To many E3 attendees this year, the Nintendo press conference was more of a self-congradulatory pat on the back. Instead of the new, exciting titles that gamers had expected, Nintendo rolled out a list of casual games that left hardcore gamers feeling dejected by the industry’s top innovator.

In an interview with Forbes magazine, Nintendo president and CEO, Satoru Iwata, said that this year’s E3 was neither the time nor the place to announce platform favorites.

“If there is any perception that Nintendo is ignoring the core gamers, it’s a misunderstanding and we really want to get rid of that misunderstanding by any means,” says Iwata. “We are sorry about [the E3] media briefings, specifically for those who were expecting to see Nintendo show something about ‘Super Mario’ or ‘Legend of Zelda.’

“However, the fact of the matter is the so-called ‘big titles’ need a long, long development period. … We really didn’t think this year’s E3 media briefing was the time to do so.”

While core games such as Zelda and Mario may be in development, the Wii is still getting exclusives that look promising such as the ultra-violent Mad World by Sega.

Source: Forbes

Tower Bloxx Deluxe is certainly not a recognizable name when it comes to casual games. Bejeweled and Diner Dash are the undisputed champs when It comes to bored housewives and office workers, but I enjoyed the mobile version of this game and thought the PC port might actually have a shot at winning over a casual audience. Unfortunately, this $20 PC version is a step down in quality from the mobile game.

TBD has two distinct gameplay modes. The first is a timing-based drop mode, where you pile on the stories of skyscrapers from a dangling crane above. The other is a strategic planning mode, where you have to carefully space out your buildings based on certain rules over what kinds can go where. These limitations are arbitrary, but do add some much-needed depth to the gameplay.

On cellphones, these two gameplay styles are enough to last through any wait at the pharmacy or doctor’s office, but on PC, I was expecting some added features. The only two extra modes are a race against the clock and party mode, and these are just slightly tweaked versions of the main game. Free mode is probably the most satisfying quick fix, and it’s pretty fun to build your tower up into space—but only when the game runs smoothly.

The biggest complaint I have about Tower Bloxx Deluxe on the PC are the surprisingly intense system requirements. If you’ve got a great desktop rig, you’ll enjoy pretty 3d graphics and tons of great details like little tenants parachuting into your buildings. However, since this is a casual game, it’s a shame that you couldn’t scale back the graphics enough to compensate for older machines.

The two resolutions and few detail settings, which mainly turn off the background elements, aren’t enough to get the game running smoothly in some cases. And since half of the game requires it to be running smoothly so you can time your block drops perfectly, Tower Bloxx Deluxe is almost unplayable on some computers.

Additionally, while I don’t like to make a big fuss over the price of games, $20 is a bit too much for a game that is so simple and repetitive. Eventually this game will be marked down into the $10 range where it belongs, but for a port that doesn’t function as well as it should on lower-range computers, even that’s asking for a lot.

Tower Bloxx Deluxe is a very good game on cellphones, and if you like to play games on your mobile device I’d suggest giving that version a shot. However, it’s tough to recommend the PC version unless you’re a big fan of the mobile series, or can’t get enough of the 30 minute demo found on Digital Chocolate’s website. If you discover that your computer isn’t able to keep up with the graphics, pass on this game, because you’ll just find it too frustrating when a stutter or skip throws off your rhythm.

What does this score mean? Check out our review scoring breakdown.

Can playing Bejeweled every day keep the doctor away? A recent study by the East Carolina University’s Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies suggests that casual games can relieve stress and improve one’s mood.

In a six month long randomized controlled study, 103 participants played Bejeweled 2, Peggle, and Bookworm Adventures, all made by PopCap Games. The control group was asked to search the internet for journal articles. The participants’ heart-rate variability, EEG, and mood states were measured before and after playing the aforementioned games.

Here are some interesting results from the study:

- Out of the three games, Bejeweled was found to reduce physical stress activity by 54%. There were no differences between males and females.

