Thrillville (PSP/PS2/Xbox)
Thrillville is already a winner among respected family publications: In addition to earning the Editor’s Choice Award from the Children’s Technology Review, Nick Jr. Family Magazine also honored the game in its November issue.
“Thrillville really is the perfect holiday gift,” said Nancy MacIntyre, Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing at LucasArts. “From riding and building attractions to chatting with park guests and competing in mini-games, there’s something for the whole family – brothers, sisters, moms and dads.”
In their effort to create an entirely new gaming experience, LucasArts and Frontier discarded established blueprints for games of this nature and started from scratch. The result: a nonstop party in a theme park that players create.
Thrillville allows players to customize their own amusement-park creation, interact with guests like never before, and build and hop into their own roller coasters and other rides. Thrillville also lets players race on go-kart tracks they construct, play miniature golf on courses they design, and build roller coasters so high, fast and furious they couldn’t exist in the real world. A multiplayer feature allows up to four friends or family members to play a plethora of mini-games, from bumper cars to arcade action.
Rather than seeing the world from a bird’s-eye view, in Thrillville players tour their creations on foot, chatting and joking with all of their guests to help them out and make sure they’re enjoying themselves.
“We’ve put a whole theme park in one box. The only limit in Thrillville is your imagination,” added MacIntyre.
Created and developed by LucasArts in conjunction with Frontier Developments, Thrillville is now open to owners of the PS2, PSP and Xbox.
College Hoops 2K7 (Xbox/X360)
"The hard work and incredible talent of our College Hoops team has produced our greatest college basketball game to date," stated Greg Thomas, President of Visual Concepts, a 2K Sports studio. "There are so many unique details in college basketball - the tradition, the rivalries, the Cinderella stories - that make it one of the most complex sports video games. The College Hoops 2K7 team has complemented the outstanding gameplay with innovative features and authentic details, creating our most comprehensive college basketball title ever."
Featuring over 200 fight songs to enhance the overall college atmosphere, College Hoops 2K7 also introduces the unique Chant Creator, allowing gamers to construct over 20 million chant combinations. Focusing on the importance of team chemistry, College Hoops 2K7 debuts Team Unity where players are encouraged to focus on team dynamics of defense, setting up plays, and the fundamentals of passing to maximize the potential of each squad. Commentators Greg Gumbel and Clark Kellogg, and their trademark colorful personalities, make a triumphant return to College Hoops 2K7, hosting College Hoops Tonight, a brand-new studio show discussing topics such as Games of the Week, Player of the Week, Coach on the Hot Seat, and Big Game Preview. Legacy Mode also boasts tournament bracketology, thousands of NCAA and school records, the post-season NIT, and so much more.
Featuring J.J. Redick, former star player for the Duke University Blue Devils on the cover, College Hoops 2K7 is rated E for Everyone and is available now for the Xbox 360 and Xbox for $59.99 and $19.99, respectively. College Hoops 2K7 will be available in December for the PS2 and this winter for the PS3.
Harley-Davidson: Race to the Rally (PS2/PC)
Charge out on the highways and byways across America on fully upgradeable classic and late-model Harley-Davidson motorcycles while facing outrageous road challenges.
"Harley-Davidson: Race to the Rally offers gamers the chance to ride some of the most recognizable motorcycles in the world in this fast-paced, open-road adventure," said David Oxford, Activision Publishing, Inc. "Players experience the thrill of saddling up an American icon and the camaraderie of its brotherhood from their living room."
Harley-Davidson: Race to the Rally takes gamers from coast to coast across America exploring classic rides centric to "Harley-Davidson" and the biker lifestyle such as Big Sur, historic Route 66, and the Badlands. Each of the 20 authentic Harley-Davidson motorcycles including the Dyna, Softail, Touring, and Sportster are fully customizable and upgradeable with licensed parts and accessories, so there are thousands of possibilities on which to perform the gravity-defying jumps, and high-speed turbo boosts in this game. Plus, it features a soundtrack that captures the attitude of "Harley-Davidson" with tracks by George Thorogood, Heart, Poison, Great White and more.
Harley-Davidson: Race to the Rally, rated "E" (Everyone), is available now for the PS2 for a suggested retail price of $29.99. The PC version will be available on November 28 for a suggested retail price of $19.99.
Pet Pals: Animal Doctor (PC)
"Legacy Interactive is proud to introduce Pet Pals: Animal Doctor into the homes of Animal Lovers everywhere," said Ariella Lehrer, Chief Executive Officer of Legacy Interactive. "The game is a fun and educational experience the whole family can enjoy, and is a great gift for the future vets of the world this holiday season."
Pet Pals: Animal Doctor gives players the chance to assume the role of a veterinarian. With help from vet technicians, players care for 35 all new animals, ranging from a Saint Bernard to a Shetland pony, rabbits, turtles, hamsters, clown fish, and many more familiar and exotic breeds. More than 40 realistic medical tools are available for use, including some that allow the player to perform surgery as well as to wash and groom the animals. As the game progresses, players are rewarded with job promotions, awards, and new game features. Pet Pals: Animal Doctor offers three different levels of play, allowing animal lovers of all ages to experience the excitement of being a vet.
New features include emergency cases that appear at random moments and require your attention immediately. In Pet Pals: Animal Doctor, you also get to follow up with your patients, to see how successful your initial treatments were. When you are ready to take a break, there are fascinating mini-games with lots of animal facts and information about real life veterinarians.