Haven’t caught all of the Gamertell news this week?  Here’s your chance to catch up on this week’s top 10 articles!

• Gamer couple sends awesome 8-bit wedding invitation (with video)
  “I guess I like weddings. Not that I’m planning on having one myself on the near future, but I’ve always liked a good party and they generally mean a fun time and maybe some catching up with old friends. Even though…” MORE »
• GDC 2010: PS3 motion controller will feature “nunchuk” attachment
  ” Today (March 9, 2010) marks the start of the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, CA. We expect lots of new information to pour down on us over the next few days regarding all things game related. One of the…” MORE »
• Modern Warfare 2 downloadable content coming late March 2010
  ” Even after losing its top two guys, Infinity Ward is hard at work on its latest and greatest round of downloadable content for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Or is it just Modern Warfare 2? Either…” MORE »
• 10 Minute Solution exercise DVDs being made into a Wii game
  “Activision is getting into the whole Wii fitness thing, and teaming up with Anchor Bay Entertainment to do so. See, Anchor Bay Entertainment has a series of exercise DVDs called 10 Minute Solution. If you’ve ever sat up, watching infomercials,…” MORE »
• PlayStation Home Update: Tranquil Getaways, ask Yoda and Grecian goodness
  ” New Real Estate, New Spaces, Events and Updates New Spaces IREM Seaside of Memories If you ever thought about taking a peaceful vacation on a tropical island, IREM just opened its Seaside of Memories on…” MORE »
• Gamertell Review: Polk Audio’s HitMaster gaming stage monitor
  ” Product: HitMaster Gaming Stage Monitor (aka The HitMaster; HitMaster Portable Powered Floor Monitor) Price: $99 Rating: Two thumbs up; 95/100; A-; * * * *1/2 out of five.…” MORE »
• Use Twitter to stop zombies in Tweet Defense
  ” Twitter and tweeting isn’t so useless anymore. You can use it to save yourself from the undead menace! Yes, zombies are back again. (They’re both tireless and overworked.) This time, the only way to protect yourself is to get out your…” MORE »
• Gamertell Review: RE: Alistair for PC, Mac, Linux
  ” Title: RE: Alistair Price: Free System(s): *Windows, Mac, Linux Release Date: February 28, 2010 Publisher (Developer): Sakevisual (Sakevisual) ESRB Rating: N/A. (Appropriate for 10 and older). Pros: Great artwork, interesting characters with a…” MORE »
• Power Gig: Rise of the SixString uses an electric guitar as a controller
  ” A game is finally coming out that will let actual guitar players leave so-called “Guitar Heroes” weeping, and it’s called Power Gig: Rise of the SixString. SixString, as in it’s played with an actual, six-string electric guitar.…” MORE »
• Sony Online releases new Convorteum add-on for Everquest Underfoot
  ”  Sony Online Entertainment announced today (March 11, 2010) that it will be adding a new Convorteum zone add-on to the EverQuest Underfoot PC game.  Players can now log into to the latest and best so…” MORE »

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Funko today (March 12, 2010) announced that it is releasing a Sonic the Hedgehog Wacky Wobbler (aka bobblehead toys). It will sell for $6.25 and will be available May 4, 2010 (SKU 830395021034).

The cool thing about this is that Sonic’s head is large in proportion to the rest of this body. So, instead of looking goofy headed version, it looks pretty spot-on.
Funko has been specializing in the Wacky Wobbler line for several years, producing various products based on licenses including Halo 3, Star Wars, GI Joe, Transfomers, Star Trek, South Park, Spider-Man, Simpsons, Family Guy, many movies, several old school cartoons and even that creepy version of Burger King.

Even though exact dimensions were not provided, Funko’s Wobblers usually stand about eight inches tall and come in a nice, themed box. Funko often take preorders so watch the site. You can bet stores and online outlets will sell it for more (most Funko Wobblers retail for $8 to $15) and the really nice bobblers tend to sell out pretty fast.

Site [Funko]

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It’s Friday again, and it looks like there’s a monsoon of casual games releases to coincide with the onslaught of console and handheld games. Seriously, there’s a great selection of new casual games out there. Well, provided you own a Windows PC. (Sorry Mac gamers - maybe there’ll be something for you next week.)

In addition to that, there’s a great representation of multiple genres too! I’m seriously surprised! It’s not often you see two weeks in a row where hidden object games don’t dominate the casual release update. But, it’s happened again.

This week’s best bets are: Diner Dash 5: BOOM (PC) and Lilly & Sasha: Curse of the Immortals (PC)

Dolphin Dice Slots
Genre: Arcade (Slot Machine)
Availability: Big Fish Games, Harmonic Flow
Retail Price: $6.99
Platform: Windows XP and Vista
Premise: An underwater and dolphin themed slot game.
Demo Available: Yes

Time Riddles: The Mansion
Genre: Puzzle (Hidden Object)
Availability: Big Fish Games, Harmonic Flow
Retail Price: $6.99
Platform: Windows XP and Vista
Premise: Travel through time by playing a board game. In doing so, you’ll also learn about a mysterious mansion.
Demo Available: Yes

Road to Riches 2
Genre: Simulation
Availability: Big Fish Games, Harmonic Flow
Retail Price: $6.99
Platform: Windows XP and Vista
Premise: Help John make his way as a trucker, after his brother-in-law lends him a truck and some money to get started.
Demo Available: Yes

Memory Clinic
Genre: Edutainment
Availability: GameHouse, Harmonic Flow
Retail Price: $19.95
Platform: Windows Vista, XP and 7
Premise: A brain training game that tests attention, memory, problem solving and speed.
Demo Available: Yes

Diner Dash 5: BOOM
Genre: Simulation (Time Management)
Availability: Big Fish Games, Harmonic Flow
Retail Price: $6.99
Platform: Windows XP and Vista
Premise: Flo’s Diner has been destroyed, and now she must earn money to rebuild and customize Flo’s diner by working at a variety of other locations.
Demo Available: Yes

Dr. Wise: Medical Mysteries
Genre: Puzzle (Hidden Object)
Availability: GameHouse, Harmonic Flow
Retail Price: 19.95
Platform: Windows 2000, XP, Vista and 7
Premise: Help the Dr. House-esque Dr. Wise and his team of doctors solve a series of unusual ailments and medical mysteries by searching through hidden object puzzles.
Demo Available: Yes

Lilly & Sasha: Curse of the Immortals
Genre: RPG
Availability: John Wizard Games, Amaranth Games
Retail Price: $19.95
Platform: Windows PC
Premise: Lilly and Sasha inadvertantly assist a man in obtaining a rare artifact, and in the process Sasha touches a shrine and becomes cursed. A presense called Zahhak invades her mind and body, and is slowly taking her over. Time for a journey to save Sasha’s life! Check out Gamertell next week for a review.
Demo Available: Yes

Potion Bar
Genre: Simulation (Time Management)
Availability: Playrix, Big Fish Games, Alawar Entertainment
Retail Price: $19.95
Platform: Windows NT, 2000, XP, Vista and 7
Premise: Start working at a Potion Bar, where you must make it through 35 levels brewing potions made of vampire fangs, phoenix feathers and other mystical materials for otherworldly customers.
Note: It’s on sale directly through Playrix for $9.98 until March 18, 2010. But, it’s $6.99 every day at Big Fish Games.
Demo Available: Yes

Editor’s Note: Due to so many casual games sites offering game plans or preferred member prices, which can cause a game to have multiple price-points, the games’ average retail prices is mentioned in Casual Friday.

Site [Big Fish Games] Site [PlayFirst] Site [GameHouse] Site [eGames] Site [Alawar Games] Site [Amazon] Site [Reflexive Arcade] Site [Harmonic Flow]

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Title: Sakura Taisen 3: Pari wa Moeteiru ka (Sakura Wars: Is Paris Burning?)
Price: $48.90
System(s): Dreamcast (also for PS2 and Windows PCs)
Release Date: March 22, 2001
Publisher (Developer): Sega (RED Entertainment)
ESRB Rating: N/A. I’d say it’s probably appropriate for ages 13 and up.
Pros: Graphics look great, especially in mech battles, characters are easy to relate to and have very distinct personalities, quite a few mini-games, silly yet fun premise, music is very catchy, multiple endings and, if you can find the limited edition like I did, you get a special VMU memory card.
Cons: Need to know Japanese or have access to the Gamefaqs guides to play,
Overall Score: 10/10

A while back, Important Importables looked at the Sakura Wars series to commemorate the fact that the very first Sakura Wars game was going to be localized. Well, Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love comes out this month, so it only seems right to honor the series yet again. Okay, it may also have something to do with my managing to get a limited edition version of Sakura Wars 3 cheap as well.

Let’s defend Paris with mecha!

Paris is threated by attacking demons in Sakura Wars 3: Is Paris Burning?, just like Japan is under attack in the original Sakura Wars and New York is under attack in Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love. Fortunately, Paris also has an assault squad of young women who are members of a theater group by day, as a front, and control mechas and protect the city as the Paris Floral Assault Squad when demons rear their nasty heads.

You follow Ichiro Ogami, who was transfered to Paris from Tokyo to help work with and command the Paris Floral Assault Squad. He must get to know and work with his teammates Erica Fontaine, Glycine Bleumer, Coquelicot, Lobelia Carlini and Hanabi Kitaoji to save the day. And, along the way he may even find love with one of the five girls.

A great blend of strategy game, visual novel and dating simulation.

Sakura Wars 3 has a feature that Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love will be familiar with, the LIPS system. That is, the Live & Interactive Picture system, which is basically the visual novel and dating sim portion of the game. There are many different LIPS situations. For example, the normal LIPS is where you’ll have to answer a character’s question, and can be either timed or untimed. Timed usually happens when you’re talking to someone, and untimed happens when you’re just on your own deciding what to do next. There’s also a LIPS situation where you can click around an area to investigate or instigate conversations, and a LIPS situation where you adjust how much, or energetically, you want to do something. These interactions provide a foundation for the whole game, as the LIPS situations determine relationships between characters and which ending you’ll get.

It’s also interesting how character interaction can have an effect on battles. If you’re being kind to the girls, they’ll actually fight better. It makes sense, when you think about it, but it’s the kind of thing you don’t often expect to see implemented in a game. Surprisingly, it even comes into play to determine how Ichiro will fight! If people like you, you’ll do well. If they don’t, well, you’ll need to work a lot harder to win the strategic battles.

When a battle starts and you choose a battle plan, everything switches to 3D. And, despite the age of Sakura Wars 3, the 3D mechas look really good! It’s a fairly typical strategic RPG once battle starts. Each unit has action points, which you use up moving, attacking, using items and defending. So, you really have to think about what you’re going to do, since each character has his or her limitations. Thankfully, characters have super moves in case things get too difficult. Just make sure they have enough action points to use them!

A great game, and import-friendly thanks to fans.

There’s a reason why the Sakura Wars series has such a strong following, and it’s a shame that fourth entry, So Long, My Love is the first time it appears outside of Japan. Sakura Wars 3:  Is Paris Burning? is a wonderful entry in the series, and if you have a Dreamcast it’s one you should definitely consider picking up. Yes, it’s very text heavy, but there are plenty of fan-created guides and translations out there. The characters, story and strategic battles make it a worthwhile addition to your import library.

Gamefaqs is an invaluable resource, if you’re going to play Sakura Wars 3. People have put together multiple faqs, including an episode-by-episode translation guide and ending translations. So even if you don’t speak or read Japanese, you can probably still find your way through, with guides available.

COMING NEXT WEEK: Important Importables talks about the developer Vanillaware and some of its most notable games.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Last week Important Importables looked at great fan translations

Site [Play-Asia] Site [YesAsia] Site [NCSX] Site [Himeya Shop] Site [Strapya World]

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I interviewed Melissa Joan Hart a few month ago for Geek Monthly magazine (which, of course, was not published because the mag was shut down).

At the time she was still getting ready for Dancing with the Stars (she was eventually given the fancy dance boot late October 2009). Hart is an actress, producer and occasional director but is best remembered as spunky Clarissa on Clarissa Explains It All and Sabrina on Sabrina the Teenage Witch (the latter of which has inspired a few video games). At the time of the interview she was hinting at returning to TV but now it’s known that she’ll be starring with Joey Lawrence in an ABC show called Melissa & Joey.

In our talking about things that she geeks out about, she mentioned two iPhone (and iPod Touch) games: Flight Controller and Uni Sudoku.

Here’s what she said about Flight Controller:

I’m so obsessed. I was playing on an airplane the other day, playing it walking on the plane and the pilot was behind me and he was like, “Are you trying to bomb an aircraft carrier?”

I was like, “No, nono, I was trying to land planes,” and he was like, “Well, you need to try and land it from the other direction,” and I as like, “Well tell the game that because it’s not letting me.”

It was funny

...It’s got three different airfields you can land on, either in Hawaii, the double runways or the really hard one is the aircraft carrier.

And concerning Uni Sudoku she said:

Sudoku is my new obsession.

On the iPhone. I’d play it anywhere but I prefer it on the iPhone because it tells you if you are wrong.

I use on called Uni Sodoku. I like that one. My brother has a different one, I’ve used that one two. They’re all a little different but I guess I’ve just gotten used to the way this one works.

She also said she wanted more Twitter followers so go ahead and help her out with that.

Read [Gamertell]

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Product: HitMaster Gaming Stage Monitor (aka The HitMaster; HitMaster Portable Powered Floor Monitor)
Price: $99
Rating: Two thumbs up; 95/100; A-; * * * *1/2 out of five.
Pros: Excellent sound quality for the price, extremely sturdy, looks and feels like an actual stage monitor and able to connect it to multiple monitors and various audio sources (including MP3 players).
Cons: Does not include a male-to-male cable and no bass or treble adjustments.
Overall: Certainly adds to the faux stage experience and can be used for much more than just gaming.

Playing a music video game does not make you a musician but dammit if you sure don’t feel like one while you do.

You can rapidly smack buttons and strum to some heavin’ hitting in-game tunage. Companies have done well furthering that rock star feeling by creating more realistic guitar controllers and even one with strings.

Polk Audio wants to help add even more realism to your grand at-home jam illusion with its HitMaster stage monitor (those boxy speakers you see in front of each musician on stage at live performances or being smashed by archive footage of The Who).

Out of the Box

Printed on the box is the HitMaster’s promised compatibility with Wii, PS2, Ps3, Xbox and Xbox 360 as well as “stereo input of iPhone/iPod and other MP3 devices.” In actuality it goes way beyond that but more on that later.

In the box is the HitMaster monitor along with a 9 ft. RCA stereo, a 7 1/2 ft. power cable and a printed quickstart guide.

The primarily black HitMaster features black metal mesh protecting the speakers with the product logo (in red) and the company logo (in white).

Beyond the mesh the rest of the body, I believe, is wood coated in a thick plastic layer to prevent scratching. The “bottom” has four 1 in. by 3/4 in. rubber feat and the “top”  includes a thick vinyl/plastic handle with metal fasteners.

The back control panel is metal and includes a fuse, AC input port, power switch, left and right Line In and Line Out ports, a 1/8 in. input port, a power LED indicator and a rubber volume knob that ranges from 1 to 11.  (Yes, really. Eleven.)

To complete the monitor effect it has five sides so the speakers are pointed at the musician, er, gamer. It weights about 13 pounds but is easily carried thanks to the handle and measures about 9 in tall, 14 1/2 in. wide and 10 1/4 in deep.

In the “Box”

Under the mesh is a 6 1/2 in.  dynamic balance woofer,  a 6 1/2 in . composite clone driver and two 1 in. 3x4 horn tweeters. Promised frequency response is 40Hz to 20kHz with Maximum SPL of 103 dB 1M/1W. That all makes up what is called a single-point stereo array, meaning you get the effect of stereo from a single system.

On Your Floor and In Your Ears

Set up is easy, as any speaker should be. It’s plug-and-play for both the 1/8 in. and the left-right RCA ports.

For music games the sounds is just the right mix (and even decent enough that it can replace most TV speakers for normal use). It hits the highs and lows very well and, even if you crank it to 11, the sounds is never distorted (the top volume was purposefully kept low enough to avoid damage, static or audio artifacts).

Since it is a powered speaker system, you can vary the volume from the HitMaster precisely enough to synchronize with your TV or, if that audio simply sucks, “daisy chain” it with other monitors or speakers for more spread stereo effect. On its own, it offers a wide enough spread of sound that it can be placed across a room and hit pretty much every corner.

If you do plan to use use this as your main TV speaker, the bulk might make it hard to place anywhere other than right in front of the cabinet or, unfortunately, behind it. But, then again, the real intention is to play music games with it and get that I’m-on-stage feel while gaming, which it certainly provides.

Thanks to the RCA and 1/8 input ports, pretty much anything that makes noise in your house and has output ports can be connected to the HitMaster, making this far more useful than just a gaming accessory.

My complaints are relatively small and only with the provided cables. The RCA cables provided are male on one end a female on the other. For consoles that’s not really an issue since you can plug the audio directly to the HitMaster. However, if you already have some sort of audio system, you really need another male-to-male RCA cable. Also, the power cords is shorter than the RCA cable which is the opposite of what is usually needed since the consoles will likely be closer to the speaker than the nearest wall power outlet.

There’s also not any form of in-box fine tuning adjustments (base, treble or balance) but, in any situation, you’re really at the mercy of the game developers and console for the final mix (or lack thereof - eg. cannot separate instruments and microphone from each other) and output quality.

HitMaster or MissMaster?

There is no mistake that this system sounds great, especially for the price. It looks and feels exactly like a stage sound monitor and will certainly impress - and very likely intimidate - your friends. The sound quality is better than most TVs and, if the bulk is not an issue for your setup, could become your primary stereo speakers.

As we were told by Polk Audio, this is certainly not a toy. The HitMaster has enough heft and a sturdy enough construction to keep it real but light enough to quickly move. Heck, you can even plug your favorite handheld game system into it.

There’s no doubt that this will survive years of gaming and withstand many accidental hits caused by your new found in-home stage presence. Don’t believe me, then check the photos of my 3-year-old sitting on the HitMaster. Believe me, he’s already put it through his own battery of stress tests and it’s come out unscathed.

And if you get something like the USB string guitar with the game adapter or even Power Gig: Rise of the SixString, all we really need is for a company to come out with a robotic at-home roadie. (I’ll leave the shaky, poorly swept wooden floor and artificial groupies to you.)

Read [HitMaster @ Gamertell] Site [Polk Audio HitMaster] Photo Gallery [HitMaster Photos @ Gamertell]

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Title: Age of Zombies
Price: $4.99
System(s): PSP, PS3
Release Date: February 25, 2010
Publisher (Developer): Halfbrick Studios (Halfbrick Studios)
ESRB Rating: “Teen” for Blood, Cartoon Violence, Language and Tobacco Reference
Pros: Comical, appealing cartoonish graphics, start each level part with three lives, lots of different weapons, 5 worlds with 3 levels each, zombies groan and Steakfries occasionally talks, there’s a survival mode and unlimited bullets for default weapon.
Cons: Very easy to get cornered by zombies, shooting diagonally can be tricky at times, bosses are pretty easy to dispatch, not much replay value and no real sense of challenge.
Overall Score: One thumb up, one own, 77/100, C+, * * 1/2 out of 5

The minis games offer a strange new, and unifying, experience for PS3 and PSP owners. They’re small, affordable, almost casual games that can be played and enjoyed, regardless of what system you own. It’s an interesting concept, and one that other companies (*cough*Nintendo*cough*) should look into as well.

One of the latest releases a zombie shooter called Age of Zombies, which tasks players with relentlessly shooting down as many zombies as possible to save the past and future from the undead menace.

Saving the past, present and future from zombies!

Age of Zombies begins with our zombie slaughtering hero, Barry Steakfries, bursting into a lab owned by Professor Brains. Professor Brains has developed not only a time travel device, but also a plague that turns people into zombies. He’s infected a batch of them, and sent them into different eras, like the Stone Age or the Future. It’s up to Barry to do some time traveling to exterminate them all, and after matter-of-factly dispatching Professor Brains, he does.

Basically, you’re looking down on Barry and controlling his every action. You press PSP’s four face buttons, X, O, square and triangle, to shoot in the four different directions or diagonally or press the R button to shoot in the direction you’re looking. Barry is confined to a small area in each level, and must run around exterminating zombies until the gauge on the left is depleted, showing there are no more in that area. Occasionally, secondary weapons like grenades or mines will appear (which you can use with the L button) or a different, temporary gun will appear to help you wipe out all the zombies.

Just keep shooting and moving!

One of the reasons that Age of Zombies is quite appealing is its hero, Barry Steakfries. Barry is obnoxious, foulmouthed, extremely violent and quite possibly unbalanced, but at the same time is just so loveable. Whether he’s waxing nostalgic about getting to own a zombie caveman as a pet, or shutting a living King Tut look-a-like (who wasn’t a zombie, by the way), you can’t help but like him and root for him.

Of course, the reason that he’s loveable is because he’s so funny. There’s not much story to speak of, even the opening story segment lasts a few moments and there’s just a teeny bit of banter before and after each time period’s three stages. But there are plenty of one liners that Barry spouts off, and more often then not they’ll make you, at the very least, smile.

Unfortunately, Barry’s personality and smart mouth aren’t enough to disguise Age of Zombies failings. It’s really a pretty easy game, as long as you button mash, keep shooting and never stop moving. The only time you really start worrying is when a rather large number of zombies (let’s say 30-40) appear on screen, as then it’s easy to get distracted while running for a better weapon or secondary weapon and then get surrounded. But even if you are surrounded, it’s no big deal. You start each time period world’s three stages with three lives, and if you die you just reappear somewhere in the vicinity and pick up where you left off. Plus, while it is funny, the script alone isn’t enough to get you to replay three or four times.

Not much replay value, but fun while it lasts.

Age of Zombies does have quite a few things going for it. It’s definitely funny, it looks great and it’s quite affordable. Plus, you’ll probably get two or three hours of gameplay out of it, which isn’t bad considering it’s only a mini and costs $4.99. Unfortunately, once you beat the game there’s really no reason to go back. It isn’t terribly challenging, unless you make a wrong move and get yourself cornered by a massive herd of zombies. And even if you do, you start each level with plenty of lives and there are always extra, special weapons being dropped onto the playing field. I’d say if you have an extra $5 to waste and you need a brief, funny distraction, then go for it. If you’re not big on violence, vulgarity or games where you can button-mash to win, then keep browsing.

Site [Age of Zombies]

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Title: Alice in Wonderland
Release Date: March 5, 2010
Company: Disney
Rating: “PG”
Length: 109 min (1 hour, 49 minutes)
Pros: Interesting characters you could watch for hours, moved at a steady pace, gorgeous costumes and environments, great casting and clever script.
Cons: Complicated and massive battle at end felt out of place, some of the CG effects seemed unnecessary and there were moments that seemed like they were thrown in just to make the 3D version of the movie have more 3D moments.
Overall Score: Two thumbs up, 96/100, A, * * * * 1/2 out of 5

Tim Burton and Alice in Wonderland is a winning combination, that much is clear without even seeing the movie. Burton is a master of surreal and otherworldly endeavors, and a movie inspired by Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass is the perfect opportunity to create another masterpiece. And it only gets better when you factor in a winning cast that includes stars like Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway, Stephen Fry, Alan Rickman and Crispin Glover.

Down the rabbit hole and returning to Underland

Alice in Wonderland begins with a young Alice coming to her father, as he’s meeting with some potential business partners. He asks her if she’s had the nightmare again, and he excuses himself to escort her back to bed. She confides to him that it was the same one again, with the blue caterpillar, disappearing cat and strange world. She asks if she’s going mad, and he checks for her a moment, admits that yes, she’s bonkers, but that all the best people are.

We then are taken to the present day. Alice is 19 years old now, and about to attend a party at the Ascot family’s home. She learns there that it’s not just any party, but an engagement party. For her. Apparently, her mother and the Ascots have determined that she should marry Hamish Ascot, their son. When she’s put on the spot by his proposal, she sees a white rabbit in a tailcoat, like the one in her dreams, running around, and she chases after it. The race leads her to a hole near some tree roots, and she falls into Wonderland once again.

However, things are complicated. The White Rabbit is unsure if he’s found the correct Alice, and the doormouse, dodo bird and Tweedles aren’t sure whether she is or isn’t Alice. Also, Alice herself is convinced that the whole affair is a dream. And once Absolem the Caterpillar declares she is “hardly Alice” and the Red Queen’s forces set down upon all of them, Alice finds herself alone and bewildered.

Great characters and concept, but the CG and 3D pandering sometimes go too far

Alice in Wonderland is primarily focused on its story and characters, which is perhaps why the movie is so enjoyable to watch and seems to move so quickly. Alice, marvelously portrayed by Mia Wasikowska, has plenty of personality and “muchness” which makes her both admirable and a joy to watch. You’ll find yourself rooting for her and for Depp’s Mad Hatter, who is a far more engaging and sympathetic character than he has been in any other Alice adaptation. Helena Bonham Carter makes the Red Queen delightfully conniving and devious, and Anne Hathaway acts as her perfect foil. Even smaller characters, like Tweedles, Dormouse and Cheshire Cat have a way of stealing your heart, and some scenes.

There was only one moment where the story seemed to falter. There’s a confrontation scene that occurs in about the last 20 minutes of the movie that just feels unnecessary and out of place. Yes, there is a need for a confrontation, but it didn’t need to be so frenzied, involving what felt like the entire population of Underland. Personally, I think it would have worked much better if it had been a solitary moment and altercation between the White and Red Queens’ champions.

There were two visual matters that bothered me. The first seems to be a common affliction among movies that are released in 3D enhanced versions. It seems like specific sequences or moments are created soley for the purpose of giving 3D viewers a quick thrill. In a movie like Alice in Wonderland, which focuses more on character development and story rather than cheap embellisments, these moments feel awkward and out of place. It’s especially more noticeable if you choose to watch the standard version of the movie.

Also, in some places it seemed as though CG effects were overdone. Take, for example, Stayn. Whenever he’d be on horseback, his whole appearance seemed awkward and off-balanced, and as though it would have been more practical and visually appealing if they hadn’t used CG effects to try and make it seem more outlandish. This didn’t happen too often, thankfully, but there were times when the abundance of CG alterations seemed overwhelming.

A delightful excursion you’ll wish had lasted longer

Alice in Wonderland is a whimsical delight. Whether you’re a fan of Tim Burton, the original literature or even just fantasy stories, it’s the sort of movie that will grab your attention and hold it for the entire running time. The movie will fly by without your even realizing it, and you’ll be left wanting more. I found that I couldn’t get the story, images and characters out of my head, even hours after leaving the theater. Burton’s latest work leaves a definite impression on the viewers and encourages creative thinking.

I would recommend leaving children at home for this Alice in Wonderland adaptation. Yes, it’s a Disney film and has a PG rating, but it is also quite dark and filled with more mature themes and concepts that children probably won’t appreciate or grasp.

Site [Alice in Wonderland]

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Title: RE: Alistair
Price: Free
System(s): *Windows, Mac, Linux
Release Date: February 28, 2010
Publisher (Developer): Sakevisual (Sakevisual)
ESRB Rating: N/A. (Appropriate for 10 and older).
Pros: Great artwork, interesting characters with a few slight unexpected twists, nice blend of simulation and visual novel elements, there are skip and auto functions, lots of save slots, CG gallery, the script is funny at times, the main character is easy to relate to and there’s quite a bit of replay value.
Cons: Pretty short and you’re left wanting more. Music isn’t anything special. Only three dateable guys.
Overall Score: One thumb up, one sideways, 88/100, B+, * * * 1/2 out of 5

Free games typically fall into one of three categories - “surprisingly exceptional,” “good, but I wouldn’t pay for it” and “I can see why this is free.” Sakevisual’s latest visual novel and dating simulation, RE: Alistair, definitely is a member of the surprisingly exceptional group. It’s only failings stem from it’s bland music and short storyline, and other than that it’s a really entertaining game. It also makes me wonder, if Sakevisual’s first game is this good, who knows what to expect from the next two, Ripples and Hanami x2.

Blessed Stones are a girl’s best friend.

Merui is a gamer girl, and her favorite is Rivenwall Online, a massive multiplayer online RPG where she is the knight RuiOfTheSword, and she and her online friend FionaWings explore a virtual world and beat up monsters in hopes of getting awesome stuff. One day, they’re out venturing as usual, and fighting a difficult boss in the hopes of Merui finding a Blessed Stone. Right when Merui is about to deal the final blow, some other player called Alistair jumps in, kills the boss and takes the stone.

Merui is displeased to say the least. If the Rivenwall Online censor would allow it, she’d show it verbally. She and this rogue, Alistair, agree to duel. Just as the duel’s about to start, the school’s internet goes down!

After classes, she returns to the computer lab, finds the internet is up again, and logs back in. She then realizes that she wasn’t the only one booted, that Alistair was booted from the game as well. She deduces that he attends the same school as she does, and after checking the school’s logs determines that three other people were online at that time, Derek, Shiro and Travis. The next time she meets Alistair, she tells him she knows who he is, and will exact her revenge. But, she doesn’t know which of the three he actually is. So they make a bet - she has one month to find him. If she does, she gets her stone. If she doesn’t, he gets all the gold she made in Rivenwall Online that month.

Engaging enough to keep you interested, quick enough to inspire replays.

As I played through RE: Alistair for the third time, I found myself wondering why it was so enjoyable. From first glance, it appears similar to most other visual novels, from the anime style graphics to the primarily story-based gameplay. As you play, you discover that it slightly deviates from your initial expectations. The characters, which each seem straightforward for the first few in-game days, each have their own secrets which can often only be uncovered if you try to win their hearts. I didn’t even suspect one of the guy’s secrets until I was halfway through playing the game while shooting for his ending.

RE: Alistair also takes a note from Tokimeki Memorial Girl’s Side, one of the most successful otome (girls’ dating game) and simulation games. Instead of limiting the player to just picking the correct answers to hopefully get a good ending and come to a good resolution, it also tasks players with meeting certain stat requirements. There are certain activities Merui can participate in and items she can buy, and by taking advantage of these actions she can make herself more appealing to certain characters.

The character of Merui is also part of what makes RE: Alistair great. She behaves like a real girl gamer and human being. She isn’t perfect - she’s got a bit of a temper, sometimes is less than patient and can be quite conniving when it suits her. But she can also be a good person, showing sympathy, kindness and compassion to other people. And her in-game counterpart, RuiOfTheSword helps gives players an insight into her gaming habits - Rui is a knight, a warrior class, who’s made it to level 56. Compare that to her friend FionaWings, who’s an Angel healer at level 54, and you can see Merui isn’t some casual player. All this makes it easier for girl gamers playing RE: Alistair to connect with the character and become more immersed in the game.

Find out if visual novels or simulation games are right for you, for free!

I’m honestly surprised RE: Alistair is a free game. It’s very well made, with quite a bit of depth and thought put into it. Even though it is quite short, that’s almost a blessing as it makes it much easier to go through multiple times and see all the endings. The story is well written, with believeable characters, the artwork is pretty and very easy to look at and the stat building simulation elements make you feel like you’re doing more than just reading text on a screen and occasionally picking answers. If you’ve ever been curious about visual novels or otome dating games, then make sure you visit Sakevisual and download RE: Alistair.

Site [RE: Alistair]

Full Story » | Written by Jenni Lada for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

Haven’t caught all of the Gamertell news this week?  Here’s your chance to catch up on this week’s top 10 articles!

• Get your very own God of War III Blade of Chaos
  ” MORE »
• Sony warns against using PS3 (Update: It’s Fixed!)
  “Update: PSN is now back up and running. The friends list is loading correctly and dynamic theme files are no longer corrupted. All is well so put that book down and get back to gaming.  As many of us know,  MORE »
• PlayStation Network experiences global meltdown, many PS3s effected
  ” The PlayStation Network is down! If you’re a PS3 owner who tried to play some games on your console, or pay a visit to the PlayStation Store, sometime between yesterday, February 28, 2010, and today, you already know that though! Problems started…” MORE »
• The Crazies invade theaters, games and comic books
  “Overture Films’ new horror release The Crazies is getting some good buzz. Longtime genre fans will remember the original film by George Romero about a small Kansas town driven to the brink (in violent fashion) by a contaminated water supply.  Romero’s flicks have…” MORE »
• Valve updates Portal’s ending
  ” Wasn’t it great and exciting when Valve updated Portal this week with new puzzles and a new achievement? Well, it’s happened again. Valve has issued another update for Portal today (March 3, 2010). When you start playing Portal through Stream,…” MORE »
• Wii games proving useful for stroke patient rehabilitation
  “Rehabilitation is unfortunately most times a slow and painful process. Many people have to go through tough sessions for months or even years and sometimes it can be hard to keep focused on the exercise.  Researchers are looking…” MORE »
• Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Conviction Xbox 360 bundle is boring
  “Bundle releases are supposed to be special! Well, at least a little special. Like the Xbox 360 Final Fantasy XIII bundle comes with a hard drive that has Final Fantasy XIII written on it and, if you…” MORE »
• Infinity Ward studio taken over by security, studio heads missing
  ” Late tonight (March 1, 2010) G4 broke a story about non-uniformed “bouncer-type” personnel entering Infinity Ward studios unannounced. The unidentified persons allegedly won’t say why they are there or who they are taking orders for. The staff at Infinity Ward are…” MORE »
• Find love and revenge in RE: Alistair
  “Free games are always great, so let’s start the week out right with RE: Alistair! Sake-bento, tooaya and Thee Forsaken One have come together to create a brand new visual novel for PC, Mac and Linux owners. It’s free, so…” MORE »
• Dead or Alive creator Itagaki settles lawsuit with Tecmo
  ” Tomonobu Itagaki, the former Team Ninja head who sued Tecmo over unpaid wages, announced a settlement February 26, 2010, with his former employer. Itagaki filed suit in June 2008 claiming unpaid wages and disingenuous statements by former Tecmo CEO…” MORE »

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I recently spoke with Mark Suskind, Polk Audio’s Vice President of Product Line Management about the company’s new HitMaster stage style audio monitor.

The HitMaster is being marketed as a gaming accessory that will add an extra element of realism to music games including Guitar Hero and Rock Band.

Essentially a complex speaker system in one box, the HitMaster is built much like those floor monitors musicians use to monitor their performance on stage.

“There’s been something like 45 million copies of Rock Band and Guitar Hero games sold… and most people are using the progressively poor quality flat-screen sound or poor PC audio,” said Suskind. “We wanted to let people have the total experience when playing these games and feel like you are on stage. This helps create that experience.”

Available for $99, the HitMaster is a single-point 80 watt stereo speaker with two 2.5 by 5.5 in. horns with two 1 in. neodymium tweeters surrounding a 6.5 in. woofer. The cabinet measures 14 in. wide, 9 1/2 in tall and 8 1/2 deep, comes with a handle and weighs approximately 13 lbs.

And, yes, the volume knob actually goes to 11.

“That one is my thing. There’s this movie [This is Spinal Tap] and I always thought it’d be fun. I started doing that a while ago with our subwoofers.”

Suskind quipped that Polk’s engineers did a lot of “beta testing of their own,” (read: they love to game, too) continually tweaking the system for optimum performance.

The HitMaster’s total frequency response is rated at 40Hz to 20kHz and it includes left and right RCA inputs and outputs, allowing a daisy chain of speakers. if you are afraid of the system blasting away your neighbors, parents or loved one, that “11” setting isn’t quite as deafening as the seemingly silly setting implies, putting out 103 dB (measured at 8 to 10 feet away).

“We wanted it loud but not excessive and we wanted to keep it a $99 product. Make it too loud and parents would take issue.” Suskind further explained that allowing the speaker to pump out much more and you’d experience “audio fatigue and noticeable artifacts” in the sound.

It also includes a 1/8 in. input jack which means you can also plug in your favorite MP3 player which has also lead to the HitMaster being used in some surprising ways.

“You can always come up with a few uses but you never really know how it will be used once it gets in people’s hands,” Suskind explained, also suggesting that it can be used as a high-end iPod speaker. “One person told us they use it for presentation purposes instead of crummy speakers on a PC or laptop… It has a handle so we’ve been told people take it from room to room in their house as they need it. It’s also being used for satellite and cable setups. It’s been used for Karaoke machines because the built-in audio is not very good.”

Thank to the RCA input and output ports, you can use a second set of speakers or daisy chain HitMasters. “We had 11 connected together at CES this year,” Suskind said.

But if you are thinking you can hear only your track when gaming, like Slash hearing only his riffs on stage, forget it. But don’t blame the speakers.

While the PS3 and Xbox 360 offer more than simple left-right audio output, Suskind explained, the Wii doesn’t and, even so, consoles are usually outputting simply split mono audio. If you want to monitor the mic in one and the guitar on another, for example, it’s a no go. “The audio is mixed in the game so it cannot be separated.” Besides, if you wanted surround sound, you’d need a speaker 30 to 40 inches wide and would probably pay a heck of a lot more for it.

“This is a real product. It’s not a toy,” said Suskind, pre-emptively dispelling the belief that every game accessory is a plastic play thing. “This has solid construction, corner protectors and a steel mesh grill over the speakers.” It has a hefty handle for a reason.

Also, by giving it an active audio system with RCA ports, the HitMaster can be used with any current game console. If you want to split the the left and right channels between monitors you’d simply use one cable per monitor.

The good news is that, if you do decide to invest in a HitMaster, you may get to use it for years after you put down your axe.

“Loudspeakers never really break,” said Suskind. “We have some that have lasted 30 years, so this will likely outlive the [game controller] guitars.”

Site [Polk Audio HitMaster]

Full Story » | Written by PJ Hruschak for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

Title: Ponyo
Release Date: March 2, 2010
Format(s): Blu-ray, DVD
Price: $39.99 (Blu-ray+DVD), $29.99 (DVD)
Company: Walt Disney Studio Home Entertainment (Studio Ghibli)
Rating: “G” (General Audiences)
Length: 1 hour, 43 minutes. (103 minutes)
Pros: Gorgeous visuals, mostly amazing voice acting, beautiful soundtrack and it appeals to the very young target audience.
Cons: A couple annoying voices (especially to older viewers) and a little darker than most Disney movies.
Overall Score: One thumb up, one thumb sideways; 87/100; B+; * * * 1/2 out of five.

Hayao Miyazaki’s films can arguably be described as a bit too weird for American audiences to accept, lacking a clear, super-hero style main character and instead focusing on normal people in not-so-normal circumstances. Most times he exudes a mood more than a clear, linear story in his films, though this may be one of the most linear of his productions (thanks to the film’s literary inspiration).

Some elements in Ponyo may not immediately endear older American viewers but the overall story will prove entertaining to its true target: very young viewers.

Under the Sea

Loosely based on Han Christian Anderson’s The Little Mermaid, Ponyo stars a cute but strange looking magical fish and a little boy who finds her stuck in a jar close to shore. Mistaken for a goldlfish, the human-faced fish Brunhilda, aka Ponyo, soon becomes enamored with young Sosuke (and ham, of all things), wanting to leave her magician father’s literally protective bubbles to become a little girl.

That, of course, throws everything out of balance, causing the seas to rise and nature to basically freak out. The only way to set things right is either for Ponyo to return her to her aquatic life or to abandon magic altogether and become a human.

Like most Miyazaki movies, some of the characters are a bit outlandish, emotions run from mellow to explosive and so does the animated action. There’s a strong nature them that gets a little preachy for only a couple minutes and a lot of big-weather action but, ultimately, it’s a cute, emotional story with amazing visuals.

Turning Japanese

The American voice cast includes some rather impressive names: Cate Blanchett (Gran Mamare), Noah Cyrus (Ponyo), Matt Damon (Koichi), Tina Fey (Lisa), Frankie Jonas (Sosuke), Kurt Knutsson (The Newscaster), Cloris Leachman (Noriko), Liam Neeson (Fujimoto), Jennessa Rose (Kumiko), Lily Tomlin (Toki) and Betty White (Yoshie). Only Neeson’s voice seems, at times, too far over the top - although it fits the stripe suited character - and most surprising is Fey, who sounds as if she’s been voicing anime movies for decades. All of the movie’s on-screen old ladies (Leachman, Tomlin and White) are perfect choices for their characters. Cyrus’ Ponyo is often a high-pitched yell which might be an instant turn off to older ears.

As with all Miyazaki’s movies, the soundtrack (like the visuals) is a wonderful blend of subtlety and swelling excitement.

The high definition of the Blu-ray makes the disparity in the film’s artistic styles obvious, occasionally making the lined edges and solid coloring of the main characters a bit too bright against the lush and intricately detailed backgrounds. It gives it a slightly older-than-it-really-is feel but this is a hand-drawn animated feature and not an uber-computer shaded creation. It’s rarely an issue in terms of overall film enjoyment and may even lend itself well to Miyazaki’s tendency to create a purposefully mixed-up era on screen.

After watching the extra features - which primarily consist of interviews with Miayazaki or interviews with Disney execs about him - it’s clear that the most critical audience of this movie is not the target. Instead, he was trying to make a movie for 4-year-olds, featuring slightly older-than-that main characters and more fish than you can find in a 3D release of Finding Nemo. And there he certainly succeeds.

Another success of this release is the interview with Miayazaki. He’s not only offers decent insights into the film but is also rather candid about his own failings as a filmmaker, admitting that most of his movies have taken several years, in some more than a decade, to gather fans and acclaim. These bonus features will help to make this release much more entertaining to older audiences, especially Miayazaki’s US fans.

I’m Turning Japa-Three

This is one of those instances where an adult cannot properly pass judgment. It’s simultaneously cute, weird, strange and magical. It’s not my favorite Miyazaki movie but, then again, it’s not supposed t be.

Ponyo is, at times, a bit scarier and creepier than most Disney movies (maybe Dark Crystal aside) but my 3-year-old certainly didn’t seem to mind. Instead, he asks for the movie by name almost daily.

Your kids may, too, if you give it a chance. (Trust me, it won’t be anywhere as annoying as Barney or the Teletubbies).

ALSO OUT: To coincide with the Blu-ray-DVD release of Ponyo, Walt Disney Studio Home Entertainment has also released three other Hayao Miyazaki-Studio Ghibli films as Special Edition DVDs: My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service and Castle in the Sky.

Photo Gallery [Ponyo @ Gamertell] Read [Ponyo Movie Review @ Gamertell] Site [Ponyo]

Full Story » | Written by PJ Hruschak for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

This week’s update is huge. HUGE. There are eight new casual games out this week and the best part is, only half are hidden object games! Okay, Eden’s Quest: The Hunt for Akua (PC) is technically part hidden object and should boost the count to five hidden object games and three from other genres, but it also has adventure and match-3 elements so that kind of makes it more of a general puzzle game.

Seriously, take a good look at this week’s offerings. Chances are, no matter what kind of casual gamer you are, you’ll find something new that you might really love. There are games representing the puzzle, action, adventure, simulation and RPG genres below.

There’s only one Mac game though. Thankfully, that Mac game is RE: Alistair and happens to be free. (It also happens to be available for computers with Windows and Linux OSes.)

This week’s best bets are: RE: Alistair (PC, Mac, Linux), Apparitions: Kotsmine Hills (PC) and Clover: A Curious Tale (PC)

Pathfinders: Lost at Sea
Genre: Puzzle (Hidden Object)
Availability: Big Fish Games, Harmonic Flow
Retail Price: $6.99
Platform: Windows XP and Vista
Premise: A relic in the Atlantic has caused an island to appear in the Atlantic Ocean, and now you must investigate the new island and the relic that has caused it to appear.
Demo Available: Yes

Last Heroes
Genre: RPG
Availability: Amaranth Games
Retail Price: $11.99
Platform: Windows 98, 2000, XP, Vista and 7
Premise: King Viktor of Abakam must find allies and fight against his brother, Viper, who is leading a resistance force against him.
Demo Available: Yes

Nora Roberts: Vision in White
Genre: Puzzle (Hidden Object)
Availability: Harmonic Flow
Retail Price: $19.99
Platform: Windows 2000, XP, Vista and 7
Premise: Based on Nora Robert’s romance novel, help Mackensie discover if her fling will turn into something more, despite her fears of commitment and turning into her mother. Mackensie always is photographing other people’s weddings, but could the next wedding she attends be her own?
Demo Available: Yes

Apparitions: Kotsmine Hills
Genre: Puzzle (Hidden Object)
Availability: Big Fish Games, Harmonic Flow
Retail Price: $6.99
Platform: Windows XP and Vista
Premise: Kotsmine Hills is haunted. In 1929, there was a terrible fire when the town was snowed in, and the ghosts of those who died still remain. You must search for ghosts and help them find peace.
Demo Available: Yes

Clover: A Curious Tale
Genre: Action and Adventure
Availability: Blitz1UP
Retail Price: £5.99/$8.99
Platform: Windows
Premise: Help Sam learn about the attack on Sanha that killed his mother, and learn the truth of what’s going on in the world.
Demo Available: Yes

RE: Alistair
Genre: Adventure (Visual Novel) and Simulation
Availability: Sakevisual
Retail Price: Free
Platform: Windows, Macs and Linux (It’s free, so download and try to see if it works.)
Premise: A girl named Merui is enjoying her favorite MMO and is so close to getting a rare item, when a rogue named Alistair appears, deals the final blow and takes it. Merui learns he attends her school, and decides to exact her revenge in real life. She only has one month to do it though! Visit Gamertell Monday for a review!
Demo Available: No

Hidden Identity: Chicago Blackout
Genre: Puzzle (Hidden Object)
Availability: Big Fish Games, GameHouse, Harmonic Flow
Retail Price: $6.99
Platform: Windows XP and Vista
Premise: You’ve awoken in a Chicago hotel without any memory of who you are, how you got there or why you’re even there. Fortunately, you left clues and notes for yourself before you ended up in the position that you’re in and now have the opportunity to find the truth.
Demo Available: Yes

Eden’s Quest: The Hunt for Akua
Genre: Puzzle (Hidden Object) and Adventure
Availability: Big Fish Games
Retail Price: $6.99
Platform: Windows XP and Vista
Premise: Eden Hunt has been invited to take part in the Akua treasure hunt. If she manages to be the first to find the treasure, she’ll win enough money to go on many more archeological expeditions.
Demo Available: Yes

Editor’s Note: Due to so many casual games sites offering game plans or preferred member prices, which can cause a game to have multiple price-points, the games’ average retail prices is mentioned in Casual Friday.

Site [Big Fish Games] Site [PlayFirst] Site [GameHouse] Site [eGames] Site [Alawar Games] Site [Amazon] Site [Reflexive Arcade] Site [Harmonic Flow]

Full Story » | Written by Jenni Lada for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

Sometimes video game companies just don’t listen to what fans want. It’s understandable. Publishers are focused on making money and working on games that will give them some kind of guaranteed return, and that often means games that people desperately want don’t get picked up for worldwide releases because financial success isn’t guaranteed.

That’s when fans step up, and get to work on fan translations. Ordinary people who happen to be fluent in Japanese, or know a bit about hacking, take on the task of preparing games for an English speaking audience. While actually getting to play the fan translations may be a questionable act (Piracy is very, very bad. Support your developers and publishers.), there are some situations where it is the only way to play a game that will never, ever see a worldwide release.

This week in Important Importables, we’re looking at some particularly notable fan translations that have either been completed, or are currently being worked on. Most of the headers below also double as links to the translation project or translation group’s pages, so you can read more about their endeavors.

Mother 3 GBA

The Mother 3 fan translation is undoubtedly one of the best known fan translations in existance. When Nintendo GameBoy Advance owners everywhere by failing to release the latest entry in what Americans know as the Earthbound series overseas, fans rose up and the Starmen.net team began work on the Mother 3 Fan Translation.

The group worked for years on the project, who’s lead translator Tomato, is even a professional video game translator, released the first patch in 2008, and a second patch with slight fixes in 2009. The first was downloaded over 100,000 times in the first week. The group even created and released a Mother 3 Handbook that fans could purchase to help them through the game and appreciate it more.

If you visit the site, you’ll find walkthroughs, information about the process, the patch, game analysis and encouragement to support and purchase the actual Mother 3 game. Spanish, French, Italian and other translations of Mother 3 are currently in the works, and it’s one of the few translation projects where even people in the game industry were happy and didn’t object.

Fatal Frame 4 Wii

The Fatal Frame 4: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse is honestly one of the most impressive and ambitious fan translations I have ever seen. Plus, it doesn’t require users to turn to piracy to take advantage of it!

Once you apply the simple patch to your Wii, it will not only allow you to run the official Japanese Fatal Frame 4 disc, a feat that’s normally impossible due to region protection, but it will also automatically translate the game into English. The Fatal Frame 4 Translation Team even created multiple versions of the patch, to work with different Wii firmwares, and state on the website that they will update the patches should future Wii firmware block them.

Soma Bringer DS

The fan translation for Soma Bringer is slightly less organized, as it’s an open translation headed by a devoted fan named Darth Nemesis, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less spectacular than the two already mentioned. It isn’t a full, 100% translation, but it’s over 97% done and anyone who patches the game will have no problem playing it in English.

Soma Bringer is a loved DS game that was adored in Japan, and has developed quite a cult following online. It was developed by Monolith Soft and published by Nintendo, but unfortunately it seems the company has forgotten about it after it’s February 28, 2008 release. It’s an action RPG that’s charming and looks absolutely beautiful. Unfortunately, it seems

Idolm@ster SP PSP

I actually had no idea this project existed, until I started writing this article, but I’m quite happy and pleased to see that it does! There’s an open translation project going on for the Idolm@ster PSP games Perfect Sun, Missing Moon and Wandering Star. While all three games are being translated, Perfect Sun is the furthest along and the only one with a patch released.

Tokimeki Memorial Girl’s Side 1st Love Plus DS

I’m mentioning this little gem of a fan translation in today’s column simply because I know a lot of otome and simulation fans are frequent readers. This is an open fan translation that is currently in the works, and no patches have been officially released yet. The group of fans working on it are doing very well though, and you can see their progress by visiting the project page’s website.

Tales of Innocence DS

Since Namco Bandai has been a bit lax in releasing entries in the Tales of series overseas, quite a few fan translations have popped up for various entries over the years. One of them is Absolute Zero’s fan translation of the second DS Tales of game, Tales of Innocence. An amazing thing about the Absolute Zero Tales of Innocence translation is that the team is not only patching the game, they’re also fixing bugs and glitches! So this patch, when completed, will not only translate it into English, it’ll also make the game more playable and enjoyable.

Fire Emblem: The Sealed Sword GBA

This is a somewhat hard to find fan translation, but quite comprehensive. It’s an English translation of the GBA game Fire Emblem: Fuuin no Tsurugi, also known as Fire Emblem 6 or Fire Emblem: The Sealed Sword. It’s actually the sequel to the Fire Emblem GBA game released in North America. Though it was released first, chronologically the events in Fire Emblem: The Sealed Sword take place after the events in Fire Emblem. The translation isn’t complete, but the Dark Twilkitri Net Translation Division has done a wonderful job so far and there has been a patch released. The same team is also working on a patch for the SNES Fire Emblem: Seisen no Keifu game.

Policenauts PS1

The Policenauts Translation Project came together to bring Hideo Kojima and Konami’s PS1, science fiction adventure game to English speaking gamers. It’s a first person adventure where players help a policenaut, an astronaut policeman, solve the murder of his ex-wife and disappearance of her current husband. The PS1 patch was released in 2009 on Hideo Kojima’s birthday.

Sailor Moon: Another Story SNES

The Bishoujo Senshi Translations team and Niche from FuSoYa translated this surprisingly amazing SNES RPG. True, it’s probably not everyone’s first choice when it comes to import games, but it was the very first fan translation I was exposed to, and it really is a good SNES-era RPG, so I figured it’d be worth mentioning. The Bishoujo Senshi Translations team’s page is down, but there are plenty of screenshots showing just how much work went into the game and what an admirable translation it is online. If you’re an anime fan, or just like well-made, classic RPGs, then look into what a good job they did.

Aeon Genesis

Not a fan translation, but rather one of the most well known and notable fan translation groups. Aeon Genesis has completed translations for 70 games, and is working on translations for almost 40 more. Many of the games are classics for earlier systems like the NES and SNES. Some of their best known works include English translations for Cave Story (PC), Live-A-Live (SNES), Shin Megami Tensei (SNES), Shiren the Wanderer: Mysterious Dungeon 2 (SNES), Rockman & Forte (SNES) and Ys V (SNES).

COMING NEXT WEEK: Important Importables reviews the Sakura Taisen 3 Dreamcast game.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Last week Important Importables talked about Gundam games

Site [Play-Asia] Site [YesAsia] Site [NCSX] Site [Himeya Shop] Site [Strapya World]

Full Story » | Written by Jenni Lada for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

Full Story » | Written by NEWS for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

About two weeks ago, I headed off to Macworld Expo expecting to see plenty of iPhone cases but not many Mac games.

That’s pretty much what I got but I still have to say I left San Francisco feeling good about the state of gaming on the Macintosh. I mean, can I really hold game publishers responsible for not setting up shop at the Macworld show floor? Hardly any companies were there this year, but Macworld still managed to pack in the faithful. I think many exhibitors who took this year off will return in January 2011.

But for now, screw them. Let’s talk about one of the companies that did bother to show up for Macworld Expo: Telltale Games.

It helps, of course, that the company had something to talk about. Having previously been a PC, Xbox 360 and WiiWare publisher only, where else but at Macworld would you want to officially announce your move into the Mac community? And considering their only other spotlight competition was the GameSalad challenge and a media only press conference from Alawar, it’s no wonder Telltale’s booth continually drew a pretty good crowd. I mean, they had by-God iMacs set up! Displaying games! That you could sit down and play!

But they weren’t stopping at their booth; Telltale was everywhere in the form of flyers and buttons as Wallace & Gromit, Sam & Max, and Strong Bad canvassed for votes to be the game that follows Tales of Monkey Island (now available) in the release cycle. Votes are still being accepted, in fact, so head on over to make sure your voice is heard. If you don’t rock the vote, the terrorists win, or whatever.

Anyway, the point is that you couldn’t swing a dead iPad bag without wafting a game flyer off a lunch table or abandoned iPhone app kiosk. The guys at Telltale were working hard to promote their games, and God bless ‘em for it. Although awareness doesn’t always beget profits in the world of Mac gaming, Telltale stands a great chance of making this work. Why? Because they understand their audience.

See, a few years back, Electronic Arts suddenly threw Mac gamers a bone with titles such as Madden NFL Whatever, Need for Speed Something, Command & Conquer This and That and Tiger Woods Insert Joke Here. None of them sold well enough for EA to bother considering the Mac with the next round of updates. Why? Because those are gamer games, and gamers don’t play on the Mac. That’s not to say there aren’t Mac users who are also hard core gamers, but rather that these people are likely getting their fix on consoles, not on their MacBook.

But Telltale’s games aren’t aimed at the hardcore crowd. They’re point and click adventure games, easily accessible by everyone. They involve puzzle solving, not complicated military strategies and playbook memorization. They’re the types of games that people my age grew up playing, and are now playing with our kids. They also involve known commodities (Guybrush Threepwood and Sam & Max in gaming circles, and Wallace & Gromit in entertainment circles).

In addition, if the pricing scheme follows its PC and console counterparts, players will be able to buy the game one episode at a time. This fits in better with the ridiculously low prices Apple fans are used to paying for iPhone and iPod touch games, and it helps to ease that initial investment. Paying $30 or $40 for a full game you may not like is a risk. Paying $8.95 for a single episode is safer, and makes for a better impulse buy. If Apple and AT&T have shown us anything with their iPhone data plan, it’s that buyers are more willing to pay more in the long run if they can get immediate gratification with less up-front investment.

Not that you need to worry with Telltale. I haven’t had the chance to try out most of these games, but I am currently reviewing Tales of Monkey Island for Appletell. It’s exceptionally well made in regards to graphics, performance and story. It’s actually funny and entertaining to play. If Monkey Island is any indication of what’s to come, then if we can’t give Telltale their own holiday, we should at least include them as a reason to celebrate one that already exists. I’m sure they’d be happy to be tagged onto President’s Day or Cinco de Mayo.

(As an aside, do you think countries outside the US get upset when we adopt their holidays as our own under the guise of us accepting other cultures and our nation’s diversity, when it’s really just another excuse for people to get drunk? What will the French say when bars start advertising dollar pitchers of crappy beer in honor of Bastille Day?)

Voting for the next Telltale game will come to an end on February 28, 2010. Soon thereafter, provided everyone voted intelligently and the results aren’t being counted by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Adventures will be heading our way.

Strong Bad’s Cool Game for Attractive People and Sam & Max Save the World will follow, and if that’s not enough to keep you busy for quite some time, then…well, then I’ll be back within a week or so to tell you where else to look for some Mac gaming goodness.

I mean, come on. Telltale may be getting their own national holiday but that doesn’t mean they have to do all the work.

Cripes, you people are demanding.

Full Story » | Written by Kirk Hiner for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

There are times where a game is released where you really want to know what happened but you either can’t or don’t want to buy or play it. To help you out, Gamertell offers Spoiler Alert. We’ll play the games and tell you what happened so you don’t have to spend, or waste, your time on it. This week, we’re looking at Glory of Heracles, the DS RPG from Nintendo. Prepare to be spoiled.

The game begins with an amnesiac, immortal man running into another immortal named Leucos. Leucos decides that this is fate and the will of the gods, and the two decide to travel together. While leaving an enchanted forest, nymphs inform the amnesiac that he is the legendary hero Heracles. The two then decide to head to Mount Olympus to discover the reason behind Heracles’ memory lost, and the reason for Leucos’ immortality. Along the way they run into other immortals named Axios, Heracles and Eris who join their journey to Olympus to discover the truth.

The main character, who you’ve thought all along is Heracles, isn’t exactly Heracles. He’s a doll with part of Heracles and part of Icarus, Daedalus’ son, souls residing inside of it/him. Icarus died from donning wings and flying too close to the sun, and Daedalus wanted to try to revive him. But he needed the power of a great hero to do so, and some of the real Heracles’ spirit was placed inside the doll.

Leucos should be Athens’ queen. Her real name is Leucothea, and she is the daughter of the king of Athens. She was supposed to be a sacrifice to Prometheus, but things didn’t work out that way. Prometheus gifted her father immortality for building the Taphoi, and the gift passes to Leucothea, as she is the true heir andt queen of Athens.

Axios is immortal because he’s part of the titan Oceanus. In the beginning of the game he is carrying one part of Oceanus inside of him, and by the end he has a second part.

“Heracles” is really Iphicles, the real Heracles’ younger, half brother. And he died earlier, after a monster destroyed the house he was in. Once he realizes the truth, Iphicles turns to ether and disappears. Heracles gave part of his spirit to get Iphicles back, causing Iphicles to think he was Heracles when he was resurrected.

Eris is immortal because she is a god and Prometheus’ wife. She just got turned into a child and temporarily lost her memory. Once she remembered, she worked to set Prometheus free from his confinement (he was trapped by Zeus for giving humans fire and magic).

In the end, they all end up reaching Olympus after defeating the titan Typhon and discovering why each of them is immortal. They also learn that the gods didn’t really want any of them to exist. They were tested to prove that they deserved to exist, even if it’s only for a short while longer. Eris returns to her true form and her Prometheus is set free. Axios has a new form and resides in Oceanus’ temple. Heracles-Iphicles returns to his childhood home. Leucos is at the Neapolis theater and talks to a little girl who knew the doll hero when he was Icarus, and the game ends with the doll hero on a cliff playing the flute.

Read [Gamertell]

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Title: Last Escort: Club Katze
Price: $59.90
System: PSP*, Playstation 2
Release Date: February 18, 2010
Publisher (Developer): Mobile & Game Studio (D3 Publisher)
ESRB Rating: N/A, CERO D for Ages 17+
Pros: Slick and polished character designs, skippable dialogue and cutscenes, simple gameplay and fully voiced (aside from the main character’s dialogue).
Cons: Painfully linear, lack of character customizable options, intermediate Japanese skills recommended (but not required).
Overall Score: One Thumb Sideways, One Thumb Down; 67 out of 100; D+; *1/2 out of *****. 

Host clubs are no secret in Japan. Interested parties will find the streets of Kabuki-cho in Shinjuku (Tokyo, Japan) swarming with sharply dressed young gentlemen bombarding women of all ages in hopes of luring them back to their love nest that is one of their host clubs.

Last Escort is a unique series, usually on the PS2, that has enjoyed success on the Japan thanks to many a fine lady interested in getting a glimpse of what the host club scene in Japan is like without committing oodles of real-world monetary funds.

A Girl and Her Host

The main goal of Club Katze, as with Last Escort titles, is to woo a host through conversation and gift giving, while also helping him to achieve the number one spot of the club by spending all your hard-earned cash on ridiculously overpriced bottles of liquor.

Players take control of a young woman starting out in her career. Oddly enough, she’s given the task to “spy” on a local host club called Club Katze but she finds her trips become increasingly personal and less about business.

The game progresses over the course of approximately one calendar year where, week by week, players have the ability to pick activities to increasing attributes and encourage a host to fall for you by appealing to his interests. For example, maxing out the sports stat will increase your chances of capturing the heart of a particular host whose hobby may be sports (go fig’). Also, leveling up also unlocks different homemade items that players can choose to create in order to give to hosts as gifts in hopes of raising their affection level.

There are six hosts (possibly more to unlock), each playing to the heartstrings of a different girl. Visiting Club Katze is the only controllable way to interact with a host, however there are still yet events that are triggered outside of the club environment. Players choose one of three actions per visit to interact with a host: Conversation (correct responses yield better results), order a drink (help the host become “Number One”) and give a gift (homemade is best). Of course, everything, including your siple visit, costs yen, so you have to watch your wallet.

This Eye Candy is a Little Sour

Club Katze takes a step back from what was enjoyable in Last Escort 2 (LE2). While Last Escort 2 was linear, Club Katze is painfully linear. The formula for success remains the same but the amount of customizability has been removed. In LE2, players could decorate their rooms which would, in turn, effect host visits. While this was a small aspect of the game play, it was surprisingly amusing.

The majority hosts at Club Katze are pretty yummy in appearance, whereas some look downright sleazy. In any case, their personalities pale in comparison to their LE2 predecessors who were a lively and often comical bunch. Instead of paying attention I instead skipped through a good majority of the dialogue. Even the action of visiting Club Katze becomes a mundane chore instead of a thrilling venture. It would have been nice if visiting the club triggered specialized mini-games opposed to overused one-liners and dull babble.

This love simulation is no more than a plain text adventure with absolutely any frills. There’s no challenge in the game play since players are easily able to save at any time which would prevent them from committing to any mistakes. The art of stat raising provides about half of the gameplay yet requires no compelling strategy whatsoever. The most difficult part of this action is simply discovering what the host’s hobby is and then maxing out that stat as soon as possible which, in turn, provides neither balance nor customization. Where the main challenge of this game should be triumphing many hurdles that usually stand in the way of love, the lack of money in the game is the only real menacing pothole screwing up the lovebus on its road to the stale infatuation that the boys of Club Katze have to offer.
It may be that Club Katze attempted to provide an extremely serious approach for this installment of which it succeeded regarding the character designs (see lack of huge glossy, sparkly eyes), but miserably failed in creating a game that’s actually fun to play.

To Date or Not To Date?

I would urge interested parties - even fans of otome dating-sim games - to wait to invest their money in Konami’s impending Tokimeki Memorial Girl’s Side (TMGS) 3rd Story due out later this year (2010). I dare say that TMGS may be the perfect dating simulation geared for the female market and, if you can’t wait for 3rd Story, buy the previous versions of TMGS for the Nintendo DS: 1st Love/Plus, 2nd Kiss. Not Club Katze.

I would only suggest picking up Club Katze for those who want to know what the bottom-of-the-dating-sims barrel feels like.

However, if you don’t mind being hand fed a story by slick and attractive boy toys, then you may enjoy Club Katze’s eye candy.

Site [Last Escort -Club Katze-] Purchase [Play-Asia] Read [Gamertell]

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Lots of games out this week, and lots of variety too! Sadly, no Mac games, but there were some last week so hopefully that should take the sting out of it.

As for the other games, it seems like all the developers and distributors got together and decided to make this “trapped alone in a deserted location” week. Three of the four casual games released this week place the player in situations where the lead heroine is trapped and alone, and must find answers to what’s going on and escape or survive. Two of the games, Secret Mission: The Forgotten Island and Escape from Lost Island are even set on deserted islands. Though not the same deserted island, because that’d be really awkward.

This week’s best bets are: Millenium 2: Take me Higher (PC), Rhiannon: Curse of the Four Branches (PC) and Youda Fairy (PC).

Millenium 2: Take Me Higher
Genre: RPG
Availability: Big Fish Games, Aldorea Games, Harmonic Flow
Retail Price: $13.99
Platform: Windows XP and Vista
Premise: Marine’s quest to unite the 12 warriors and overthrow the government of Mystock continues in the second entry of a three part adventure. If you haven’t played the first entry, it’s probably best if you pick up Millenium: A New Hope too.
Demo Available: Yes

Empress of the Deep: The Darkest Secret
Genre: Puzzle (Hidden Object)
Availability: Big Fish Games, Harmonic Flow
Retail Price: $6.99
Platform: Windows XP and Vista
Premise: Anna’s awoken underwater in a maze-like crypt and temple. But why was she placed there? She can only learn the truth by investigating the area, collecting Royal Relics and escaping.
Demo Available: Yes

Rhiannon: Curse of the Four Branches
Genre: Adventure
Availability: Big Fish Games, Harmonic Flow
Retail Price: $6.99
Platform: Windows XP and Vista
Premise: It’s not often we see a new casual adventure game, so let’s treasure it! Chris is house sitting for the Sullivan family at the Ty Pryderi manor. The family has to go away for a while, as their daughter Rhiannon has been traumatized by the house and unusual things happening there. Is Rhiannon faking it, or could there be something strange going on at Ty Pryderi?
Demo Available: Yes

Secret Mission: The Forgotten Island
Genre: Puzzle (Hidden Object)
Availability: Big Fish Games, Harmonic Flow
Retail Price: $6.99
Platform: Windows XP and Vista
Premise: Scientist Chanel Flores has been called upon by the military and government to take part in a secret mission. She must investigate an island in the Bermuda Triange that seems to have appeared out of nowhere. However, while heading there she finds herself crash-landing there and trapped.
Demo Available: Yes

Escape from Lost Island
Genre: Puzzle (Hidden Object)
Availability: Big Fish Games, GameHouse, Harmonic Flow, Awem
Retail Price: $6.99
Platform: Windows 2000, XP, Vista and 7
Premise: After a cruise ship sinks, a passenger who was last off the ship is now alone and stranded on an island. You must help her survive and explore her new environment, and hopefully get rescued.
Demo Available: Yes

Youda Fairy
Genre: Action and Simulation
Availability: Harmonic Flow, Awem
Retail Price: $6.99
Platform: Windows XP and Vista
Premise: A forest wizard is retiring, and he has chosen you to become the new forest wizard. You must learn how to protect the forest and its fantastic residents from an evil witch and her minions.
Demo Available: Yes

Editor’s Note: Due to so many casual games sites offering game plans or preferred member prices, which can cause a game to have multiple price-points, the games’ average retail prices is mentioned in Casual Friday.

Site [Big Fish Games] Site [PlayFirst] Site [GameHouse] Site [eGames] Site [Alawar Games] Site [Amazon] Site [Reflexive Arcade] Site [Harmonic Flow]

Full Story » | Written by Jenni Lada for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

Mecha anime and manga series are popular around the world. Gundam is the best known among all the series, and even helped kick off all mecha animes. All of the series feature humans piloting huge mechanized suits in the future, battling against one another.

Gundam first began as an animated TV show back in 1979 called Mobile Suit Gundam, and was originally created by Yoshiyuki Tomino and Sunrise. Since then, there have been movies, animated tv shows, ovas and movies, mangas, novels, light novels, trading card game and tons of video games all based on the series. Japan’s even used Gundam as a cultural mascot, creating stamps featuring the mechanized units, creating a RX-78 monument at the Kamiigusa Station, using it as a nickname for Japan Self-Defense for equipment and even using Gundam mechas as promotional tools.

So this week, let’s take a brief look at all the Gundam animated series out there and some games that are available. If you decide to get interested in the series, prepare to do a lot of research, as there are multiple timelines and things can get quite complicated unless you’re really paying attention to the characters and situations.

A brief look at the Gundam series.

The Gundam series is somewhat notorious for being quite involved, and often complicated. While the Gundam games often have their own storylines, and just feature mechas from the anime series, familiar characters may also appear and certain wars or political altercations are often referenced. The best way to learn about these is to sit down and actually watch the anime. Sure, you can try just sitting and reading some viewers’ reports online, but those could get a bit dry and you may get factions and dates mixed up.

So here’s a list of all of the main anime series. Be aware that the first four series are all related and take part in the same timeline. (There are multiple timelines, so you may find it difficult to keep track unless you take notes between series or reference and online site. Even I have trouble figuring it all out and keeping it straight.) If you decide to start watching these series, make sure you have a lot of free time! Many of the series have 40-50 episodes, so becoming a fan requires quite an investment.

• Mobile Suit Gundam: (1979 - 1980) It was also made into a two volume manga and inspired three animated movies called Gundam: The Movie, Gundam II: Soldiers of Sorrow and Gundam III: Encounters in Space. It also inspired films and OVAs like Char’s Counterattack The anime is available in English.
• Zeta Gundam: (1985 - 1986) It also inspired a manga series and three animated movies, Zeta Gundam A New Translation: Heirs to the Stars, Zeta Gundam A New Translation II: Lovers and Zeta Gundam A New Translation: Love is the Pulse of the Stars. The anime is available in English.
• Gundam ZZ: (1986 - 1987), It’s story was only told in the anime series.
• Mobile Suit V Gundam: (1993 - 1994) It also inspired a manga series called Mobile Suit V Gundam Side Story.
• Mobile Fighter G Gundam: (1994 - 1995) It inspired three manga series, one called Mobile Fighter G Gundam, and then two others called Mobile Fighter G Gundam Gaiden: Shouryuu Densetsu and Mobile Fighter Gaiden: Gundam Fight 7th. The anime is available in English.
• Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: (1995 - 1996) It inspired an Gundam Wing: Operation Meteor OVA, Gundam Wing manga and Gundam Wing: Battlefield of Pacifists manga. The anime and manga are available in English.
• After War Gundam X: (1996) It inspired two manga series, one called After War Gundam X and one called After War Gundam X: Under the Moonlight.

• Turn A Gundam: (1999 - 2000) It inspired an animated film, Turn A Gundam II: Moonlight Butterfly and four manga series.
• Mobile Suit Gundam SEED: (2002 - 2003) It also inspired an OVA called Gundam SEED After Phase: In the Valley of Stars and a manga series. Both the anime and manga were released in the US.
• Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny: (2004 - 2005) It also inspired a manga called Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny: The Edge. Both the anime and manga were released in the US.
• Mobile Suit Gundam 00: (2007 - 2009) . It inspired a movie and OVA. The anime is available in the US.

Notable Gundam games released in Japan.

There have been tons of Gundam< games released in Japan, so if you search you'll have no trouble finding one. There are strategic, general action, shooting and fighting games all available and featuring your favorite mechas, and sometimes pilots too. To assist in your searches, here are some releases you may want to check out. They may be special because they're some of the first

Gundam games released, or they’re on region free systems. I tried to do my best to also look into which Gundam anime series each game corresponds to, but since I haven’t had the opportunity to watch much Gundam aside from the occasional Gundam Wing or Gundam Seed episode.

• Mobile Suit Z-Gundam: Hot Scramble (NES) - released in August, 1986 and takes place during the Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam series.
• Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: Endless Duel (SNES) - released March, 1996 and takes place during the Gundam Wing series.
• Mobile Suit Z Gundam: Zenpen Zeta no Kodou (Saturn) - released April, 1997 and takes place during the Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam series.
• Kidou Senshi Gundam: Senshitachi no Kiseki (GC) - released in March, 2004 and takes place during the Mobile Suit Gundam anime series.
• Mobile Suit Gundam Seed: Rengou vs. Z.A.F.T. Portable (PSP) - released April, 2007 and takes place during the Gundam Seed series.
• Gundam Suit Gundam: MS Sensen 0079 (Wii) - released in July, 2007.
• Gundam Battle Royale (PSP) - released in August, 2007.
• Mobile Suit Gundam 00 (DS) - released March, 2008 and takes place during the Mobile Suit Gundam 00 anime series.
• Emblem of Gundam (DS) - released in May, 2008 and takes place during the Mobile Suit Gundam, Mobile Suit Gundam: 08th MS Team, Mobile Sit Gundam 0080, Mobile Suit Gundam 0083 and Mobile Suit Gundam Z anime time period.
• Mobile Suit Gundam 00: Gundam Meisters (PS2) - released in October, 2008 and takes place during the Mobile Suit Gundam 00 anime series.
• Mobile Suit Gundam Senki Record U.C. 0081 (PS3) - released in September, 2009.
• Mobile Suit Gundam: Gundam vs. Gundam Next (PSP) - released in December, 2009 and features Gundam mechas from nearly every series.

NotableGundam games released outside of Japan

Fortunately, since Gundam is such a popular series, many of the video game entries have been released outside of Japan. In case you’re looking to experience the Gundam world in a whole new way, here are some of the more recent entries you can easily find in your local game store or at your favorite online retailer. Again, I’ve also tried to mention, when possible, which anime series each game corresponds to, in case there’s a particular Gundam series you love and want a game that is related to it.

• Gundam Side Story 0079 (DC) - released in April, 2000, and set during the Mobile Suit Gundam anime series.
• Gundam: Battle Assault (PS1) - released in November, 2000 and set during the Gundam Wing anime series time period.
• Mobile Suit Gundam: Zeonic Front (PS2) - released January, 2002 and takes place during Mobile Suit Gundam.
• Mobile Suit Gundam: Journey to Jaburo (PS2) - released August, 2001 and takes place during Mobile Suit Gundam.
• Gundam: Battle Assault 2 (PS1) - released in July, 2002 and takes place during the G Gundam, Gundam Wing and Mobile Suit Gundam series.
• Mobile Suit Gundam: Federation vs. Zeon (PS2) - released September, 2002 and takes place during Mobile Suit Gundam.
• Mobile Suit Gundam: Encounters in Space (PS2) - released in December, 2003 and contains suits from pretty much every Gundam anime series.
• Mobile Suit Gundam Seed: Battle Assault (GBA) - released August, 2004 and takes place during the Gundam Seed anime time period.
• Mobile Suit Gundam: Gundam vs. Zeta Gundam (PS2) - released in June, 2005.
• Mobile Suit Gundam Seed: Never Ending Tomorrow (PS2) - released September, 2005 and takes place during the Gundam Seed anime period.
• MS Saga: A New Dawn (PS2) - released February, 2006.
• Dynasty Warriors: Gundam (PS3, Xbox 360) - released in August, 2007.
• Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 2 (PS2, PS3, Xbox 360) - released April, 2009.

Hope you all learned something today, and maybe you’ll want to consider looking into the Gundam series and becoming a fan. I know I learned something - never decide to write a column on a series when you’ve only seen two segments (Gundam Wing and Gundam Seed), and haven’t watched one of them since high school. Ha ha. I’m not kidding.

COMING NEXT WEEK: Important Importables looks at notable fan translation projects.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Last week Important Importables reviewed Poupee Girl DS.

Site [Gundam.info (Japanese)] Site [GundamOfficial.com] Site [Play-Asia] Site [YesAsia] Site [NCSX] Site [Himeya Shop] Site [Strapya World]

Full Story » | Written by Jenni Lada for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

There are times where a game is released where you really want to know what happened but you either can’t or don’t want to buy or play it. To help you out, Gamertell offers Spoiler Alert. We’ll play the games and tell you what happened so you don’t have to spend, or waste, your time on it. This week, we’re looking at Bioshock 2. Prepare to be spoiled.

Bioshock 2 begins with the player stepping into the shoes of Delta, the first successful Big Daddy. He’s woken up after being comatose for 10 years and now has only one goal, to reunite with his little sister Eleanor. Sofia Lamb now runs Rapture, with a cult that worships her, and has added Big Sisters, grown Little Sisters that abduct little girls from the surface to become new Little Sisters, to the already impressive army of Big Daddies and Splicers to attack you. Lamb is determined to destroy Delta and keep him from Eleanor.

It turns out Eleanor wasn’t supposed to be turned into a Little Sister. She is Sofia Lamb’s daughter, and after Andrew Ryan had her arrested because her political idealogies greatly differed from her own. Eleanor was kidnapped and sold to the LIttle Sister’s Orphanage and Dr. Alexander made her into the first Little Sister. Her and Delta bonded, but their relationship didn’t last long. Sofia broke out of jail, used a splicer to hypnotize Delta into shooting himself and reclaimed Eleanor.

As Sofia Lamb rose to power in Rapture, she also recruited Dr. Alexander to fix Eleanor. He was able to remove the mental conditioning, but she still retained special abilities from her time spent as a Little Sister. Most notably, she is able to undergo splicing with no damage because she was a Little Sister, and Lamb decides to use her daughter as an experiment and make her into a perfect Utopian with all kinds of abilities granted by splicing.

Eleanor is terrified, and turned to the only person she thought could help her, her Big Daddy. One of the side effects of the experiments and her past is she is able to connect with and control the Little Sisters. She ended up meeting with Dr. Tenenbaum through them and resurrecting Delta. She manages to successfully revive him just before Lamb starts experimenting on her.

When Delta finally reaches Eleanor, Lamb smothers her so the connection between Delta and Eleanor will be severed. Though Delta is rendered unconcious and unable to move, Eleanor is able to send a Little Sister to him, and give him control over the Little Sister. Delta then gets Eleanor a Big Sister suit and the two fight their way out of Rapture to an escape pod.

Here’s where the story changes, depending on the choices you made. There are four different endings, each gradually different. In each she does make mention of carrying Delta with her forever, that there’s no way to describe what she is, that the Rapture dream has ended and the world will change.

Good

Eleanor saves Lamb from drowning, then appears on the surface with Delta on some sort of buoy or rig. Eleanor is happy and the sky is clear. She thanks Delta for saving her, and tells him that everything she learned about treating people well she got from him. She extracts his ADAM while holding his hand, so his consciousness and memories will live on inside of her. She then removes the Big Sister needle/weapon. Her and the Little Sisters all then sit and stare at the calm waters and beautiful sun. One of the Little Sisters hands Eleanor a Big Daddy doll, and Eleanor lets it drop into the water. It’s distinct as it’s the only ending where she says the world isn’t ready for her, but she’s there, instead of saying the world will change and there’s word to describe her.

Neutral-Good

Eleanor leaves Lamb to die. Her and Delta appear on the surface, under a somewhat stormy sky. She says the Rapture dream is over, and she’s now alone as her mother is dead and Delta died so she wouldn’t become like him. Eleanor removes the Big Sister needle, and then drags Delta’s body to the water and the two of them stare at it together as he dies. She says he’s given her the greatest gift, freedom. Eleanor cries while wondering if she can find redemption and tells her she misses him.

Neutral-Bad

Eleanor drowns Lamb. She and Delta appear on the surface, and she takes his ADAM while saying that, while Delta didn’t want her, all of his actions influenced her and she is going to use his survival instinct and abilities to survive, just as he did. The sky is dark and stormy, and Eleanor goes to look into the water to see the bodies of Splicers rising from the depths as she mentions that he’ll always be with her. She then says the world will change, and won’t see her coming.

Bad

Eleanor drowns Lamb. As she forcibly takes Delta’s ADAM, even as he tries to stop her, she discusses how his actions defined her even though he didn’t want her. From this point, it’s identical to the Neutral-Bad ending.

Site [Bioshock 2]

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Three more game-relate print pubs have crumbled under the force of an economic recession and inexpensive online competition.

Fusion Publishing, Inc., recently filed for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, essentially shutting down Geek Monthly Magazine, Play Magazine and Girls of Gaming.

