Calling in sick the day after St. Patrick’s Day? Shame on you. But if you’re playing hooky, you might as well have some fun…

Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 (Ubisoft)

The long-awaited follow up to the award winning first-person shooter is out and critics are buzzing. Once again, players find themselves on the trail of terrorists bent on destroying Las Vegas, but while the location is the same, your team of Rainbow Six operatives is entirely new. Revered just as much for its game play as for its storyline (thanks to the involvement of novelist Tom Clancy), players will finally learn how the story ends in “Vegas 2.”Fans of the game who have long felt it was at its best in multi-player mode, will now find that the developers at Ubisoft has worked to make big improvements to its single player co-op modes. (Rated M for Mature; 360 and PS3)

Sega Superstars Tennis (Sega)

Think of this as a somewhere in between Super Smash Brothers and Sega’s Virtua Tennis series. More than a dozen characters from the Sega universe, from Sonic and Tails to lesser known folk such as Amiga and Super Monkey Ball face off in head-to-head tennis matches. The locations and courts represent nearly every corner of the Sega-verse - and offer up a few surprising in-game challenges along with easy to play tennis action. (Rated E for Everyone; 360, PS3, Wii and DS)

Metal Gear Solid: Essentials Collection (Konami)

We’ve touched on this before, but it’s worth mentioning again. The complete Metal Gear Solid series to date has been collected in this special edition for fans of the series to either get caught up or get re-acquainted with the adventures of Snake ahead of the release of the much-anticipated “Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots.” With a release date for that title set for June 18th, you have exactly three months to prepare. Good luck, soldier.

– Matt West, CNN Entertainment Producer

Here’s a quick rundown of some of this week’s notable video-game releases.

Super Smash Brothers Brawl (Nintendo)

Technically, this game was released over the weekend… but if you’re like me and spent your weekend playing outside, you’ll forgive the “tardiness.” And once you fire this disc up with your Wii, you’ll forgive Nintendo for their tardiness as this long-delayed title is definitely worth the wait. The original “Smash Brothers Melee” was arguably a Game Cube classic and the follow-up for the Wii does not disappoint. With more than 20 playable characters spanning the history of the Nintendo universe, “Brawl” is loaded with an unbelievable amount of play options. Among the top features: customized controls that allow you to either play with the newer Wii-mote functions - or kick things old school GameCube style. The addition of Nintendo’s Wi-Fi to the mix allows you to take things online and battle up to four challengers at once. (Rated T for Teen; Wii Exclusive)

“Army of Two” (EA)

Another long-delayed title that rewards you for your patience is EA’s “Army of Two.” A third-person shooter - where the focus is on two-man missions. Co-Op isn’t a mode here; it’s the entire game. It’s satisfying enough as a single player - but “AO2″ is begging to be played with a friend, either in split-screen mode right there in your living room - or online. With a storyline that’s ripped straight from the headlines focused on the shadowy world of private military operations and amazing graphics, “Army of Two” is geared up and ready for battle. (Rated M for Mature; Xbox 360, PS3)

“Condemned 2: Bloodshot” (SEGA)

This sequel to “Condemned: Criminal Origins” takes the same gritty, no-holds-barred intensity of the original and pushes things far beyond the next level. As former crime-scene investigator “Ethan Thomas,” you fight your way through a dark conspiracy on the trail of the person(s) responsible for killing your former partner. All new combat controls take the violence to twisted new heights - combining bone crunching physical moves with “weapons of opportunity” (brick to the head, anyone?). Of course, the mystery elements of the original are intact - and an overhauled forensics system rewards players for how well they investigate various crime scenes. The addition of several new multi-player modes allow your friends to get in on the action such as the ever popular “Death-match” mode. (Rated M for Mature; Xbox 360, PS3)

– Matt West, CNN Entertainment Producer

It’s a big day for PSP owners as Sony’s popular “God of War” franchise makes its debut on the popular hand-held system.

Instead of “porting” a previous incarnation of the series to the hand-held system, “God of War: Chains of Olympus” is an original release created exclusively for the PSP by developer Ready at Dawn.

Having had a several early opportunities to play the game, I can tell you the graphics and game play are on par with what you might expect from a full-size Playstation 2 console, finally making good on what was promised when the PSP was first introduced: a PS2 experience that you can take with you.

Sony is betting that “God of War: Chains of Olympus” will be a “hardware mover,” a game so good that non-owners will be inspired to adopt the system just to play it. According to Sony’s John Koller, Senior Marketing Manager, “this is the game to bring people over to the PSP.”

For hardcore fans of “God of War,” it’s must-have title. For those who can afford to wait, Sony is planning on releasing a special themed edition of the PSP console later this summer.

Dubbed the “God of War Entertainment pack,” Sony is releasing a special red “God of War” edition of the PSP console and bundling it with a copy of the game, the raunch-comedy “Superbad” on UMD and a download link for a digital copy of the upcoming “Syphon Filter Combat Ops.”

Though Sony is clearly going after new users with this bundle, the limited edition packaging will undoubtedly appeal to current owners also, with as many as one in three expected to purchase the bundle just to have the console, according to Sony’s sales research.

