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Okay, so the first installment of "The Game Gap" was a bit of a letdown. (To my credit, I had a pretty big article before I found out that most of the titles I'd written about had already been announced.) To make up for it, here's an extra-juicy update on the games that Japanese gamers will see at launch, and you won't.
ZOO KEEPER Success
The animals at a local zoo are on the rampage! You have to use your skills as an animal trainer to get them back under control. In this puzzle game from Success, you try to line up 3 of the same type of animal to clear out the playing field. The pieces are moved with the stylus, but on the whole this game doesn't look like it makes particularly interesting use of the DS' touch screen. Still, it might be a fun little puzzler.
"Make your brain sweat" Game Series 1: COOL104JOKER & SETLINE (Aruze)
And, in the "Messed-up Game Titles" category, we have... a laughable "Game Series" name and a card game whose title sounds like your little brother's AOL screen name. In "COOL104JOKER" you are dealt 5 cards which you try to match, either with suits or numbers, with cards on a pile. The idea of the game is to capture all the cards in the deck. Additionally, occasionally an IM window from "COOL104JOKER" will pop up on the top DS screen asking you "a/s/l/pic?" and "u wanan cyber?"
"SETLINE," by contrast, is a board game in which tiles are set up in a hexagonal pattern, and by drawing "lines" between the edges of the hexagon, you attempt to take control of all the tiles on the board (somewhat like Othello). Bonuses are awarded for capturing all the tiles on the board in a short time.
Mahjongg Championship (Koei)
In (yet another) (!) (?!!?!?!) Mahjongg game, you face off against 10 or more Mahjongg players, forming leagues or playing "survival mode" for the title of Mahjongg Champion. Nintendo's official site calls this a "classic-style (oldskool?) Mahjongg game," so for those of you who were hoping for a less "kiddy" Mahjongg experience, it looks like Koei has got you covered. Wireless mode is enabled for this game, so you and your Mahjongg buddies can all gather round and enjoy.
Puyo Puyo Fever (Sega)
Next (and last) is the obligatory "rot-your-teeth cutesy puzzle game," courtesy of Sega. The DS version, like the GameCube version, stands out from all the other puyo titles because of its "Fever Mode." Various game actions or puzzle combinations increase your "Fever Gauge" which, when filled, lets you enter "Fever Mode," in which you can create huge explosions and connect huge chains of puzzle pieces.
Yakuman DS (temporary title) (price and release date not determined, developed by Nintendo)
And here's the obligatory "Mah-jongg game for the new Nintendo system." This is a game whose appeal completely eludes me, but for those of you who really dig Mah-jongg, please turn your eyes across the ocean because Nintendo's got your back. The Nintendo site claims that this is a "family-oriented Mah-jongg game" played via the wireless network. They tout it as a game that "Dad will buy and teach the kids how to play." It also promises to keep all the features that you loved from "Yakuman Advance."
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Originally posted by: Koopa Troopa
I may be mistaken then. I really don't think it is 100,000; I distinctly remember thinking, "That's it?" When I found it researching related materials.
THQ Unveils Blockbuster Lineup at 2004 Electronic Entertainment Expo
From Hollywood's Hot Holiday Releases to New Original Console and PC Content, THQ Showcases Videogames Targeting All Segments of the Expanding Gaming Audience
CALABASAS HILLS, Calif. - May 4, 2004 - THQ Inc. (Nasdaq:THQI), the #2 independent videogame publisher, today announced plans to debut several of its highly anticipated console, PC and handheld releases at next week's Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles. Console gamer content including Destroy All Humans(TM), The Punisher(TM), WWE(TM) Day of Reckoning(TM) and Full Spectrum Warrior(TM) will be available for demonstration along with brand new PC titles S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl and Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War. THQ will also present the most expansive mass-market product portfolio in the industry, including games based on "The Incredibles," "The Polar Express," and "The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie," three of the biggest feature films scheduled for holiday 2004. These titles and others will be available for hands-on demonstrations in the THQ booth, #1024, in the South Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center May 12-14.
"Our 2004 portfolio caters to every segment of the game playing audience," said Brian Farrell, president and CEO, THQ. "Games like S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl, Destroy All Humans, Dawn of War and Full Spectrum Warrior are already winning critical praise and gaining traction at retail. Additionally, we have an expansive portfolio of games based on premiere mass-market brands including 'The Punisher' along with highly anticipated holiday feature film releases, such as 'The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie,' 'The Incredibles,' and 'The Polar Express.' In addition, THQ Wireless is also unveiling sports applications for wireless devices at the show."
