Players take on the role of Ruby, a reporter from the entertainment show Entertainment Now. Ruby is covering Reo Speedwagon and the release of their new CD at a ritzy release party. Just as the release party is arriving the band leader, Kevin Cronin, goes missing. Ruby has the chance to be the hero and follow the clues that lead to Kevin. Ruby then has to get the band to the release party on time.

”Find Your Own Way Home is our first product in this category, so it was important that we were aligned with great partners,” said Adam Blumenthal, CEO of Curious Sense. “In Merscom we have a partner with a tremendous track record of one success after another.”

Press Release Follows:

CHAPEL HILL, NC – November 4, 2009 – Merscom announced today that it is publishing Find Your Own Way Home, a hidden object adventure game for PC and Mac download. The game, the first casual title featuring a real rock band, is the first of several games Curious Sense will produce with music acts. The game uses several instrumental music tracks derived from REO Speedwagon music, and also features previously unreleased recordings of some of the band’s classic hits.

In Find Your Own Way Home, the player takes the role of Ruby, a hip Hollywood reporter for the entertainment television program, Entertainment Now.  For the past few weeks, Ruby has been on assignment with the legendary rock band, REO Speedwagon.  On the day the game takes place, the band is releasing their new CD at a star-studded album release party. Ruby is on assignment for Entertainment Now, and as her busy day is unfolding, as she prepares for the nightly broadcast and launch party, Kevin Cronin, the band’s leader, goes missing.  The player has the chance to be the hero by tracking down clues to locate the missing star, and getting everyone to the party on time.

Find Your Own Way Home features
–      10 hours of entertainment
–     80 game levels
–      30 beautifully hand-rendered environments
–     18 types of games
–      12 REO Speedwagon songs including brand new recordings of “Keep on Loving You” and “Roll with the Changes”

”Find Your Own Way Home is our first product in this category, so it was important that we were aligned with great partners,” said Adam Blumenthal, CEO of Curious Sense. “In Merscom we have a partner with a tremendous track record of one success after another.”

Curious Sense is leveraging its relationships in the music industry to bring a new type of product to bands and gamers. Blumenthal continued, “the way consumers buy music has changed – we are most often buying singles than albums, so an artists body of work is rarely experienced in its intended form. Our music-themed casual games serve as both a broad-reaching promotional vehicle and a new way for fans to interact with the content of an album.”

“Although we normally do not distribute other publishers’ games, we felt Find Your Own Way Home would be ideal for our audience,” said Lloyd Melnick, Chief Customer Officer at Merscom. “It features a band beloved by many of our customers in the context of a great hidden object game, and a neat story.”

Players take on the role of Marie as she battles the evil ghouls. Marie has 25 different levels to attempt to beat. Players can search for weapons as they are battling and have the help of power ups along the way. The excitement never ends and when players have reached the end of the game they can download more content and extend the life of the game.

“Interesting characters, a compelling and humorous storyline and lots of undead destruction are just a few things that distinguish this from other titles,” said Jonathan Kromrey, general manager of Apple Games for Namco Networks. “What will keep fans coming back is the insatiable appetite for more…just like a zombie.”

If you are into zombie type shooting games, check out Garters and Ghouls.

The player takes on the role of the doctor that helps Dr. Sloan solve a series of murders. As players are solving the crimes, they will play through hidden object game play with adventure elements.

“Our testing showed Diagnosis Murder is one of the most loved shows by our customers,” said Lloyd Melnick, Chief Customer Officer at Merscom. “Two of our most popular themes are crime solving and medicine, so this game should really appeal to all casual gamers, both fans of the shows and just people who like a great game.”

Press Release Follows:

CHAPEL HILL, NC – November 3, 2009 – Merscom announced today that it is developing and publishing Diagnosis Murder, a casual game for the PC and Macintosh based on the classic television series.

Diagnosis Murder ran for four seasons, 178 episodes, from 1993-1997.  It starred Dick Van Dyke as Dr. Mark Sloan, a medical doctor who solves crimes with the help of his son, a homicide detective played by his real-life son Barry Van Dyke.

In the game, the player is a young doctor who helps Dr. Sloan solve a series of murders.  The game uses classic hidden object gameplay coupled with adventure elements.

