan Hines, Party City, and Evite, plus a how-to guide on planning a fun and original party for their kids.

Jeanne Benedict, a national lifestyle party expert, author, and TV host, will help kick-off the launch of Birthday Party Bash with her unique take on do-it-yourself party planning. Benedict is scheduled to be a guest on local morning television and radio news shows around the country in the coming days to share tips for planning an affordable and fun birthday bash that both parents and kids will enjoy.

In Birthday Party Bash, up to 12 party goers can whack, roll, splash, pop, scribble, climb, jump, and shimmy their way through more than 20 birthday games, including Piñata Blast, Duncan Hines Cake Stacker, Pin the Tail, Hot Potato and Birthday Blowout. The birthday boy or girl can also choose from ten party theme rooms to set the scene for an unforgettable bash, from “Pirates,” complete with sword and treasure chest, to “Princess,” with a royal castle, a fancy crown, and unicorn. When it’s time to break for cake, a lively rendition of the traditional “Happy Birthday” song will play for everyone to sing along in karaoke-style, with a virtual cake on screen.

Birthday Party Bash debuted this week on a special televised pre-sale event on the Home Shopping Network (HSN) to coincide with the multichannel retailer’s own birthday celebration. In addition, a promotion for the game will appear on millions of boxes of Duncan Hines confetti cupcake baking mix this fall. Birthday Party Bash has already received a thumbs-up from web sites such as GoodHousekeeping.com, RealSimple.com, and Kaboose.com, with additional reviews expected this summer as busy moms around the country transform their living rooms into “Party Central.”

With the average cost of a child’s birthday party now approaching $500, 2K Play partnered with Duncan Hines, discount party super store Party City, and Evite.com, the leading online invitation website, to offer parents a money-saving, whole-party solution. Birthday Party Bash includes:

    * A guide filled with tips on planning a birthday celebration;
    * 12 packed-in, ready-to-mail party invitations;
    * Customized Birthday Party Bash on-line invitations from Evite.com;
    * An easy-to-follow recipe and photo of an exclusive Birthday Party Bash cupcake tower from the best-selling authors of the “Hello, Cupcake!” book of fun cupcaking techniques; and
    * In-the-box coupons from Duncan Hines and Party City to help outfit the party with decorations, party supplies and dessert.

Birthday Party Bash was developed by 2K’s Cat Daddy Games studio, the creators of the highly successful Carnival Games franchise, which has sold over four million copies to date. Birthday Party Bash for the Wii system from Nintendo has a suggested retail price of $39.99 and is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB.