Halo 3: ODST (Xbox 360)

With “Halo 3: ODST,” developer Bungie takes the “Halo” franchise into all new territory. Players are put in the boots of an Orbital Drop Shock Trooper, some of the toughest and bravest soldiers of the UNSC. Players must search for clues to find out what happened to their squad when a drop into the city of New Mombasa goes wrong, and discover the secret behind the Covenant’s interest in the city.

In addition to a full-fledged campaign, “Halo 3: ODST” introduces Firefight, a new cooperative multiplayer mode where up to four players battle waves of unrelenting Covenant onslaughts. The game also introduces three new “Halo 3” competitive multiplayer maps and contains the complete, standalone “Halo 3” multiplayer experience on a second disc. “Halo 3: ODST” will also act as a key to entry into the “Halo: Reach” multiplayer beta at a later date.

The “Halo” franchise is an award-winning collection of properties that have grown into a global entertainment phenomenon. Beginning with the original “Halo: Combat Evolved” for Xbox in 2001, the rich fiction of the franchise has since inspired a series of blockbuster Xbox and Xbox 360 video games, New York Times best-selling novels, comic books, action figures, apparel and more.

Aion (PC)

Having sold out of its Limited Collector’s Edition version and tallying more preorders than any other massively multiplayer online (MMO) game this year, Aion’s release marks the biggest MMO launch of the year and is already being touted as one of the must-have games this holiday season. Aion released today in North America, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore and launches this Friday, September 25, in Europe.

In Aion, gamers explore a celestial world of breath-taking beauty and epic adventure. Players create either winged Elyos or Asmodian avatars, sworn enemy races that discover a common foe: the twisted and depraved Balaur. Aion is among the biggest MMO games in the East and has wowed millions of gamers with its breathtaking graphics, innovative gameplay and engrossing story.

“We’re extremely excited to finally deliver the game to Western audiences and believe they will enjoy Aion as much as Eastern players have,” said Jaeho Lee, CEO NCsoft West. “The effort we put into Westernizing Aion is unprecedented in our industry. Players will experience a completely rewritten storyline spanning more than two-million words, along with a variety of enhancements specifically for Western audiences.”

Consumer excitement for Aion has been steadily building in the recent months leading up to the game’s launch. Aion’s preorder sales have exceeded expectations, and the game has remained ranked among the top games on both Steam and Direct to Drive throughout the preorder period. Having sold nearly 450,000 copies before launch, Aion has established the benchmark as the biggest MMO release of the year. Aion is available at retailers such as NCsoft.com, Amazon, Best Buy, EB Games Canada, Fry’s Electronics, GameStop, Steam, Target and Wal-Mart.

Unlike any MMO before it, Aion is a uniquely crafted online experience where flight offers much more than just a way to explore the landscape – it is a strategic and integral part of combat, quests, and exploration. Players will dive into battle and plunge through thousands of unique, story-driven quests, all while trying to save a world literally shattered in half from centuries of brutal conflict. Using one of the most flexible and in-depth character customization systems ever featured in an MMO, players will be able to create genuinely distinct characters and explore a visually stunning world of ethereal beauty brimming with otherworldly inhabitants, mysterious enemies, and ancient secrets.

Spyborgs (Wii)

Spyborgs, Capcom’s hottest new thrill ride, combines an extraordinary sci-fi world with action-packed 2-player co-op, epic multi-stage bosses, and the old-school beat em’ up feel that will satisfy fans of the genre and fans of robot destruction alike.

In Spyborgs, a cybernetically-enhanced group of superheroes is set-up to be destroyed by a former team member. When players take control of the weapon-enhanced cyborgs in their pursuit of the traitor, they will come together in 2-player co-op to face over 35 stages of mind-blowing challenges packed with epic boss battles and swarms of enemies that only a team of two can defeat!

Players select two of the three Spyborg characters and use the Wii Remote™ to shoot, slash and pummel their way through hordes of mechanized enemies. Designed around a team experience, in single-player mode, players will be able to strategically jump back and forth from one member of the team to the other, rapidly tackling different challenges with their unique abilities.

Features:

• Pushing the graphics capabilities of Wii, Spyborgs will offer a variety of vibrant environments and detailed character models alongside action-packed gameplay.
• Although designed as a 2-player co-op experience, Spyborgs can be enjoyed whether playing alone or with friends, as single players can jump seamlessly between characters at any time to take advantage of their unique weapons and skills while friends can tag-team it to create crazy combos and finisher moves for the ultimate brawl.
• Action-packed, intuitive gameplay for all skill-levels.
• Players can combo their attacks and increase their Power meters to unleash devastating “Finisher” and “Co-Op Finisher” moves.
• Power-up by collecting “crimson spark” currency from defeated enemies, destructible environments and weapons crates to purchase upgrades.
• Single-player games allow players to instantly switch between two characters mid-combat to utilize each character’s strengths.
• Epic, action-packed and absolutely thrilling battles featuring full-screen, dynamic and wickedly challenging bosses.
• Similar to Xbox Live and PSN, players are rewarded with an Achievement Title signifying their accomplishment. Taking it one step further, these Achievements also unlock bonus videos, concept art and new challenges in the game.

Spyborgs, rated T for Teen, is now available on store shelves in North America for $39.99 or through online retailers and the Capcom E-store.

Katamari Forever(PS3)

Remixed classic Katamari Damacy tunes, a brand-new storyline, multiple new visual effects and 1080p graphics come together to make this the ultimate Katamari experience yet.

An unfortunate accident has left the King of All Cosmos unconscious.  Panicked, the Prince and his cousins quickly construct RoboKing to temporarily replace the King of All Cosmos as he recovers.  However, as soon as he is turned on, RoboKing goes haywire, knocking all the stars and planets out of the sky.  It is now the Prince's duty to bring the King of All Cosmos back to health, and help RoboKing return all the missing celestial bodies back into the sky.

The sequel to the immensely popular Katamari series, Katamari Forever tasks players to roll up as many everyday objects as possible within a time limit set by the Prince's father, the King of All Cosmos.  As more objects are rolled up, your katamari becomes bigger, allowing you to pick up even larger items.  Thumb tacks, sushi, cats, people, houses, sky scrapers and ocean liners – nothing is out of bounds as the Prince rolls his way through the most expansive Katamari game to date.  In addition to all the rolling around, the Prince has been practicing his royal jumping abilities.  Using the PS3's SixAxis controls, the Prince is now able to hop over large objects that stand in his way.  The new Prince Hop opens up the world of Katamari in ways never seen before.   

Katamari Forever features a brand new art style along with multiple unlockable graphic filters to bring out even more variety than ever before.  The new changeable graphic filters give Katamari Forever a certain "je ne sais quoi" that all Katamari games possess.  Wood Tone transforms everything in the world into carved out wooden blocks while Comic Book paints the screen with deep, rich colors.  Players looking to take a trip down memory lane can switch to Classic and re-create the series trademark visual style in glorious 1080p.  

Katamari Forever also includes fun and frantic cooperative and competitive multiplayer modes.  Choose your favorite cousin and play together or compete in heated Katamari competition.  Who will become the Katamari champion in your house?

Katamari Forever, rated E for everyone, is now available in North America for $49.99.

Our House: Party! (Wii)

In Our House: Party! for Wii players strap on their tool belts and complete home improvement projects with one goal: to build a house that becomes the envy of the neighborhood. 
 
In Our House: Party!, players use the Wii Remote and Nunchuk as the ultimate tools to build their own trophy house in a competitive four player party format. The game features over 175 do-it-yourself projects including Wallpaper Woes, Hammer Time, Demolition Derby, Green Thumb and many more. Whether it's painting, sawing or mowing, players will visit The Home Depot® to compete in the Cash Register Race - a mad rush through the store to collect all the power-up tools they need for a given project.  Using WiiConnect24™, Our House: Party! lets players show off their personalized palace on a virtual street within The Neighborhood. 
 
Our House: Party!, rated E for Everyone, is available on Wii for the SRP of $39.99.

Order Of War (PC)

Order Of War is a historically accurate, World War II real-time strategy game that takes the genre to new heights. Massive-scale battles and epic warfare are brought to life with cinematic intensity as players are challenged to take command of vast numbers of infantry, tank battalions, heavy artillery and aircraft. Planning multi-pronged strategic assaults, players will navigate their ways through missions based on key historic events and operations from 1944.

The single-player mode can be played out in two campaigns. The first features American forces versus German forces as they land on the beaches of occupied France on D-Day. The second lets players change sides, commanding German forces in Poland battling against the mighty Soviet Army and in France battling American troops. The multiplayer mode can be played in either LAN or Internet mode, powered by GameSpy Technology. With battles on six maps from campaign mode, multiplayer allows gamers to play as the Americans, Germans or Soviets with the objective of total domination of all Control Points and total annihilation of enemy units.

In the summer of 1944, the Second World War entered its endgame when the Allies launched two major operations that would drive back German forces on both the Western and Eastern Fronts at once.

In the ultimate test of military strategy, Order Of War will challenge you to not only lead America's finest to victory in the west, but also place you in command of German forces charged with repelling the Red Army's seemingly unstoppable offensive in the east.

Even the keenest military minds will find that it's one thing to make history, but quite another to change it.

Features

• Experience WWII warfare on an epic, cinematic stage, that truly captures the intensity and scale of the battlefield
• Take command of an entire armed force consisting of up to 1,000 soldiers, tanks, armored vehicles, artillery and airplanes
• Players can choose between two different campaign modes offering completely different storylines, missions, objectives and environments
• Experience the unique dynamic camera that allows players to command troops over huge geographical scale whilst maintaining movie-like vistas and detail
• In-depth gameplay modes: two different campaigns, multiplayer Deathmatch and Skirmish

Order Of War,  rated T for Teen,  is available on the PC for $39.99

Scooby-Doo! First Frights (NDS/PS2/Wii)

In the Scooby-Doo! First Frights game, developed by Torus Games, players take on the role of young Scooby-Doo and teenage versions of the newly formed Mystery, Inc. crew - Shaggy, Daphne, Fred and Velma - to solve their very first cases over 22 exciting levels.

“Scooby-Doo! First Frights delivers a fresh take on the ever popular Scooby-Doo franchise and will appeal to kids and families alike,” said Samantha Ryan, Senior Vice President, Development and Production, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. “I am especially excited about bringing Scooby-Doo to the Wii, which is a perfect fit for kids and families to play together.”

The Scooby-Doo! First Frights game releases in conjunction with the Warner Premiere/Cartoon Network live-action movie “Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins” released today by Warner Home Video. The feature-length live-action title premiered on Cartoon Network as the most-watched telecast in the network's history, delivering 6,107,000 viewers age 2 and up according to preliminary data from Nielsen Media Research.

Scooby-Doo! First Frights features four brand new mysteries, each with its own unique villain and spooky setting, including a phantom cruise ship, a haunted high school, a foreboding castle, and a creepy carnival. Each level lets players solve puzzles, combat enemies and collect clues to unmask the mysterious villains. With access to a variety of disguises, players can camouflage themselves in costumes with special powers and abilities unique to each character. At any time during the game, players can switch characters or play with family and friends using two player co-op with easy drop-in, drop-out gameplay.

By purchasing Scooby-Doo! First Frights, fans can participate in the Scooby-Doo Zoinks Points consumer rewards program, now available at www.zoinkspoints.com. This first-of-its-kind program offers fans access to free, exclusive online content, including custom Scooby-Doo online games, video clips, wallpapers, screen savers, podcasts and more with the purchase of all Scooby-Doo licensed products.

Scooby-Doo! First Frights is rated “E10+” for Everyone 10 and older and is available for NDS for $29.99, Wii for $39.99, and PS2 for $19.99.

Pinball Hall of Fame: The Williams Collection (PS3/X360)

“The Pinball Hall of Fame franchise was built on delivering the highest level of authenticity to the most discerning pinball players,” said Betsi Gijanto, executive vice president, Crave Entertainment. “With three brand new Williams tables, leaderboards, the 4-player multi-play option and high-definition graphics, Pinball Hall of Fame: The Williams Collection for Xbox 360 and PlayStation3 upholds that standard while providing gamers with everything they’d expect on the latest game systems. Value-priced at $39.99, Pinball Hall of Fame: The Williams Collection is destined to become a classic in many gamers’ libraries.”

