They eventually caught the eye of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association – the premier roller derby organization – and local roller derby leagues, and now…well, the game’s out next week. That sounds like a success to me, and they got to do it their way. You’ll get to see just how well “their way” worked out next week, since the WiiWare title will be out January 24.

For now, though, here’s a gameplay trailer.

The best part? The price! At only 100 points (AKA one dollar), this chapter in the game is well worth the price. It is the longest episode in the Ace Attorney series so far, with three investigations and seven trials to get through before the end.

Seriously, if you have a dollar and already own the Wii version of the game, this is a must-buy.

(Graphic from Capcom.)

They’ve already done this (and had success!) with quite a few digital titles, like Greed Corp, iSamJackson and Cro-Mag Rally.

To learn more about their digital publishing offerings, visit http://www.reverbpublishing.com.

First, the release dates. Across the three consoles, Mega Man 10′s actually spread all the way through March. Don’t really know if that was strategic or just the earliest they could have it done, but Nintendo comes first, followed by the PS3, and lastly, the Xbox 360. Prices are as follows:

WiiWare (1000 points) – March 1st

PSN ($9.99) – March 11th

XBLA (800 MS Points) – March 31st

The Mega Man Challenges section from MM9 has been included in this title – it allows you to practice playing before starting the main story mode by completing various challenges.

Something relatively new to the series is the inclusion of an “Easy Mode.” Easy mode is tailored to the novice player. There are fewer enemies, hazards and pitfalls, items you find have more benefits, and there are more checkpoints and remaining lives right from the beginning. Enemies’ attack patterns also differ from Easy Mode to Normal Mode.

Capcom also revealed eight special powers. I’ve stuck them in a gallery below. Click each thumbnail to get the full size image, which describes the attack and gives you more information.

Capcom sent out an announcement today stating that the WiiWare release of Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney: Justice for All will be moved to February 15. No objections here!

Justice for All takes place after the rookie attorney has gotten six months of experience. DA Franziska von Karma will stop at nothing to take him down.

The download will be available February 15 for 1000 Wii Points.

Fugazo is still a young company – How did it get its start?

I think to answer this question properly I need to get into my background a little bit. My first real job in the games industry was at Sandlot Games back in 2004. I started in QA but quickly became a Designer and Producer. In 2006, I was the Lead Designer on Cake Mania which went on to become the best selling casual game of 2006. I decided to take a break from casual games and joined a company called Handheld Games where I produced DS and TV Plug N Play games. I had a great time building games for kids but missed working on casual games. So in late 2007 I partnered with my computer programmer friend Jonah to start making casual games again.

What kind of games do you make?

We’ve made all sorts of games at Fugazo. Here are a few examples: Cooking Academy 1 and 2 (Cooking Simulation), Flower Paradise (3 Match), Fashion Fits, (Clothing Time Management), and World Mosaics 1 and 2 (Logic Puzzle). We’ve tried to experiment making casual games in as many genres as possible.

What kind of impact does the current economic climate make on a business like yours?

To be honest, I think casual games are mostly unaffected by the recession. I think the low price point makes them even more attractive in bad economic times. For example, it’s cheaper to buy a casual game then go out to see a movie.

Coming from an area so thick with game developers (Seattle), do you see it as a hinderance or help to your own company?

I think it’s been quite helpful. It’s nice to be able to get other developer’s feedback on our games and it also makes it easier to find new hires when we’re looking.

 
Do you have plans to move from PC games onto other platforms, like consoles?

Actually, we’ve already started working on our first console game: Frobot for WiiWare! It’s a cross between the Legend of Zelda and Wii Play’s Tanks with a funky 70s robot theme thrown in for good measure. The game should be released on WiiWare in the first half of 2010. You can learn more about the game or try the PC demo on our site. 

Fugazo seems boast several cooking games – Will they make me a better chef? 

Sadly, probably not. While the cooking games have very accurate ingredients and preparation steps they still can’t replace real cooking. However, you might get a few ideas for some recipes you’ve never tried before.

Do you have any advice for anyone looking to start their own gaming company?

 
Start small, be quick, and remain independent! I’m happy to say that Fugazo has never taken a dollar of outside funding and that has allowed us to remain independent and work on what really motivates us.
 

What can we look forward to from Fugazo?

We started working on our first Hidden Object Adventure game last October. Look for it to arrive onto major casual game portals in March 2010!

Fugazo Inc., based in Seattle, Washington, is an independent developer and publisher of casual and indie games. Fugazo’s portfolio includes popular game titles such as the Cooking Academy series, the World Mosaics series, and Kitchen Brigade. Fugazo reaches millions of game players worldwide through multiple distribution channels including Online, PC, Mac, and Retail. In 2010 Fugazo, will release its first console title Frobot for WiiWare, PC, and Mac. For more information about Fugazo visit www.fugazo.com

Fugazo Giveaway!

As I mentioned earlier, the company sent me home with a bunch of games to give away to my wonderful readers. If you’re looking to snatch one up, just play one of the many free games on their site and e-mail me a quick comment about it. Super easy! Send your submissions to zoe@gamingangels.com . Games are limited to the first few people who send me a message, so act quick!

