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DS releases for the week of September 29th

by Alisha Karabinus { Sep 29th 2008 at 2:36PM }

While it's nothing like last week's amazing array of releases, there's a lot for DS owners to be excited about when it comes to the new releases. Not only is the long-awaited Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood finally set to debut in the U.S., but there are some other jewels out this week, as well. Here in the States, we've got Princess Debut and Unsolved Crimes, and Europe finally sees the release of Prey the Stars. We're jealous.

Margot's Word Brain
Pipe Mania
Pop Cutie: Street Fashion Simulation
Princess Debut
Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood
Unsolved Crimes

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DS releases for the week of September 22nd

by Alisha Karabinus { Sep 22nd 2008 at 12:54PM }

Not only are there dozens -- well, almost two dozen -- games slated for release in the U.S. this week, but included in the list are a few particularly interesting titles. Kirby Super Star Ultra, though announced some time ago, comes seemingly out of nowhere after some recent wacky promotions, and My Japanese Coach finally makes it to shelves (we hope).

Barbie Fashion Show: An Eye for Style
Brain Quest Grades 3 & 4
Brain Quest Grades 5 & 6
Di-Gata Defenders
Dinosaur King
Disgaea DS
DropCast
Hi! Hamtaro Ham-Ham Challenge
Kirby Super Star Ultra
Lego Batman
Margot's Word Brain
My Japanese Coach
My Little Pony: Pinkie Pie's Party
My SAT Coach
Nancy Drew: The Hidden Staircase
Pipe Mania
Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure
Shaun the Sheep
SimCity Creator
Time Hollow

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Exclusive Pipemania PSP trailer

by Majed Athab { Aug 27th 2008 at 7:00PM }

Download to PSP

Perhaps you've heard so much about Pipemania within the last few days that you're just ready to go under the kitchen sink and take the plumbing apart in anticipation. Well, okay, maybe not that far. But, hey, if you've been wanting more, then we've got it. Here's an exclusive trailer just for our dear readers' eyes.

The three minute trailer shows you how the game is played and also drops a bit of the title's back story. Yes, back story, because puzzle games can have them, too. You'll probably want to hear all about those cowboy plumbers ... wait, what? Cowboy plumbers?

Pipemania will only be $20, out September 30

by Majed Athab { Aug 26th 2008 at 12:30PM }

If you've read our hands-on with Pipemania last week, you may have noticed that we had information regarding an exact price and date for the game. While the release date of September 30 was dead on accurate, we were apparently communicated with the wrong pricing.

Chalk it up to a common case of store clerk labeling snafu, mixing up those price tags. Instead of paying $40, you can expect Pipemania to go on sale at $19.99 next month. We're actually quite glad to hear that the numbers were a mistake.

PSP Fanboy hands-on: Pipemania

by Majed Athab { Aug 22nd 2008 at 12:00PM }

Laying down pipes is a tough job. It's not only for overweight guys with a problem keeping their butt cracks covered up, it's a job for puzzle lovers and thinkers, too. Don't agree? Well, if so, that's because you haven't played Pipemania yet. We've put in some time with the pipe-centric puzzler, playing up the DS version which, while having a different interface than the PSP, will have the exact same core gameplay and game modes.

The main objective of the game is to build pipes and keep fluid called "Flooze" from flooding the game grid. There are two designated squares which will represent 1) the beginning where the Flooze will flow from, and 2) the end where the Flooze needs to be brought to. To bridge these two points together, you'll have to make good use of a prearranged line of differently shaped pipe pieces. You'll only be able to use pipes in a fixed sequential order; however, you'll be able to view the next few pieces in line to plan ahead. This sort of preset arrangement maintains a consistent difficulty, providing balance to the progressive difficulty of the game as more gameplay elements and stricter time pressure appear.

Gallery: Pipemania

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Want some pipe-bursting Pipe Mania info? We've got it

by Majed Athab { Aug 8th 2008 at 8:00AM }

We've recently had the chance to catch producer Ben Wilkins and Empire Interactive's Director of project management P.J. Snavely for a little Q&A session on their latest multiplat puzzle game, Pipe Mania. The game is a remake of the classic 1989 title with a legion of new game modes and gameplay features. Wilkins told us that this new Pipe Mania will keep the classic core gameplay and will emphasize on building on top of that by adding more content.

Speaking of adding more, the game is set to have 250-300 levels -- about three times more than the original. Levels are not randomized; they're all preset. Expect to see some classic levels. World mode (story mode) is the game's main course, taking players to themed areas like: sewers, railroads, a toy factory, and even the almighty internet. Arcade mode is described as a "never-ending series of puzzles" and the PSP's versus mode involves competitive head-to-head matches via "remote" (which we're assuming means infrastructure play). Wilkins noted that the PSP was the best fit for multiplayer, but was also the most difficult to work with in regards to the interface. The Wii, DS, and PC versions all have that original point-n-click interface, but the PSP and PS2 don't. You'll have to be "slightly less cavalier with your moves" said Wilkins.

