The Rundown: Dec. 18, 2008

December should be declared iPod month with all the games being released just this week. EA releases yet another game today, GarageGames tells us what games on Steam use Torque, we tell you how to make a Spore sculpture or a Champions Online holiday card and detail new releases from Konami and Capcom. All this and more today in The Rundown.

Electronic Arts and Z Corporation today announced that fans of Spore can now transplant their creatures into the real world as “Spore Sculptures” through Z Corporation’s 3D printing technology. Z Corporation’s 3D-printing is a technology that enables the conversion of players’ creatures into figurines. Spore Sculptures are the latest incarnation of ZPrints, full-color physical objects produced from 3D data much as a traditional office printer creates a document from text. Spore Sculptures will retail for $49.50 USD.
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Castlevania Chronicles has landed on the PlayStation Network today, giving players a chance to try this game for the very first time in North America. Oh and it’s dirt cheap at a mere $5.99. In Castlevania Chronicles, players enter a world where Count Dracula has been resurrected to begin a new reign of terror across the land. As Simon Belmont, descendant of legendary vampire hunters, players enter Dracula’s estate armed with a whip and an inhuman amount of intestinal fortitude in a bid to split Dracula’s wig. Check it out if you’re a Castlevania fans.
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Capcom’s Neopets Puzzle Adventure is now shipping to retail for the Nintendo Wii. Neopets Puzzle Adventure is described as an easy to play, but hard to master single and multiplayer puzzle game (think Reversi) featuring the popular characters from the web based game franchise. Players create and develop one of 12 Neopets characters by completing quests, playing mini-games, and battling others. Look for it on store shelves beginning today.
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Ubisoft announced a publishing agreement to release the special edition of Broken Sword – Shadow of the Templars on Wii and Nintendo DS. The game was revealed yesterday as part of Nintendo’s Q1 release schedule. The Director’s Cut builds on the original, boasting a new narrative interwoven within the first story. New puzzles have been added for Nintendo DS, as well as animated facial expressions drawn by Dave Gibbons, the artistic genius behind the comic book and upcoming movie, Watchmen. The games are scheduled for release in March 2009.
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Planet Moon Studios has released its first iPhone and iPhone Touch game today, called Booty Blocks. Planet Moon calls the game a classic style puzzler set beneath the ocean waves where you have to catch, tilt, stack and fling around blocks of crates filled with loot to solve puzzles and earn points. Hit the link for further details.
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EA Mobile has released SimCity for the iPhone and iPod touch. SimCity lets players construct, manage and even destroy a dream city of their own creation.. using the ..ahem.. unique iPod controls. Good luck with that.
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GarageGames wanted to point out that a lot of the most popular games on Steam right now were created using its toque game engine technology. what games use Torque? The excellent Hinterland and Mosby’s Confederacy from Tilted Mill, Buccaneer: The Pursuit of Infamy, Penny Arcade Adventures Episode 1 & 2, and Penguins Arena: Sedna’s World. there, now you know and as GI Joe says “knowing is half the battle.”
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Champions Online themed holiday cards are now possible, giving nerds everywhere a way to create cards using characters and themes from Cryptic’s upcoming super hero MMO. Visit this link for those dirty little details.
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Psyonix Studios announced today that Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle-Cars, the action game with an insanely long name has received a five-dollar price cut and is now available for download on the PlayStation Network for $9.99. In addition to the price cut, Psyonix has also released an update that adds a new “Cosmic” arena, improved performance in network games and a bunch of other tweaks, fixes and additions.
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Vyk Games been selected by Jenkat Media to develop Jenkat’s new casual game titles. Leading off the new partnership, Vyk Games provided game development services for the all new Mr. Biscuits – Case of the Ocean Pearl, a casual mystery thriller in which players will help a lovable pug, Mr. Biscuits, search for clues to solve mysteries aboard the cruise ship the Ocean Pearl. The new title will launch with select online retailers in time for the holidays and will be widely available for download on the PC in January, 2009.
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Street Gears, a new free-to-play in-line skating MMORPG celebrates its first Christmas since its launch on the Nov. 22 at the www.gpotato.eu. From Dec. 22 through to the 8th January, the gPotato team has organized a series of in-game events for the expanding community of players.
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NGD Studios has released what it calls the most important feature to its Realm vs. Realm based game, Regnum Online. Now players can enter into enemy territory, pillaging its cities and stealing the Realm Gems for some realm vs. realm and siege warfare. Details at www.regnumonlinegame.com. the event begins today.
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True Games Interactive revealed new details for its Online action MMORPG, Warrior Epic. True Games and Possibility Space revealed details on Aberas, where players will begin their journey in Warrior Epic. Aberas will offer 20 unique zones, multiple PvP areas and randomized dungeons with the promise of infinite replayability. Hit the site for more info on this starting area and other info on the game.
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GamesCampus announced today that it is hosting a special in-game holiday charity event through its game Shot Online. In the true spirit of the holidays, GamesCampus will donate 100 percent of the proceeds from the sale of two custom in-game Shot Online golf items to children in need through the SOS Children’s Village organization. Visit the site for more details.
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GamersFirst announced that its most popular free-to-play online game destinations, introduces Chapter 3 in the War Rock Story along with a new map named Artifact. Along with this update is the addition of Two Holiday maps, Holiday Velruf and Holiday Marion (with bonus XP). These are existing maps that have been changed for the holiday; everyone gets to wear a Snowman Head when playing on the Holiday Maps.