As a now former (and partially unpaid) Contributing Editor for Geek, on February 1, 2010, I received a “Notice of a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Case, Meeting of Creditors and Deadlines” concerning Fusion Publishing. The meeting of creditors is scheduled for 11 a.m., March 1, 2010, at 21051 Warner Center Lane, #105, Woodland Hills, CA 91367 (case number 1:10-bk-10979-GM).

The company has not been responding to inquiries from fans, subscribers and former writers so most of the news about the publications being shuttered comes from former writers. I can confirm from online contact with Geek‘s former Editor, Jeff Bond, that Geek has officially been shut down and Fusion employees are no longer being paid.

For now the domains of each publication still have content but all of the subscription and back issue sections (even for digital editions) have been deactivated.

The last issue of Geek was published November 2009, although many people on the mag’s Facebook Group have indicated the company sold subscriptions for Christmas. Others indicated they did not even receive the final issue and were only able to purchase the digital version. While not specifically a gaming magazine, Geek did often feature game reviews, anime and other stuff a game-lovin’ geek could drool over for hours. New posts stopped appearing on Geek‘s blog in October 2009.

On the other end of the spectrum is Play, which was entirely dedicated to game and game culture, often trying to pontificate about pixels at a level slightly higher than your average mag. Many of the writers from Play often contributed to the game sections of Geek. New posts stopped appearing on the Play site until late January 2010.

Finally there’s Girls of Gaming, a gratuitous pub that lived up to its name by offering photos of video game women wearing skimpy outfits and in sexy poses. The final issue appears to be the dual-covered #7.

There is an inkling of hope that something will emerge from Fusion’s rubble. If you believe this forum thread, Fusion’s founder, Dave Halverson, is already working on a mid-March 2010 revival of GameFan Magazine (one of his previous creations) that will feature games and movies. Unfortunately, the original source of the forum post (here) does not appear to be active at the time of this writing.

Site [Fusion Publishing, Inc.]

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Title: Shiren the Wanderer
Price: $39.99
System(s): Wii
Release Date: February 9. 2010
Publisher (Developer): Atlus (ChunSoft)
ESRB Rating: “Teen” for Alcohol Reference, Mild Fantasy Violence, Mild Language and Mild Suggestive Themes
Pros: Japanese DLC is included on the game disc, multiple difficulty levels including one where you don’t lose items or your levels when you die, there are some interesting characters to interact with, can control Shiren and his partner of the moment if you want and cutscenes look good.
Cons: Doesn’t have the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection support the Japanese version had, dungeons and monsters don’t offer much variation, story is only passable, rogue-like and Shiren fans may find it too easy and accomodating.
Overall Score: One thumb up, one down, 77/100, C+, * * 1/2 out of 5

Shiren the Wanderer Wii isn’t entirely a new game. It’s actually a remake of an old SNES game called Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer 3 that, unfortunately, was never released overseas. for a while, it seemed like the Wii port of Shiren the Wanderer 3: Karakuri Yashiki no Nemuri Hime wasn’t going to be released overseas either, as Sega never announced it. Thankfully, Atlus did, and while it’s quite unfortunate that all of the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection support is gone, it’s still a good rogue-like RPG for beginners and people who finished Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo’s Dungeon years ago.

A mysterious mansion that may hold treasures beyond your wildest dreams.

Shiren is an experienced warrior who wanders around the world, getting caught up in all kinds of adventures, with his faithful . Most recently, his Sensei, who is also his uncle and mentor, gave him the key to the mysterious Karakuri Mansion. Shiren then makes the small town of Otsutsuki his home base and begins journeying to reach the Karakuri Mansion so he can explore it and discover if the legends about it holding an extraordinary amount of treasure are true.

But, Shiren isn’t the only one who’s interested in the Karakuri Mansion. Asuka, from the second Shiren game, also gets involved in the quest and fights alongside Shiren, and a ninja named Oboro and a bandit named Jurouta are also investigating and trying to get into Karakuri. There’s also a strange woman Shiren keeps running into that seems to know quite a bit about the mansion.

Dungeon crawling is fun, but some of the Japanese version’s Wi-Fi features’d have been nice

Shiren the Wanderer is a very typical dungeon-crawling rogue-like. If you’ve played games like Izuna, Pokemon Mystery Dungeon or the aforementioned Chocobo’s Dungeon, you’ll feel right at home. There are relatively bland dungeons, filled with hidden traps and monsters, and you go around trying to find the exit. It’s a turn-based action RPG, meaning for every move you make, the monsters will make one move too. You’ll probably die a few times, but that’s expected in a rogue-like. At the end of each dungeon is a boss, which you defeat, so you can return to your home-base, regroup and then head to the next dungeon. It’s also worth noting that, like all Atlus games, the translation is great and often funny, so even though the story isn’t all that epic, there are some lines and jokes that are.

There’s one feature that Shiren the Wanderer players are going to either love, or despise. People who have never played a rogue-like before, or get frustrated after dying for the twentieth time in a standard Shiren game will be overjoyed to know that, no matter what difficulty level you choose, you’ll keep all the levels you’ve earned when you die. So each time you enter the dungeon, you’ll be stronger. This same information is unwelcome news to fans of previous Shiren games. The series is known for its difficulty and challenges, and experienced rogue-like players may find the retained levels feature infuriating. As long as you go through a dungeon enough times to earn sufficient levels, there’s really no way you can lose.

I can’t help wishing that somehow the Wi-Fi features could have been retained. Yes, the game comes with the bonus dungeons that owners of the Japanese version had to download and that does help make the loss a bit easier to bear. The loss of online scoreboards isn’t too heartbreaking either, I suppose. But the item trading and rescue features would have been nice to have, and I really wish the versus multiplayer mode was still there. I truly enjoyed the online matches when I got to play the Japanese version of the game at a friends, and I miss it.

A rogue-like for beginners.

The best word to describe Shiren the Wanderer is accommodating. Yes, it’s part of a series of roguelike games and once again stars Shiren and his talking ferret, Koppa, but it works wonderfully as a stand-alone title and, as someone who has never spent a great deal of time on previous Shiren games, I didn’t feel left out. It has multiple difficulty levels, and the easiest one goes to great lengths to make the dungeon-crawling experience as painless as possible. It even makes things easier for people playing on harder difficult levels by allowing partner characters to be directly controlled and character levels to be retained. This will disappoint rogue-like and Shiren the Wanderer fans who want a merciless challenge, but beginners and fans of Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo’s Dungeon will be pleased.

Site [Shiren the Wanderer]

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Title: Settlement: Colossus
Price: $9.99
System(s): Windows PC
Release Date: February 11, 2010
Publisher (Developer): Alawar Entertainment (Alawar Entertainment)
ESRB Rating: N/A. I’d say its appropriate for all ages.
Pros: Voice acting, trophies, Facebook connectivity, optional pop-up hints, tasks to complete, clear and organized, nice combo of hidden object and simulation, weather shows up in some areas, artfacts can be assembled to allow you to get more of certain resources, organized into chapters and secondary tasks to complete.
Cons: Difficult to pick out some items like branches or reeds, no hints as to what achievements are available rainy scenes make it hard to find items and some characters can look scary in some story scenes.
Overall Score: Two thumbs up, 90/100, A-, * * * * out of 5

A recent trend in casual games is to create amalgams, titles that cover two popular genres in an attempt to entice more people into playing. For example, Simplz: Zoo combined the match-3 and simulation genres, in the hopes of attracting fans of both games. The Flower Shop tried to easy new players into visual novel and dating simulation style games by combining those genres with a farming simulation. Alawar Entertainment is continuing this trend with Settlement: Colossus, a simulation and hidden object game that has players gathering necessary resources in hidden object puzzles so they can create a thriving settlement from the ground up.

Building an empire to atone for sins and please the gods.

Settlement: Colossus begins with an ancient, deposed emperor and his loyal followers traveling through barren areas searching for a new place to call home. He’s made mistakes in the past, and now he and his people are searching for a fresh start. Thankfully, they stumble upon the perfect plot of land, which happens to be near the ocean, a lake, a forest and ore and clay providing caverns. You then go through many chapters, building the new city up and helping the emperor atone for his past transgressions that brought the god’s wrath upon him until he makes things right.

Each chapter has certain goals, which usually unlock as conditions are met. Typically, you’ll be searching for the right amount of resources to sustain your people while also funding research to create new inventions and discoveries that will turn a tiny camp into an established and glorious city. So, for the most part you’ll be searching hidden object puzzles for resources. Once you have the right items, you can put them to good use making your people’s lives easier. Occasionally, about twice a chapter, mini-games that will ask you to solve puzzles will pop up to keep things from getting monotonous.

A totally manageable simulation, as long as you know what the materials you’re searching for look like.

One of the most striking things about Settlement: Colossus is, while the simulation scenes where you’re cultivating and creating a city appear whimsical, the hidden object puzzles featuring a striking amount of realism and detail. Details like animal life is encorporated into almost every scene, and elements like wind or rain even appear. It makes you appreciate the game more and enjoy spending time searching for items.

Being so authentic does have its downsides. For example, the scenes you’re hunting through for supplies look real, and actually have moving plants, bugs and occasionally small animals. Occasionally, there’ll even be a downpour. This makes finding necessary objects more difficult, as the movement is distracting and sometimes the extraneous objects can obscure necessary ones.

This is compounded by the fact that you sometimes have no clue what the item you’re looking for should look like. For the very first puzzle, the game points out the berries to you, so you know all berries will look something like that. After that, you’re on your own. Finding some materials, for example brushwood, reeds and clay, would be much easier if you knew what the items would actually look like when hidden in the scene.

Thankfully, there are two hint systems. One is an automatic one, where if the player hasn’t moved or clicked in a while, a faint sparkle will shimmer near one of the hidden objects. The other is an actual hint button that gradually fills up over time and players can tap to instantly reveal an item or give a hint about how objects should be used. You also aren’t timed when you’re searching a puzzle, so you can take as much time as you need. And the mini-games can all be skipped, after a certain length of time, if you’re stumped.

Settlement: Colossus makes city building and hidden object searches seem more realistic.

Some elements of Settlement: Colossus are quite whimsical, from the story of a 300 year old emperor trying to atone for his past and make amends to the gods, from the artistic design of some of the characters and mythical items that can be collected, but for the most part it’s a fairly realistic and accurate depiction of what must be done to create a thriving settlement and the areas you’d be searching through for materials. Players may encounter some frustrating moments, for example when playing certain mini-games or searching for new materials for the first time, but these are trivial annoyances that are easily overcome by utilizing the game’s hint programs or skip features.

The Facebook connectivity feature was also an interesting touch, but I chose not to implement it after initially testing it. Personally, I don’t think people have to be constantly aware of what I’m playing or what kind of achievements I’ve unlocked in games. It’s very simple to use though, and is an novel option that I’m sure other Settlement: Colossus players might like.

Site [Settlement: Colossus]

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Haven’t caught all of the Gamertell news this week?  Here’s your chance to catch up on this week’s top 10 articles!

• An Amanda Evert doll will cost you $160
  “Video game collectors with quite a bit of cash to spare should start saving up for the Tonner Doll Company’s rendition of Tomb Raider‘s Amanda Evert. The Amanda Evert doll, which you can see in an image…” MORE »
• Deal of the Day: Nicky Boom 2 free for iPhone, iPod Touch
  “This one ends son so get to it as quickly as possible. For 24 hours, developer DotEmu is giving away Nicky Boom 2 for iPhone and iPod Touch. That’s right, zero dollars. Free ninety-nine. The game is available through the…” MORE »
• Vintage NES system fetches $13,000 USD at online auction
  “I guess many of us have our old NES system lying around somewhere. Mine is in a closet gathering dust after a failed attempt at resurrection a couple of years ago. I tried every hack in the book to make it work…” MORE »
• Fast Finger Keyboards have ASAP, BRB and LOL keys
  ” I don’t like to encourage text message speak, but if you rely on it to get through your daily emails and instant messages, you may want to pick up the Fast Finger keyboard that’s one of the highlights of New…” MORE »
• PS3 DVR Torne arriving in Japan in March 2010
  “The Torne, which is one of the most practical PS3 peripherals, is headed to Japan in March, 2010. Heard of it? No? It’s a shame, as it’s pretty much a tiny unit that attaches to your PS3 and…” MORE »
• Barbie becomes a computer engineer at the 2010 Toy Fair
  “A brand new Barbie doll has made her debut at the 2010 Toy Fair in New York this year - computer engineer Barbie! Mattel conducted a vote among Barbie fans on Facebook and Twitter, asking them to help decide what Barbie’s…” MORE »
• Amazon’s Gold Box deals are Wii-centric today
  “Good news Amazon shoppers, it’s one of those days. All of the Amazon Gold Box deals today, February 16, 2010, are video game related. More specifically, they’re Wii related.  The main deal, which is available all…” MORE »
• Rebellion trying to make good with Aliens vs. Predator
  ” It hasn’t gone unnoticed that Rebellion, the developer charged with bringing Aliens vs. Predator to PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, is responsible for two of the worst games in recent memory. Shellshock 2: Blood Trails and Rogue Warrior aren’t…” MORE »
• Binary Tweed’s Clover being remade as Clover: A Curious Tale
  ”  London-based Binary Tweed be releasing a side-scrolling platformer called Clover: A Curious Tale on March 3, 2010, in conjunction with Blitz 1UP.  The Indie title is designed with watercolors, giving it a very fun and artsy feel…” MORE »
• Apple App Store gaming update for the week of February 8 through 14, 2010
  “The Apple App Store gaming update is Gamertell’s weekly look at the previous week’s Apple App Store game releases. We cover them all - good and not so good - in their respective categories with a breakdown…” MORE »

Full Story » | Written by NEWS for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

The 2010 Toy Fair got me thinking about the many groovy premiums that have been given away throughout the years via various fast food establishments. Sure, they aren’t nearly as fancy as $100+ statues but kids meal toys they are certainly more affordable.

While most are given through those wee servings known as a Happy Meal, Children’s Meal, Kids Meal or a similar moniker, some are purchasable as individual items at specific chains (assuming the owner or manager is nice enough to let you buy them a la carte). Looking through my personal archive, it’s clear that Nintendo has been the most prolific in terms of releasing game-related premiums.

Below is a look at some of the most notable fast food premiums. There are often regional and even international variations I might have missed so, please, let us know about your favorites and the variations you have found.

Wii Toys (Wendy’s, 2007)
Still one of my favorite Wii-themed toy sets because of the varied toys and the pog-flinging WiiMote. The more recent WiiMote Kids Meal Toys (Wendy’s, 2008) were a bit hit-and-miss with some of the lamest (Mario to the Rescue magnet game) and coolest (Chain Comp Launcher) Mario-family toys.

Pac-Man glasses (Arby’s, 1980)
These 12 oz. glasses were originally sold for $0.59 (yep, 59 cents) at Arby’s but you can still find them lurking the crevices of your uncle’s basement bar or the corner of your grandma’s highest shelf. Even better, RetroStatic has the original TV commercial on its site. Funny stuff and perfect for drinking highballs.

Lego Batman (McDonald’s, 2008)
Maybe one of the most cohesive sets of themed game toys, these all look Lego compatible (but are not) and came with game codes for Lego Batman: The Videogame. The set included four figures and four vehicles, each of which shot some type f projectiles which, as all kids know, is truly cool of any kids meal toy. The codes unlocked characters and vehicles which were playable in the game’s Free Play modes, though you could eventually unlock it all by actually playing through the game. Even so, the toys were still uber cool.

Burger King Xbox games (Burger King, 2006)
This trio of titles was perhaps the best cooperative effort between the game industry and a fast food chain (with the possible exception of BK’s free Nintendo DS Wifi access). Originally selling for $3.99 with purchase, Sneak King quickly became the game everyone referenced when talking about the set and another example of how literally creepy that plastic-faced King can be. The other two games were the less memorable, and far less creepy, Big Bumpin’ and PocketBike Racer. The games were rated “Everyone” by the ESRB and were developed by King Games (nice name, eh>) and Blitz Games. OK, technically not a kids meal toys but it was certainly one of most valiant game-related fast food premium efforts to date.

