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Think of the Children for October 1

Think of the Children for October 1

Written by Dan Keener on 10/1/2008 for DS   PC   PS2   PS3   PSP   Wii   360  
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We are back after taking off a couple weeks to celebrate 10 years with the missus down in the Smokey Mountains in Tennessee. By the looks of things, the relative strength of rated titles has continued, with an average of over 50 rated per week (152 total) since our last article. Included within the lists are more of the highly-anticipated titles, but it was hard to find them while wading through all the DS and Wii games that dominated the last few weeks. There was also real strong showing for the Sony PSP, which has been making gains in Japan, yet has struggled with third-party game availability. The PS3 and 360 also had a strong three-week period, with several high profile titles on the list. My intriguing title of the week is also one of the most anticipated (at least in my opinion), so check it out below….

There were several articles that ran in the last few weeks about the PSP and its lack of third party support. While this is true (UMD = worst format…ever) the last three weeks has seen the PSP have 12 titles rated, with most coming from the third-parties. In fact, SCEA only published two of the 12 (Buzz! Master Quiz and Street Fighter Alpha 3) while the other titles were published by Square Enix, Yukes, Gameloft, EA, Konami, Activision-Blizzard, D3 and Warner Brothers. Granted, many of the games are movie tie-ins or specially developed “ports”, but this is the most rated titles for the PSP we have seen in some time.

Because there are three weeks and a combined 138 titles that were rated for the Wii, DS and PC, I wont even go into detail about how much junk came sown the pipeline. There are some good games in there, but it is difficult to sift through and find them. Feel free to look through the chart below to see if your favorite title is included. Otherwise, I will get back to the analysis next week.

The 360 and PS3 have been showing steady improvement as games are getting cranked out by the ESRB on a regular basis. The last three weeks has seen a lot of the titles announced at E3 and over the summer getting prepped for the fall and Holiday selling seasons. On the lists from the last three weeks are games such as LEGO Batman: The Videogame, Tom Clancy's EndWar, Far Cry 2, Ghostbusters, SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALs: Confrontation, Dance Dance Revolution Universe 3, Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts, Portal: Still Alive, Scene It? Box Office Smash! and Midnight Club Los Angeles. That is a pretty impressive group that contains quite a few must-haves titles. Some other titles dropped for both consoles as well, including Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness, Episode 2, 3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures 2, Walt Disney Pictures Bolt, FIFA Soccer 09, and Spider-Man: Web of Shadows. It looks like we may be past the days of one or two games getting rated for the 360 or PS3 (at least until next spring.)

The Intriguing Title of the Week is Ghostbusters from Vivendi Games. This is the ultimate “late bloomer” when it comes to movie tie-in games as the Movie was released in June of 1984. Being from that generation, I was immediately attracted to it when I saw the first four “leaked” screens, but I wonder just how the younger generation will handle a game that ties to a 24 year old movie that most have never seen in a theater. Regardless, if the game I good, offers great gameplay and some sort of multiplayer that keeps players attention, it should do well. Otherwise, I fear it will suffer the same results that most movie tie in games do…

