Nintendo has plenty of things coming out this year that will please some of the pickiest gamers. While we aren’t excited about all of the new editions, we are looking forward to a new Mario title and the DSi XL among other things. A new Prince of Persia title and several options for owners of the DSi or DSi XL that are looking for more than gaming are in the works, too. Soon you will have a chance to read the classics or cook with the masters. It’s obvious that in some respects, Nintendo will be providing an interesting year.

March 28
The new Nintendo DSi XL™ hand-held system launches March 28 at a suggested retail price of $189.99. The screens of the Nintendo DSi XL are 93 percent larger than those of the Nintendo DS™ Lite model, providing a more vivid and engaging play experience. The screens of the Nintendo DSi XL also feature a wider viewing angle, letting friends and family members join the fun. The new system launches in both Burgundy and Bronze colors, and comes loaded with pre-installed premium software Brain Age™ Express: Arts & Letters, Brain Age Express: Math and Photo Clock, as well as two free applications: the Nintendo DSi Browser and Flipnote Studio™. Nintendo DSi XL will also come with a larger pen-like stylus that allows for a more comfortable grip and enhanced ease of use when playing games that use the Nintendo DS touch screen.

America’s Test Kitchen: Let’s Get Cooking Let the experts guide you and your cooking family through 300 delicious recipes from the most watched cooking show on public television! ~ Get cooking in America’s Test Kitchen! America’s beloved cooking show spent hundreds of hours testing 300 recipes that span everything from entrees to delectable desserts, so all you have to do is follow their lead and have fun cooking. Watch technique videos, listen to instructions, and use voice commands as the software walks you through every step of the cooking process. ~ Everyone’s a chef!

WarioWare™: D.I.Y.: Every WarioWare game has featured a frenetic mix of wacky, five-second “microgames,” but WarioWare: D.I.Y. adds the next evolution to the same crazy gameplay: making your own microgames from the ground up. Design your own games! Create your own microgames from scratch, or customize previously existing ones. Create custom graphics, compose music, and design your own gameplay rules, OR borrow any of these elements from other microgames and tweak them as you see fit.

April 20
Capcom’s Monster Hunter® Tri, an epic action game for Wii, launches in the United States on April 20. The game lets players customize their character, armor and weapons in order to protect a town from majestic monsters as that town rebuilds following a devastating earthquake. Online play will be available for all players with broadband Internet access at no additional cost. Online text chat is fully functional and online voice chat is enabled using the Wii Speak™ microphone, which is sold separately. At a suggested retail price of $59.99, limited quantities of Monster Hunter Tri will include the new Black Classic Controller Pro™, while both Black and White versions of the controller will be available separately at a suggested retail price of $19.99. The game will also be available without a controller at a suggested retail price of $49.99.

May 3
Picross 3D is poised to become a puzzle game phenomenon when it launches for the Nintendo DS family of products on May 3. In Picross 3D, players start with a cube and smash away smaller blocks to reveal an object, shape or symbol. Delivering more than 350 unique puzzles and more made available for download on a regular basis after launch via the Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection service (broadband Internet access required), the game takes the mind-bending fun of Picross into the next dimension

May 18
Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands™ from Ubisoft will launch May 18 on both the Wii and Nintendo DS platforms. Boasting amazing graphics with fantastic action and puzzle-solving game play, the Wii version will be the first in franchise history to feature a two-player cooperative experience. As an added bonus, the Wii version of the game will exclusively include the 1992 Super NES™ version of the original Prince of Persia game.

May 23
Super Mario Galaxy™ 2, the sequel to the smash-hit galaxy-hopping original game, launches May 23 for the Wii™ console. The game includes the amazing gravity-defying, physics-based exploration from the first game, but is loaded with entirely new galaxies and features to challenge and delight players. On some stages, Mario™ can pair up with his dinosaur buddy Yoshi™ and use his tongue to grab items and spit them back at enemies. Players can also have fun with new items such as a drill that lets our hero tunnel through solid rock.

June 7
Sin and Punishment: Star Successor, the breakthrough shooter game for Wii from legendary developer Treasure, will launch across North America on June 7. The game features nonstop action with two playable characters and international online leaderboards to track high scores. Using the Wii Remote pointer functionality, the game offers unprecedented precision in the shooter genre.

June 14
100 Classic Books transforms the Nintendo DS family of products into a library of timeless literature when it launches on June 14 at a suggested retail price of $19.99, highlighted by 100 works from authors such as William Shakespeare, Jules Verne, Jane Austen, Mark Twain and more. Readers can adjust the size of text, place bookmarks and even download new content via the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service (broadband Internet connection required).

