Frictionless Insight

Aspyr has shipped Treasure World for the DS to stores in North America. Treasure World has players using the DS to locate Wi-Fi signals that unlock rewards ranging from flowers and tiki torches to the Statue of Liberty. Players can then decorate their in-game world with those items.

Microsoft has added two more Xbox Live Arcade games to its portfolio of downloadable content available for the Xbox 360:

Publisher: Playlogic
Developer: Icon

Platform: Wii and PC
Reviewed on Wii

In the future, racing is not something done in conventional airships nor in wheeled, terrestrial vehicles. Real racing involves "Xorbs" – customized racing spheres – cruising through tracks constructed on nine worlds involving high speeds and death-defying jumps. Speed alone, however, isn't enough to make it through Xorb Racing Corporation's top courses. They also require practice and puzzle-solving prowess to maneuver fast enough to outpace all competitors.

Publisher: Playlogic
Developer: Icon

Platforms: Wii and PC
Reviewed on Wii

"Rise to stardom as you take on the Pool Halls' toughest opponents. Select and play a vast collection of different styles of Pool, Snooker and Billiards! Battle your way through tournaments set in exotic locations."

Ubisoft's game Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood is now in stores for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC. This shooter has players following the McCall Brothers as they depart Civil War-era Georgia and head to Mexico to search for gold in Aztec ruins.

Codemasters has shipped the PC version of its game Fuel (that shipped earlier this month for consoles). The game will ship in Europe and other territories later this week.

Capcom has shipped Mega Man Star Force 3 for the DS to stores in North America. The game is an action-oriented role-playing game in which players travel between the physical world and digital world while trying to save both.

O-Games, part of Oxygen Interactive, has shipped My Dress-Up for the DS to stores in North America. The game has players dressing up their avatars and then participating in "dress-up parties."

Playlogic has shipped its game Infernal: Hell's Vengeance for the Xbox 360 to stores in North America. The title, developed by Metropolis Games, follows Ryan Lennox, a fallen angel battling against a secret plot by heaven.

Activision Publishing, part of Activision Blizzard, has shipped Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs to stores worldwide. The game is based on the film of the same name and has players engaging in puzzle-solving and basic platforming action. The game is available for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, PC, DS and PlayStation 2.

Electronic Arts, in conjunction with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, has shipped Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince to stores worldwide. Based on the film of the same name (in turn based on J. K. Rowling's sixth book in the Harry Potter series), has players brewing potions, playing Quidditch and dueling wizards as they learn the identity of the Half-Blood Prince. The game is available for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, PSP, DS, PC, Mac, PlayStation 2 and mobile phones.

Publisher: Microsoft
Developer: Stainless Games and Wizards of the Coast

Platforms: Xbox 360 and PC
Reviewed on Xbox 360

Magic: The Gathering, the long-running collectible card game, has reached a variety of platforms, from early PC implementations to a strangely action-oriented game to Magic: The Gathering Online. In Duels of the Planeswalkers, Wizards of the Coast (part of Hasbro) is bringing the latest version of Magic: The Gathering to Xbox Live Arcade (and later to the PC).

505 Games has shipped Parrot Pals for the DS to stores in North America. The game bears the Discovery Channel label and has players participating in the simulation of a pet parrot.

MTV Games has hired Scott Guthrie and David Cox to new executive positions. Guthrie was the Executive Vice President of Publishing for THQ and will be Executive Vice President and General Manager for MTV Games. Cox was the Senior Director of Sales and Merchandising for Sony Computer Entertainment America and will be MTV Games' Senior Vice President of Sales.

With the arrival of another Monday, Nintendo has released another five downloadable games for the Wii and DSi:

NCsoft has launched the "Issue 15" major content update for its massively multiplayer online game City of Heroes. Called "Anniversary," this update returns the 5th Column to the fore of villainy, adding five new Task Force missions, new emotes, new costume options and new tools for the Mission Architect system.

Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) has added responsibilities to Kunimasa Suzuki currently Senior Vice President (Deputy President) of the Networked Products & Services Group of Sony Corporation. Now, SCEI is also making Suzuki Representative Director and Deputy President of SCEI reporting to Kazuo Hirai (SCEI's President and Group CEO). In this capacity, Suzuki will run SCEI's strategy and product planning efforts.

Sony has released a variety of downloadable games for the PlayStation 3 and PSP:

Publisher: Telltale Games
Developer: Telltale Games

Platform: PC Xbox 360
Reviewed on PC

Windows System Requirements: 2 GHz Processor, 512 MB RAM, DirectX 8.1 compatible video card and sound device, internet connection, Windows XP or more recent operating system

"When unrelenting rain ruins their holiday plans, Wallace & Gromit bring the beach to 62 West Wallaby with a makeshift resort – in their basement. Keeping customers satisfied is tricky business, especially when one of them is clocked on the head by an unknown assailant."

Ubisoft has shipped Dawn of Discovery for the Wii, PC and DS to stores in North America. This strategy game has players exploring the world, building a trading empire and colonizing new lands.

CompuExpert has shipped its game Rise of Flight: The First Great Air War for the PC to stores. Developed by Russian developer "neoqb," the game is a flight simulator set in 1917 exploring early flight combat with planes like the Spad XIII in heated battles online and offline.

Hurry Up Hedgehog from O-Games (part of Oxygen Interactive) is now in stores for the DS. Hurry Up Hedgehog is a racing and puzzle game based on board games in which players navigate cute hedgehogs around garden-themed levels.

Electronic Arts' Fight Night Round 4 is now in stores for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. The boxing game includes 48 famous boxers and adds a new "Legacy Mode" to the franchise that allows players to develop a boxing career against the great boxers of all time.

Activision Publishing, part of Activision Blizzard, has placed its game Little League World Series Baseball 2009 in stores for the Wii and DS. Developed by Now Production, the game re-creates Little League baseball action, adding new power-ups and real-world stadia to the game.

Electronic Arts has entered into a "multimillion-dollar marketing agreement" that will allow gamers to unlock special content in Electronic Arts games by purchasing Dr. Pepper products. While the extra income is surely something EA will enjoy, this is an unfortunate development for gamers:

Electronic Arts has decided to restructure its role-playing and massively multiplayer online game studios. As a result, EA is creating a new group that will include both BioWare and Mythic Entertainment.

Peripheral manufacturer Mad Catz reported a massive net loss, as well as the fact that it recently renegotiated certain financial agreements. Given the renegotiations described below, it looks like Mad Catz might be in real trouble.

Koei's game Dynasty Warriors 6: Empires is now in stores for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. This latest installment in Koei's flagship tactical action franchise introduces an editor that allows players to create their own character to battle thousands of foes on the battlefields of ancient China.

Fashion Week Junior: Designer from 505 Games is now available for the DS in North America. The game has players becoming a fashion designer, trying to create a signature high-fashion look.

If anyone doubted that Bethesda Softworks is one of the big boys in the game publishing industry, those doubts should now be dispelled. ZeniMax Media, the parent of Bethesda Softworks, has purchased iD Software for an undisclosed sum.