Summer blockbusters, old favorites come alive.

• Position: VIDEO GAMES - "Barnyard" and "Monster House" - Product/service evaluation

Two of the most talked about movies of the summer have translated quite seamlessly to video games from THQ, Agoura Hills, Calif. We're talking, of course, about "Barnyard" and "Monster House." While the kids really enjoyed seeing the films on the big screen, they've parlayed their familiarity with the characters into hours of entertainment through their gaming system.

In "Monster House," three youngsters do battle with a mysterious home that is determined to eat every trick or treater in sight on Halloween. In the video game of the same name, players can be any of the three main characters and experience key moments of the movie as they uncover the mysteries of the house in order to save their neighborhood. Spooky surprises and unexpected random events keep garners on their guard as they explore deeper and darker sections of the house. Kids also get a chance to play 'Thou art dead," the arcade game from the movie.

In "Barnyard," we got to see what the animals really do when the farmer's back is turned. It was quite an eye-opener, to say the least. In the Barnyard video game, we get to create our own cow and interact with the other animals on the farm. Whether exploring the countryside on a BMX bike or playing any of the 26 minigames, it's udder chaos. Our kids cannot resist Tease the Mailman, a game where they have to complete certain dance moves before the mailman turns around. We've spent our summer watching our crew act out "Grade A Beef" and other amusing moves. Additional favorites include Gopher Golf and Chasing Chicks.

Each of these games is rated E10+ for comic mischief and fantasy violence and...