True to the franchise, Pinball Hall of Fame: The Williams Collection, developed by FarSight Studios, offers 13 Classic Williams tables from the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s, including three new tables: Medieval Madness™, The Tales of the Arabian Nights™ and No Good Gophers™. In addition, the award-winning franchise is marking its debut on Xbox 360 and PlayStation3 with online leaderboards and trophies, multi-player for up to four players and HD Compatibility (1080i and 1080p). The game also features expanded table goals and bonus features throughout.

“I have been a fan of the Pinball Hall of Fame franchise since Crave launched its first Williams Collection for Wii, PlayStation Portable and PlayStation 2,” said Keith Elwin, World Pinball Champion, 2005-2009. “Having multiple, classic tables right there in your living room is a dream come true for avid players like me. In a flip of the switch, I have my own arcade without the responsibility of maintaining the machines.”

Pinball Hall of Fame: The Williams Collection, r ated E10+, is now available at major retailers nationwide for a suggested retail price of $39.99.

Family Party: 30 Great Games Outdoor Fun (Wii)

Fun for the whole family, Outdoor Fun has something to offer everyone with a wide variety of engaging and addictive party games featuring martial arts, team sports, individual athletics, and challenging brain games.

Building on the top selling original Family Party: 30 Great Games, Family Party: 30 Great Games Outdoor Fun delivers fun created specifically for family entertainment as players choose from over a dozen cute characters, participate in up to four player competitive action, and unlock games and challenges to achieve the highest score and win medals!

“Outdoor Fun is the greatest value in family entertainment and should be on everyone’s wish list this fall,” said Kim Motika, vice president of worldwide sales and operations, D3Publisher. “We expect Outdoor Fun to bring friends and families closer than ever with its easy to pick up and play controls for gamers of all skill levels and countless hours of non-stop entertainment.”

Developed by Tamsoft, Outdoor Fun is rated “E10+” for Mild Cartoon Violence, and now available for a suggested retail price of $19.95.

Animal Kingdom: Wildlife Expedition (Wii)

Animal Kingdom: Wildlife Expedition gives players the chance to explore wildlife in environments such as the jungle and savannah, in a photographic safari adventure.

"Animal Kingdom: Wildlife Expedition is a terrific game that the whole family can enjoy together," said Hiro Maekawa, President and CEO at Natsume. "Animal Kingdom: Wildlife Expedition delivers a wild adventure that's loads of fun for anyone who wants to explore and learn about wildlife."

In Animal Kingdom: Wildlife Expedition, players take on the role of a wildlife photographer exploring the exotic and diverse wildlife of Animal Island. Each day, they'll be tasked with completing specific assignments, such as taking pictures of particular animals, groups of animals, or animals engaged in certain actions. Players will see a variety of exotic wildlife on their expedition, including gazelles, gorillas, and elephants. Each animal is realistically detailed and behaves just like the real thing!

Animal Kingdom: Wildlife Expedition boasts a diverse collection of environments. Players will explore savanna, jungle, desert, waterfall, and lake areas in their quest to capture the perfect picture. By watching each environment carefully, players will learn to look for signs that will lead them to the animals.

Animal Kingdom: Wildlife Expedition, Rated E for everyone, is now available at retail for an MSRP of $29.99.

Our House (NDS)

In Our House for NDS players strap on their tool belts and complete home improvement projects with one goal: to build a house that becomes the envy of the neighborhood. 

In Our House for NDS, players begin as hired contractors, completing different time-based remodeling assignments in order to earn enough money to build their own home.  Creativity and skill are required to complete each project to a given client's specific styles and tastes.  The game features 100 different building mini-games including replacing floors, hanging cabinets, painting and brickwork. Players can earn bonuses by completing a job early or accurately, and then apply those earnings towards furnishing the property to ultimately sell for profit.   
 
Our House, rated E for Everyone, is available on NDS for the SRP of $19.99.