The most popular devices are not simply designed for playing games on, although that is of course their primary purpose, but with enhanced multimedia functions like video and music support and web browsing, you have a powerful all-in-one device.

Console graphics have never appeared quite as real as they do right now and along with better video output and improved multimedia functionality, with a stronger emphasis on social media and interactive gameplay, we can pack those board games away forever as video games have never looked so welcoming.

It is the latest Nintendo Dsi that has most recently been grabbing the headlines, due mainly to it’s basic 3D qualities that allow users to play games on an adjustable 3 Dimensional screen without the need for special glasses.

Being portable the previous model Nintendo Dsi has become particularly popular with both the younger generation of school children as well as the older Saga generation, due mainly to its advertising campaigns to keep the brain active.

However it is the Microsoft Xbox, Sony Playstation and Nintendo Wii that you will find in most households, a stand alone gaming console that can connect to the internet, play DVD’s or Blu ray Discs as well as offering unlimited interactive gaming facilities.

For first time purchasers choosing one machine from the three top sellers will often come down to either price, peer pressure or a particular game availability, as with the Wii Fit for instance.

Unless you are pre ordering the latest yet to be released device, the likliehood is that shopping around the major outlets will get you a cut price machine with a bundle of free games or goodies thrown in. This is particular true once a new generation machine has been announced and the market needs to clear it’s current stocks.

While I can think of a few addicted gamer friends who own more than one video gaming console, the general truth is that there is an awful lot of brand loyalty shown by gamers, so be sure to compare the systems on the market before deciding which suits your needs the best.

Happy gaming!

DodoGo! Robo for the Nintendo DSiWare

Lead the Dodo resistance! against multiple death-defying hazards in a new robo-egg collecting adventure in the DodoGo! series.

Video game developer and publisher Neko Entertainment has announced, in co-production with Alien After All the launch of DodoGo! Robo developed exclusively for the Nintendo DSiWare™ service is now available from the Nintendo DSi Shop.

DodoGo! Robo is a successor to the 2010 adventure puzzle game hits DodoGo! and DodoGo! Challenge.

“The DodoGo! series has been an incredible success on DSiWare, offering players an absorbing and challenging addictive puzzle experience”, said Denis Mercier, CEO of Alien After All, “With Dodo Robo we have gone back to the future, as you take control of the robo-dodo, with new hazards to avoid as you become the hero of the resistance”.

Over 65 million years ago on Dodo Island, a robo-dodo has arrived from the future. His name is D-800 and as the leader of the Dodo resistance, he has been programmed to complete one important mission: to train each dodo to survive the death-defying hazards that the Cretaceous period has to throw at them. D-800 has one ally – robo-eggs – synthetic replicas of delicate fragile dodo eggs.

With hours of gameplay, players use their Nintendo DSi stylus to guide robo-eggs through a range of inhospitable environments whilst encountering obstacles and advanced machines. Armed with a toolbox and their creativity players manipulate the environment to lead the robo-eggs to safety by digging, filling, sawing, scraping and cutting.

Featuring an extended training mode DodoGo! Challenge is rated PEGI 3 in Europe and is now available on the Nintendo DSi Shop priced at 200 Nintendo DSi Points.

For more information about the game visit the official DodoGo! website.

Nintendo 3DS logo

Launching at midnight on Thursday at HMV on Oxford Street, the new Nintendo 3DS is on track to be the biggest games console launch in history. Introducing portable entertainment in 3D, without the need for special glasses, the console is packed with unique features.

The UK retail launch will take place at midnight in HMV’s flagship London store with over 100 branches opening simultaneously to meet the unprecedented demand for this gorgeous new piece of kit.

Already creating twice the interest of the launch of the Wii, the Nintendo 3DS is set to revolutionise gaming with its 3D graphics that do not require the player to wear special 3D glasses.

With special guests at HMV for the launch, including BRITs winners Plan B, comedian Russell Kane, rock band Hadouken and hot new girl band Parade, the crowds will get VIP treatment with a complimentary game of their choice on offer, special launch night pack with exclusive Nintendo rewards, and the chance to take to the stage to demonstrate their skills on Street Fighter IV and Pro Evolution Soccer in live head-to-head battles.

With two screens and a 3D Depth Slider allowing players to select the level of 3D, the Nintendo 3DS also includes a Circle Pad which provides 360 degrees of direction and a built in motion sensor.

The StreetPass™ feature allows players to exchange game information, while the SpotPass™ feature can connect to compatible public hotspots and to wifi, allowing the system to be regularly updated with new content. Other features include three cameras and the Mii Maker™ application.

