For example, a 75-musician orchestral performance at the Ohio Theater recently put on a show called “Distant Worlds: Music From Final Fantasy.” The performance features music from the popular role-playing game series, according to an article by The Columbus Dispatch.

“The composer, Nobuo Uematsu, decided early on he would write light motifs for each character, so you have some of the basic themes that have been with us for 25 years,” said Arnie Roth, music director of the Final Fantasy concert series, who was quoted in the article. “As the data capabilities increased, he was able to graduate to full-orchestra tracks.”

While the latest performance occurred in Ohio, orchestras play the concert series worldwide. Following the August 25 show, the composition will be performed in London on November 2, Australia on November 25 and many other locations throughout the year. The next time the concert comes to the United States will be in Chicago (December 7 – mark your calendars). The Chicago event will be something special because it is the only official 25th anniversary performance to happen in North America.

The program includes an orchestral performance of “One-Winged Angel” from Final Fantasy VII, and several musical themes common throughout the series, including “Swing De Chocobo” and the franchise’s iconic victory fanfare. Fun fact: Many of the Latin lyrics for “One-Winged Angel” come from Carl Orff’s 1930s composition “Carmina Burana.”

The sound of (video game) music
Final Fantasy isn’t the only game franchise that has drawn the attention of professional performers. There’s an entire orchestra dedicated to playing modern arrangements of video game music. The group has performed at several venues since its first show in 2008, including the video game expo PAX East in 2010.

There’s also “Video Games Live,” a game-themed concert that continues to tour worldwide. Video Games Live features a wide selection of music from the early arcade game Pong to the more recent first-person shooter Halo.

“Whether it’s the power and passion of the more recent blockbusters or the excitement of remembering the sentimental classics you played growing up, Video Games Live will truly be a special night to remember,” the VGL website states. “Meet and bond with new friends as you help to celebrate a pastime which has truly evolved into our culture. Even if you have never played a video game you’ve never heard or seen an orchestral performance quite like this. [The] show includes synchronized performances of the music, video and specially designed special fx & light sequences showcasing over 60 different games in a wide variety of styles.”

The full “Video Games Live” experience offers more than just music. The multimedia concert features video footage synchronized with game sound. Some of the segments also include live stage performances, complete with synchronized light shows. Oh, and there’s also a pre-performance festival that gives visitors an opportunity to meet composers and game developers.

It’s a pretty interesting time to be a gamer. Not just because games are fun, but also because groups are starting to find whole new ways to enjoy them. Between music and art inspired entirely from video games, there has been a growing number of ways for even non-gamers to enjoy the wonderful world of gaming. So, if you find yourself trying to explain your love of video games to a friend who doesn’t play, why not introduce him or her to a few orchestral soundtracks?

Video games have come a long way in the past few decades, so let’s take a moment and think about where it all began. Many people believe the first home video game to be Pong for the Atari, but the blog post pointed out that a table tennis game for the Magnavox Odyssey predated the popular game by a couple years, making the launch of the Odyssey the first official home video game system.

PCWorld celebrated the Odyssey’s birthday by taking the video game system apart and analyzing some of the components. The system launched in 1972 and cost around $99, or approximately $548 in today’s money. You may be able to get a decent computer with that kind of money these days, but the old video game platform did have one thing going for it that most of today’s systems don’t – the Odyssey came with 12 games! However, playing those 12 games may have been somewhat complicated – the old system didn’t function like today’s gaming powerhouses do.

“Unlike modern game consoles, the Odyssey does not contain a computer,” the article stated. “Instead, it generates images based on discrete circuitry that directly manipulates the video signal going to the TV set. Each game uses different parts of the circuitry …The system shipped with six cards. Each card acts as a series of on/off jumpers or connecting wires that essentially programs the console to operate in a certain way.”

Well, with that description, it’s pretty easy to see why it took a decade or three for video games to catch on. It’s easy enough to lose pieces of a board game. Imagine losing one of those gaming cards. Despite the seemingly complex nature of playing it, the Odyssey was pretty successful, selling 330,000 units worldwide, according to PCWorld. Not to mention the fact that one of its games inspired Pong. The rest, as they say, is history.

That’s because we’ve been working on compiling a list of games featuring our feline friends!

Check these out if you want to mix your love of video games with your love of cats. Plus, what better way to celebrate Caturday than by playing feline-themed video games!
 