According to the latest market research, Sony’s PSP still trails rival Nintendo’s hand-held DS system in sales, however that lead has shown signs of shrinking.

– Matt West, CNN Entertainment Producer

Here’s a quick rundown of some of this week’s notable video-game releases.

The Club (Sega)

Set in the world of a deadly underground bloodsport, “The Club,” is a violent arcade style first-person shooter. Short on story, “The Club” relies heavily on fast-paced, timed action. Players choose from eight different characters, each with their own unique skills and fighting style, and set them loose in a variety of urban environments with a singular agenda: kill or be killed. As the body count piles up, points are assessed for accuracy and “flair.” Definitely NOT recommended for the younger crowd. (Rated M for Mature; 360, PC and PS3)

Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney (Capcom)

The fourth entry in the popular “Ace Attorney” series features a new, young attorney, stepping into the lead role. As “Apollo Justice,” players take on the case-load of a rookie attorney as attempts to investigate a the crimes and defends of new a roster of hapless clients. This particular title is the first in the series created specifically for the Nintendo DS and makes great use of the handheld’s touch-screen to control the action. (Rated T for Teen; Nintendo DS exclusive)

 

Frontlines: Fuel of War (THQ)

Experience intense, futuristic battles on the open-world battlefield of “Frontlines: Fuel of War.” Players can choose from one of two fictional nations as they battle for global supremacy in gameplay that combines first-person shooter action with capture-the-flag tactics. While reviews have been critical of the game’s single-player action, it has received high marks for it’s multiplayer mode which is capable of handling up to 50 players at once via Xbox Live or Games for Windows. (Rated M for Mature; 360 and PC)

Other News and Notes:

BioWare has announced May 6th as the official date that PC gamers can get their hands on the PC version of the award winning “Mass Effect.” Originally released for the Xbox 360 console to critical acclaim, the epic space saga has been re-tooled specifically for the PC and will include all new controls as well as an exclusive mini-game.

 

 

– Matt West, CNN Entertainment Producer

It could only happen at GDC.

Only when more than 50,000 people who work in the video-game industry get together are you going to find people who make a game out of networking.

Enter: Destroy All Developers

Created by online game developer GameLab, “Destroy All Developers” turns the obligatory business of exchanging business cards into a game by challenging conference attendees to collect as many cards as they can. The “players” with the most cards that contain such information as International Area Codes and Zip Codes with 4-digit extensions are eligible to win prizes.

Considering a potential pool of nearly 60,000 attendee, all carrying business cards, all potential players, “Destroy All Developers” brings new meaning to the term “massively multiplayer.”

Watch: Gametap’s Victor Lucas on the floor at GDC

- Matt West, CNN Entertainment Producer

One word you hear time and again in the world of video games is “community.”

Whether you’re talking about gamers playing together online or attending a summit of creative pros, there is a true sense of camraderie within the “gaming community.”

Among the thousands of creative professionals attending GDC looking for not only the latest tools to help them in their craft, but also at the developments of their colleagues, there are just as many games enthusiasts trying to break in.

Producers and developers use GDC in their efforts to recruit new talent each year, but for amateur coders unable to attend, opportunities to show their talents can be elusive.During Microsoft’s keynote address on Wednesday, John Schappert unveiled an exciting new opportunity for amateur programmers looking to “level-up” to pro with the addition of “Community Games” to the industry leading Xbox Live.

Expanding on the successful release of XNA Game Studio, “Xbox Live Community Games” will accept submissions from amateur programmers for consideration to join the Xbox Live suite of downloadable games.

Chris Satchell of XNA studios revealed the details of the program in which games submitted to the community are then reviewed by the community. Those games that receive the highest overall reviews are then eligible to make the leap to Xbox Live where they can be downloaded and played by any of the service’s millions of members.

Calling it “the democratization of games,” Microsoft is hoping that by opening the doors to anybody who wants to create - the next generation of up-and-coming talent will do more than get a foot in - and possibly blow it right off its hinges.

Read more

Watch: Get Your Game On

- Matt West, CNN Entertainment Producer

Now that the video-game industry is firmly seated in the “next generation” with the Playstation 3, Xbox 360 and Wii setting the standard for the game console experience, the question inevitably turns to what’s next.

With no new consoles being announced this year, the eyes of the industry turn to as IGN publisher Peer Schneider told me in an earlier conversation, “creating a deeper experience for the player.”

While for producers and programmers, that could mean crafting deeper story and play experience for gamers, along the lines of BioWare’s critically praised “Mass Effect,” other developers are turning to their attention towards the way in which players actually physically experience their game.

One such company, Dreamflyer, has captured the attention of a number of visitors to the Moscone Center’s 3rd floor with a state-of-the-art flight simulator chair.

The chair features a system of weights and counterbalances that work in concert with a highly realistic set of pilot’s controls to create one of the most realistic flight simulator experiences outside of actually flying. By incorporating a realistic range of motion into the simulation playing out on screen, wanna-be pilots become truly immersed in the experience. The controls, according to Dreamflyer CEO Rahul Lakote, will work with any flight program on the market including Microsoft’s “Flight Simulator.”