The game, licensed from CBS Consumer Products, builds on Merscom’s experience in creating successful commercial casual games based on major media properties.  Merscom’s joint productions with Lifetime Network’s Blood Ties and with Starz Media’s Righteous Kill were two of the most successful hidden object games of 2008, each title not only popular with fans of the properties but also the broader casual games market.

“Our testing showed Diagnosis Murder is one of the most loved shows by our customers,” said Lloyd Melnick, Chief Customer Officer at Merscom. “Two of our most popular themes are crime solving and medicine, so this game should really appeal to all casual gamers, both fans of the shows and just people who like a great game.”

Players take on the role of Nancy Drew and have to find out the identity of the Black Cat. Nancy finds herself back at school and interacting with students all over again. Pieces of the story line are revealed as Nancy meets the other girls on her floor and starts to ask questions. The questions lead to other questions and answers are revealed if you ask the right questions. There are, usually, multiple questions to ask until the player has asked all of the questions.

The game is a bit open ended. Nancy has things she needs to do, but the player has to figure out how to get them accomplished. The objectives are found in Nancy’s journal and they will say things such as meet all of the girls on your floor at Waverly Academy. Players have to walk around meeting the girls, but of course all of the girls are not in their room. Nancy will have to wander around finding all of the girls.

As Nancy talks to the girls, more is revealed about the Black Cat and what has happened to the two girls already struck by the black cat. Nancy quickly figures out who the popular girls are and who the girls are that are not so popular. Nancy is also tasked with other jobs as she is finding out the identity of the Black Cat. Nancy will have to do things for the girls to get information, as well. At one point Nancy needs a password and the person holding the password asks Nancy to do her DNA model before she will hand over the password.

The tasks from the girls are usually puzzle based, but some are in the form of mini-games. The puzzles can be challenging and will take some concentration to figure out. There are two modes of play and even on the easiest mode the puzzles are still challenging. The puzzles are different from each other, too, so players won’t get bored doing the same puzzle over and over.

The graphics in Nancy Drew: Warnings at Waverly Academy are high quality. The areas in the game look like real life areas and the people are not cartoony. The sound in the game is great too. The story line is all read to the player, but includes text for people that may not be able to turn their sound on or may not have sound.

Over all, Nancy Drew: Warnings at Waverly Academy is an entertaining, but challenging. Players that enjoy adventure games mixed with puzzle games will truly enjoy this game. The game offers plenty of game play and challenge. If adventure/puzzle games are your type of game, head out to your local retailer and pick yourself up a copy of Nancy Drew: Warnings at Waverly Academy.

The answers are all multiple choice and sometimes the strangest answer is the correct answer. The scenarios are all different and the questions are all random. Every time a question is answered correctly, the user scores points. Players want to try and accumulate the most amount of points possible and achieve the highest score. The scores can be shared with your friends on Facebook too.

The questions are random, but there is a practice mode that will help players practice answering the random questions. The questions from the practice level are found in the non-practice part of the game. Playing the practice level can help players learn the correct answer to the questions and achieve a better score.

The player chooses the answer they think is correct by touching the selection. The touch mechanism works well and never accidentally chose a different answer than the one that was touched.

A nice feature of Worst Case Scenario is the ability to extend the life of the game with a new set of scenarios. The scenarios can be bought from inside the game. Once you have mastered the scenarios the game comes with, you can purchase more scenarios for 99 cents and extend the life of the game.

Worst Case Scenario is a fun way to pass the time. The scenarios and answers are all interesting. People that enjoy question and answer quiz type games will enjoy Worst Case Scenario. If you are into quiz type games, check out Worst Case Scenario.

“Our 5th Anniversary is a chance for us to stop, look back and celebrate what we have evolved into. On behalf of the whole Playrix team, we would like to thank our fans for their loyalty and support. The company’s main asset is our talented and devoted team and we remain passionate about our core values – premium quality and fun,” stated Igor Bukhman, President, Products, Playrix Entertainment.

The sale is only going on for this week, the week of November 2nd. If you are looking for a casual game to play, head over to Playrix and pick one up for half the usual price. Can’t argue with that kind of savings.

Press Release Follows:

VOLOGDA, Russia (November 2, 2009) – Playrix® Entertainment, a top-tier casual games developer and publisher, is celebrating its 5th Anniversary by offering consumers a 50% discount on any Playrix game purchased through the company’s official website (www.playrix.com).  Within the last few months, the company has launched four new games – Gardenscapes™, Fishdom: Spooky Splash™, Fishdom: Harvest Splash™ and Playrix’s first published title Elementals: The Magic Key™ – which have expanded the company’s successful lineup of high quality games.