Title Publisher Rating Platforms
Castlevania Judgment Konami Digital Entertainment Teen Wii
Family Party: 30 Great Games D3Publisher of America Everyone 10+ Wii
METEOS™ WARS Q Entertainment, Inc. Everyone Xbox 360
Miriel the Magical Merchant RealNetworks Everyone Mac, PC
My Horse and Me 2 Atari Everyone PC, PS 2, Xbox 360, Wii
Need For Speed™ Undercover Electronic Arts Teen PS 2, Wii
Oval Office Digital Brandplay LLC Everyone 10+ PC
Super Jigsaw Safari RealNetworks Everyone Mac, PC
Things on Wheels Southpeak Games Everyone Xbox 360
Tom Clancy's EndWar Ubisoft Teen PC, Xbox 360, PS 3
Totally Spies! Totally Party Valcon Games LLC Everyone PS 2, Wii
Zoo Vet: Endangered Animals Legacy Interactive Everyone 10+ DS
UNO RUSH Microsoft Everyone Xbox 360
Sudoku Challenge! Digital Leisure Inc. Everyone Wii
Sudoku For Dummies Electronic Arts Everyone PC
NPPL: Championship Paintball 2009 Activision Value Everyone 10+ PS 2, Wii
PUZZLE KINGDOMS Zoo Games, Inc. Everyone PC, Wii
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince™ Electronic Arts Everyone 10+ Mac, PC, PS 2, Xbox 360, Wii, PS 3
Hasbro Family Game Night Electronic Arts Everyone PS 2, Wii
Deer Hunter Tournament Atari Teen PC, Xbox 360
Elebits, The Adventures of Kai and Zero Konami Digital Entertainment Everyone DS
Disney Th!nk Fast Disney Interactive Studios Everyone PS 2, Wii
DanceDanceRevolution Universe 3 Konami Digital Entertainment Everyone Xbox 360
Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts Microsoft Everyone 10+ Xbox 360
Homeland Defense: National Security Patrol THQ Inc Teen PC
Mini-Motion: Home Run King Aptus Games Everyone Mac, PC
Mini-Motion: Hoverboard Racing Aptus Games Everyone Mac, PC
Luminous Arc 2 Atlus USA, Inc. Teen DS
Rubik's World The Game Factory Aps Everyone DS, Wii
Rune Factory 2: A Fantasy Harvest Moon Natsume Inc. Everyone DS
Safari Adventures: Africa Conspiracy Everyone DS
Ultimate Band Disney Interactive Studios Everyone 10+ Wii
Wordfish Ubisoft Everyone DS
Walt Disney Pictures Bolt Disney Interactive Studios Everyone 10+ PC, PS 2, Xbox 360, Wii, PS 3
Alien Crush Returns Hudson Entertainment Inc Everyone Wii
Digital Champ: Battle Boxing Hudson Entertainment Inc Everyone 10+ Wii
CHRYSLER CLASSIC RACING Zoo Games, Inc. Everyone DS
Age of Empires: Mythologies THQ Inc Everyone 10+ DS
Blue Dragon Plus Ignition Entertainment Everyone DS
My Baby Boy Southpeak Games Everyone DS
Jillian Michaels' Fitness Ultimatum 2009 Majesco Entertainment Everyone Wii
The Tale of Despereaux Brash Entertainment Everyone 10+ PC, PS 2, Xbox 360, Wii
Paws and Claws Pet Vet: Australian Adventures ValuSoft Inc. Everyone DS
Pet Pals Animal Doctor Legacy Interactive Everyone 10+ Wii
Street Fighter Alpha 3 SCEA Teen PSP, PS 3
Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World Namco Bandai Games America Teen Wii
Solitaire For Dummies Electronic Arts Everyone PC
Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Champions of the Force SOE Everyone 10+ PC
Spider-Man: Web of Shadows - Amazing Allies Edition Activision-Blizzard Everyone 10+ PS 2, PSP
Pet Pals: New Leash on Life Legacy Interactive Everyone Mac, PC
Portal: Still Alive Microsoft Teen Xbox 360
NHL® 09 Electronic Arts Everyone 10+ PC, PS 2
Ultimotion - Playhouse Disney Jakks Pacific Inc. Everyone Plug-and-Play
Turbo Fiesta ValuSoft Inc. Everyone PC
World of Mahjongg Selectsoft Publishing / MPS Everyone PC
Iron Chef America: Supreme Cuisine Destineer Everyone 10+ Wii
James Bond: Quantum of Solace Activision-Blizzard Teen PS 2
Far Cry 2 Ubisoft Mature PC, Xbox 360, PS 3
FIFA Soccer 09 Electronic Arts Everyone PSP
FIFA Soccer 09 All-Play Electronic Arts Everyone Wii
MySims™ Kingdom Electronic Arts Everyone Wii
Little Red Riding Hood's Zombie BBQ Destineer Teen DS
Candace Kane's Candy Factory Destineer Everyone Mac, PC, Wii, DS
Animal Boxing Destineer Everyone 10+ DS
Club Vegas 20,000 Slots Selectsoft Publishing / MPS Teen Mac, PC
American Pool Deluxe Gamecock Media Group, LLC Everyone Wii
Enduro Racer SEGA Everyone Wii
Exodus From The Earth Strategy First, Inc. Mature PC
Midnight Club Los Angeles Rockstar Games Teen Xbox 360, PS 3
North American Hunting Extravaganza Destineer Teen Wii
Ski and Shoot Conspiracy Everyone PC, PS 2, Wii
Space Harrier SEGA Everyone Wii
Spider-Man: Web of Shadows Activision-Blizzard Teen PC, Xbox 360, PS 3
Tecmo Bowl: Kickoff Tecmo, Ltd. Everyone DS
Wonder Boy in Monster Land SEGA Everyone Wii
The Tale of Despereaux Brash Entertainment Everyone DS