Pokémon premiums (Burger King, 1999)
This series immediately generated a 30% increase in sales for the Burger King restaurants. It did so well that the two companies offered a similar yet smaller follow-up promotion in 2000 (and more recently in 2008). Toys were Pokémon figures in the form of squirters, bean bags, keychains, launchers, light-ups, talking plush and rev-tops. Also, a new talking plush Pikachu was available each week and random BK-only Pokemon trading cards with an image from Pokemon:  The First Movie were randomly inserted with each toy. The promotion ran an unusually long eight weeks and was promoted as including “57 Toys in 56 Days: 151 Trading Cards; 6 Gold-Plated Cards” (check out the original press release). The gold cards cost $1.99 each with purchase and can still be found in various auction sites. Good luck catchin’ ‘em all on eBay.

Nintendo Superstars (Burger King, 2002)
Included a “Search For the Golden Toy” Sweepstakes where, if you found a limited release gold toy, you also got a free Nintendo game. That meant the toys were packages in solid-plastic bags (though a good toy hunter can discern the object by feel), so you had to open it. All-in-all an annoyance to collectors but still a pretty nice and varied offering of toys: Donkey Kong Time Racer, Water Whirl Wario, Race Around Bowser & Peach, Coin Collector Mario Sunshine, Hop and Slide Diddy Kong, Kirby’s Maze Adventures, Soar & Chase Luigi, Egg Hunter Yoshi, Kirby Ball Toss and Shield Spin Link.

Honorable Mentions

• Mario toys (Wendy’s, 2004)
• Spyro toys (McDonald’s, 2005)
• Yoshi toys (McDonald’s, 1989)
• Mini handheld games (McDonald’s, 2005)
• Super Mario 3 toys (McDonald’s, 1990)
• Sega Sonic Mini Video Games (McDonald’s, 2003)
• DragonballZ & Powerpuff Girls dual-promotion toys (Burger King, 2002)
• Kirby toys (Wendy’s 2001-2003?)
• Sega Sonic the Hedgehog toys (McDonald’s, 2002)
• Frogger 2 toys (Wendy’s, c. 2000)
• Viva Pinata (Burger King, 2007)
• Super Mario Bros. 8-bit bottle caps (Japan Pepsi, c. 2005)

Dishonorable Mention

• Dance Dance Revolution (Subway, 2009)

Read [Kids Meal @ Gamertell]

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Atlus once again held another game demo presentation, this time for the forthcoming Wii game Trauma Team, and Gamertell once again was lucky to attend and get a look at the latest entry in the Trauma Center series. Atlus’ Aram Jabbari was once again leading us through the game, just like he was yesterday with 3D Dot Game Heroes, and decided to take us through a diagnostics case with Spike Spiegal look-a-like Dr. Gabriel Cunningham and his computer assistant RONI.

Dr. Cunningham and RONI are playing Dr. Cunningham’s office playing cards, and RONI’s just won again, when sounds from a beligerent older man start eminating from the exam room next door. As he goes next door to tell them to shut the man up, he learns the man is Assistant Secretary Jacob Hillman, who was found passed out in his home. At first Dr. Cunningham is going to dismiss him and allow him to be released, because he looks so spry, but when he sees Jacob’s leg shaking he says to admit him and begins examining him.

The diagnosis part of the game is primarily a point and click adventure with lots of reading and examining. It’s one of two modes in Trauma Team that doesn’t have a difficulty level, co-operative multiplayer or any kind of time limits. (Forensics is the other.) Also, cases in the diagnosis and forensics modes can easily take an hour to complete. The case Aram guided us through took just about one hour to complete, and probably even went quicker than normal since for part of it Aram knew what he should be doing to succeed. Patients also have no health bar, so you don’t have to worry about losing them while you work.

It started with a brief story scene, introducing the new patient, which was described above. Then, Dr. Cunningham had to actually examine the 55 year old Jacob and search for abnormalities. The first part of the exam had three parts, question, stethoscope and diagnostic. Jacob is a very beligerant man who doesn’t believe he needs to be there, so its quite difficult. He won’t allow Dr. Cunningham to use his stethoscope, and won’t agree to a CT scan. So first all that can be done is question him, and examine his appearance.

When you question a patient, dialogue balloons pop up. You then have to listen to what he’s saying (the game features full voice acting) and click on a balloon if there’s something abnormal about what he’s saying. For example, if Jacob says he’s lost his appetite, or feels bloated, you’d click those and say they’re abnormalities. They would then become symptoms that you can use to determine what’s really wrong. RONI automatically registers them for you. You have to pay close attention though - Dr. Cunningham has five hearts, and can only make five mistakes. If he messes up his diagnosis, you lose.

Since the stethoscope can’t be used just yet, the only other option is to check out Jacob’s diagnostics. A chart will then appear on the screen. There are three columns of information presented. On the left is a medical term and stat (ESR, blood pressure, white blood count) that can be clicked to provide a definition. In the middle is a number showing what a normal patient’s count or statistic should be. On the right is your patient’s, in this case Jacob’s, results. You then have to go through and report any abnormalities. For example, if the red blood count was low, you’d click it to report it as a symptom.

One of the features was that the game would tell you if you’d found all the symptoms available so far. So by now there’s nothing more to see. A CT scan is needed to complete the diagnosis, but Jacob won’t allow one yet. So Dr. Cunningham has to head to his exam room, where the player can save progress at any time by the way, to start a preliminary diagnosis so he can convince Jacob to permit a CT scan. You’ll access a sort of computer, and on the left side of the screen will be all of the symptoms you’ve found so far, and on the right a list of possible ailments. You have to read through each ailment, looking to see if it mentions any of the symptoms you’ve found during the examination. If you see a match, you click and drag the symptom on the left over to the ailment on the right. The symptom will then be highlighted in the ailment’s text description and a meter on the top of the screen will show the odds of the patient is suffering from that problem. Fortunately, Dr. Cunningham has found enough evidence to press Jacob for a CT scan.

The game then goes to the Image Analysis Lab, where CT scans, X-rays, MRIs and other imaging tests are performed. In Jacob’s case, three CT scans are done. You then look at an example of a normal CT scan and compare them to the patient’s scans. Once again, you’ll need to click on abnormal areas to register them as symptoms. For example, you could be looking for inflamation. These final scans provide the evidence needed to make an early diagnosis. You then can head back to the office and complete the diagnosis part to see if everything matches up. At this point it does and an initial ailment is discovered. But, there could be other diseases or afflictions causing it.

That brings us to diagnosis phase two. At this point Jacob is slightly more accomodating. He’s still surly, but a little more willing to listen to Dr. Cunningham. Time to look for more symptoms again. This time the question, stethoscope and diagnostic options return, and you can also check out EKG results. Since the questioning and diagnostic are the same this time around, let’s focus on what using the stethoscope and reading the EKG is like.

Once you use the stethoscope, Jacob lifts up his shirt. In the bottom right corner of the screen there’s a map showing four locations that can be inspected. So players can check his breathing, his heart and his stomach to see if everything sounds right. Once again, you’ll hear and see his heartbeat, breathing and stomach sounds, and also the same results from a healthy person. If you see abnormalities, you click and record them as symptoms.

The EKG lets you look at Jacob’s and a normal patients’ waves. You can switch back and forth between them to check for spike differences. In this case, you can’t just click anywhere on a line if something’s off. You have to click exactly where the abnormality is to report it as a symptom.

Once you’ve gotten all the symptoms you can from examining Jacob, you head back to the office to start diagnosising and comparing symptoms to possible conditions or ailments. After doing some initial research, Dr. Cunningham discovers that Jacob needs to have an echocardiogram done to get a better look at his heart. You then head over to the Image Analysis Lab again, this time to look at three ultrasounds of Jacob’s heart to see if anything’s wrong. Another symptom is picked up, and a final diagnosis can be made. This case ends with a final story scene where Dr. Cunningham tells Jacob what’s wrong with him, then briefly talks with Dr. Tomoe Tachibana about another case.

After getting to see the whole presentation and diagnosis demo, I’m now really excited to play through the finished product. The inclusion of new specialties, specifically diagnostics and forensics, that play like adventure games somehow makes the series seem more approachable. Plus it’s interesting to see that all of the doctors in the game will interact with one another, and sometimes one doctor’s patient will return to be treated by a different doctor. I know before, when playing the DS Trauma Center games, I’d feel so depressed after repeatedly losing patients, and at least here there’ll be other modes to switch to while I recover and regroup. Plus, knowing that the Wii MotionPlus peripheral isn’t used is a bonus! Trauma Team comes out May 18, 2010, is rated “Teen” by the ESRB and will cost $49.99.

Site [Trauma Team]

Full Story » | Written by Jenni Lada for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

Wow! There are a lot of new games out this week! And quite a bit of variety too!

True, there’s the multitude of hidden object games that seem to endlessly appear each week. (They must be really easy to make.) But there are also some really intriguing games from other genres available too!

The PC game based on the movie Shutter Island (PC) debuted this week. The latest entry in the Aveyond orbs series, Aveyond: The Lost Orb (PC), was released as well. And puzzle games like Dale Hardshovel and the Bloomstone Mystery (PC, Mac, Linux) and Super Jigsaw Kittens (PC) are out as well.

This week’s best bets are: Aveyond: The Lost Orb (PC) and Shutter Island (PC)

Awakening: The Dreamless Castle
Genre: Puzzle (Hidden Object)
Availability: Big Fish Games, Harmonic Flow
Retail Price: $6.99
Platform: Windows XP and Vista
Premise: You’ve woken up in a castle, and must find your way through in order to find the princess.
Demo Available: Yes

Big City Adventure: Vancouver
Genre: Puzzle (Hidden Object)
Availability: Big Fish Games, GameHouse, Harmonic Flow
Retail Price: $6.99
Platform: Windows XP and Vista
Premise: Just in time for the 2010 Winter Olympics! Search through Vancouver, Canada, learning about the city by searching for hidden objects and playing mini-games.
Demo Available: Yes

Shutter Island
Genre: Puzzle (Hidden Object)
Availability: Harmonic Flow
Retail Price: $6.99
Platform: Windows XP and Vista
Premise: Based on the Shutter Island movie, Shutter Island the game follows Teddy Daniels and Chuck Aule as they search Ashecliffe Hospital for the Criminally Insane on Shutter Island for the escaped murderess Rachel Solando.
Demo Available: Yes

Aveyond: The Lost Orb
Genre: RPG
Availability: Big Fish Games, Amaranth Games, Harmonic Flow
Retail Price: $10
Platform: Windows 98, 2000, XP, Vista and 7
Premise: In the third part of the Aveyond Orbs of Magic series, Mel’s wedding day is interupted, as her future husband has been stolen and she’s inherited Mordred Darkthrop’s orb with the power of death. Mel has to find and destroy the orb before anyone uses it and save her fiance.
Demo Available: Yes

Super Jigsaw Kittens
Genre: Puzzle
Availability: GameHouse
Retail Price: $19.99
Platform: Windows XP and Vista
Premise: There are 50 kitten jigsaw puzzles you can assemble. You can choose the difficulty level and how many pieces each puzzle will have.
Demo Available: Yes

Dale Hardshovel and the Bloomstone Mystery
Genre: Puzzle
Availability: Phime Studio
Retail Price: $9.99
Platform: Windows 2000 and better, Mac 10.4 and Linux
Premise: Dale’s daughter Daisy has found a piece of papyrus that she wants to include in an exhibition, but it’s untranslated. In order to read it, they must get the Bloomstone from the Big Pyramid in Egypt. Anubis won’t let them aquire it easily though, and they must solve 100 puzzles to collect all of the Bloomstone pieces.
Demo Available: Yes

The Tarot’s Misfortune
Genre: Puzzle (Hidden Object)
Availability: Big Fish Games
Retail Price: $6.99
Platform: Windows XP and Vista
Premise: A shadowy figure has captured Rosalie, a fortune teller, scattered her tarot cards and caused trouble for the people of Luzio. Rosalie must escape, find her cards and save the innocent citizens.
Demo Available: Yes

Editor’s Note: Due to so many casual games sites offering game plans or preferred member prices, which can cause a game to have multiple price-points, the games’ average retail prices is mentioned in Casual Friday.

Site [Big Fish Games] Site [PlayFirst] Site [GameHouse] Site [eGames] Site [Alawar Games] Site [Amazon] Site [Reflexive Arcade] Site [Harmonic Flow]

Full Story » | Written by Jenni Lada for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

Title: Poupeegirl DS
Price: $58.90
System(s): DS
Release Date: December 17, 2009
Publisher (Developer): Alvion (Alvion)
ESRB Rating: N/A, Cero A for All Ages.
Pros: Very easy to play, especially if you’re familiar with the Poupeegirl site. Lots of clothing to collect. Contests to enter to win ribbons (currency) and items. Can earn passwords to unlock exclusive items at the Poupeegirl site. Lots of customization options and opportunities to get new clothing. There are also multiplayer contests, if you can find someone else with a DS and copy of the game.
Cons: Can be hard to click the right characters on the street, contests can be quite easy to win once you have at least 20% of all clothing types and some characters look scary.
Overall Score: 8/10

Poupeegirl isn’t known for being a DS game, it’s known for being a social networking and dress-up site. Users create avatars, which they then dress up in fashionable clothes. But the clothes and accessories aren’t free. You have to earn ribbons, or purchase jewels, to acquire them. To earn ribbons, players upload images of their own clothes and accessories to a closet. You then can earn more ribbons, and make friends, by commenting on other people’s closets. There are also social aspects, like a forum and contests.

Poupeegirl DS, also listed occasionally as Poupee Girl DS, tries to recreate the same atmosphere and feeling in a portable, single player game. It not only accomplishes this goal, but creates a smoother and more entertaining experience.

Become a virtual style icon.

Poupeegirl DS begins with the player meeting Katherine, owner of the Katherine Shop and general mascot for both Poupeegirl DS and the official Poupeegirl site. You’ve just moved to town, and she helps you create and customize your character.

Once that’s done, you’re moved into your house. You dress up for the first time and hit the streets. Then, it’s up to you what you want to do. You can make friends with the other residents in town, getting a new clothing item as a gift each time you do so, accept mails from friends you’ve made to enter contests, run errands, answer questions and get more clothing, go shopping, sell clothes you don’t want anymore and enter contests. There’s a staggering number of clothing items to collect - I’ve been playing for a week and just collected 1,000 items, and all my item gauges state I’ve only collected about 40% of available items from each category.

Lots of ribbons to earn, friends to make and clothing to collect.

Poupeegirl DS is primarily a dress-up and shopping game, and Alvion did a good job of creating it so you don’t get frustrated trying to earn enough ribbons, the game’s currency, to acquire new items. You get free clothing items and ribbons all the time. Dress up for the day? Ribbons! Played the game for seven days straight? Ribbons and an item! Won a contest? More ribbons and items! Talked to a stranger on the street? Ribbons! To make things even better, there are frequent sales at the main store, the Katherine Shop, which lets you pick up items at a substantial discount. So there’s no frustration, or having to wait too long to afford items.

This is especially good, since most of the starting clothing items stink. The colors aren’t too bad, but the items just aren’t fashionable. Users of the Poupeegirl website would probably recognize them as Shell Spring items, that it, random, usually low-quality and value, items you get for tossing shells collected from people’s profiles into the Shell Spring. They aren’t too horrible, but you’ll have trouble winning a lot of contests early on until you buy better items.

As for the contests, they are both good and bad. They’re good, because you get two clothing items and ribbons for winning. Even if you don’t win, you get a clothing item. They’re bad because, after a certain point, there’s no challenge. I found I could win almost any contest with any kinds of clothing, so long as I stuck to only two colors (for example, black and red, brown and white, pink and beige, etc…). Even if I didn’t keep the theme, like Street Casual or Mote, or suggested colors in mind, I’d win.

Another great aspect is the game and website connect, in a way. You can input codes found from the Poupeegirl site to get new clothing items in Poupeegirl DS. You also earn codes in the game for achieving certain milestones (getting X number of items, winning contests) that give you exclusive dress up items for your avatar at the website.

Fans of the site will be pleased, as will anyone who enjoys dress up games.

Poupeegirl DS is a lot of fun. If you enjoyed playing dress-up as a child, or still do, it’s definitely the right game for you. You can play for three minutes or three hours and still not get bored. Plus, it’s very import friendly. Yes, there’s a lot of Japanese, but it’s mainly hirigana and katakana and almost all items are represented by a picture so you shouldn’t have too much trouble navigating and finding your way to success.