June 27
Metroid™: Other M, the incredible new Metroid game developed for Wii through a collaboration by Nintendo and the world-renowned Team Ninja, launches June 27. The game looks at the classic franchise from a new perspective: While much of the game is reminiscent of 2-D side-scrollers, players can switch the perspective into 3-D at any time as they explore the twisting passages of a derelict space station and delve deep into a cinematic, never-before-told story of bounty hunter Samus Aran’s past. This new approach uses a new control scheme in which players use the Wii Remote™ controller held sideways to battle enemies and navigate the expansive, gorgeous environments in classic Metroid fashion, then aim at the screen with the Wii Remote pointer to blast foes in first-person and hunt the world for clues and hidden passages.

Summer 2010
In a unique partnership with Square-Enix, Nintendo of America will publish Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies in the Americas when the game arrives in summer 2010. Dragon Quest IX has sold more than 4.15 million copies in the Japanese market. Nintendo and Square-Enix will now work together to bring this title to the Nintendo DS consumer base in the Americas.

Late 2010
Disney Guilty Party is the official title of the highly anticipated first collaboration between Disney Interactive Studios and its recently acquired studio, Wideload Games. The fun and hilarious mystery party game is set for release in the second half of 2010, exclusively for Wii.

Majesco’s Nintendo DSi exclusive Ghostwire: Link to the Paranormal uses incredible augmented reality technology through the Nintendo DSi Camera. Launching this October, the game lets players become a ghost hunter as they interact with the paranormal.

For WiiWare:

March 1
Capcom’s Mega Man™ 10 builds upon the huge impact of Mega Man 9, a completely new adventure rendered in classic 8-bit style. This new game looks and sounds as awesomely retro as its predecessor.

March 8
Max & the Magic Marker from Press Play turns the Wii Remote into an orange magic marker that’s literally magic. Players draw lines and objects to help Max reach objects and his ultimate goal.

March 22
The long-awaited indie cult classic Cave Story comes to WiiWare with new game play, artwork and music enhancements. It’s classic gaming reborn for 2010.

March 29
WarioWare: D.I.Y. Showcase is a standalone product exclusive to the WiiWare service and available only from the Wii Shop Channel. The game contains more than 70 new microgames and features interoperability with the WarioWare: D.I.Y. game for the Nintendo DS family of products. Players that own both games can transfer content between the two via a local wireless connection, and can even play user-created microgames on their television using WarioWare: D.I.Y. Showcase.

Spring 2010
Swim and spin through the primordial ooze in Nintendo’s Art Style: Rotozoa™ as you absorb tiny organisms that match the colors of your tentacles. As you absorb more organisms, your tentacles grow. The challenge increases as additional tentacles are gained, but power-ups can help you survive and thrive.

Rage of the Gladiator from Ghostfire Games is an intense fighting game that asks players to perfect their well-timed moves against an array of opponents. The game is compatible with the Wii MotionPlus accessory.

And Yet It Moves from Broken Rules requires players to rotate the world to help their line-drawn protagonist progress. Walls become floors and floors become ceilings in this surreal twist on the platformer genre.

For Nintendo DSiWare:

Spring 2010
Nintendo’s Photo Dojo™ is poised to be the cult hit of 2010 when it launches this spring. The game first asks players to pose for 13 pictures and input 10 sound effects. Once that’s done, the player becomes the main character in a hilarious side-scrolling fighting game. Create up to eight characters and do battle alone or against a friend on a single Nintendo DSi or Nintendo DSi XL system.

Nintendo’s Metal Torrent™ delivers a frantic barrage of gunfire that fills the screen. Players try to convert opponents’ bullets into cubes that, when collected, increase their score and fill an energy meter that powers special weapons. Online Leaderboards record scores and movies of top games.

X-Scape™ from Nintendo immerses players in an exploratory adventure involving more than 20 planets. Players will pilot their tank through 3-D tunnels, fire at enemies and even battle ancient weapons that resemble giant robots.

Technorati Tags: Nintendo, Capcom, DSi, Wii, DS, DSi XL, Upcoming Games, Video Games, Spring 2010, Summer 2010

Game Rating: E
Game Publisher: Graffiti Entertainment
Platform: Nintendo DS
Release Date: June 9, 2009
Buy this at: Amazon for $27.49

When I think of hardcore gaming, I generally exclude games on the Nintendo DS. In all actuality, I exclude most of the games that Nintendo has to offer. Many of the games are casual and family-oriented. Even the more popular game series offered, such as Mario, are hard to take seriously in a hardcore gaming arena. Sure, back in the day, Mario was it, and I still love the Mario games released regularly, but I don’t see them in the hardcore gaming arena.

