Dr. Sudoku (GBA)
Video game publisher Mastiff announced today that it has shipped Dr.Sudoku for the Game Boy Advance to major retailers across North America. Dr. Sudoku is the definitive handheld version of the puzzle phenomenon that is sweeping the nation.
In addition to the hundreds of hours of brain challenging entertainment that Dr. Sudoku offers gamers, recent studies suggest that games like Dr. Sudoku can actually increase people's lifespan. According to a recent study conducted at the University of Edinburgh, games such as Sudoku can awaken 'survival genes' that lay dormant in the human brain. These survival genes make the brain cells live longer and resist disease, strokes and the effects of drugs.
The Dr. Sudoku video game features 1,000 hand created puzzles, Original Mode, which lets you create you own Sudoku puzzles, a tutorial mode, help for those moments when you really are stuck, the ability to "pencil in" possible solutions, and a puzzle problem creation mode. BusinessWeek.com recently said that Dr. Sudoku "could be the next Tetris."
Sudoku looks like a math problem, but it's not. The rules are simple: start with a grid consisting of nine three-by-three squares in which some of the numbers are already supplied. Fill in the blank squares so that each column, row, and three-by-three grid contains a number from 1 to 9 with none repeated.
Guild Wars (PC)
Guild Wars Factions is the stand-alone follow-up to Guild Wars, the game that set new standards in online gaming with fresh design, innovative technology and no-subscription-fee pricing. With an expected retail price of $49.99, Guild Wars Factions will be available worldwide and servers supporting the new release will "go live" at 12:01 AM PDT /7:01 GMT on April 28, 2006.
Those who pre-ordered the game will be able to participate in the exclusive Guild Wars Factions Head Start Event beginning at 12:01 AM PDT/7:01 AM GMT on April 27, 2006. These lucky gamers will have access to the game for a total of 48 hours, including a full 24 hours before the game's global release. During the first 24 hours of the Head Start Event, ArenaNet has planned an exclusive in-game event titled "Day of the Tengu," in which players will join one-day-only "Day of the Tengu" quests, and earn exclusive in-game rewards.
"New features in Guild Wars Factions such as guild scrimmages, alliance battles, ranked character titles, and some surprises still to come all resulted from our drive to create a truly unique gaming experience for existing and new fans of the Guild Wars universe," says Mike O'Brien, co-founder of ArenaNet. "With a full year of development and a passionate design team, we think what we've created delivers on that and much, much more. Either played as a stand-alone game, or linked with your original Guild Wars account, Guild Wars Factions is a game we are thoroughly proud of—and still carries no subscription fee."
Guild Wars Factions takes place on the Asian-inspired continent of Cantha, where players create a character from eight distinct professions—including the newly created Assassin and Ritualist—and join an epic quest that pits two warring factions, the Luxons and the Kurzicks, against an ancient evil, and against each other. As players become embroiled in this brutal war of conquest, new missions will provide both roleplaying fans and competitive PvP players the opportunity to help determine the fate of Cantha.
Guild Wars Factions is rated T for Teen.
Guilty Gear Dust Strikers (NDS)
"Guilty Gear Dust Strikers is designed to take advantage of the DS' unique dual screen layout and touch screen mechanic," said Ken Gold, vice president of Marketing for Majesco. "As the first series offering for Nintendo DS™, Guilty Gear Dust Strikers will appeal to core franchise fans and portable gamers looking for a deep fighting experience they can enjoy with friends."
Sol Badguy, Potemkin, I-No and Dizzy, along with 17 other character favorites return in Guilty Gear Dust Strikers. Players who master seven touch screen mini-games can unlock combo moves they can use to customize their character in the Robo-Ky Factory. In addition, up to four players can compete in wireless multi-player games where the last man standing wins.
Rated 'T' for Teen, Guilty Gear Dust Strikers is available exclusively for Nintendo DS™ for a suggested retail price of $29.99.
Shadowgrounds (PC)
"It's an incredible feeling to finally have the game released in North America. I know how much effort Meridian4 has put into Shadowgrounds, and I'm happy that the retail box is so awesome and even includes a handy weapons chart," said Frozenbyte CEO, Lauri Hyvarinen.
"When we first saw Shadowgrounds we knew we had to get this title released in North America. It's high-octane, non-stop action had us hooked the first time we played it," said Steve Milburn, Marketing Director at Meridian4, "For anyone looking to have fun again playing a PC title, Shadowgrounds is your game!"
Shadowgrounds is an epic sci-fi game that blends addictive old school gameplay and modern technology creating one big, nasty alien-battling carnage festival. Played from a top-down perspective, Shadowgrounds give you full control over the battlefield and features a devastating arsenal of weapons, realistic and sometimes hair-raising lighting effects and tons of monsters to shoot, slice, electrocute and even flame broil!
- Upgrade weaponry with powerful modifications
- Face enormous monsters in boss battles
- Destructible environment allows players to wreak havoc with their arsenal
- Visit many exciting locations, including a secret military base and the alien-infested colony New Atlantis
- Fight side-by-side with NPC allies against the massive alien hordes
- Check security cameras and computer logs to investigate alien origins
- Realistic lighting with gameplay effects bring the aliens out of the shadows
- Enjoy horrifying sound effects and a thrilling music soundtrack made exclusively for Shadowgrounds
- Powered by Frozenbyte's incredible 3D engine!
- 2-4 PLAYER CO-OP MULTIPLAYER! - 2-4 players can play the co-operative mode on the same computer to maximize the destruction.
Shadowgrounds is now available in retail stores, including Best Buy and Gamestop at a suggested retail price of $29.99.
Winback 2: Project Poseidon's New "Route" System In virtually every environment, a flawless team effort is needed to accomplish each mission. In the game, missions are divided into two Routes, A and B. In Route A players will perform a supporting role, unlocking doors and laying down suppressing fire for your teammate in Route B. As the teammate in Route B, the player will proceed along the path that was cleared in Route A.
Developed by Cavia for KOEI Co., Ltd., Winback 2: Project Poseidon is a 1-4 player game (offline), and is rated "T" (Teen- Mild Language, Violence) by the ESRB.
Winback 2: Project Poseidon (PS2)
In a world where terror takes many forms, a new weapon threatens to shake the balance of power. Freedom's last hope rests in the hands of three new operatives, who must race against time to recover this doomsday device. The fate of the world hangs by a thread, and a few ticks of the clock could mean the difference between justice and annihilation.
The follow-up to the smash-hit Winback: Covert Operations, Winback 2: Project Poseidon brings to the series a new "route" system that lets players experience each mission from the perspective of different operatives. There are 30 intense missions, multiple difficulty levels, and new weapons including the highly-anticipated sniper rifle.
The new Winback assault team is comprised of three young, yet combat-proven operatives led by Craig Contrell. Each team member is qualified in six different weapon types and highly-adept at CQB (Close Quarter Battle). They are masters of target identification, engagement and shot placement. In the hands of the player, all of these techniques will be put to the test. The game's unique shooting action is spread across 30 high-risk operations situated in challenging urban environments and conveyances.