Lastly, the duo made mention that a PSP demo will be available soon on the PS Store. That should come in good time as Pipe Mania is due out in North America by mid-September. Oddly enough, a price for the title is "still being determined."

Gallery: Pipemania

Details revealed for Pipe Mania remake in interview

by Alan Tsang { Jun 20th 2008 at 6:30PM }

In an interview with Pocket Gamer, game designer Ben Everett and publisher Empire's product manager Rob Lightbody went into detail about their remake of the classic game Pipe Mania (also known as Pipe Dream) on the PSP. The original game, with a simple premise of keeping a usually green liquid (officially known as Flooze) oozing through a list of different pipes of the player's choosing until the next level, has been ported to many systems over the years. The remake will feature new game modes, slightly reduced difficulty, a "leak-meter" to allow you a chance to repair the pipe, different types of Flooze, new characters, "electricity" and uniquely for the PSP, a versus mode.

However, we feel the most interesting aspect is the positive things they had to say about the PSP. Lightbody states that he has had "positive experiences" with the PSP, and they are also pleased with the sales of Jackass: The Game and FlatOut. Lightbody also states that respectable software sales are possible even in mainland European territories with a smaller PSP install base but it just requires "a little more of a focused effort." Look for this nostalgic remake coming to you from the PSP-friendly publisher in "mid-September."

Pipemania flowing into stores this summer

by JC Fletcher { Apr 15th 2008 at 10:30AM }

We still don't have a concrete release date for Empire Interactive's Pipemania (now one word, according to ... most of the text in the press release!), but the publisher has announced that they're planning to release the game this summer on DS, PSP, Wii, PS2, and PC. The new version features more than 70 levels spread across seven different themes, including (we're guessing) "Here are Some Pipes" and "These Pipes are a Different Color than the Last Set of Pipes."

Pipemania features two-player co-operative play, so you can play through the whole set of puzzles with your favorite plumber's helper. It also features "new play mechanics, multiple attacks and damages, various Floozes, and an army of characters for players to help and hinder along the way." Wait, attacks and damages? What do you attack, the pipes? Is "attack" just a fancy word for "attach normally?"

Gallery: Pipe Mania

Pipe Mania anounced for XBLA

by Terrence Stasse { Mar 10th 2008 at 7:00AM }

Originally released in 1989 on the home computer Amiga with the title of Pipe Dream, and having seen release on more platforms than you can shake a stick at, Pipe Mania is now on it's way to Live Arcade. Now we've commented before on the tendency of developers to use the Arcade to make a quick buck. And this one seems just a bit obvious, as anyone who owns Bioshock already has played Pipe Mania to death; it was the hacking mini-game. Now the idea of paying more money to play that via the Arcade (especially when there are freeware versions of the game) just feels strange.

Even if Empire Interactive makes good on their promises of new game modes, new themes, new play mechanics and new pipe pieces, the underlying gameplay is still rather played out. There will still be the folks who buy it of course, but if it wants any kind of large scale success Empire Interactive needs to price this one right, say ... 200 points maybe, we'd definitely buy it as that price.

Pipe Mania bringing the Nineties back to your DS

by Chris Greenhough { Mar 7th 2008 at 3:00PM }

Remember Pipe Mania (or, as it was known in the U.S., Pipe Dream?). You certainly should do, because Empire Interactive reckons it was "one of the most popular and ported puzzle games of all time" when launched back in the late-Eighties and Nineties on a string of home computers.

Even if the name doesn't ring any bells, you'll certainly be familiar with Pipe Mania's premise. It's one of those tile-based puzzle games where you rearrange pipe sections A or B to make sure fluid X or Y is getting to where it needs to be. Similar puzzles have appeared in numerous games, with BioShock one of the more high-profile titles to use the concept.

Anyway, now Empire is bringing Pipe Mania back on the DS. As in the original, players are required to construct networks of piping from pre-ordained tile sets to keep the "Flooze" flowing without spillage. It's out later this year, and we've carefully funnelled the first thirteen shots into the gallery below.

Gallery: Pipe Mania

[Via press release]

Classic puzzle game, Pipe Mania, headed to PSP

by Nick Doerr { Feb 12th 2008 at 6:00PM }

Pipe Mania was also popularized by the title of Pipe Dream, the classic version pictured above. Still, the concept in the newly confirmed remake by publisher Empire is the same and should be familiar to almost all of you. You build and connect pipes to outlast the spewing sewage which races through your construction. It's very simple, but outlandishly difficult in the later levels when the sewage starts to fill the pipes almost before you begin to construct a maze for it to go through.

The updated version of the classic will feature different game modes, some characters, themes and play mechanics, but the heart is still the same. We're glad the publisher, Empire, is bringing back such a nostalgic puzzle game and will give you a heads up when a release date is confirmed.