- Peggle had the greatest effect on overall mood, increasing it by 573% compared to Bejeweled 2 (435%) and Bookworm Adventures (303%).

- All three games reduced depression levels by 45% (Peggle), 43% (Bookworm Adventures) and 37% (Bejeweled 2).

- People in the experimental group experienced a reduction in confusion by 486% (Peggle), 462% (Bookworm Adventures), and Bejeweled (426%).

According to study director Dr. Carmen Russoniello, “These findings are especially intriguing as they present the possibility that casual games may be useful in ameliorating conditions such as attention deficit disorder, memory loss and general confusion attributed to dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.”

So there you have it, folks. When you come home from a long, hard day at work, fire up a rousing game of Peggle and add years to your life!

Source: Earthtimes

If you had ever wondered what it would be like to meet up with a bunch of nerds and go to the Game Developer’s Conference, then wonder no more. We’re here to walk you through the ins, outs, and slightly-to-the-lefts of GDC day one.

The people at Ripten lucky enough to get out to the Game Developers Conference this year (Head Cheese Chad, Jon, Mike, Andrew, Emily, and myself) all met up at the San Francisco Airport on Sunday. Mike was kind enough to let a few of us crash at his place, even though he was supposed to spend time with Jessica Chobot. What a true friend…

We wake up late on Monday morning, obviously, and head into the city. Rays of light surround us and angels sing out in immaculate chorus as we stroll through the doors of the Moscone Center. We go to the Super Awesome V.I.P check-in area to get our badges, and we are instantly recognized.

Okay, so maybe I embellished a little. Nobody really paid any attention to us, and the closest we got to being recognized is when a guy asked which one of us was Chad.

There’s not a whole lot going on for press on Monday and Tuesday, as the main focus is on (surprise!) game development. It’s mainly just classes and lectures, so we spent a lot of the day going over schedules and talking about prenuptial agreements. We also get better acquainted with one another since this is the first time any of us had actually met in person. A lot of high fives and ass-grabbage ensues.

We eventually get around to checking out one of the tutorials and a completely non-mechanical flight simulator (more on that later) before heading over to the Zeemote party. We have our fill of rolled-up cheese and pot stickers (which I never heard of — basically, they’re like Chinese dumplings), and then play it casually cool as we skip out to the Microsoft Casual Games party next door.

Surprisingly, the Microsoft party was in the same size room as the Zeemote party, with the exception of being completely packed and lacking in the Lara Croft impersonator department. We stayed just long enough to say, ” Let’s get out of here.” and then did just that. Unfortunately, none of us got to try the “Casualtini” in the less than a minute we were in there.

To top off the night, our hotel room’s thermostat was broken, so we cracked a window. Unfortunately for Chad, we were on the seventh floor, so we dangled him out that window, Schwarzenegger-style, and demanded our monthly allowance of peanuts. Chad subsequently had us moved to the third floor and blamed it on the thermostat to save face, but really it was because three stories would hurt less.

Overall, it was a fairly mild day. Perhaps if I was a drunk or a budding game developer (or both!), I would have found the day much more entertaining. The event gets more interesting tomorrow but really ramps up when they open the expo floor on Wednesday. Look for our updates throughout the week on the exciting (or sometimes not so exciting) experience that is the Game Developers Conference 2008.

Also, let us know in the comments section how you feel about prenuptial agreements.

Don’t laugh. This is probably going to be you in thirty years.

I didn’t think last week’s Pain was worth a Hamilton, so what about Sony San Diego’s second attempt on the PSN, High Velocity Bowling? Coming from Team Ramrod (hi, Super Troopers reference), this game of ten-pin features waggle, online leaderboards, and, wait a tic… custom soundtracks using an in-game XMB! Sure, it all sounds a lot like Wii Sports, but will it make Grandma Bessie want a Playstation 3 for Christmas?