 
 

1. Ghost Towns: The Cats of Ulthar

The population of the strange city of Ulthar is really upset at Menes – so upset, they’re getting ready to burn him at the stake! Find out what Menes did to end up in that rather unfortunate position and save him from the cruel fate. As you explore the city, see if you can find out why the citizens worship cats from ancient times.

2.Cat Wash

If you’ve ever tried to give a cat a bath, you’re probably aware of at least two things:

1. Cats are pointy creatures
2. No one should try bathing a cat without full riot gear.

If you do have an insatiable urge to beautify cats to purrfection and a love of Time Management games, then Cat Wash has you covered. In addition to having to keep your feline clients happy, you’ll get to play through a variety of cat-themed mini games. Besides, cats need good hygiene, too.

3. Alex Gordon

This one is for those who yearn for fun-filled adventure. Help Alex Gordon, the fabulous, fedora-wearing feline, save his sister from the wily Monkey King. In addition to collecting coins and boxes, Alex will have to search every nook and cranny for pieces of an ancient amulet – luckily, this adventure game is a visual treat with five gorgeous game worlds.

4. Granny in Paradise

Granny just wants a quiet vacation with her beloved pets, but the infamous Dr. Meow will have none of that. With five worlds and more than 170 levels, you’ll have plenty of gameplay to keep you busy. But, if that isn’t enough, the game comes with a level editor and online high score board so you can pit your cat-saving skills to the test. Help Granny outwit the nefarious doctor’s minions and save her beloved pets before the vacation ends in a catastrophe!

5. Purrfect Pet Shop

In Purrfect Pet Shop, you get to customize your very own animal to nurse back to health. First, you’ll need to earn the animal’s trust with a careful grooming and tasty treats.

As you work on getting your furry friend back to full health, you’ll also have to care for strays and match them with the perfect owner. Use the donations from your helpful endeavors to buy upgrades and get your customized pet ready to be adopted into a happy home!

Cat games are pretty awesome, but you know what else is awesome? Actual cats. If you have a funny (or just a favorite) cat-themed moment, let us know!

Whether you’re in the mood for Hidden Object or Time Management games, this week’s list of new releases should have a little something for you. Check them out:

1. Be Richest
Release date: August 5

Do you have what it takes to make it in the real estate biz? It’s a cutthroat world out there after the city’s corrupt mayor leaves the place in ruins. Construct and restore buildings and bring the corrupt politician to justice while establishing yourself as a planning and development super star along the way!

If you can’t get enough to sate your business-building cravings, play Be Rich and become CEO of the hottest real estate firm in the country!

2. Summer SuperSports
Release date: August 6

Have you yet to find a game to satisfy both your love of sports and finding hidden objects? Summer SuperSports takes you on a journey through sports stadiums, where you’ll get to search for all sorts of objects, including bronze, silver and gold medals! Get the whole family to help you spot the gold in this family-friendly Hidden Object adventure!

3. Farm Quest
Release date: August 7

Use your Match 3 skills to care for the farm animals, but don’t worry, you’ll have a little help to fight the most common farming hazards. As you make combinations, you’ll also become friends with the farmhands – including Hector the dog. Hector and the rest of the help have special powers to fight off vermin and protect your farm.

With two different game modes – relaxed and action – Farm Quest can either put your Match 3 skills to the test or be a relaxing weekend getaway to the farm!

4. Farm Girl at the Nile
Release date: August 8

Midas became famous when everything he touched turned to gold – and now you can become famous when every crop you touch thrives! But you decide to take farming to the next level by choosing a location with a whole new set of challenges – Egypt. Ever wanted to start a papyrus or an ostrich farm? Just make sure to keep the crocodiles out of your precious crops!

5. The World’s Legends: Kaschey the Immortal
Release date: August 8

Tsarevich’s mother gets kidnapped by an evil sorcerer, who takes his victim to the Kingdom Beyond the Ends of the Earth. After his two older brothers go searching and never return, Tsarevich realizes it’s up to him to save his dear mother from the thrall of the villain. With his father’s blessing, Tsarevich sets out on his quest – he’ll need your hidden object-finding prowess and the aid of the spirit warrior to conquer the evil that has threatened his family.

