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Thursday, May 24, 2007 Shipping Announcements

by Rainier on May 24, 2007 @ 3:43 p.m. PDT

Another day, another batch of games shipped to stores. Instead of giving them all their own posts, we grouped them, and so far there are announcements for:

Dawn of Mana (PS2)

After the unveiling of the WORLD of MANA series of titles in 2005, fans have been eager to experience the next installment in the popular MANA series. Dawn of Mana at last reveals the origins of the legend behind the Mana Tree and the Sword of Mana. Freed from the limitations of two-dimensional graphics, Dawn of Mana brings the world of MANA into 3D for the first time while preserving the atmosphere that fans have come to know and love. New characters and environments join familiar monsters and elemental spirits from previous MANA titles, with cutting-edge rendering techniques that preserve the signature beauty and subtlety of the acclaimed series.

Long ago, when the world was at peace and magic was yet unknown to man, the beautiful isle of Illusia floated in the center of the Inner Sea. Over the island towered the Great Tree, the source of all life and creation. There it had stood since the dawn of the world, but over time, the tree gradually turned to stone and slept as though death had at last arrived.

So begins the story of how a boy came to wield a sacred sword and how a maiden became a goddess, entwining the fate of spirits, mortals, and the entire world into a captivating tale of hope and despair.

Features :

  • Cinematic production values are amplified by a gripping opening theme composed by Grammy and Academy Award winner Ryuichi Sakamoto, and a sweeping score from series composer Kenji Ito
  • Instant accessibility makes the game fun and intuitive for a wide variety of gamers – simple controls and quick “pick-up-and-play” mechanics make the game fun for long-time fans and newcomers to the franchise
  • Witness a beautiful lighting system that softens the game world, exuding a feeling of warmth and subtlety that cascades through trees, over the hills and onto the elements of vividly detailed landscapes fans have come to expect from the MANA series
  • Different weapons and gameplay mechanics allow multiple ways to approach enemies – attack head-on with the sword, use the slingshot from afar or manipulate the environment with a whip to cause a fantastic avalanche of boulders – guaranteeing no two adventures are the same!

For a limited time and while supplies last, the Breath of Mana music sampler disc will be available at Amazon.com, Game Crazy, GameStop, and EBGames as a gift with the purchase of Dawn of Mana.

Diner Dash: Sizzle and Serve (NDS/PSP)

This delectable delight will ensure that fans of the game, based on PlayFirst’s PC smash hit, are not disappointed! Play as the much beloved Flo as she endeavors to open her very own restaurant. Keep your customers happy ­ serve them as quickly as possible to earn points, critic reviews, and ultimately lots of tips to gain upgrades to your new eatery! And if that wasn’t challenging enough - for the first time ever - play a Diner Dash game with a friend. Try your hand at competing with friends to see who has the speed to take them to the next level using the awesome multi-player functionality of both systems!

Tank Beat (NDS)

Developed by Milestone Inc., Tank Beat is entirely stylus-based. As you draw tracks and fire on the DS’s bottom screen game map, your tank appears and responds on the top screen. “Tank Beat™ is an armored enthusiast’s dream,” said Mike Pepe, Product Manager O3 Entertainment. “With a full arsenal of tanks to choose from it is critical to pick the right tank for each battle. Tank Beat™ is very balanced in that each tank has a weakness that can and does get exploited by other vehicles in the game.”

The Single Player Story mode revolves around tank commander, Vill Katjue. Freshly minted from the academy, Katjue is thrown into battle after his country is invaded and occupied by an aggressive neighbor. Players will have to link up with resistance tank platoons and take the battle back to the invaders. Mission objectives feature capturing assets, destroying military units or fortifications, protecting civilian allies, and more. Players are also given command and control of allied vehicles throughout the campaign to aid in the country’s reclamation. Successful missions yield unlocked tanks and armored vehicles players can use in future missions or in multiplayer Battle Mode.

Skirmish and multiplayer modes take the action further. Skirmish mode allows players to practice on any of the maps and tanks that were unlocked in Story Mode plus unlock additional tanks on three exclusive stages. Multiplayer mode is a free-for-all which pitches up to 4 players against each other in either wireless head to head action or via the Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection.

Features:

  • Single player
    • More than 20 unlockable tanks to choose from
    • 27 level single player story campaign
    • 30 levels of skirmish
    • Command allied tanks throughout your missions
  • 2-4 person Multi Player Action
    • Head to head wireless and Nintendo Wi-Fi play
    • Single Cart Play on wireless

Circus Empire (PC)

In the world's first fully 3D circus simulator, players will have to perform their own balancing act between maintaining the budget and handling the distinct personalities of their cast and crew as they create the ultimate circus. With multiple venues around the world and a wealth of customization options for their performances, Circus Empire allows players to run off and join the circus - and be home in time for dinner.

"Circus Empire brings the big top to the desktop," said Trevor Chan, CEO of Enlight Interactive. "The circus is classic entertainment that resonates with audiences worldwide. This game combines a rich, detailed simulation game with elaborate, engaging strategy with all the spectacle and wonder of a fully-realized circus show."

Circus Empire lets players customize their very own circus, from hiring and training the performers, to scheduling tour dates, to watching the show in beautiful, realistic 3D. With more than 70 performers, including acrobats, tightrope walkers, motorcyclists and a variety of animals, players can choose from hundreds of different performance moves to make their circus a unique entertainment experience. As they build their circus act, players can follow the story campaign as their circus tours across North America, Asia and Europe, bringing joy and excitement to thousands of spectators. Circus Empire isn't just about great visuals, either: it's an in-depth simulation, complete with all the details of running a circus, including hiring, training, scheduling, and even personnel and financial management.

Circus Empire is rated "E" for Everyone by the ESRB and has a suggested retail price of $19.99.

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