The Amazing Spider-man and The Masked Menace Jakks Pacific Inc. Everyone 10+ Plug-and-Play
Solitaire & Mahjong Crave Entertainment Everyone Wii
Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 Konami Digital Entertainment Everyone PS 2, PSP
MLB Stickball 2K Games Everyone Xbox 360
MONOPOLY Here & Now: The World Edition Electronic Arts Everyone Web Browser
FIFA Soccer 09 Electronic Arts Everyone PC, PS 2, Xbox 360, PS 3
Cooking Academy Mumbo Jumbo Everyone PC
Ben 10: Alien Force D3Publisher of America Everyone 10+ PS 2, PSP, Wii
Black Sigil: Blade of the Exiled Graffiti Entertainment Everyone DS
Can You See What I See? Mumbo Jumbo Everyone PC
Brain Training For Dummies Electronic Arts Everyone PC
Buzz! Master Quiz SCEA Everyone 10+ PSP
Boingz RealNetworks Everyone Wii
Celebrity Sports Showdown™ Electronic Arts Everyone Wii
HorseCamp Viva Media LLC Everyone PC
Iron Chef America: Supreme Cuisine Destineer Everyone 10+ DS
Mushroom Men: The Spore Wars Gamecock Media Group, LLC Everyone 10+ Wii
Naruto: Clash of Ninja Revolution 2 TOMY Corporation Teen Wii
Neverland Card Battles Yukes Company of America Teen PSP
PBR Out of the Chute Crave Entertainment Everyone 10+ PS 2, Wii
Skate It Electronic Arts Everyone Wii
Strong Bad Episode 2 Strong Badia the Free Telltale Games Everyone 10+ PC, Wii
POP CUTIE! Street Fashion Simulation KOEI Corp. Everyone DS
Mini Motion: Sk8 HousE Aptus Games Everyone Mac, PC
Imagine Fashion Party Ubisoft Everyone Wii
Guinness World Records: The Videogame Warner Bros. Everyone 10+ Wii
Civil War: Secret Missions Activision-Blizzard Teen PS 2
Cradle of Rome D3Publisher of America Everyone DS
Bratz Kidz™ Slumber Party The Game Factory Aps Everyone DS, Wii
Camp Rock Guitar Video Game Jakks Pacific Inc. Everyone Plug-and-Play
3D Ultra™ Minigolf Adventures 2 Vivendi Games Everyone Xbox 360, PS 3
CHRONO TRIGGER Square Enix, Inc Everyone 10+ DS
Challenge Me: Maths Workout Oxygen Games Everyone DS
Need For Speed™ Undercover Electronic Arts Teen PSP
Petz Dogz Pack Ubisoft Everyone DS
Nostradamus: The Last Prophecy Encore Software Everyone 10+ PC
Pirates: The Hunt for Blackbeards Booty Activision-Blizzard Everyone Wii
Quantum of Solace Activision Teen DS
Raven Squad: Operation Hidden Dagger Evolved Games Teen PC, Xbox 360
Goosebumps HorrorLand Scholastic Inc. Everyone 10+ DS, PS 2, Wii
IGT Slots: Little Green Men Masque Publishing Teen Mac, PC
Challenge Me: Brain Puzzles Oxygen Games Everyone DS
Dark Horizon Paradox Interactive Everyone 10+ PC
Brain Challenge Gameloft Everyone PSP, Wii, PS 3
Build-A-Bear Workshop - A Friend Fur All Seasons The Game Factory Aps Everyone Wii
James Bond: Quantum of Solace Activision-Blizzard Teen Wii
My Baby Girl Southpeak Games Everyone DS
Robocalypse Tecmo, Ltd. Everyone 10+ DS
Pop Star Guitar XS Games LLC Teen PS 2, Wii
Offshore Tycoon Valcon Games LLC Everyone Wii
Strong Bad Episode 1 Homestar Ruiner Telltale Games Teen PC, Wii
Street Fighter II: Special Champion Edition SEGA Teen Wii
STAR OCEAN: First Departure Square Enix, Inc Teen PSP
Shaun White Snowboarding Road Trip Ubisoft Everyone 10+ Wii
Ocean Commander Valcon Games LLC Everyone Wii
Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness, Episode 2 Hothead Games Mature Mac, PC, Xbox 360, PS 3, Linux
Ultimate Band + DGamer Disney Interactive Studios Everyone DS
Ghostbusters Vivendi Games Teen PC, Xbox 360, PS 3
Groovin' Blocks Empty Clip Studios Everyone Wii
Hello Kitty Daily Aspyr Media, Inc. Everyone DS
Discovery! Mumbo Jumbo Everyone PC
SingStar Legends SCEA Teen PS 2
SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALs: Confrontation SCEA Mature PS 3
Scene It? Box Office Smash! Microsoft Teen Xbox 360
Twin Strike Operation Thunder Zoo Games, Inc. Everyone 10+ Wii
Ben 10: Alien Force D3Publisher of America Everyone DS
Army Men: Soldiers of Misfortune Zoo Games, Inc. Everyone DS, PS 2, Wii
Jade Empire: Special Edition Electronic Arts Mature Mac
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince™ Electronic Arts Everyone DS, PSP
Need For Speed™ Undercover Electronic Arts Everyone 10+ DS
Nerf N-Strike™ Electronic Arts Everyone 10+ Wii
MindHabits Got Game Entertainment, LLC Everyone Mac, PC
Kung Fu Panda: Legendary Warriors Activision-Blizzard Everyone 10+ Wii
LEGO Batman: The Videogame Warner Bros. Everyone 10+ PC, PS 2, PSP, Xbox 360, Wii, PS 3
Mahjong Tales™: Ancient Wisdom Creat Studios, Inc. Everyone PS 3
Word Mania 2 eGames Inc Everyone PC