Some of the games I do consider more hardcore involve the Final Fantasy series and the Legend of Zelda series. These games are more roleplay based, involve fighting, but even these games appeal to the casual crowd. I figured “Black Sigil: Blade of the Exiled” would fall in amongst these types of games. I assumed there would be fighting, some swordplay especially, and plenty of action. Sadly, “Black Sigil: Blade of the Exiled” let me down in all of these areas.

The biggest problem with “Black Sigil: Blade of the Exiled” is the pace. It seems like the introductory story goes on forever. It takes a while to get into the battle. The story isn’t overly original, and it really didn’t get me that excited for what was to come once gameplay began. The other big problem is how frustrating it can be to play the game. Most games have some type of guide to point you in the direction of where to go and what to do. Not so with “Black Sigil: Blade of the Exiled”.

The graphics for “Black Sigil: Blade of the Exiled” leave much to be desired. Honestly, I thought that I was playing a game I would have found on the Gameboy Advance. While there is technically nothing wrong with these types of games (I admit to still replaying some of my favorite Gameboy Advance SP games), especially if the story is compelling, with 2D style graphics and a less than engaging storyline, “Black Sigil: Blade of the Exiled” doesn’t have that much going for it.

The story for “Black Sigil: Blade of the Exiled” isn’t anything new, especially for the roleplay genre. The story takes place in the kingdom of Bel Lenora. In this world, it is the norm to use magic. Anyone who is not capable of using magic is looked down upon. History tells the tale of a man, Vai, who couldn’t use magic and he brought destruction and devastation to Bel Lenora. One of the generals of Bel Lenora banished Vai from the kingdom bringing an end to the war he brought with him.

The game begins sometime after these events. Fifteen years after Vai’s banishment, Kairu (the main character you play) shows up in Bel Lenora. The young man is not capable of using magic, so the people of Bel Lenora are very suspicious of him and his intentions. Kairu is a orphan and he is adopted by the same general who banished Vai. The people of Bel Lenora do not trust Kairu, and they want to banish him because of this, fearing he will bring tragedy to the village as Vai did so many years ago.

Kairu has a sister who is capable of using Fire Magic. Her name is Aurora. Throughout the game, there are a series of playable characters. These characters include Vai (the man originally banished from Bel Lenora), Isa (a woman who uses two scimitars as weapons), Rogurd (a treasure hunter who uses a large pole axe and has one eye), and Nym (who can use summons during battles). In all, you can play up to eight different characters, with the option of playing up to three of them at a time.

Kairu’s adoptive father wants to believe Kairu is good and can use magic. He sets him up to go through a series of tests/quests. His hope is that this will bring out the magic in Kairu. When it becomes clear that Kairu is incapable of using magic, his father has no choice but to banish him or face an uprising from the people who believe he is the second coming of Vai.

When Kairu is exiled, he heads to Artania with Aurora. Once there, they must find their way back to Bel Lenora to tell the people about the powerful forces being built up in Artania. Both Kairu and Aurora must spend time in Artania first, getting to know the people and trying to figure out what is going on with these powerful and potentially dangerous forces, with the intent of stopping them.

Enjoyment/Fun Factor: 2 out of 5 stars

This game has features that you’d typically see in an RPG style game. The primary exploration happens in Artania. As you explore, you head through a variety of dungeons. You must solve a puzzle to get through each dungeon, which is the most interesting part of the game. These designs are somewhat clever so I do have to give Studio Archcraft props for that.

Once you get through quite a bit of the game, you will be able to take on a variety of alternative quests (on the side). The game spends an excessive amount of time developing the plot. You’ll spend a lot of time just waiting around for the action to start happening. From there, you get to explore the world and are exposed to an insane amount of battles. You literally go from one battle to the next, once the actual battle sequences happen, making the entire battle part of the game frustrating as you try to keep up with the action.

This makes the pace of the game very erratic. You go from slow, barely moving, to frenetic battles, back to slow, plodding plot unfolding and storytelling and then insane battles again. Really, by the time you get to battles at all, you will most likely be too bored to want to continue. Within the battles, you’ll also be able to make a series of tactical moves based on the skills of the players you have in your party and the location/movements of your enemy.

You can play up to eight different characters. Up to three of these eight characters can be in your party. Most of the characters have their own distinct skill and/or weapon style. You will want to keep your party balanced with a wide variety of skills. There is also one character that has no specific skills. You can customize this character as you see fit. Characters travel across a large number of locations. Travel occurs by foot or using one of the many vehicles located throughout the world.

During battles, you’ll have a variety of options. You can roam around the field. Battles are done in turns. Your team takes turns inflicting damage with attacks (spells, skills and physical infliction of damage), using items, and combining moves with other party members to inflict more damage. As mentioned, you will battle over and over, barely able to move from one battlefield to the next before you’re in another. What is even worse, is you’ll need to have characters who can use magic, because physical attacks just won’t cut it. Considering your main character can’t use magic, this just plain sucks. In the end, the excessive amount of battles and long periods of “supposition” between battles both become way to repetitious to be truly enjoyable.