Nintendo 3DS

You would have had to have lived on another planet during recent months not to be aware that Nintendo are about to revolutionise hand held gaming hardware with their soon to be released Nintendo 3DS.

Bringing 3D to the small screen has never been so highly anticipated, but the wait will soon be over as the Nintendo 3DS will be officially released on March 25th 2011.

Having secured its own niche in the gaming market with the superb standard Nintendo DS player and collected a loyal following along the way, fans will be champing at the bit to experience the 3D graphics on the latest model.

One of the biggest attractions of the 3D graphics on the new Nintendo device is that there is no need to wear special glasses to witness the superb depth of the three dimensional experience.

As well as the obvious and most important 3D feature, the new Nintendo is also an incredibly robust entertainment device, with built-in features and applications that are accessible right out of the box.

The Nintendo 3DS is a stunning little hand held device and with the standard pre-loaded software and advanced wi-fi connectivity this gorgeous looking portable device not only resembles a Note Book computer but offers all the functionality of one.

It is as  simple to browse the internet as it is to load and play games and by simply pressing the HOME button during play, this system will automatically pause game play and open the internet browser, safely returning to the game later at exactly where you left off.

Building a library of games can be an expensive business so it is reassuring that the Nintendo 3DS will still let you play your old games in standard 2D format without any problems.

Indeed on the 3DS model it is possible to watch or play 3D games and videos in standard 2D format if you desire, the console is fitted with a sliding device that increases and decreases depth of field.

The 3D depth slider enables the user to choose the depth of field that best suits them. In the off position the device will display in standard 2D format, while increasing the setting gives objects within the game world a feeling of space and depth that extends far into the back of the screen. It becomes easier to see the position of characters and obstacles in the world, making many game experiences even more intuitive for all types of players.

Available in two great colours, aqua blue and cosmos black, the highly anticipated hand held gaming device will be available in shops from March 25th, to be sure of being amongst the first to own one you can pre-order Nintendo 3DS with no deposit and nothing to pay until the dispatch date.

Redken Busy Scissors on Wii and DS

Redken Busy Scissors, a hairstyling and simulation video game is scheduled for release March 4th 2011 exclusively on Wii and DS.

Little Orbit teams up with Redken the international salon cosmetics brand, and provides the possibility to use an extensive range of Redken products in-game. Additionally, professional styling tools from Sam Villa like the Sleekr flat iron are incorporated into the game as key tools to achieve the looks that clients crave.

Get ready to color, shampoo, cut, blow dry, and style hair with the Wii remote. Players earn reputation and advance their career in a Hollywood based salon by meeting the demands of their glamorous and eccentric clientele.

The game progresses as they help unlock each client’s inner potential by finding their unique outward style. The game features over 25 hairstyles, 20 mini-games, 6 career levels, and 4 game modes, which provide a dynamic combination of realistic gameplay, humor, and entertainment.

Manifest Oranj, the game’s developer, spent months working with industry experts to emulate the real hair styles used in the game. Each salon technique was demonstrated and filmed by the team, before it was re-created in 3D and designed as a mini-game.

This is going to be a big hit with young teenage girls.

Ghost Mania is a puzzle game on WiiWare

Ghost Mania is out now on WiiWare for 500 Wii Points in North America; and will be available from 7th January in Europe when the game releases in English, German, Spanish and French languages.

Ghost Mania, is a paranormal puzzle game involving ghosts, and includes a wacky story, mad spirits and a whole bunch of funky game modes for 1 or 2 players.

Ghost Mania supports widescreen and 480p and can be played by holding the Wii Remote™ controller horizontally. The game can be enjoyed by 1-2 players and also supports the Classic Controller™.

Key Features:

• Use a combination of logic and strategy to plan out your moves and progress throughout the game. The concept is simple: catch all ghosts before it’s too late!
• Packed with 70+ levels and four game modes for 1-2 players: Arcade Mode (fast and fun), Puzzle Mode (relaxed play), Endless Mode (eternal madness) or go head to head with a friend in the 2P Party Mode
• One of few puzzle games to feature multiple stories dependant on character and game mode selections.
• Intuitive controls, simply hold the Wii Remote™controller horizontally to play. Also supports Classic Controller™.
• For players of all ages, whether you’re a casual gamer or a puzzle whiz, you’ll surely enjoy this spooky puzzler!

Ghost Mania has been rated E for Everyone by the ESRB (North America) and PEGI 7+ and USK for Europe and Germany respectively.

101-in-1 Sports Party Megamix for the Wii

101-in-1 Sports Party Megamix is the follow up to videogames developer Nordcurrent’s 101-in-1 Megamix game for the Nintendo Wii, which has sold more than half million units worldwide.

