Brain Age (known as Brain Training in Japan) was inspired by the work of Professor Ryuta Kawashima, a prominent Japanese neuroscientist. His studies evaluated the effect of performing reading and mathematic exercises to help stimulate the brain.

Let’s see if this kind of game will stimulate sales with the older folk in the U.S. as it did in Japan. With the word Sudoku prominently on the cover, it could work.

Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day is rated E for Everyone and launches on April 17. Big Brain Academy is Rated E for Everyone and launches May 30.Â

Note: Try some WebSudoku while you wait.

Update: These games will priced at only $20 U.S.

Koms.ru is a Russian collective of Flash animators delivering gothic, urban, industrial, vanguard and really bizarre animations in that unique Russian style. Here is Bankomat by Kol Belov. This clip was made to the music of CYCLOTIMIA band, which has coined the phrase “l’electronique mondial” to describe their work. Their electronic sound reminds me of a soundtrack to a dark video game with a sprinkling of madness.

The use of simple colors and shading help the clip flow well with the music. It also gives us another reason to go wireless and leave the network behind.

The Manamana tune will stick in your head indefinitely. Learn the history behind this catchy song which most people attribute to this one Muppet Show skit. Who are these pink guys and who is that orange haired guy? Did they only show up for this skit? Was this their one hit wonder?

I saw this skit originally on the Muppet Show many years ago. I hadn’t thought of this song in 20 years until I was reminded of this song, last year, by a Dr Pepper commercial. Since then it’s been in my mind. So, like every other site out there, I thought I’d post about this.

Manamana

Doo doo doo doo doo

More on the subject here and here’s the original Sesame Street video.

Rabidlab is a new independent game development company located in Los Angeles, California. They’re dedicated to the creation of video games that appeal to casual and experienced game players alike. Dodge That Anvil! is the studio’s first title. Can one brave bunny feed the entire warren? Who is behind the anvil storm, and why? Join the intrepid Harvester of Eastwarren and find out!

Note: The Flash graphics are amazing in this demo game. The downloadable full version will be available soon.

This fun Flash based will keep you busy. The goal is that you have to try and escape the mothership. You can also give the prequel to this game and try too. Good luck and have fun!

Gung Hay Fat Choy! Happy Chinese New Year!

We like to wish all our readers a Happy Chinese New Year! May the Year of the Dog bring you prosperity and good health! Now on to the fine Chinese cuisine, festivities and family!

Thanks Rakshar for the great artwork!

Look over at 4CRÂ for an all-time classic NES game tribute. They’ve created the ultimate Super Mario Bros audio jukebox! Enjoy the nostalgic sounds by wildly clicking on the different game images! Thanks 4CR, what a wonderfully clever idea!

Note: They even offer an online version. How about a song remix of this next?

For Chibi-Robo, success is simple. His goal? To Spread the Happiness throughout the Sanderson family household by performing a variety of tasks and chores. Chibi-Robo also earns Moolah that can be used to purchase upgrades and such. The non-linear feel in the game gives you more freedom. Who knew that cleaning the house could be so much fun? So after you’ve finished all your household chores, you can play this game! Don’t forget to make your bed.

This game looks like fun and it will be out for the Nintendo Gamecube on Monday, Feb 06! Go buy it!

ThinkGeek has a fine t-shirt to assist with your Japanese schooling. It provides all the useful Japanese words you may need in an easy to pronounce and accurate format. If you’ve not heard (about the last one on the bottom right) of this odd trend at vending machines in Japan, take a look here.

If you are in need of really learning the fine language of Japanese go back to school, watch a lot of anime or look - on - the - web.

The Dark Tower electronic board game was created by Milton Bradley in 1981. This game combines a traditional board game with an electronic tower unit and can be played by up to four players. The object of the game is to journey around the board, build an army, collect the three magical keys and successfully attack the Brigands in the Dark Tower. Each gameboard move is accompanied by pressing the appropriate button on the tower’s keypad.

My family bought this game when it first came out, since I’m a big fan of RPGs. I can still remember when we first got it… Turning it on would start a self-diagnostic test. Then the lights would turn on and off to test the bulbs behind the display. Then the red LED lights would blink a bunch and then display the number 88. Then it was time to start your adventure!

The game instructions are easy to follow and there are lots of pieces to enjoy (and eventually loose). The best part of this game was the electronic Dark Tower unit. Just make sure to have two D batteries on hand. Also included are cardboard score charts and pegs that kept track of your inventory and keys, even though the tower serves this function too. The tower unit has a 12 button keypad, a red LED display, lights with different film cels behind a tinted display and a speaker that plays musical tunes for different events. The LED display showed numbers from 00 to 99.

This game is a blast to play and a feast for your eyes as well as your ears! If you can find one get it and let the fun begin! I can still hear the gears and motors of my old tower whirring and knocking around…

(Read on …)

The redesigned Nintendo DS, which will now be sleeker, smaller and feature 4 level of brightness. It will be released in Japan this March, so the rest of the world will have to wait. It’s almost time to get another one!

Nintendo Co. Press Release (English translation)

The new Marvel “Handbook” series will run monthly throughout 2006, starting with Abraxas in January, and planning to finish with Arnim Zola in December. A lot of 1960’s and Golden Age characters as well as characters who never received a profile will be shown with the rest of the characters from the Marvel Universe in each of the 64 paged issues. Check CBR for more info and images.

I always enjoyed reading the Marvel Universe Handbooks and reading up on lesser known characters and their “amazing” powers. There were so many silly characters that they came up with like Purple Man, Ringer, Gazelle, In-Betweener, Whirlwind and Kofi to name a few. I guess even these guys should be among those shown in the Handbook.

The first comic book in the series should be out by now and should be available at your local comic shop - go pick it up.

Do you want to play a game? Give TurboTanks a try and watch your time fly as you get hooked on this fun remake of a classic. The physics and the AI aren’t all that bad. What level can you get to?

Gaijin, the raccoon, is a wandering warrior that battles the evil Rabbits as they take over the world. Their evil goal is to create a perfect world where everyone will look like them or be Rabbitized- which sounds a bit like Hitler’s plight but w/o the rabbits. Several episodes have already been released in this series, so take a look. In a lot of ways this reminded me of Samurai Jack by Genndy Tartakovsky.

Speaking of anthropomorphic raccoons, what ever happened to Rocket Raccoon? I believe Mike Mignola came up with that comic book character back in the early 80’s. Mike then later created the ever popular Hellboy. The movie, of the same name, was excellent (and I watched it again on cable last night).

Sorry if my mind wanders a bit…

Note: I highly recommend the Hellboy comicbook.

Life Meter Comics is a new site which features tributes to video games, comics and has “drawings featuring characters from the digitized and pixellated world”. Zack Giallongo is the talented gent behind the above drawing. He is also known for Giallongo.com and his weekly comic “Pishio“. I wonder what inspires him and if he takes requests from the peanut gallery for drawings on his new site?

Kid Icarus was a favorite game of mine. I spent many long hours walking Pit on the top of the screen and turning my head as I watched him hopping along. Getting transformed into a walking eggplant was a laugh! It was the first game I recorded on my VCR. I’m not sure where that old tape went…