Features

-Multiple puzzle-based dungeons to explore and conquer
-Wide variety of locations to explore/play
-Series of side quests
-Travel by foot or by vehicle
-Up to eight different playable characters
-2D Retro Look
-Select save locations and quick save option
-Multiple endings depending on how you complete your quests
-Tactical gameplay options involved in combat
-Up to seven different endings
-Battles are random and excessive
-Battles occur in turns with the player and enemy selecting between spells, skills, items, and physical attacks
-Combined attacks increase damage to enemies
-Earn gold to upgrade weapons and stats
-Offers a few, interesting Boss battles

Replayability: 2.5 out of 5 stars

While the controls for “Black Sigil: Blade of the Exiled” aren’t that hard, getting to where you can actually do something is confusing. I figure most casual gamers will give up during the first, very long “explanatory” plot section. From there, you are supposed to explore the world, but since the directions aren’t exactly clear and you really want to get started in the battles (thinking that’s the next logical step, right?), the entire beginning sequence is very confusing.

Reading the manual that accompanies the game doesn’t help much. It tells you the basic button set up, which isn’t hard, but it doesn’t really explain you won’t be getting into playing for a while. I threw the manual in frustration. I also had trouble getting it to save initially. At first, there are save points, but there is also a quick save option, that didn’t work for me right away. I tried pressing every button on the DS to get it to save, and also tried to browse the manual, but it didn’t give me any help until I got to a save point, on my own.

The most important screen is going to be the battle menu system. This is pretty easy to use. You can press through the menu using the D-pad. It will allow you to pick between items, physical attacks, skills and magic spells. You can also accomplish flipping through this screen with the stylus. I tended to prefer using the stylus, but I can see where the D-pad comes in handy.

Other than that, I used the touch screen/stylus to play the game. I recommend this, as it is the easiest way to play, in my opinion.

Ease of Use: 4 out of 5 stars

It makes sense that I felt like “Black Sigil: Blade of the Exiled” was something that should have been on the Gameboy Advance system. Studio Archcraft, the studio behind the development of “Black Sigil: Blade of the Exiled” originally designed the game with the Gameboy Advance in mind. With the game nearly completed, the decision was made to switch it to the emerging Nintendo DS system since Gameboy Advance sales were pretty much stalled.

This is the biggest mistake “Black Sigil: Blade of the Exiled” makes, because the 2D world stands out painfully on the high tech, Nintendo DS system. Every pixelated frame is overemphasized in this 2D design and it gives the game a less than appealing, overly retro yet substandard feel. For a newer title, you’d expect the smooth, 3D or beyond style of graphic development. I believe the 2D limits the appeal of “Black Sigil: Blade of the Exiled,” shying away casual gamers who don’t understand its retro appeal.

Despite looking old, the world is rather colorful, each environment is unique, so you don’t look like you are playing in a new location with the same design. If you like the 2D style of gaming, this game is one of the better designs. Still, for a DS game, it isn’t quite up to snuff.

Visual: 2 out of 5 stars

The music for “Black Sigil: Blade of the Exiled” is catchy. It sounds like the majority of other roleplay games. It’s what you’d expect for this type of game. For a RPG style game, I wasn’t as annoyed with this game’s music as I thought I would be. Don’t expect booming effects or great speaker control, because the DS is limited in what it can offer sound wise. With that in mind, the audio section is where “Black Sigil: Blade of the Exiled” succeeds the most.

Audio: 4.5 out of 5 stars

While “Black Sigil: Blade of the Exiled” tries to be so much more than it is, the game fails in so many ways I find it hard to recommend it to any audience. The hardcore gamers will find this game too boring to partake in extended game play. The casual gamers will be too intimidated by how long it takes to get into battle, how many battles there actually are once things get started, and the overall, messy pace of the game. While “Black Sigil: Blade of the Exiled” tries to be retro and appeal to fans of the Gameboy Advance on a DS system, it just isn’t up to par with other games in the RPG format, that came before it and obviously inspired it’s design.

Overall Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: Black Sigil, Blade of the Exiled, Graffiti Entertainment, Nintendo DS, Video Game, Video Game Review

This was the highlight of the Nintendo E3 Conference, for me. As much as I love Mario, Golden Sun holds a special place in my heart. Having defeated both the original “Golden Sun” and “Golden Sun 2″ numerous times, the fact that the music, the look, and the feel of “Golden Sun DS” mimics these original titles makes me giddy. If I can’t have Zelda, at least I can have “Golden Sun.”

Are there any other “Golden Sun” fans out there who can’t wait for this release, besides me? Let me know your thoughts on this one.