With 3 modes of difficulty, The World’s Legends: Kaschey the Immortal is a good choice for beginners to Hidden Object games, but it won’t leave advanced finders without a challenge.

6. The Theatre of Shadows: As You Wish
Release date: August 9

Take the role of the Hunter of Shadows in this exciting Hidden Object game! Your evil-hunting takes you to the Theatre of Shadows, where you find the owner is possessed by a dark force. The force originated from a magic shadow puppet, but can you stop the evil before it unleashes extra-dimensional dark shadows upon the world?

If the darkness feels like it’s closing in and you just can’t find something to light your path, check out the Strategy Guide for a little help.

7. Grim Tales: The Wishes
Release date: August 10

Your sister calls for your help when her son begins withering before her very eyes! When you arrive on the scene, you discover a dark bargain has been made. Guard your words carefully as you uncover the mystery sapping the life from your nephew… and be careful what you wish for.

For a more in-depth experience, check out the Collector’s Edition, which includes content not found in the regular game, such as bonus gameplay, an integrated Strategy Guide and concept art.

8. Mystery Heritage: Sign of the Spirit Collector’s Edition
Release date: August 11

Rumors of an age-old family curse begin spreading after a member of the Williams family dies. Is there really a curse or was the murderer just using it as a front for some other malicious means? Find out as you uncover the truth by finding hidden objects and solving puzzles.

The Collector’s Edition provides a more in-depth experience and includes an exciting chapter not found in the regular version of the game! You’ll also have the chance to interrogate a number of subjects to help you uncover a dark family secret.

Check out these awesome games and more in this week’s list of new releases!

1. Infected: The Twin Vaccine

Release date: July 29

A new breed of virus has created a deadly epidemic! The key to stopping the tenacious disease may lie in its origin. The first reported case of the outbreak was found in twin sisters Tiffany and Theresa Morrisey. But uncovering the mystery behind the origin of the disease may prove tricky. Tiffany didn’t survive the illness. Her sister, Theresa, did, but she has gone missing in the now-abandoned city of Oxford. Find clues scattered around the city to locate the lost girl and solve the mystery behind the epidemic before it’s too late!

If you find yourself getting stumped, check out the Strategy Guide for a complete walkthrough and in-game screenshots to get you back on track.

2. Cases of Stolen Beauty
Release date: July 30

Journalist Eva Sanders finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time. While writing for a well-known European magazine, she starts witnessing strange events and finds herself in the middle of an evil conspiracy! Find hidden objects to discover who is behind the evil plot and uncover the truth before the vile plan can be completed.

3. Pirates of New Horizons: Planet Buster
Release date: July 31

What could make a good Match 3 game even better? Pirates! And not just your every-day swashbuckling adventurers; space pirate Annha is looking for treasure and you’ve got to help her! Trigger chain reactions by rearranging planets, but be sure to loot plenty of gold along the way – after all, what good is playing as a pirate if there’s no loot? After you’ve developed your sea legs in the 48 normal levels, there are 18 additional challenge levels for you to ascend as a puzzle-solving, pirate legend!

4. Secrets of the Titanic 1912 – 2012
Release date: August 1

Eva and her family take a cruise ship that follows the same path as the Titanic. However, Eva discovers a link between past and present, and begins having flashbacks of being on the Titanic as her grandmother. Should Eva try to save the ill-fated ship and change the direction of history? Help her solve the mystery behind the tragic journey in this exciting Hidden Object game!

5. Jo’s Dream: Organic Coffee
Release date: August 2

Are you still having trouble finding the best coffee place? Get the perfect froth in your cappuccino in this Time Management game! Help Jo live her dream by building the perfect organic coffee shop. Invite musicians to play and entertain guests, attract celebrities and serve up some high-quality java. If you’re the completionist type, you’ll also get to earn 19 achievements throughout the game.

6. Redemption Cemetery: Grave Testimony Collector’s Edition
Release date: August 3

A strange twist of fate strands you on an eerie island, proving once more that fate can be cruel. After searching for a way to escape, you meet an otherworldly boatman who tells you the only way you can get off the island alive is by helping three of the spirits trapped there! Turn fate in your favor by traveling through history and helping those poor souls right the wrongs of so many years ago.

The Collector’s Edition includes content not found in the regular version, including bonus gameplay, a downloadable soundtrack and amazing art extras!