Here is the final tally on who, what and where everything was rated for the last three weeks. There were 152 rated titles on 11 platforms. Wii (58), PC (44), DS (36), PS2 (23), Xbox 360 (23), Playstation 3 (15), Mac (13) and PSP (12) had the most games rated. There were 119 of the 152 titles rated at E10+ or lower, 30 rated at T for Teen and five (Jade Empire: Special Edition, Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness, Episode 2, Exodus From The Earth, SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALs: Confrontation and Far Cry 2) rated at M for Mature.


Got a comment on the article or a rated games, put it in the section below or send me an e-mail. Until next week, make sure you know what your kids are playing……

*The weekly Intriguing Title of the Week (and any game that is tossed in that paragraph) is identified based on a game on the list that catches the eye of the author for any number of reasons. Good, bad or otherwise, feel free to agree, disagree or add some constructive input to the discussion.

* The product in this article was sent to us by the developer/company.


About Author

Like many gamers in their 40's, I developed my love of gaming from my Commodore 64 after we wore out our Intellivision. I spent countless hours wandering around the streets of Skara Brae, as my life was immersed in The Bard's Tale series on the C-64, D&D Titles and any/all Epyx titles (California Summer and Winter Games) and sports titles.  After taking the early 90's off from gaming (college years) minus the occasional Bill Walsh College Football on Sega, I was re-introduced to PC games in the mid 1990's with a couple of little games called DOOM II and Diablo. I went all-in with the last generation of consoles, getting an Xbox 360 on launch weekend as well as adding a PS3 and Wii in subsequent years.  I now am into the current-generation (latest?) of consoles with the WiiU and Xbox One.  Recently, I was able to get back into PC gaming and have enjoyed it very much, spending most of my time going solo or playing with my fellow GamingNexus staffers in controlled multiplayer action.

While my byline is on many reviews, articles and countless news stories, I have a passion for and spent the last several years at GamingNexus focusing on audio & video and accessories as they relate to gaming. Having over 20 years of Home Theater consulting and sales under my belt, it is quite enjoyable to spend some of my time viewing gaming through the A/V perspective. While I haven't yet made it to one of the major gaming conventions (PAX or E3), I have represented GamingNexus at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas in nine of the last ten years.

Personally, I have been a staff member at GamingNexus since 2006 and am in my third tour of duty after taking off the last year and a half.


 

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