Technorati Tags: Golden Sun DS, Video Game, E3, Debut Trailer, Nintendo, Nintendo DS, Premiere, Franchise

It’s admirable that Nintendo is trying to appeal to a wide variety of gamers, especially those who do not regularly play games. However, for those who are hardcore, long term Nintendo fans, we want to see those series we’ve been playing since we were kids.

Those of us who played NES and SNES (even gGmeboy) were thrilled by the announcement of not one, not two, but four different titles featuring Mario. There is the “New Super Mario Bros” for Wii, “Super Mario Galaxy 2″ for Wii (it won’t be released until 2010), “Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story” for Nintendo DS and the new Mario and Donkey Kong title that will allow for user created levels. With no Mario last year, this is a vast improvement over Nintendo E3 08.

But…

Nintendo fans want more. We’ve been waiting for Legend of Zelda. We’ve been waiting for Legend of Zelda for Wii, specifically. Instead, we’ve received a brushed over mention of the new Legend of Zelda game for the Nintendo DS. “Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks.” It was barely even mentioned though. What’s up with that Nintendo?

I feel let down by the Nintendo conference. I feel like Nintendo has turned its back on its longtime gamers to give more casual gaming experiences. They want more numbers and more money by trying to get those who wouldn’t usually game to buy crappy, substandard titles real gamers do not take seriously.

I’m not sure how long I can hold on without another Zelda title. Sadly, I don’t think Mario is enough to save Nintendo. At least not from the loss of those gamers who have stuck with the company since the days of the NES.

So, longtime Nintendo lovers – what do you think? Are you with me?

Technorati Tags: Nintendo, NES, Legend of Zelda, Mario, Super Mario Bros, Hardcore Gamers, E3

The word tween is not a favorite around these parts. It brings up thoughts of Hannah Montana, the Jonas Brothers, and things like the Bratz dolls. It makes me want to shoot the soccer mom that coined the phrase. Still, it’s here to stay and with it comes a million games that won’t be for the average gaming crowd.

Ubisoft announced a number of games to span the generations in any family. Many of the games were for the tween crowd. While some offered, dare I say it, some appeal (the Petz hamster was adorable), others like Style Lab, leave me with the impression of Bratz without the ho-appeal.

Style Lab has a few titles that will be released that are perfect for the tween in your household. The question is…will you be hooking them up?

From Ubisoft:

Today Ubisoft revealed Style Lab(TM), a new video game brand created specifically for the tween girl market in North America. Building upon Ubisoft’s leadership on the Nintendo DS(TM) system, the Style Lab games were developed specifically to take advantage of Nintendo DSi(TM)’s camera and web functionalities. Each Style Lab game will be focused on how tweens can virtually create their own style – from designing jewelry to exploring new hairstyles, looks and more.

With the new Style Lab line, Ubisoft, the no. 1 third-party publisher for Nintendo DS, including the popular tween brand Imagine® and the best-selling Petz® games, offers 8- to 12-year-old girls a full range of games that allow them to discover their own personal styles while having fun.

“Ubisoft’s goal is to continue to raise the bar in the tween games market and create the best games in the genre,” comments Tony Key, senior vice president of sales and marketing in the U.S. at Ubisoft. “We believe that Style Lab is a natural evolution for tween games by offering players an opportunity to experiment with their own personal style, and using the latest technology available to us, extend the experience online and beyond.”

The first two titles to be released under the Style Lab umbrella. Style Lab Makeover and Style Lab Jewelry Designer will take full advantage of the newest technology available on Nintendo DSi. This is includes the camera and game-to-web functionality, which allows players to extend their game experiences online and beyond. In Makeover, players use the DSi camera to take photos of themselves or their friends, and then use their own on-screen images to experiment with new hair and makeup styles. Jewelry Designer lets tweens experiment by virtually designing their own jewelry. Players can even upload their finished jewelry designs online and purchase actual products that were designed in the game.

Technorati Tags: Tween, Girls, Games, Ubisoft, Nintendo DSi, Style Lab, Hannah Montana, Jonas Brothers, Bratz, E3

Check out screenshots for Super Robot Taisen OG Saga: Endless Frontier, which is coming out on the Nintendo DS. This interesting looking game releases on April 28.

Technorati Tags: Super Robot Taisen OG Saga: Endless Frontier, Nintendo DS, Game, Gaming, Video Game, RPG, April 28, Future Game Release

Thanks to the protection of the great Dokapon Orb, the Kingdom of Dokapon was at peace and safe from monsters. Everyone in Dokapon prospered financially, from the King himself… all the way down the food chain to the lowly farmers and janitors. For you see, if there’s one thing the natives of Dokapon are obsessed with, it’s their wallets.