Though the version on display at GDC was fully loaded with a three monitor display, the system can be scaled down to work with just a single display. However, if you have the money to spend on the $3000 device, holding back on the number of monitors seems almost counter-intuitive.

According to Lakote, the high-end device is selling well, especially on the international market where the Dreamflyer has sold in countries such as Australia and Spain. Lakote hopes that by combining a successful showing at last month’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas with their exposure as part of Intel’s exhibition at GDC, that sales of the Dreamflyer will soon take off here in the U.S.

- Matt West, CNN Entertainment Producer

Of the many events and conferences within this year’s GDC, I spent a good part of yesterday in the “Casual Games Summit.”

From the runaway success of “Guitar Hero” to the Nintendo Wii’s successes with the elderly, even if you don’t consider yourself a “gamer,” you can’t ignore the growing influence of so-called “casual” games.

During a keynote speech by John Welch of PlayFirst, one of the leading publishers of casual games, the mood was inspirational, with Welch calling on the industry to continue to create innovative content and help raise the profile of games to become “first-tier” entertainment.

Citing a diversity in the types of content that people digest on a daily basis, whether from television, movies, music or books, Welch insisted that games “reflect that diversity,” by offering people a wider range of ways to play.

At the beginning of his speech, Welch noted that there was no concise definition for what makes a casual game. Pointing to the number of ways people play, whether it’s on their cell-phone, through an online application such as Facebook or on their PC, Welch concluded that the “broadened definition means more opportunity” for developers and publishers alike.

But that enthusiasm was tempered with a warning … that the only way to make good on that opportunity is to remain innovative. Instead of simply creating clones of previously successful titles such as “Bejeweled” or “Diner Dash,” producers and developers need to continue to lead the way and innovate.

Welch believes that if developers of so-called “casual” titles continue to find new ways to engage their audience as well as attract new players, that the notion of “casual” games will eventually disappear… giving way for them to transition from the exception to the norm.

- Matt West, CNN Entertainment Producer

This week, I am reporting from the 2008 Game Developers Conference, taking place in San Francisco, California.

Less of a trade show and more of an idea exchange for producers and programmers alike, GDC offers a unique insight into the overall direction of the billion dollar video game industry, where it’s been in the past year, and where it’s headed.

Today being the opening day, the overall vibe is fairly subdued. I’m told that much of the “action” doesn’t usually get underway until mid-week.

When the concept of what the overall theme of the conference might be, Sibel Sunar, a publicist with 47 Communications, which represents the Conference itself says, “the focus of the show could change three times in the next three days.”

That’s not to imply that the GDC is completely lacking focus, but with a range of programs covering nearly every aspect of the gaming space; from hard-core to casual, mobile to massively-multiplayer - it can be hard to boil down the overall “message” of the conference in a single sentence.

Along with attempting to give you a glimpse into what’s next in the industry, I will also be attending several “off-site” demos of new games and hardware that will be making their way to your PCs and consoles in the coming year - and will do my best to bring you as much of that information during the next few days - both here in the SciTech blog and on CNN.com Live in a special edition of “Get Your Game On.”

For more on the conference and the depth of what is expected to be covered, check out the official web-site.

With today being Valentine’s Day, we’ve got what amounts to either great game suggestions for you to win over your sweetie with, or ways to enjoy spending the holiday by yourself …

Jumper (Brash Entertainment)

Based on the sci-fi thriller hitting theaters tomorrow, this action title picks up the story of one of the film’s supporting characters, “Griffin.” As a “jumper,” you use your teleporting powers to enhance your combat skills in this third-person fighting game. “Griffin” is voiced by English actor Jamie Bell, who plays the same role in the movie. Early reviews for the film have been mixed, but impressions of the game have been far more impressive.

(Rated T for Teen; 360, PS2 and Wii)

Lost Odyssey(Mistwalker)

This epic RPG title was developed exclusively for the Xbox 360 by Mistwalker, the studio developed by Hironobu Sakaguchi, formerly of Square Enix. Sakaguchi’s experience on the epic “Final Fantasy” series lays the groundwork for a story that plays out on a grand scale. Incredible visuals punctuate the story of the immortal “Kaim,” as players embark on an role-playing adventure to discover his mysterious past - which plays out over the course of 1,000 years. By integrating elements of massively-multiplayer games, “Odyssey” expands the experience of the tradtional RPG with deeper character interaction and strategic decision making.
(Rated M for Mature; 360 exclusive)

Professor Layton and the Curious Village(Nintendo DS exclusive)

This is the North American debut of a wildly popular franchise in Japan. As the puzzle-solving Professor, you and your apprentice “Luke” are off in search of treasure, provided you can solve the mysteries of the “Curious Village.” With 100 puzzles and brain-teasers - the game makes use of the DS’s innovative touch-screen controls - adding a new element of fun to the game play.

(Rated E for Everyone)

- Matt West, CNN Entertainment Producer