7. Grim Facade: Sinister Obsession
Release date: August 4

The maid of a wealthy family summons you to a lush vineyard, but you quickly discover it’s no carefree vacation. When you arrive, the maid gives you a diary that details the murders of three women. Can you find clues to uncover the identity of the killer? All signs point to a member of the Conti family, but not everything is as it seems. Signor Conti and his sons are away, leaving a mystery that you must unravel before the murderer can add pages to the diary.

Get the Collector’s Edition for a more in-depth gaming experience, complete with an integrated Strategy Guide, bonus content and concept art!

It’s not surprising, then, that groups and companies are working to create games that target a specific non-entertainment objective. Carnegie Mellon University – already widely known for programs in computer science, engineering and technology – is home to many such projects through the Entertainment Technology Center. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be taking a look at some of their most interesting explorations of the other uses for video games.

First up is a project called Crescendo, which is a collaboration with Korean game developer, Smilegate. The goal was to “create an experience for children and families that encourages cooperation, brings people together, and gives players the feeling of playing real instruments without requiring them to have the skills of a musician.” The result was a charming game that immerses the player in a real orchestra-type situation and asks them to keep in time with the set rhythm and play in harmony with one another.

If you visit the project website, you can read through weekly newsletters that document the whole process. These are fascinating generally as an overview of the full cycle of video game creation. Along the way, there were also some interesting discoveries and milestones unique to this particular kind of game and objective.

Early Days

The first notable aspect of the team’s approach to designing this game is the fact that they contacted an elementary school music teacher to “better understand the mindset and capabilities” of children under 8. With this in mind, they put together a list of design features for the final game prototype including things like “simple actions”, “complexity of actions builds with player’s ability”, “age appropriate music” and a “story to add motivation”. They also were in contact with musicians throughout the game development process.

In the very early stages, they also became aware that along with the software, this game would require them to design and build completely new controllers – simplified versions of real instruments. Anyone familiar with Guitar Hero has already seen this sort of technology. But along with more commonly-digitized instruments like the piano and drums, because of the quality of the music at the heart of the game, the team also had to design string and wind instruments that were not only easy to manipulate, but also mimicked how they were really played.

Exciting Developments

In week four, the team came up with an additional character that promised to add an even more interesting facet to the game: a conductor that sets the song tempo for the other 4 musicians. This would further add to the real-life experience of being part of an orchestra, and would also promote even more collaboration and cooperation between the players.

After a presentation of the first demo version, Smilegate suggested keeping the gameplay to only matching the music’s rhythm, rather than also work to manipulate their pitch. In testing, however, both college students and elementary-aged children preferred the “professional mode” of gameplay that incorporated both challenges. The conductor role was also well-received and the children were excited about the power it had over the game.

Scoring in the game also underwent some evolution. It is similar to the popular Dance Dance Revolution where musicians are given extra points when they are more perfectly in time with the music. Additionally, the conductor’s score is based on the accuracy of the entire ensemble. So, the kids will learn that with great power comes great responsibility.

Calls for an “Encore”

Because the project was based on Carnegie Mellon’s academic calendar, the deadline for a finished product was at the end of the semester – December 2011. At this time, the team presented their game prototype to the client, Smilegate. Along with inviting the team to Korea to present to the full company there, Smilegate also decided to continue the project for another semester, with the aim of bringing its quality up to that of a commercial game.

Rechristened Crescendo Encore, the project received two additional directives from the client – explore the idea of making the game playable on different consoles and to expand and enhance the existing game framework. Ultimately, the goal was to deliver a polished game for the Xbox360.

During this second phase, the game underwent a few more changes. The final hardware components of the “orchestra” evolved to violin, clarinet, French horn and timpani. A voiceover element, allowing players to receive feedback on their performance, was added. Different levels of difficulty (based on whether the player would focus on both playing the right note and being in rhythm) were built in the new version as well. Throughout part two of the project, the team was also very proactive in having testing by their target audience, and adjustments based on that interaction were therefore made quickly and organically.

By the end of this second semester of development, the team had a product that was not only polished and fulfilled its musical objects, but was also just simply fun to play. Throughout testing, the team was buoyed by children asking to play the game again, without being prompted. After their Soft Opening Showcase at the ETC Silicon Valley campus, the team said, “It was really great to see professional developers enjoy our game, and what’s even more awesome was people became interested in playing even when others were watching.”