But one day, a dark shadow descended over the kingdom! Monsters moved in and seized the towns! Did something happen to the Dokapon Orb!? The citizens were powerless to repel them, and in no time at all, the economy of Dokapon began to plummet.

Desperate to get rid of the new menace, the King has called for heroes from abroad to save the kingdom! He has offered his throne and the hand of his daughter, Princess Penny, to whoever can save the kingdom! But are you worthy to rule? Dokapon needs a leader who is not only strong but who also knows how to make tremendous amounts of cash! Please, help return peace and prosperity to Dokapon once again….

Learn more at the Dokapon Journey Website.

Technorati Tags: Screenshots, Nintendo DS, Handheld Gaming, Video Game, Soon to Be Released, Dokapon Journey

Enroll in Magic Academy, Build Friendships, Cast Spells and Embark On Adventure In This Brand-New Title That Is Fun For All Ages
Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. today revealed new game details and screenshots from the upcoming real-time adventure title Magician’s Quest Mysterious Times for Nintendo DS™. Magician’s Quest Mysterious Times is a unique combination of an adventure game and simulation RPG. Players are tasked with attending classes at Magic Academy while learning the mysteries of magic and the art of casting spells while building relationships with other students. As players attend classes, they’ll be immersed in a living, breathing world where time progresses as it does in the real world, and each week, player’s skills are put to the test in a new magical adventure. Using their spell casting abilities and unique interactions with other characters and their surroundings, players are confronted with puzzles and adventures that will challenge their skill.

Magician’s Quest Mysterious Times contains over 50 mysterious events and introduces a variety of unique characters. Additionally, the town in Magician’s Quest Mysterious Times is packed with all sorts of crazy characters and different locations to make purchases. While the majority of the people in town are students, each with their own personality, there are a number of others who live and work in town. Here’s a guide to just a few of those people, what they do and where you can spend your hard earned Ritch, the currency gained within the game.

The Town and its People

Reginald: Reginald is responsible for everything that happens in Magic Academy’s dormitories, where your character lives. He’ll provide advice to you on all sorts of things from the layout of the dorm to the schools set-up and where you need to be at certain times. Be careful however, if you turn off your game and forget to save your progress Reginald will be the one who hassles you about it making you do chores to make up for it!

Mon Paris: Magician’s Quest Mysterious Times is all about customization, this means you too! If you are tired of the same old look you begin the game with head over to Mon Paris and visit Roley, stylist to the stars. Here you’ll be presented with a variety of styles to choose from. If you like one, for a small fee, you’ll be magically transformed.

Mr. Oakley: Mr. Oakley will be the very first teacher you meet. He teaches staff magic classes which teach you how to perform various magic spells. Every time you attend one of his classes he’ll teach you a new spell and stamp your attendance sheet. Be sure to attend classes, your attendance record counts!

Vivian’s Boutique: School uniforms, not required! At Vivian’s you can find all sorts of clothes and accessories to wow your friends. Items range from sensible shirts, glasses and pants to the out of the ordinary. When was the last time you went to school wearing a motorcycle helmet or Indian headdress on?

Thom: Thom is the man to see if you have a letter or note you want to send to someone else in town. He’s the cool cat that works in your towns Post Office and allows you to send telegrams to your classmates or friends visiting town.

The Emporium: Some incantations require certain hard to find ingredients. Things like Freaky frog Fat and Eye of Newt as examples. Not only is the Emporium the place to find these ingredients but you can also earn Ritch by finding ingredients scattered around town for Malia the shopkeeper.

Principle Sol: As you might have guessed, Principle Sol is the headmaster of Magic Academy. In addition to managing day-to-day events at the school, he also teaches all of the introductory classes that’ll teach you the basic skills you need to be successful in school. He may be an old man but he’s full of wisdom.

Harrows: Easily the largest store in town with two floors of goods. One area offers an abundant supply of furniture, another area offers wallpaper and carpet while the third offers musical instruments and CD’s. Not to mention, Harrows is your one stop shop for flying brooms and broom upgrades. But make sure you arrive with plenty on Ritch on hand, souped-up brooms are pricy but well worth it. Travel in style!

George: George the goat works at the local bank. Since buying all the accessories in the game cost money George is the man who’ll manage it for you. Ask him to deposit or withdraw money from your account or even utilize his safe deposit box for items you’ll need to store for use of later on.

Marcy: When life gets you down, she’s the one to see. Marcy manages the Lime Light, a local hang out and juice bar. She’ll be more than happy to pour you a tall glass of the daily special or offer you advice on any situation you present her with.

Magician’s Quest Mysterious Times for Nintendo DS™ will be released in May 2009 on Nintendo DS™.