COMING NEXT WEEK: Important Importables reviews talks about Gundam games.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Last week Important Importables talked about Valentine’s Day in Japan

Site [Play-Asia] Site [YesAsia] Site [NCSX] Site [Himeya Shop] Site [Strapya World]

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The Wii is mainly known for its family friendly games, but the system has slowly been building up a small library of games that aren’t all-ages fare. There aren’t too many games with a “Mature” rating, or that fall into the horror, thriller and suspense genres, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any available for the system.

And no, I’m not referring to the plethora of Resident Evil games that have found a home on the Wii. There are other chilling games available for the system, if you take the time to look. Gamertell did, and has come up with five appropriate games if you have a Wii and want to be scared.

• Calling: Hudson’s horror game hasn’t been released yet, but this adventure horror game shows some promise. We’ll have to check and see just how good it is when its March 9, 2010 release date arrives.
• Fatal Frame IV: It’s a Japan exclusive, but if you download the fan translation patch, you can play the Japanese game on any Wii. And, like all other entries in the Fatal Frame series, it is suitably scary. And, if you have a spare $70 lying around, you can import it!
• LIT: This WiiWare puzzle game isn’t too terrifying, but the ambiance is great and there are a few cheap scares in terms of sudden boss attacks. LIT is a horror game that makes you think if you want to survive.
• Ju-on: The Grudge: Okay, maybe this isn’t the best example. After all, Ju-on: The Grudge was really more unspeakably horrible and frustrating than scary. But it is supposed to be scary, so let’s give it points for effort.
• Silent Hill: Shattered Memories: Again, not too scary but Silent Hill: Shattered Memories creates a great mood with its spooky atmosphere. It’s really more of a psychological thriller this time around, rather than a solid horror game like previous entries.

So if you have a Wii and love horror games, don’t lose hope! There are scary games being released for the system, and if people continue to buy them, perhaps it will encourage developers and publishers to create and release more!

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There are times where a game is released where you really want to know what happened, but you either can’t or don’t want to buy or play it. To help you out, Gamertell offer Spoiler Alert. We’ll play the games and tell you what happens to see whether or not you should spend your time playing it. This week, we’re looking at Silent Hill: Shattered Memories, the action-RPG Wii adventure from Konami. Prepare to be spoiled.

Silent Hill: Shattered Memories is presented in a somewhat different manner than other Silent Hill games, as it takes place part in in Dr. Michael Kaufmann’s office, and part in flashbacks where we see Harry Mason searching through the town of Silent Hill for his daughter, after the two were involved in a car crash. The game jumps back and forth, from sessions in the psychiatrist’s office to flashbacks of events in Silent Hill. Like all Silent Hill endings, there are multiple endings that are influenced by the discussions with Dr. Kaufmann and actions taken during the game.

Harry Mason is really dead. There was a car accident 18 years ago and he died. The entire time you think you’re playing as Harry Mason, but you’re really playing as his delusional daughter Cheryl, who never came to terms with her father’s death after he died when she was seven. “Harry” then walks in to talk to Cheryl, and they talk. She either accepts her father’s death, doesn’t forgive her father for what he’s done and forgets him or continues to maintain the delusion that he isn’t dead.

There are five endings scenes you can see after that. If you were good and moral when you played the game, you’ll see Cheryl talking to her father about her parent’s divorce and then going outside to her mother, Dahlia. If you focused on alcohol, there’ll either be a scene showing a drunk Harry verbally abusing Cheryl or a scene. If you made perverted choices, you’ll see Harry is cheating on Dahlia with both Michelle and Lisa. If you were mean and violent, you’ll see Dahlia and Harry involved in an abusive relationship where Dahlia would hit him. The final ending is a UFO ending you can unlock after the first playthrough by photographing UFOs. When you enter the clinic at the end Dr. Kaufmann is an alien, Cheryl is a dog, Cheryl believes her father, Harry, was abducted by aliens and James Sutherland from Silent Hill 2 makes a cameo appearance.

Read [Gamertell]

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Title(s): The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum (aka The Bourne Trilogy, The Bourne Singles)
Release Date: January 19, 2010
Format: Blu-ray-DVD (flipper disc)
Company: Universal Home Entertainment
Rating: PG-13
Length: Respectively: 1 hour,  59 minutes (119 minutes) ; 1 hour,  49 minutes (109 minutes);  1 hour,  56 minutes (116 minutes).
Pros: Released on flippers discs, excellent transfers and plenty of extras. A lot of decent action, not too bloody and excellent acting.
Cons: Blu-ray internet extras are a bit lacking 9as with most Blu-ray movies). The second movie is the weakest of the three.
Overall Score: One thumb up, one thumb sideways; 83/100; B; * * * out of five.

The most recent release of the three Bourne movies - The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum - marks Universal Home Entertainment’s foray into the wonderful world of the flipper disc. These two-in-one, Blu-ray-DVD combo discs mean you can get the movie and enjoy it now, even if you don’t yet have a PS3 or Blu-ray player (assuming, of course, you have abandoned VHS and embraced DVDs).

Here’s what that means for you.

Bourne Again

First, a big fat, super fast recap that puts all three movies into a tiny nutshell.

In this spy-assassin action series, a guy (Matt Damon) wakes up, isn’t sure who or what he is and find himself running from the government he discovers he’s serving. He eventually figures out that his “name” is Jason Bourne and there are several chase scenes, misdirections, wordless fights with household items used as weapons and a few cool spy tricks.

There are enemies who become friends (or non-enemies), a love interest, lots of stern facial expressions and, with a few suspense-ending exceptions, rarely a giggle. Super spy is chased, gets framed, exposes the chasees and then is simultaneously being chased while chasing the chasers.

The series is packed with suspense but, surprisingly (and to help keep it PG-13) not blood and the audience, as well as Bourne, get a trickle of insight into who and what he really is until the end of the third movie. Secret government projects are covered up and old white dudes act all stern about it.

Each of the films has a slightly unique look and pace, with the fist (Identity) having the welcome-to-our-story advantage. The middle movie (Supremacy) has the most awkward and slowly paced of the three yet still proves a worthy middle movie offering Bourne some of the more exciting personal revelations. The third (Ultimatum) literally brings the action home and puts everything nicely to rest.

There is plenty of decent acting (Julia Stiles’ acting actually improves with each film), a lot of jittery action scenes and many grumpy old white guys. You can certainly see where 24 gets a lot of stylistic inspiration, although these films deal with a man simply trying to find himself while being chased instead of preventing a ginormous disaster.

Shiny Round Objects

Being a flipper you obviously have the option of standard def DVD one one side or high def Blu-ray on the other.

Each of the film shows well in high definition, with Ultimatum often being the most frenetic in terms of action sequences and disparate in terms of settings. Some of the first two film’s distant shots seem a little blurred but that may be more a matter of original film stock than transfers. On DVD, you’re getting essentially the same video as previous releases so don’t expect much improvement there.

If you are an extra junkie then the Blu-ray releases of these movies will prove exciting.  Each comes with a picture-in-picture option (overlay commentaries, alternate shots and other goodness over the movie), a Bourne Card Strategy Game, miscellaneous files and deleted scenes.

Each movie, for both the Blu-ray and DVD versions includes movie-specific featurettes (some avaialble on earlier DVD releases). The first two movies include background bios whereas the third primarily offers featurettes based on the make hard-to-shoot action scenes.

BD-Live interactivity is also included with each movie, which allows you and a friend, who must also own the movie, to watch the movie together or select scenes and record your own comments. This is a feature that the film industry seems excited about enough to include it on most Blu-ray releases but doesn’t always result in the most - or best - community videos. You might want to browse though to see if any have been added and the silliness people have to utter but expect cruddy delays and a distinct lack of insight (aside from company sponsored celebrity mini-features).

ReBourne Again?

This release makes it clear that the higher the def, the more exciting the action, the more tense the tension and the grittier the grit. If you don’t already own a home video release from this series, go for a Blu-flipper. Invest for the sake of having it in two formats. Otherwise, don’t expect too much more than you’ve already seen on previous releases.

Site [NBC Universal Store]

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Title: Tomena Sanner
Price: $5 (500 Nintendo Points)
System(s): Wii (Tomena Sanner US is available for iPhone/iPod Touch)
Release Date: February 8, 2010
Publisher (Developer): Konami (Konami)
ESRB Rating: “Everyone” for Comic Mischief and Mild Cartoon Violence
Pros: 1-4 player multiplayer, need only one button to play, funny commentary on the top and bottom of the screen, can trigger special animations with greats and misses at the right time, online high score table, lots of extra points and special items to collect in levels, nine levels and turbo and endless play modes available.
Cons: Dance party portion at the end is quite difficult since the button presses don’t match up with the music and it is difficult to keep up with commentary if you’re the one playing.
Overall Score: Two thumbs up, 90/100, A-, * * * * out of 5

Tomena Sanner is a huge surprise. It’s an awesome little game from Konami that most people probably didn’t expect to see outside of Japan. It relies on a single button and all kinds of silly situations, visuals and jokes to lure people in and get them hooked on the rush that comes from racing through levels just so you can dance your heart out. It’s the sort of game you’ll probably buy on a lark, then unexpectedly become obsessed with, replaying it over and over just to prove you’re more skilled than everyone else.

Racing for the right to dance!

Mr. Hitoshi Susumu has the soul of a dancer. He wants, nay, needs to show off his stuff! But in order to reach a dance party where he’s the focal point and can show off his amazing skills, he first has to run through crazy and outlandish levels, dodging and taking down anyone who gets in his way.

This is all accomplished with the push of one button. That’s right, a single button. When Hitoshi is nearing some kind of obstacle or item, you press the A button. If there’s a creature or obstacle in front of him, and the button is pressed at the proper time, he’ll jump, dodge or interact with the obstacle to get out of its way and proceed. Getting a “Great” results in a speed boost, and occasionally a special animated sequence. Pressing A when an item is in sight makes Hitoshi jump to reach it, and he’ll get points, a speed boost or reduction, extra time or even the ability to temporarily change size to

Ride a dinosaur and dance with schoolgirls while reading hilarious quips.

I’m sure many potential players would think Tomena Sanner simple and something to skip over due to its 2D, retro graphics and one button control scheme, but those people will be missing out on one of the best and most innovative Wii games. It’s challenging, but in a good way. Your first time or two playing a level, your scores will be low, you’ll probably fail when trying to perform the ending dance routine and it’s very likely you may not even reach the goal in time. But the potential for success, the commentary, animations and leaderboard glory, drive you to replay and push for greatness.

Usually, I dismiss the addition of online scoreboards for games, but in Tomena Sanner it’s actually a great, and even essential, part of the game. After you complete a level, it’ll tally up your score. If you’ve reached a new, personal best, the game will ask if you want to submit your score online. But, you only can see your score on the scoreboard if you’re among the top 30 users. In this case, the online scoreboard provides an extra motivational push to keep playing and perfecting your performance in each level and adds replay value to Tomena Sanner.

Also, like another recent Konami WiiWare release (Muscle March), Tomena Sanner is one of those games you’ll want to play and watch. There’s constant, pretty much always funny, commentary running along the top and bottom of the screen. But, if you’re the one playing, it’s impossible to keep up with! I actually found it distracting sometimes, because I’d sometimes catch a hint of the commentary scrolling along the bottom and start to read it, which would make me mistime a crucial button press. The commentary is an awesome addition, but you have to get used to ignoring it while you’re playing and focus on the actual game portion.

Finally, Tomena Sanner has a delightful multiplayer mode. Up to four players can play at once, and the screen divides up accordingly. But, while the screen’s divided, you’re all still playing on the same level. So you can end up messing up each other’s timing, or cause your opponents to fail, but dashing through and getting consecutive “Greats” when passing obstacles.

Weird name, awesome game.

Tomena Sanner is an interesting and successful experiment. The 2D, often outlandish, visuals combined with the insane commentary and ridiculous concept conceal what is a game that requires both skill and constant practice to perfect. It’s silly and fun, especially in multiplayer modes, but you really have to work at it if you want to become a Tomena Sanner master. All the effort is worthwhile though, especially if you manage to secure a spot for yourself on the Tomena Sanner leaderboards, and every new animation discovery is a delight to earn and watch. It’s a great game at a great price.

Site [Tomena Sanner]

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Product: B.O.S.S. (aka BOSS; Big Oversized Super Shell)
Price: $9.99
Rating:  Two thumbs up; 90; A-; * * * * out of five.
Pros: Improves overall fell of the WiiMote, makes it easier to hold and larger button sizes. In some instances also improved perceived button sensitivity. A decent price.
Cons: Covers the attachment port and is intended to be used only in the horizontal position.
Overall: A bargain buy for any Wii owner, especially those who play a lot of platformers.

This is one of those instances where the name has it spot-on. The BOSS is, indeed, a big oversized super shell. And in a good way.

Livin’ Large

Developed by PDP (Performance Designed Products LLC), the BOSS is basically a colorful, plastic shell that fits over a standard WiiMote.

At its widest the shell adds 1 1/2 in. to the width, 3/4 in. to the height (when holding the WiiMote with the Power button at the top) and approximately 1/4 in. to the thickness. The WiiMote snaps into the shell and is held in place by three plastic tabs, one oval shaped and two that lock into the WiiMote’s base. The WiiMote is removed by pulling a spring-loaded section of the back, which pulls out the two mini plastic tabs.

There is a slot to expose the WiiMote’s status lights, speaker holes that line up with the mini speaker and a translucent plastic for the remote singal to pass through. The bottom of the WiiMote, including the B trigger button and battery access, is exposed.

The text on the face of the BOSS indicates it is meant to be held with two hands, with the longest dimension from hand-to-hand, much like the Classic Wii controller and older console controllers.

On the face are larger-than-WiiMote buttons that also slightly rearrange the configuration to an older style controller scheme, putting the 1 and 2 buttons at a 45-degree angle from each other instead of on the same horizontal line. All other buttons and the + control pad are in te same locations, accessed by larger-than-the-WiiMote’s buttons.

More Than a Handful

It’s rare that give comment concerning other reviews in my own but I’ll make a rare exception here to say this: They are all (well, almost all) wrong. In nearly every review they refer to the BOSS as making the WiiMote too large to handle, even for adult-sized hands.

Not true.

I found the BOSS to make the WiiMote much more comfortable to hold, especially for long-term gaming, when being used in the intended orientation. Yes, if you try to play holding it like a TV remote control for along period of time your hand may begin to cramp due to the extra girth but, even then, the contours of the BOSS make it easier to grab.

The rounded edges fit perfectly into your palms, placing the +-shaped control pad and the 1 and 2 buttons at just the right width away from the edge. The design obviously takes advantage of the years of ergonomic hit-and-miss from the now classic style controllers whereas the WiiMote still feels a but cramped in my hands with buttons placed way close to each other, causing many miss-presses during active gaming.

As for younger gamers, my 3-year-old always wants to use the BOSS when playing the Wii. I’m sure the bright red design make it a bit more attractive than the sterile while, naked WiiMote but, even then, he has hardly an issue holding on, pressing buttons and controlling on-screen avatars or targeting reticules.

Controls worked as normal, with hardly any extra effort being required to press the buttons, with the larger 1 and 2 buttons and upward curved + pad improving sensitivity. I especially appreciate that the + and - middle buttons are more recessed in this design than on the face of the WiiMote. This worked wonderfully with platformers including New Super Mario Bros. Wii.

The only downfall might be that the peripheral port at the base is covered by the BOSS, meaning you won’t be able to use the Nunchuck, Wii MotionPlus or Classic Controller attachments.

The BOSS of You

This relatively inexpensive and colorful shell adds life and comfort to the rather bland WiiMote.

The design is certainly intended for horizontal use and, despite other reviews, ultimately proves neither too large nor to bulky. Curves and light weight keep this an ergonomic delight to use.

If comparing it to the Wii Classic Controller, keep in mind that this remains wireless and the Classic Controller still requires it to be tethered to the WiiMote and it is about half the price.

Photo Gallery [Big Oversized Super Shell @ Gamertell] Site [PDP]

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