At present, the team is again in Korea, sharing their game with employees there. We’re excited to see how Crescendo develops and when it will be finally available to play!

1. 1 Moment of Time: Silentville

Release date: June 17

Not many people know about the town of Silentville, and now the curse of non-existence is extending into reality. Birds, airplanes, pedestrians and even the town’s visitors simply started disappearing! And it’s up to you to find out what happened. Explore the stunning graphics in a wide variety of Hidden Object scenes and complete mini games to figure why Silentville is fading from existence.

2. Wordary

Release date: June 18

This one is for the word game enthusiast with a soft spot for hexagons. Don’t worry, though, Wordary won’t test your geometry skills nearly as much as your lingual dexterity. Every board has hundreds of words for you to discover, and, with four game modes, there’s a challenge level for everyone!

3. Katy and Bob: Way Back Home

Release date: June 18

Katy and bob find their vacation goes awry when they end up stranded! Since it’s not much of a vacation when you’re stuck at the destination, it’s up to you to help Katy and Bob build a refreshing tropical bar so they can earn their way back home. You can grow your own fruit to build a variety of refreshing cocktails and entertain your guests with fireworks in this time management game.

4. Big Kahuna Reef 3

Release date: June 19

The third installment of Big Kahuna Reef takes you out of the deep, blue sea and into the tropical majesty of Hawaii. So kick back and enjoy a vacation in the untimed Relax mode. You can make a few Match 3 friends in multiplayer Mouse Party mode, and even build your own aquarium with “My Reef.”

5. Shaban

Release date: June 20

The shepherd Shaban’s sheep have been stolen (say that five times fast)! Follow the thief’s trail through a comic strip-style story and numerous Hidden Object scenes. With two playable characters, logic puzzles and 30 hand-drawn backgrounds, there is plenty for you to enjoy as you help Shaban find his sheep.

6. City of Fools

Release date: June 21

Are you ready to make first contact with an alien species? Play as a journalist who is investigating a UFO landing in the small town of Tundel. There’s a little more to this adventure-puzzle game, though! The mayor is up to no good and is trying to cover up his misdeeds . Between puzzles and political scandals, you’ll have your hands full in City of Fools.

Warning – City of Fools contains adult themes and is intended for mature audiences.

7. Haunting Mysteries: The Island of Lost Souls

Release date: June 21

A malevolent and mysterious force brings down your plane, leaving it crashed on the Island of Lost Souls. At first, the island seems deserted, but you quickly discover the souls of the former inhabitants are still trapped there! You’ll have to use some tried and true hidden object spelunking to figure out what keeps the residents there. There are a few puzzles along the way, so make sure to keep your thinking caps on!

The Collector’s Edition includes bonus gameplay content and an integrated Strategy Guide, as well as some other perks for those of you who love extras, including concept art, wallpapers and a musical soundtrack.

8. Sister’s Secrecy: Arcanum Bloodlines Collector’s Edition

Release date: June 22

This tale of two sisters leads Ariel to a backwater European town in search of her twin, Belle. Ariel realizes something isn’t quite right with the town as she listens to odd tales from the locals, who tell of bloodless bodies and mysterious silhouettes floating around in the night sky! You’ll have to figure out how these events are connected to Belle’s disappearance as you explore just what is going on in the strange town.

The Collector’s Edition includes additional game content and an integrated Strategy Guide.

9. Final Cut: Death on the Silver Screen

Release date: June 23

Your father, a famous inventor, died under mysterious circumstances and now your brother has disappeared under even more bizarre circumstances. As if that weren’t enough, a villain threatens your family and demands you hunt down the secret to your father’s greatest invention.

But, to uncover the mystery of his magnificent invention, you have to return to the family mansion and find clues to piece together your father’s past.

The Collector’s Edition includes a more in-depth experience, complete with a bonus game, concept art and wallpapers!

Historically, the two entertainment forms have also been completely different in how they’re delivered. Traditional video games cost a fair bit of upfront money and deliver many hours of entertainment, while TV shows come as part of a complete cable package. TV Shows are episodic, sometimes with a single plot spread over several episodes, while video games have typically covered the whole story start to finish.

However, these lines are blurring. Similar to how you can buy a single TV episode or watch a program on-demand, new video game developments make it so it’s easy to purchase a game add-on, or even play an entire game digitally without needing a disc or cartridge!