Playrix was founded in 2004 by brothers Igor and Dmitri Bukhman who turned their hobby of making simple shareware games into a passion and eventually a career. Over the past five years, Playrix has grown into a company with an extensive network of distribution channels, an experienced in-house development team and a number of talented external studio partners. Today, the company boasts a headcount of over eighty inspired professionals dedicated to creating captivating family-friendly games.

The company is steadily stepping up production while creating new and engaging gaming experiences on a variety of platforms. Earlier this year, Playrix adopted a multi-platform strategy announcing plans to expand its titles onto the iPhone/mobile, Mac, Nintendo Wii/DS and other consoles/handhelds while exploring new opportunities. This initiative has been one of the company’s priorities since then and it is actively working in this direction.

“Our 5th Anniversary is a chance for us to stop, look back and celebrate what we have evolved into. On behalf of the whole Playrix team, we would like to thank our fans for their loyalty and support. The company’s main asset is our talented and devoted team and we remain passionate about our core values – premium quality and fun,” stated Igor Bukhman, President, Products, Playrix Entertainment.

Gardenscapes™ is a smooth blend of hidden object, time management and sim that gives players a chance to restore a once stunning garden to its former glory while combing rooms for hidden objects and earning money to purchase various outdoor décor items.

Fishdom: Spooky Splash™ is a hauntingly fun match-3 game in the best-selling Fishdom series that challenges players to complete addictive tile-swapping levels and create a spooky aquarium of their dreams.

Fishdom: Harvest Splash™ is the latest installment in the Fishdom series.  The farm-themed puzzle game gives players a chance to create their harvest-themed tanks while progressing through match-3 levels and buying festive fish and fall-time accessories.

Elementals: The Magic Key™ is the company’s first published title. Players hunt for hidden items and solve puzzles to help Albert, a young magician, restore the Key of Eiron and save his kidnapped sister.

For the week of November 2, 2009, in honor of Playrix’s 5th anniversary, all Playrix titles, including the games above, are 50% off at www.playrix.com.

Inferno Pool is a different type of pool/billiards game. Players battle it out to see who can clear their tables first, but the entire time they can be shooting potted balls at their opponents. There can be up to four players battling it out. Players have the option to stock pile their balls and then unleash and onslaught of destruction or shoot their balls as they become available.

Inferno Pool claims to be easy to play due to the simple control scheme, realistic ball physics and smooth game play. The game play may be easy to learn, but players will need to master Combos, Bank Shots, Kick Shots, Jump Shots, and multiballs to get the upper hand.

If you like billiards games, check out Inferno Pool on Xbox Live Arcade.

Press Release Follows:

Hermosa Beach, Calif. – October 28, 2009 – Deep Silver Inc., a publisher of interactive entertainment software and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Koch Media, and Dark Energy Digital, a British developer and publisher of video games, today announced that “Inferno Pool” is now available in North America and Asia for Xbox LIVE® Arcade.

“Inferno Pool” is a revolutionary new arcade Pool/Billiards game where 1-4 local or online players battle to clear their tables while firing potted balls at opponents. Players can stockpile balls for a later onslaught, nominate their victims, and unleash devastating ball streaks and outrageous skill shots to trigger the punishing Inferno Mode. Alliances will be formed, friends will be betrayed, and the battle isn’t over until the stat screen appears. The game also includes classic 8 ball and 9 ball modes for 1-2 players, and the addictive, Inferno-fueled, race against the clock Endurance Mode.
Thanks to simple controls, incredible ball physics, and super-smooth gameplay, “Inferno Pool” is easy to pick up and play. However to become a true hustler players must master Combos, Bank Shots, Kick Shots, Jump Shots, and multiballs and unleash the devastation of Inferno Mode where flames fly out of the pockets and potting power is doubled. Inferno Pool includes unlockable ball designs, scalable AI opponents, practice modes, selectable arenas and table designs, stunning 60fps HD graphics, online leaderboards and challenging achievements.