Technorati Tags: Screenshots, Nintendo DS, Konami, Magician’s Quest Mysterious Times, Press Release

Ever since I was a kid, playing my original NES, I can recall how popular video games were at the holidays. My brother and I received our NES from Santa, in 1987 or 1988. Since then, I have received video games nearly every year. In the beginning, we received them for our NES, then my Nintendo Gameboy. We moved on to the SNES, the Nintendo 64, the Sega (well I had to play that at my cousin’s house), the Gameboy Advance, the Gamecube, PS2, Nintendo DS, PS3, Xbox 360, and Nintendo Wii. As game systems have evolved, so have I. I’ve owned all the Nintendo systems and am catching up with the PS3 and Xbox 360.

With the 2008 holiday season in full swing, the excitement of what to buy your loved ones may lead you to video game websites. I’m not joking when I say 2008 had some great video game releases. So, here’s my list of the top 25 Video Games you have to buy this holiday, and I’ve made sure to list them in order from great to totally awesome (MUST BUY). Truth be told, all of these games are well worth the purchase, so make sure to consider this list when doing your shopping for your favorite video game enthusiast.

25. Rune Factory 2: A Fantasy Harvest Moon – I’ve been a fan of Natsume and the Harvest Moon games for years. While Rune Factory 2 isn’t truly a Harvest Moon title, it’s close enough in its farm oriented play that it will keep Harvest Moon lovers more than satisfied!

In Rune Factory 2, you actually have the chance to play as two different generations in one family. This is unique to this game and allows for additional, extended game play. Unlike the other Harvest Moon titles, and similar to the original Rune Factory, this game has a much darker overtone. Still, it’s the farming that makes this game and really, who doesn’t like to farm?!

You can pick up a copy of Rune Factory 2 at Amazon for around $40.

24. Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe – The first time I heard about this was around the time of E3 2008. The excitement about this title sort of fizzled off again until its release last month and now it’s made this Top 25 list. While the game doesn’t really follow along with either of the game series’, fans of Mortal Kombat or DC Universe (or both) can really get into this one.

As you might have guessed, in this game, the two worlds have merged. The merger has caused a shift in powers and abilities for many of your favorite characters making gameplay much more interesting and unpredictable.

With the two worlds blaming one another for the merging, they must battle in Mortal Kombat until one world is defeated. This is exactly what you’d expect of a title called Mortal Kombat vs. D.C. Universe.

Mortal Kombat vs. D.C. Universe is available for the Xbox 360 and the Playstation 3, You can pick this title up in a Collector’s Edition at Amazon for $64.99.

23. Rock Band 2 – I had the chance to review Rock Band 2 for the Xbox 360 earlier this fall. The game was released by MTV Games in September. The game is also available for the Playstation 3 and the Wii. This game is pure fun and is something the entire family can enjoy. With the new Battle of the Bands mode, amongst other, updated features, your entire family will be rocking in no time, when you upgrade to Rock Band 2.

With compatibility to all of the past content you’ve downloaded, and a massively large, much cooler list of music available, with constant content being added on a consistent basis to the Rock Band 2 library, there is a little something for every Rock Band fan in the bunch. In fact, this is the arena Guns n Roses chose to release the first single from their latest album, and as you might recall, it’s been a number a years since GnR have released anything!

You can pick up your very own copy of Rock Band 2 at Amazon for any of the platforms you use. The game is also available in a bundle with the new Rock Band 2 instruments. The price for this title is $57.

22. Shaun White Snowboarding – Depending on what platform you choose to play Shaun White Snowboarding, you may actually be standing up on your very own snowboarding board. This is great for more active families, but for me (I’m in a wheelchair – I can’t stand up, so snowboarding is unfortunately out) and those who are less active, the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of this game will be more than enough to give you thrills and chills on and off the slopes.

Made with the help and guidance of Shaun White himself, you can play this game with your older kids (it’s rated T for teens, so it won’t be good for the little ones) and the experience is so similar to the experience on the slopes (especially in the Wii version – so I’ve been told) you’ll practically feel the cold air and snow all around you. This is definitely the most lifelike video game I’ve seen for a snowboarding game. I don’t even like snowboarding but I’m totally into Shaun White Snowboarding!

If you’d like to purchase this game for the Wii or for one of the other game systems, pick it up at Amazon for $54.99.

21. Need for Speed: Undercover – I guess 12th times the charm, because the 12th Need for Speed title, Need for Speed: Undercover, is by far one of my favorites in the series. The entire idea of an open road experience, with over 80 miles of uncharted territory is exactly the kind of addition I like to this game. If you like race games, it doesn’t get much better than this. The extensive system of highways and race routes have made this the biggest open track system to date. EA really went out of their way with this title and it shows!