A New Way of Gaming

A lot of what we’ve grown to expect from video games is changing. Modern games still feature hours of active-engagement gameplay (the actual playing of the game), but they’re delivering more passive entertainment in the form of cinematics, complete with voiceovers and intricate plots. According to a recent article by The Atlantic, even the usual video game delivery model may be changing to something a little more like television.

Large-scale online games like World of Warcraft or Everquest usually require monthly subscription fees. The subscription fee for these games often covers the cost of game updates, which feature new content, much the same way a cable TV subscription features new episodes to your favorite programs.

But online games aren’t the only ones starting to look at subscription-based pricing. Microsoft recently told The Verge it is currently using a subscription-based pricing model for Xbox 360 online memberships, perhaps indicating a shift in the industry toward more episodic content?

Wherever the industry goes, casual gaming is in a pretty good spot! The less expensive, shorter nature of casual games already lends itself to games coming in an episode-like format. There would be two big advantages for gamers if the rest of the industry shifted toward episodic delivery. Games would be produced more rapidly and cost less, and gamers would have a greater degree of choice in the content they want to buy. Ever buy an expensive game only to find out you didn’t like it? The financial blow might not have been so severe if the game were just one episode of a larger series. And if you couldn’t get enough? It wouldn’t take too long for a sequel to come out so you could enjoy even more of your favorite game!

1. Eastville Chronicles: The Drama Queen Murder

Release date: June 10

Phantoms aren’t the only things haunting opera houses these days. The curtains have drawn at the Eastville Opera House, and they’re hiding a murder mystery! As the new investigator, it’s your job to interrogate subjects and search for Hidden Object clues to find out who Scaramouch was. The path to discovering the identity of the murderer of Dolores Molinero, the Queen of Drama is filled with twists, passion and intrigue!

2. Haunted Hotel: Charles Dexter Ward Collector’s Edition

Release date: June 11

Your twin prizes his necklace so much that he never takes it off, but there is just one problem: You have the necklace, and there’s no sign of your twin! Explore the eerie swampland as you make your way to an abandoned hotel, but, be careful, there is necromancy afoot!

The Collector’s Edition has a few extras you won’t find in the standard version, including bonus gameplay, concept art and an integrated strategy guide.

3. Paris Mahjong

Release date: June 12

Ready for a relaxed evening of puzzle solving? Paris Mahjong features a relaxed mode, for when you just want to shoot the breeze and enjoy a night of French culture. If you’re in the mood for a laugh, adventure mode gives you puzzle-solving action with a comedic story centered around Marie’s action-packed day in the French capital, and you’ll have plenty of puzzles ahead of you with the game’s 60 levels!

4. Toy Defense

Release date: June 12

How is your military strategy? Don’t worry, we won’t send you to the front lines, but we’ll let you command an army of toy soldiers in this tower defense game. As a military leader at the height of World War I, you’ll have to protect your base through 48 levels by building towers and upgrading your units. This one has a little something for the completionist, with 16 achievements to earn!

5. May’s Mysteries: The Secret of Dragonville

Release date: June 13

May and her brother Tery decide to take a pleasant hot air balloon ride, but things go askew when their balloon crashes and Tery decides to search for help alone. Help May search for her brother through 80 unique locations using your puzzle-solving skills.

May’s Mysteries: The Secret of Dragonville offers puzzles for just about every type of puzzle solver. The more than 270 mini games include logic puzzles, rhythm games and even Hidden Object scenes!

6. Dark Alleys: Penumbra Motel

Release date: June 14

A road trip goes wrong when your friend’s daughter is kidnapped at the Penumbra Motel, and you’ll have to uncover the secret behind the motel’s dark history to find her! Search the motel grounds for hidden objects and solve puzzles to uncover what is haunting the descendants of the Penumbra family.

The Collector’s Edition includes bonus content, such as the original soundtrack. If you’re hungry for a more in-depth puzzle-solving experience, check it out!

7. Royal Detective: The Lord of Statues Collector’s Edition

Release date: June 15

Who would enchant an army of statues to take over the town of Martlet? Find out who the mystery enchanter is by uncovering the story of Princess, the young girl who was left at the statue maker’s doorstep. Uncover the young girl’s history before the unearthly statues destroy the town!

