Gamertell

It seems like all of our favorite print puzzles are gradually finding new live in a virtual environment. Remember those “spot the difference” games, where you would be presented with two images, and you’d have to point out where the two differ? Well, now Mark and Mandi’s Love Story offers a new look at those titles, and its up at both Pogo in the form of a free demo and $19.95 full version.

The player is Cupid in Mark and Mandi’s Love Story, and his goal is to help get Mark and Mandy together, and eventually married. This is done by going through four chapters, where in each one you have to solve “spot the difference” puzzles at 40 different areas, and occasionally a mini-game matching, puzzle or “spot the similarity” challenge…

MORE »

Following recent speculation that Nintendo is currently working on a high definition Wii for release “by 2009,” Wedbush Morgan Securities analyst Michael Pachter has expressed his support for the idea, revealing that he is “absolutely convinced” a “Wii HD” is in the works.

Pachter explained in a recent AFP news article article that he believes it is essential for Nintendo to overcome the Wii’s lacking hardware if the company truly wishes to fulfil its promise of a console for everybody, including core gamers — many of whom have been disappointed with the company’s…

MORE »

The computer is no longer safe. Just when your mouse-hand has finally recovered from the claw shaped arch again and your pointer finger has stopped that annoying twitching, PopCap starts the cycle of addiction all over again with Peggle Nights, a new incarnation of Peggle. Peggle Nights was just released, and it comes with 60 new adventure levels, 60 new challenges, new modes, a new character and a trophy room…

MORE »

Vivity Labs’ Fit Brains games will soon be appearing in Lifetime’s myLifetime.com game section. Lifetime’s official site features casual games that mature women would enjoy. Since games which help train the brain only seem to gain popularity, Lifetime wants to bring them to its loyal visitors. So far the Fit Brains titles that will be joining Flash Dating, Sally’s Spa, Movie Mah-Jong and Lifetime Movie Mash-up have not been announced.

The Fit Brains games from Vivity Labs are designed to improve players’ concentration, language skills, logic and reasoning skills, memory and visual-spacial skills. If you continue to regularly play, it will supposedly make a difference. The Fit Brains games also track users performance so people can see if it really is working.

MORE »

It’s difficult for the parents of a child diagnosed with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) to find ways to control their child’s disorder and help him or her live a normal childhood.

PopCap Games recently contracted Information Solutions Group to conduct a unique survey in April 2008 in which 2,728 respondents (of the 13,296 casual gamers surveyed) indicated they or someone they are caring for has a disability…

MORE »

Midway Games is offering a remedy for anyone who has a hankering to play classic titles. Instead of going through the hassle of trying to track down games, most can now be found on Midway’s two new digital distribution stores. These stores will house titles that were released in the Arcade as well as PC games and even Midways collection of touchscreen projects.

Midway Arcade is the site to go to in order to get your retro fix..

MORE »

Majesco has already proven itself as a formidable casual game contender when it comes to console and handheld games, but now it is looking to make its mark on online PC games. The company’s first online casual game, an orchard running and pie making simulation called Orchard, has been officially announced and dated for a Q4, 2008 release.

In Orchard you raise and maintain an orchard filled with apples, blueberries, cherries, grapes, strawberries and more. Then, when it is time to harvest, you combine the different fruits to make pies, which you then enter in various contests for prizes and glory. Fans of Lemonade Tycoon may find a new favorite with Orchard.

MORE »

In effort to improve sales in Japan, Microsoft has announced its plans to release the Xbox 360 Arcade SKU in the Japanese market on March 6, 2008, for 27,800 yen (approximately US$260).

While this special kit is the same price of the current 360 Core System, the arcade bundle will include the HDMI-equipped 360 console, a 256 MB memory unit, a wireless controller and a special Xbox Live Arcade Omniverse Disc. The Arcade disc includes 3,600 Microsoft Points (about 5,400 yen) worth of arcade games:  Feeding Frenzy, Pac-man Championship Edition, Luxor 2, Uno and Boom-Boom Rocket.

Microsoft is certainly hoping this bundle will entice more Japanese gamers to the American console. In 2007 the Xbox 360 managed to overtake Sony’s PS3 in overall sales with the help of Ace Combat 6. However, that lead was short lived as Sony bounced back, outselling the 360 in the following weeks. By including the the Arcade kit that lead could once again change.

Read [IGN] Also Read [Kotaku]

• Street Fighter IV not coming to US arcades
• How to get your Mac to talk to your PS3
• Point out Mark and Mandi’s differences to make them fall in love

Microsoft has announced the very first Xbox Live Arcade Awards to felicitate the developers who have created the 112 downloadable games for the service. Fans can now cast their vote to decide the winners in several important categories. The final nominees for each award were shortlisted by a panel of elite consumer and game journalists.

The voting is already underway and will close on Wednesday (January 30, 2008) at 11:59 p.m. PST. Not all categories are open for voting, though. You can cast your votes for…

MORE »

Rock Band and Guitar Hero, arguably two of the leading music game franchises, are captivating a wide array of people, some of them non-gamers who are usually scared of the intricate controls of most of the modern video game systems.

A story in the Independent Tribune points out the mass appeal of music video games, and narrates the deep impact these games have had on the life of Nick Eley, a 23-year-old Concord, NC, resident.

Eley ritualistically plays Guitar Hero and Rock Band every night for two to five hours despite his crammed schedule that sees him work two jobs – at a restaurant and a game store. He is a maestro when it comes to playing the guitar in these games having perfected 70 out of 80 songs in Guitar Hero III, though he still doesn’t know how to play a real guitar.

Due to his job at the Game Crazy video game store in Concord he has been witness to the sudden rise in the popularity of music games, and believes that innovative music games and the Nintendo Wii are attracting a lot of non-gamers. He even told the Independent Tribune about a growing trend of karaoke nights being replaced by music games. He even credits these casual music games for an improved relationship with his sister.

Music games certainly have attracted a lot of non-gamers with their uncomplicated control schemes. Also let’s not forget that music has a ubiquitous appeal and there is no dearth of people with a desire of becoming a rock star.

Read [Independent Tribune]

• Halo Trilogy 5-disc soundtrack set to be released tomorrow
• Slacker 2GB WiFi player just $49 today only
• MP3 becomes official king of music