THQ's E3 Lineup includes games in every genre, including:
>From the Silver Screen:
The Incredibles - Following the success of the Finding Nemo videogame, which shipped more than five million units worldwide, The Incredibles is the second offering in THQ's three property deal with Disney and Pixar. The Incredibles tells the story of a family of undercover superheroes that are trying to live a quiet, suburban life, but are forced back into action in order to save the world. The game is expected to launch simultaneously with the film, which will hit theaters on November 5, 2004. The Incredibles videogame will bring action and adventure to the PlayStation®2, Xbox(TM), GameCube(TM), PC/Mac, and Game Boy® Advance systems this fall.
The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie - Based on the highly anticipated November 2004 release of "The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie," this action platform game is being developed by Heavy Iron Studios, creators of the critically acclaimed SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom, released in October 2003. The SpongeBob character continues to hold the #1 Q-score rating for kids aged 6-14 and is the most watched animated show in TV history by kids. The franchise also has all-ages appeal, with 30% of viewers between ages 18-49. Scheduled for PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, Game Boy Advance and PC this fall.
The Polar Express(TM) - Based on the tent-pole holiday release from Warner Bros. Pictures, The Polar Express, directed by Robert Zemeckis and starring Tom Hanks, brings the magic of Christmas to life in beautiful CG animation. The game is being developed by THQ's Australian studio and will ship for PlayStation 2, GameCube, Game Boy Advance and PC in conjunction with the film release this holiday season.
For the Hard Core PC Gamer:
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Shadow of Chernobyl - Boasting some of the richest graphics ever delivered on a PC, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl brings to life the actual Chernobyl terrain in the year 2012 - six years after a mysterious second explosion rocks the landscape. As a "stalker" exploring the vast "Exclusion Zone" to procure artifacts for the black market, players must survive mutant creatures, dangerous anomalous areas, competing "stalkers" and a military charged with quarantining the 30 square kilometer area. Developed by GSC Game World and powered by the all-new X-ray engine, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl is scheduled for release on the PC this fall.
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War - From "Game of the Year" developer Relic Entertainment, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War takes strategy gaming to new cinematic, visceral heights. Set in a universe ruled by brutal warfare, four ancient enemy races collide with a single objective - annihilation of all others. Named to PC Gamer's "Top 10 Games of 2004" list and garnering PC Gamer's April issue cover feature, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War is scheduled for release on the PC this fall.
Core Titles:
Full Spectrum Warrior - Based on a training tool developed for the U.S. Army to reinforce training at the Infantry level, Full Spectrum Warrior is the most realistic portrayal of urban warfare via true squad-based gameplay. After garnering many critical accolades including Best of E3, magazine covers such as OXM, a perfect score from Maxim, as well as Playboy's June Game of the Month, the much-anticipated Full Spectrum Warrior is scheduled for release on the XboxTM in early June and on PC this fall.
The Punisher - Developed by THQ's Volition studio, The Punisher is based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series. The game is built for players to enter the mind of the Punisher. More than just shooting, it will be important for players to walk into a room and think 'What would The Punisher do?' Features like character interrogations and highly interactive environments add a layer of depth that truly set this game apart. The Punisher is scheduled for release on PS2 and Xbox in early 2005.
WWE Day of Reckoning - Developed by Yukes, WWE Day of Reckoning features the WWE's top Superstars including, Kurt Angle®, Chris Benoit® and Triple H®. Players will transform a rookie's dream into a Superstar's reality as they fight their way to the top of WWE programming in an all-new story mode filled with deception and betrayal. WWE Day of Reckoning from THQ and JAKKS Pacific is scheduled for release on the GameCube this fall.
Destroy All Humans! - Developed by Pandemic Studios, creators of Full Spectrum Warrior, Destroy All Humans! turns players' conventional expectations of playing the human defending against an alien invasion to now allow them to play the alien hell bent on infiltrating and taking over all of humanity. Destroy All Humans! delivers an open ended world where the player can rain down destruction from his UFO or land at any point to walk among the humans as the 3rd person alien subverting and terrorizing all of humanity. Packed with humorous science-fiction mythology and tons of conspiracy theory. Players will soon discover that it is better to be the superior being. Scheduled for release on the PlayStation2 and Xbox in early 2005.
THQ will also showcase Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams, the next installment in THQ and Nickelodeon's million-unit selling original Tak franchise. Additionally, THQ and Nickelodeon will unveil their first game for the PlayStation 2 Eyetoy(TM), Nicktoons (working title), in which popular Nickelodeon characters interact in multiple Nickelodeon cartoon environments.
THQ Wireless will demonstrate several new games on the latest mobile devices, including Olympics 2004, Midway, NFL, NHL and a baseball title. For more information on THQ's 2004 E3 lineup, visit www.thq.com.