The Collector’s Edition includes bonus gameplay, wallpapers, concept art and an integrated strategy guide.

8. Nightmares from the Deep: The Cursed Heart

Release date: June 16

It’s a pirate’s life for you, er – well, it’s a pirate’s unlife anyway. An undead pirate has kidnapped your daughter with the hopes of resurrecting long lost love! The haunting seas hold the mystery to saving your daughter, and you’ll have to explore both ruined fortresses and old catacombs to stop the vile scum from completing his goals.

The Collector’s Edition includes bonus gameplay, concept art, a complete soundtrack and an integrated strategy guide.

Of course, we’ve got plenty of gameplay variety as well, so check out this week’s list of new releases to see if you’d like to play a Hidden Object, Match 3 or Time Management game!

1. Theatre of the Absurd

Release date: June 3

Dark arts specialist Scarlett Frost must outwit the the most vile forces the underworld can conjure in this Hidden Object game. The Hapsburg Cube – an ancient artifact that is said to imprison a Bablyonian demon – turns a lonely mountain theatre into a battleground between the forces of evil and the mind of Scarlett Frost. The Collector’s Edition includes bonus content and an integrated Strategy Guide.

2. Time Chronicles: The Missing Mona Lisa

Release date: June 4

Never mind whether the Mona Lisa is smiling, there’s an even bigger problem to solve! The Mona Lisa has been stolen and scattered throughout time, and it’s up to your sleuthing skills to solve the case. You’ll have to travel to more than 20 exotic destinations, from the Edo period in Japan to the Taj Mahal. Travel back and forth between past and present, see what changes and what is the same to uncover the mystery laid out by the elusive Time Chameleon.

3. Running Sheep: Tiny Worlds

Release date: June 5

The sheep are back in this Running Sheep sequel, and so are the mazes. Your goal is to safely lead the sheep to the exit. You’ll have to navigate a wide array of obstacles to get the sheep home. Although there aren’t many aliens to avoid in this one, there are 250 more levels to provide hours of brain-teasing gameplay!

4. Coronation Street: Mystery of the Missing Hotpot Recipe

Release date: June 5

What is it with cooks always trying to steal each other’s recipes? You’d think it would be better for an upstart pub to craft its own delicious treats, but that doesn’t seem to be The Weatherfield Arms’ intentions. Don’t let the the rival pub steal Betty’s secret (and famous!) hotpot recipe. Pieces of the recipe have been scattered throughout various locations on Coronation Street, and your job is to help find them before The Weatherfield Arms does. You’ll get to visit many of the iconic Coronation Street locations as you progress through 24 hidden-object levels.

5. Experiment

Release date: June 6

What…where am I? Sophie asks as she wakes up in a strange, empty room. She begins receiving messages from a scientist, who informs her she must conduct an experiment for him. You’ll help Sophie uncover her lost memories by using your match 3-skills to complete the experiment, but, the more Sophie remembers, the more she realizes things might take a turn for the worse!

6. Build-a-lot: Fairy Tales

Release date: June 7

Another sequel to the No. 1 action/arcade game of 2007 Build-a-lot is here! If you’ve mastered the real estate market in the real world, it’s time to take your time management skills to the next level by building mystical structures in a land filled with your favorite storybook characters. “Build-a-lot: Fairy Tales” features 65 new levels, magical enchantments and dragons! Careful, though, dragons are known for terrorizing towns, especially prosperous ones!

7. Rite of Passage: The Perfect Show Collector’s Edition

Release date: June 8

Children throughout the town of Everlake keep going missing. After one of your students is mysteriously abducted, you take matters into your own hands by shifting from teacher to detective.  You’ll get to meet many interesting characters. Be careful, though, not everyone in Everlake is what they seem. The old puppet theater and its mysterious patron stand at the center of the chaos. Uncover the mystery behind The Perfect Show.

The Collector’s Edition includes an integrated Strategy Guide, bonus content and wallpapers.

8. Fabled Legends: The Dark Piper

Release date: June 9

Fables and fairy tales and adventure, oh my! The Dark Piper has come into possession of the Pied Piper’s flute. He’s not using it for the good of the town, though – he’s using it to unleash a plague of infested rodents!

If you think you can’t get enough fable-driven mystery, check out the Collector’s Edition, which includes bonus gameplay content and concept art!