ConsoleMonster.com gave the game a score of 85%, saying, “Inferno Pool plays sublimely; it’s quick, intense, fun and something that keeps the player coming back for another go. This is the Pool equivalent of Space Invaders Extreme, or Pac-Man Championship Edition.”

Moreover, “Inferno Pool” offers an Endurance mode where players try to sink balls under time pressure. Other features include scalable AI opponents, stunning HD graphics, online rankings, and challenging achievements.

Players have quite a few different weapons at their disposal. They can use a chainsaw, shot gun, pistol, assault rifle and a metal bat are just a few of the weapons available. Each weapon has two different hit ranges. The most optimal place to hit a zombie is in the head and when a head shot is available the target lights up green. Hitting the zombie in the head will kill the zombie instantly. The target becomes orange/yellow when the shot will hit the zombie in the body. It usually takes more than one shot to the body to kill the zombie.

The other challenge in the game is that weapons wear out. The weapons will disappear when they wear out and you will need to collect more weapons or have to fight the zombies with your hands and feet. It is possible to fight the zombies with your hands and feet, but they end up coming in such big numbers that you will have to be a really good fighter to not end up dead.

The controls are all touch-based. The player walks by touching a left or right arrow on the screen depending on the direction they want to travel in. The weapons are used by touching the weapon icon on the screen. The controls are meant to be used with the thumbs of each hand. The controls are easily reachable, but the way they are laid out it is easy to kick instead of walk. The kick button is next to the arrow button and if you are not careful you can touch the kick button instead of the arrow button.

iZombieland is a typical zombie shooter style game. If you are into shooting zombies, you will most likely enjoy this game. The game is fairly challenging for people that don’t play a lot of shooter style games. There is a free version available for people that may be on the edge and not sure if this game is for them. If you are interested in killing zombies, check out iZombieland.

The game is has a theme of the ancient world and the backdrops are the forgotten cities, there are ancient treasures and hidden relics as well. Players use the stylus to drag tiles across the board and make matches before time runs out. Players will be challenged, but there are power ups to help along the way. The power ups aid players in getting the tiles matched quickly with time to spare.

7 Wonders II is available now at retail stores. If you like match three type games and own a Nintendo DS, check out 7 Wonders II.

Press Release Follows:

7 WONDERS II OFFERS HOURS OF MATCH 3 PORTABLE PUZZLING FUN

Avanquest Software Publishing, a leading consumer software and games publisher, has released 7 Wonders II, the addictive puzzle adventure game, on Nintendo DS today. Adding to Avanquest’s portfolio of successful casual games, such as Mystery Stories and Jewel Quest Solitaire, 7 Wonders II offers Match 3 gameplay, one of the most popular game genres today that requires players to match or swap items into groups of 3 or more for fast and fun puzzle gaming.

Casual gamers and fans of the original PC version can now experience the new look and feel of 7 Wonders II on the handheld format. Each level features a playing field covered in up to seven different types of ancient symbols, representing The Seven Wonders of the Forgotten World. Set against a backdrop of forgotten cities, hidden treasure and ancient relics, players must use the stylus to drag the coloured tiles across the game board and make matching sets before the time runs out.

7 Wonders II features a number of power-ups and bonuses that can be collected along the way to help gamers complete challenges quickly. Power-ups include an Ice Ball, earned by matching four symbols and used for removing tiles in a horizontal line. Similarly, the Fire Ball eliminates icons vertically and horizontally after five tiles are linked. Bonuses are gained by dropping building blocks onto certain marked squares. A Clock Stopper bonus freezes time for 20 seconds and a Chameleon bonus can change the colour of any icon on the grid.

Players can compete in Story Mode, building each of the Seven Wonders in turn, or Free Play Mode, starting from any level already completed in Story Mode. The Seven Wonders of the Forgotten World that need to be built are Stonehenge, the Colosseum, the Taj Mahal, the Shwedagon Pagoda, Angkor Wat, the Great Wall of China and the Moai Statues.

Secret Challenge Levels can also be unlocked by matching tiles surrounded by coloured borders with other symbols of the same colour. This reveals pieces of a secret map and when all the parts have been collected players are taken to a bonus level. When all seven Secret Challenge Levels are finished then an eighth wonder is revealed…

She’s back – the Cooking Mama is back, and if you love a thick Japanese accent woman says, “Wow, even bettah dan Momma!”, then Cooking Mana 3: Chop & Shop is your dream.

Another video after the break.