Not long after Grand Theft Auto 4 (Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PlayStation 3) rocked the world, and a few weeks before Metal Gear Solid 4 does the same, we're left with several decent titles that can't be dubbed as mere distractions. This week marks the release of Myst on the Nintendo DS, while Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King is set to build a kingdom on the Wii. The rest await at the full article, so hit that jump!

* Article originally posted May 12, 2008 at 12:05AM

It's been two months since you guys feasted your eyes on the PSP trailer video for Empire Interactive's upcoming racing title, Ford Racing Off Road. That particular video might have left you guys wanting more, but today's update will fill you up just right with the Tracks Trailer. Catch the clip after the jump!

Remember PipeMania (a.k.a. Pipe Dream), folks? It's back, and the plumbing problem is worse than ever. Prepare for the flooze when the game hits this summer. Details on the game in the full article. You might also want to read the full article if you don't know what flooze is.

In this day and age of next-generation gaming, we can't help but reminisce about the good ol' days where gaming was more simple, but oftentimes more fulfilling. So when we heard that Empire Interactive is going to bring PipeMania to the current consoles, we can't help but flash a sentimental smile. Check out more details in the full article.

Henry Ford was certainly a great visionary during his time, but we wonder what he would've thought if he had known that certain 4WD vehicles would bear his name and be part of a racing game many years later - Ford Racing Off Road, to be exact. While Ford may no longer be able to watch this little video that Empire Interactive has cooked up, you certainly can. It's waiting for you in the full article, right after the jump.

Rough-ridin' Xbox 360 racer FlatOut Ultimate Carnage is getting ported to the PC to breathe an aura of aggression to the stock car-dominated PC racing genre. Empire Interactive and Silverstar Holdings are pulling out all the stops to make a DVD release possible this 2008. Read on and get all the details in the full article.

Ford Racing Off Road. The title says it all really. Ford Racing Off Road is the latest installment to the Ford video game franchise from Empire Interactive. Read more in the full article.

And the Games Convention Developers Conference (GCDC) for 2007 is rolling to a good start as another company has officially announced, via press wire, games that will be offered for gamers, media and retailers at the Leipzig Business Center come late August. Deep Silver (X3: Reunion Game of the Year Edition, Warhammer: Mark of Chaos) and its partners have listed ANNO 1701, Ferrari Challenge, Final Fantasy Tactics, Secret Files 2, Flatout Ultimate Carnage, Heroes of Mana, Perry Rhodan, and Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria as featured games for gamers.

 

ANNO 1701 is Deep Silver's upcoming add-on to the ANNO (PC) real-time strategy series, published by Ubisoft. Ferrari Challenge (PlayStation 3, DS, Wii), published by System 3, will be there to tout realistic modeling and racing simulations of the Italian sports car and the motor sports series of the same name.

Final Fantasy Tactics: The Lion War (PSP) under Square Enix' supervision will also be at the Leipzig Convention, enticing fans of the Square Enix Final Fantasy and tactical action persuasion to give the game a try over handheld. Mystery fans might want to to stop by to take a gander at the sequel to the classic German adventure Secret Files: Tunguska, Secret Files 2 (PC) - the predecessor being a winner of several local and regional game of the year awards.

And if you're a fan of Mana, you could check out Heroes of Mana (DS), a real-time strategy title published by Square Enix and based on the Mana series. Empire Interactive's Flatout Ultimate Carnage (Xbox 360) will be smashing its way to Leipzig, too, after a well-anticipated, timely launch for the destructive driving title.

Perry Rhodan (PC) will feature the famous astronaut of the same name in a fictional adventure game published by Brain Game. And if Heavenly Sword coming out for the PlayStation 3 just shattered your day, worry not, because Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria (PS2) by Square Enix will be brandished at the event to satisfy the Sony current generation console gamers.

But wait, Deep Silver isn't done yet, because more games will be announced when the second part of the European-centric trade fair highlights by the developer is polished before the curtains rise by August 23. Catch them, and their games, at stand A12 of Hall 3 of the Leipzig Business Center.

The last few iterations of the Ford video game franchise enjoyed moderate successes in the market. But a lot of people argue that the series is still lacking that one defining title that will establish Ford's foothold in the racing genre. Empire Interactive is planning to change all that as it announced Ford Off Road for the PSP, PS2, and PC.

Compared to the previous titles, one of the more interesting changes to Ford Off Road is that the licensed vehicles in the game are now allowed to get dirty and receive body damage. Empire simply explained that the car companies have "relaxed" their laws a bit on this matter.

There are still no specific details as to how many vehicles will be available this time but Empire Interactive mentioned that there will be more than 24 tracks spanning across various environments like mountains, forests and deserts. Some of the race modes will include Time Trial and Show Me The Money. The main campaign will last a regular player for about 15 hours.

Curiously, Empire Interactive wasn't able to furnish any information regarding the multiplayer mode for the PC version. PlayStation Portable players need not worry on that aspect as the company mentioned that six players can race it out in one go using the handheld's Wi-Fi connection.

Ford Off Road is expected to come out this November.

Not really a big bit of news, but just in case you're part of the Sudoku craze, IGN reports that the PS2, PSP, and PC version of Empire Interactive's Sudoku, Carol Vorderman Sudoku, should be shipping in North America today.

Just in case you're not familiar with who the hell Carol Vorderman is, Vorderman is sort of the Josh Waitzkin/Bobby Fischer of UK Sudoku. She's a math guru/television celebrity in the UK, so it makes sense for Eidos to attach her name to puzzle game.

The game is set to offer over a million puzzles and live-action FMV tutorials and tips.

If you're a Sudoku addict or you're eager to learn, a trip to retail for this product may be just what you need. If you're short on cash, just wait for a homebrew Sudoku game for the PSP, and then Google up tutorials or something, unfortunately, that route won't lead to FMV videos of Vorderman  ...sigh.