101-in-1 Sports Party Megamix is a collection of 101 mini sports games that can be played with up to four players.  The games are simple and pretty basic and similar to Wii Sports.  Alone these games aren’t going to be too exciting but playing against family or friends will be amusing and very much underlines exactly what the Nintendo Wii is best at.

The sports mini-games include tennis, rock climbing, horse racing, boxing, car and motorbike racing, basketball practice, archery, speed racing, rowing, football shooting practice and skiing.

You start with 12 mini games to choose from.  The more you play the more games you unlock.  The games are very and aimed at all the family, though surprisingly 101 in 1 Sports comes with a 12 certificate.

These type of party mini-games are fun and not to be taken too seriously and are great way to get members of the family playing who aren’t normally gamers.  In a way they remind me of a computer game version of the compendium board games you can buy from toy shops.

It’s worth noting that many of the games require a nunchuck and unlike Wii Sports, you cannot create and play as your Mii character.

Some advertising campaigns make games look so exciting but it’s not until you actually play the game that you can really consider whether it is worth paying, in most cases, between £20 and £50 for a new game.  Some titles are sold on the back of film or television franchises and don’t always live up to expectations, and in some cases have very little to do with the original TV show or film.

The best games console to get all the family playing along and having fun is still the Nintendo Wii, and with Christmas and New Year parties only weeks away, what better time to start renting Wii games before spending out on new titles.

You can rent games for all the major games consoles including Sony PS3, PS2, PSP, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, DS and even Gamecube.

Furthermore, the games section of the website is divided into different game genres to make it simple to find a particular type of game to rent or buy.  Categories include adventure, arcade/platform, fighting, flight simulation, party/music/miscellaneous, puzzle/board/casino, racing, role-play, shooter, sport and strategy.

There are hundreds of games to choose from and with over 50 new Wii game releases alone to choose from, there is plenty of games for every taste including titles for the very youngest gamers like Dora’s Big Birthday Adventure, iCarly 2: Join The Click and Barbie: Groom & Glam Pups (all certificate 3+); and for older children Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, Batman: Brave & The Bold, Sonic Colours and Spider-man: Shattered Dimensions.

There are sports games like the ever popular football games Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 & FIFA 11, the latest instalment of one of the best basketball games NBA 2K11 as well as popular racing games like Hot Wheels: Track Attack and Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit.

Or maybe you are interested in music related games like In The Mix: featuring Armin Van Buuren, We Sing: Robbie Williams, Michael Jackson: The Experience, X Factor , Karaoke Revolution Glee where gamers perform scenes from season one of the TV hit show Glee or the very popular Just Dance 2.

Another good idea is to read online reviews before you buy a game, especially those attached to a franchise.  This way you can avoid disappointment and wasting money on unwanted presents this Christmas.

Dodogo!Challenge pack shot

The sequel to the 2010 adventure puzzle game Dodogo! has just been released, the latest version is called Dodogo! Challenge and has been developed by Neko Entertainment in co-production with Alien After All for the Nintendo DSiWare.

The story of DodoGo! Challenge begins in the Cretaceous period on Domo Island where the survival of the Dodo is threatened by a tidal wave that has swept away the inhabitants home, leaving their eggs treacherously scattered across a desolate rock in the middle ocean.

Featuring nearly 100 captivating missions, players using their Nintendo DSi stylus to guide eggs back to their nest through a range of inhospitable environments whilst encountering predators, obstacles and pitfalls along the way. Players are armed with a toolbox and their own creativity as they manage the environment to lead the Dodo eggs to safety undamaged. Players progress through levels interacting with their environment to progress by digging, filling, sawing, scraping and cutting.

Laurent Lichnewsky, Managing Director of Neko Entertainment said;

“DodoGo! Challenge is a Nintendo DSi stylus touch based game designed exclusively for the Nintendo DSi™ that is full of surprises and bonus levels. Whether you’re a casual player or an experienced gamer, DodoGo Challenge will keep you entertained for hours on end.”

DodoGo! Challenge is rated PEGI 3 in Europe and is now available on the Nintendo DSi Shop priced at 500 Nintendo DSi Points.

For more information about Dodogo! Challenge visit the DodoGo! website.

Pearl Harbor Trilogy – 1941: Red Sun Rising is the first title in a trilogy of air-combat action games for the Wii. In the first episode, which is available on WiiWare™ for 700 Wii Points, players are dropped into the cockpit of famous World War II aircraft and thrown into some of the most contested air battles of the Pacific Theatre such as Pearl Harbor, Wake Island and Guadalcanal.

The game has been rated T for Teen (Violence) by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), PEGI 12 (Europe), USK 12 (Germany) and AGCB PG Mild Violence (Australia and New Zealand).