Game Releases (23 – 27 Feb 09)

by 4 Comments

Editors Note : Introducing a brand guest new column by Costas of LostInGames.net about “Cyprus Game Releases“, filed under the “Opinions“ category. In these weekly posts, Costa will cover what he thinks of the latest game releases and the scene as a whole.

imagineballetdancerUbisoft’s Imagine series, mostly released on the DS and Wii, reached the 1million annual sales mark in 2008. The Imagine series consists of a broad range of job and life aspirations to play out, with Imagine: Ballet Dancer which is released this week being the latest one. It targets the casual gamer market and specifically young teenage girls who might own a pink coloured DS.

In order for Metacritic to show an average score, a minimum number of reviews have to be published by “reputable” print publications or websites. I checked the Imagine series  and while there are 12 Imagine games listed, none of them have an average score. The only site that published a review is IGN. I find it extraordinary that such a popular product is not being commented on, even by casual game sites or other mainstream entertainment sites. Also who should review these games? And whose opinion matters most? That of adults reviewing it or the young girls for whom the games have been developed?

One can easily find reviews or comments for toys, kids movies and books. Why not for games like Imagine: Ballet Dancer? As much as the industry has expanded its audience in the past couple few years to include more and more people it still has a long way to go to really cater their needs.

Oh yes, Killzone 2 is my game of the week.

Release List

  • Killzone 2 (PS3)
  • Halo Wars (360)
  • Silent Hill: Homecoming (360, PS3, PC)
  • Winter Sports 2009 (360, Wii Fit compatible, DS)
  • Army of Men: Soldiers of Misfortune (Wii, DS)
  • Dead Rising: Chop till you drop (Wii)
  • Famili Skii and Snowboard (Wii Fit compatible)
  • Onechanbara:Bikini Zombie Slayers (Wii)
  • Tom Clancy’s: End War (PC)
  • Men of War (PC)
  • Ceville (PC)
  • Necrovision (PC)
  • Warleaders: Clash of Nations (PC)
  • Cryostasis: Sleep of Reason (PC)
  • Hello Kitty Roller Rescue (PC)
  • Populous (DS)
  • Spectrobes: Beyond the Portals (DS)
  • My Pet Shop (DS)
  • Let’s Play: Fashion Designer (DS)
  • Let’s Play: Pet Hospitals
  • Let’s Play: Firemen (DS)
  • Hello, Pocoyo (DS)
  • Imagine: Ballet Dancer (DS)
  • Dropcast (DS)
  • Boing! Docomodake (DS)
  • Cookieshop (DS)
Posted in:
About the Author

Costas

Costas Taliadoros is an accountant by profession but a gamer at heart. He was born in Nicosia in 1977 and was raised by Donkey Kong. At a very young age he started piloting F-15 Strike Eagles over the Iraqi and Libyan deserts and has also seen action in an M1 Ambraams tank somewhere in Eastern Europe fighting against the Soviets. As the years went by, he was integrated into Civilization until he finally conquered the world and sent the first human mission to Alpha Centauri. He graduated from the International Superstar Soccer academy and moved back to Cyprus to start his career. In this dark period of his life he fought and swore against 3 more Master Chiefs on a 4-way split-screen all day and night. It was around this period that he also started traveling to Live in many places around the world but mostly the USA. There, he met a lot of young American teenagers who were willing to discuss topics like his mother and the colour of his skin in great detail. It only strengthened his belief that he still has a lot to learn in this life. Nowadays Costas can be found on a couch playing games with friends and foes, with beer in close proximity. He is just a non-professional “writer” who loves games, books, comics, football, and running. He is also writing in the video-game site he co-founded, www.forevergamers.com, and on his personal blog, www.lostingames.net.