If she still remembers growing up in the 50s, she might. High Velocity’s got the retro chic down pat. Right from the moment you boot it up, you’re confronted with a neon-lit marquee soaring high into the twilight sky, its star-like beacons summoning small-town soccer moms and over-the-hill bachelors from the countryside. I half expected to see a cameo by Walter Sobchak, but the sublime odor of cigarette ash mixed with disinfectant was all too real. Okay, maybe that was just my feet. Moving on.

Said marquee also functions as your main menu, giving you the options of solo bowling, competing in several different challenges, or scoping out what trophies you’ve earned. There’s also an option called “My Balls” (tee hee). If you want to take a look at your ball selection, head there.

“Let’s Bowl” is your basic pick-up-and-play mode. You can have up to four players rotating turns locally (sorry, no online except for leaderboards). Multiplayer’s a key component to a game like this (who wants to bowl by themselves?), so it’s good to know that setting it up is easy as pie — just hit square to add extra people on the character select screen. Pick one of several alley-cat stereotypes and then its off to the lanes!

I don’t think High Velocity is about to kick Wiis out of the retirement home (and where else would they go if they’ve already outlived their usefulness to society led a long and fulfilling life?), but the motion controls are both slightly more complex and more satisfying. You grip the Sixaxis underhand, which feels a whole lot more like holding a bowling ball than it does when clutching an oblong Wiimote. Proper positioning puts your thumb over the X button to select options and your pointer/pinky over the R2 and L2 buttons for spin.

Character positioning and aim are selected by twisting the Sixaxis left or right (the dead zone in this case is where the controller’s left side points towards the ground). Once you’ve got your shot set up, your avatar will shuffle towards the foul line. Rear your hand back and then quickly follow through. The speed at which you do this determines how fast your ball travels down the lane, though slipping into the red part of the meter will overpower your throw. The game also accounts for spin (determined, in analog, by how hard you hold down either of the back shoulder buttons), the type of ball you’re using, and any quirks your character might possess.

Admittedly, it feels a little strange at first, but you get used to it quickly and it makes a whole lot of sense when you consider how one might toss an actual ball.

It’s honestly more intuitive than Wii Bowling’s cheat-prone controls, but because of the shape of the Sixaxis, it may not be compatible for people with small hands. Just as well, this is one of the few games on the Playstation 3 that actually justifies its motion-only controls. And before you ask: yes, options for southpaws are included.

If you don’t have any friends around, it might be best to head for the Challenges first. Here you can knock pins with CPU rivals, compete in tournaments, or complete special trick shots. The last of the three is probably the most interesting part of the game, as the developers have set up ramps, chairs, and other obstacles on the lane for you to overcome. You’ll have to complete each of the three Challenge categories once to move onto the next level, but you’ll unlock new balls and bowlers along the way.

One of High Velocity’s most baffling (though undeniably welcome) features is its use of Custom Soundtracks. Hitting select at any time will pop up a stripped-down version of the XMB with all of the mp3s that you have stored on your system. It doesn’t seem to support the system’s more esoteric music-playing features (such as album art or playlists), but you’re free to set repeat and shuffle options.

Considering the only music I have on my PS3 is that one Lair track they put up for download a couple of months ago, I set it to play that. Needless to say, EPIC BOWLING (and lulz) AHEAD! I’d recommend putting this feature to good use; otherwise, you’ll be stuck listening to kitschy lounge music the whole time.

Overall, it’s a good little package. High Velocity Bowling isn’t brimming with content, and its micro-transaction posturing is only a tad less annoying than it is in Pain (there’s an option on the main menu to “Buy Characters”), but the core game itself is infinitely replayable. Leaderboards are certainly a nice touch, but features similar to Wii Sports’ stat tracking are sorely missed. Likewise, character choices are dull and samey; some customization would’ve gone a long way to making the experience more enjoyable.

In terms of capturing the pedigree and mechanics of the original game, High Velocity arguably works a lot better, but it’s little touches like these that makes Nintendo’s “clean slate” approach to casual sports so compelling in the first place.