Gamertell

It’s been something of a slow week in the casual game world. For example, most of the Big Fish Games and PlayFirst updates this week were titles that were either members only previously or already launched earlier on other sites. (Enlightenus, Wedding Dash: Ready, Aim Love, Holly 2: Magic Land, Pahelika: Secret Legends, Spiderz, etc…) Very few new casual games debuted.

Of course this helps us appreciate the weeks where tons of games are released. Besides, it isn’t like this week has been terribly barren. Lost Fortunes, Posh Boutique 2, Jane’s Zoo and Mystic Diary: Lost Brother all made their debut.

This week’s best bet is: Lost Fortunes (PC)...

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When you look back on a one of your favorite games from the past, fondness and memories are bound to make it seem better than it really was. Thankfully, that’s only partially true for Angel Collection a Japanese Game Boy Advance game for girls that was one of the first import games I ever played. I borrowed the game from a friend again to do a retro-review and see if it is as good as I remembered.

While it isn’t a video game masterpiece, I was delighted to find that it still was a geniunely sweet and enjoyable game, perfect for those just beginning to learn the language. A bit girly, with a story/premise that seems more ridiculous as you age, but still a delightful adventure…

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Video game loving Anime Expo 2009 attendees will be able to satisfy their addiction by stopping by Atlus’ booth on the show floor. It’s #1001 if you’re there and interested. The company will be there every day of the convention, so you can stop by anytime between July 2-5, 2009. To see Demon’s Souls (PS3), Trauma Team (Wii), Shin Megami Tensei: Persona (PSP), Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor (DS), Neo Steam: The Shattered Continent (PC) and some other Atlus games.

There will also be free swag and playable demos throughout the convention. The most notable giveaway is a danvas print of Demon’s Souls art. It will be autographed by Takeshi Kajii, the producer of Demon’s Souls. Even better, Kajii will present the framed picture to the winner.

That’s because Takeshi Kajii is going to be at Anime Expo 2009. Atlus is holding a special Demon’s Souls: The Full Story panel on July 4, 2009 at 4pm PST…

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Fans have a love-hate relationship with movie adaptations of popular video games. For every successful transition, for example Silent Hill, there’s an In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale or Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li. Chances are, the movie isn’t going to live up to the game.

There’s a pattern though, found among the more successful video game movie adaptations. Look at the Resident Evil, Tomb Raider or Silent Hill movies. What do all three of these movies have in common? Not female protagonists, though that is a common tie. All three movies or movie series don’t strictly follow the game. Instead, they follow the spirit of the games.

Silent Hill is loosely adapted from the original Silent Hill movie, throwing in an occasional element from Silent Hill II as well. Tomb Raider possesses the same character and premise, but doesn’t try to exactly mimick any specific Tomb Raider games. The Resident Evil series of movies contains scenarios and characters from the games…

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Yet another contestant for “Movies Games that Shouldn’t Happen” has stepped into the ring thanks to 505 Games and Paramount Digital Entertainment. The two companies have joined together to bring the world Grease the video game. A release date has yet to be announced, but the companies have confirmed that the game will be appearing on the DS and Wii. I guess the companies saw the success of High School Musical and decided the original high school musical deserved games too.

Grease the game is, unsurprisingly, a music and rhythm game. The Wii version will utilize the microphone and remote to allow players to sing and dance along with the cast of Grease in the famous musical numbers. The DS game will likely focus on the dancing aspect, since the press release mentions it will focus on touch screen controls.

No matter how much I think about this, I still can’t convince myself that it isn’t desecrating one of my childhood memories…

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Thinking about purchasing The Sims 3? Good for you. Thinking about purchasing it used? Think again.

Thanks to certain procedures set in place by EA regarding the game, you must register your copy in order to gain access to The Sims 3 community website and store. If you’ve purchased a used game and someone already registered it, prepare to jump through hoops in hope of attaining access.

I’ve experienced firsthand the ordeal bargain hunters who shop used will have to go through, and chronicled my experience in an attempt to assist other users. With the used game business being so prevalent, I’m sure I’m not the only person who’ll encounter a twisting and turning adventure with a used copy of The Sims 3.

My adventures began shortly after I purchased The Sims 3 at a Goodwill Store in Illinois for $9.99…

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Steambot Chronicles: Battle Tournament takes place in Orion City and the area surrounding it. The player is a new resident, a Trotmobile driver drawn to the area by the allure of tournaments, fame and fortune.

When he (or she!) first arrives in Orion City, the player befriends a mechanic and learns the basics about upgrading a Trotmobile, taking missions to earn money and fame and entering tournaments to become more established. After spending about ten or fifteen minutes doing that, it’s all in the players’ hands. While Steambot Chronicles: Battle Tournament is about earning the right to participate in battle tournaments, it’s also about doing whatever makes you happy…

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A new video game control device has been devised to aid parents and guardians who don’t have the time or energy to remain vigilant when it comes to the time their children spend with games. John Morrissey has developed the GameDr, a specially formulated game timer.

The GameDr is exceedingly simple to use. Users plug the console into the GameDr, plug the GameDr into the wall, set the timer, set the password and it’s installed. When the time alloted for the day is drawing close, the GameDr alerts the gamers, so there is ample time to save a game.

Digital Innovations just began distributing the product in June, 2009 for $29.99…

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It’s a good week for people who happen to be Big Fish Games and PlayFirst members. Whether you’re a PC or Mac owner, if you love Breakout and Alleyway style games it’s a good time to invest in a PlayFirst PlayPass. Two action games in this vein, Pirate’s Treasure and Enchanted Forest were debuted on that site this week, and both are for Macs and PCs. As for Big Fish Games members, they will all get exclusive access to a brand new, hidden object game, Youda Legend: The Curse of the Amsterdam Diamond.

It’s also been quite a busy week for hidden object games. The Mac and PC game Rangy Lil’s Wild West Adventure, for example, has been popping up all over the internet. Not to mention a Mac version of Mystery Case Files: Return to Ravenhearst also made its debut.

This week’s best bets are: Avalon for PC and Rangy Lil’s Wild West Adventure for PCs and Macs…

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The Dreamcast is an example of a console that its fans refused to let die. When Sega discontinued it outside of Japan, people purchased Boot Disks that would let them play import video games and imported. When licensed games stopped coming, people started creating and selling their own independent games. One look at the console’s history, and it’s easy to see that it has been loved.

This week, Important Importables salutes the Dreamcast. We’ll quickly go over some basic facts about the system, talk about running import games and hunt down retailers which still carry licensed or independent games…

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