Platform: Nintendo Wii/Wiiware
ESRB: E (Everyone)
Genre: Puzzle
Number of Players: 1-2
Developer: Two Tribes
Release Date: December 11 2009 (PAL), December 14 2009 (NA)
Official Website: http://www.rubikspuzzlegalaxy.com/

But the concept of Rubik’s Puzzle Galaxy: RUSH frustrated me.

In my experience, it is a stretch to have a puzzle game on a console that is not a handheld console. Give me any number of puzzle games on my Nintendo DS and I will huddle away like a squirrel coveting a beautiful acorn. But put that puzzle on a 40″ LCD screen and it loses its accessibility and its quiet wonder.

I am aware that Nintendo’s WiiWare range caters for innovative, small-budget creations, and I have found many games that I am glad to have in my collection. But this is the first time I have had a pureblood puzzle game on my Nintendo Wii. Even though it took me a while to warm to a game that is, for lack of a better phrase, a chip off of an old block, I can see why many others have sung nothing but praises for this quirky but stylish WiiWare release.

Rubik’s Puzzle Galaxy: RUSH is quite a loveable little offspring of its semi-successful parent, Rubik’s Puzzle World (which, to prove my point, was also released on the Nintendo DS with slightly higher ratings). Using a mini game from the original World release, Two Tribes has developed its initial premise into a stand-alone WiiWare game. They have expanded the mini game to contain 70 or more puzzles in total, which seems worth the 600 Wii Points.

Each puzzle requires the player to place directional tiles in the correct positions on the playing field, which will safely allow automatically-spawning cubes to roll towards the corresponding ‘exit points’. There are different tiles that cause cubes to change direction, speed, or even warp to a different point in the game. All of these are demonstrated in a 6-puzzle tutorial session (requiring approximately five minutes to complete), and then the player is whisked away to the puzzles.

For those who would like a taste of the title’s namesake, RUSH also includes the original Rubik’s Cube as a bonus. The player can try to solve one of the four sizes of Rubik’s Cubes available, play a pattern-matching mode, or compete in two player mode. Two Tribes have also provided a tutorial on how to solve the original Rubik’s Cube, which may save many people ripping off the coloured squares on their Cubes and gluing them back on to cheat their way to victory.

The developers have worked hard to build more challenges as well as make RUSH look like a title specifically designed for the Wii, mimicking the colour style and ambience that is synonymous with the Wii brand. I think that this is something that works in their favour, and certainly allowed me to enjoy its premise. Playing on a 40″ screen, the picture and colours turned out great. The one downfall was with the sound. An early puzzle that contained multiple moving blocks and multiple warp points made me reach for the ear plugs as the sound was disgustingly grating. Options are available to turn off both sound effects and music if you choose, but it is a shame than there is no way to adjust the sound levels up or down for sensitive ears or sound phobic animals.

Overall, RUSH is a game that any Wii owner will enjoy for about 15-30 minutes prior to firing up a full-length game in their console library. The challenges for each puzzle are there, and the level of critical and spatial thinking is evident from the very first puzzle. True, I cannot help but believe that truly immersive games on consoles are created with a narrative context (with even World of Goo giving the player a vat of relatable ‘characters’), and RUSH lacks this element. That does not make it a bad game, but it can alter the engagement with the content of the game, as well as long-term interest.

It is not a game that I will stay awake playing at night, but certainly is a game that I savoured in small bites on a summer afternoon before firing up Metroid Prime. If you have the Wii Points spare, it is a good addition to provide variety to your holiday repertoire.

In case you haven’t heard of this series before (or if you’ve lived under a rock since 2005 — don’t worry, we’ll help you), the Phoenix Wright series follows the titular young lawyer as he defends clients all over the place. Players collect evidence and clues during one stage of an episode, and defend their clients during the following stage until proven innocent, usually finding the true culprit along the way.

The WiiWare version of the adventure will take advantage of the Wii’s unique control system. Players will be able to present evidence with a simple wave of the remote, or press for further testimony from suspicious witnesses with a wiggle.

These releases will be followed by the rest of the current Phoenix Wright lineup (not including the fourth series title featuring Apollo Justice).

In addition, Capcom will soon be releasing a playable demo of Ace Attorney INVESTIGATIONS: Miles Edgeworth for DS for download from the Nintendo Channel. No release date has been set for the demo, so keep your eyes on GamingAngels for more information.

The charming story of The Mystery of Whiterock Castle tells the tale of the desperate search of a young squire for his favorite playmate. The little princess has mysteriously vanished from her chambers. Among lovingly designed, hand-painted settings, players take on the role of the young squire, rummaging through numerous chambers and gloomy dungeons, equipped with a sword, a lantern, and a magnifying glass. While searching, the player will receive helpful hints from many peculiar characters featured in the amusing story. From cook to castle ghost – everyone is on our young hero’s side, showing him the way through the royal residence.

The Mystery of Whiterock Castle will be available for download in Europe and Australia on Dec 25th via Nintendo WiiWare™. It will be available to US gamers in early 2010.