Need for Speed: Undercover is available on a wide variety of game systems including Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS, Nintendo Wii, PSP, PC, and a wide variety of mobile devices (Including the iPhone). The game is at its best, graphically on the PS3 and Xbox 360, as is to be expected.

You can purchase Need for Speed: Undercover for $56.99 on Amazon.

Check out More Games on our Countdown on Page Two

Spike TV’s Video Game Awards 2008 premiere on Sunday, December 14 (9:00- 11:00 PM, ET/ tape delay west coast), broadcasting LIVE from Sony Picture Studios in Culver City, CA. The nominees for the first 12 categories are listed below.

You can check out the first 12 categories in our other post about the Video Game Awards.

Best Wii Game
Super Smash Bros. Brawl Publisher: Nintendo Studio: Nintendo
No More Heroes Publisher: Ubisoft Studio: Grasshopper Manufacture
Wii Fit Publisher: Nintendo Studio: Nintendo
Boom Blox Publisher: Electronic Arts Studio: EA Casual Studios

Best Xbox 360 Game
Fallout 3 Publisher: Bethesda Softworks Studio: Bethesda Game Studios
Grand Theft Auto IV Publisher: Rockstar Games Studio: Rockstar North
Gears of War 2 Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios Studio: Epic Games
Fable II Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios Studio: Lionhead

Best Soundtrack
Guitar Hero World Tour Publisher: RedOctane / Activision Publishing Studio: Neversoft Entertainment
Rock Band 2 Publisher: MTV Games Studio: Harmonix
Grand Theft Auto IV Publisher: Rockstar Games Studio: Rockstar North
LittleBigPlanet Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment Studio: Media Molecule

Best Action Adventure Game
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Publisher: Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc Studio: Kojima Productions
Mirror’s Edge Publisher: Electronic Arts Studio: DICE Sweden
Grand Theft Auto IV Publisher: Rockstar Games Studio: Rockstar North
Dead Space Publisher: Electronic Arts Studio: EA Redwood Shores

Best Driving Game
Mario Kart Wii Publisher: Nintendo Studio: Nintendo
Midnight Club: Los Angeles Publisher: Rockstar Games Studio: Rockstar San Diego
PURE Publisher: Disney Interactive Studios Studio: Black Rock Studio
Burnout Paradise Publisher: Electronic Arts Studio: Criterion Games

Best Music Game
SingStar Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment Studio: SCE Studios London
Wii Music Publisher: Nintendo Studio: Nintendo
Guitar Hero World Tour Publisher: RedOctane / Activision Publishing Studio: Neversoft Entertainment
Rock Band 2 Publisher: MTV Games Studio: Harmonix

Best Game Based On A Movie Or Tv Show
Naruto: The Broken Bond Publisher: Ubisoft Studio: Ubisoft Montreal
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Publisher: LucasArts Studio: LucasArts
Quantum of Solace Publisher: Activision Publishing Studio: Treyarch
LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures Publisher: LucasArts Studio: Traveler’s Tales Games

Best Graphics
LittleBigPlanet Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment Studio: Media Molecule
Gears of War 2 Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios Studio: Epic Games
Fallout 3 Publisher: Bethesda Softworks Studio: Bethesda Game Studios
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Publisher: Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc Studio: Kojima Productions

Best Handheld Game
Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia Publisher: Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc Studio: Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd
Patapon Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment Studio: Pyramid
Professor Layton and the Curious Village Publisher: Nintendo Studio: Level-5
God of War: Chains of Olympus Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment Studio: Ready at Dawn Studios

Best Individual Sports Game
Skate It Publisher: Electronic Arts Studio: EA Montreal / Black Box
Wii Fit Publisher: Nintendo Studio: Nintendo
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09 Publisher: Electronic Arts Studio: EA Tiburon
Shaun White Snowboarding Publisher: Ubisoft Studio: Ubisoft Montreal

Best Fighting Game
Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit Publisher: Atari Studio: Dimps
Super Smash Bros. Brawl Publisher: Nintendo Studio: Nintendo
Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe Publisher: Midway Games Studio: Midway Games
Soul Calibur IV Publisher: NAMCO BANDAI Games Studio: Project Soul

Best RPG
Fallout 3 Publisher: Bethesda Softworks Studio: Bethesda Game Studios
The World Ends with You Publisher: Square Enix, Inc Studio: Square Enix Co., Ltd./Jupiter
Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning Publisher: Electronic Arts Studio: Mythic Entertainment
Fable II Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios Studio: Lionhead

Best Shooter
Gears of War 2 Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios Studio: Epic Games
Left 4 Dead Publisher: VALVE Studio: VALVE
Resistance 2 Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment Studio: Insomniac Games
Far Cry 2 Publisher: Ubisoft Studio: Ubisoft Montreal

Most Anticipated Game: Go to Spike TV to vote for your favorite!

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