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I'm not sure if it was the Christmas rush or the fact that there is absolutely nothing to talk about regarding this week's releases, but there's no question that this post is just a wee bit late. You know, I find it amazing that for over two and a half years, I never missed a single day of posting, yet within just a few months of having stepped away from the daily news bit, I can forget to put a post up for days at a time.

I'm hoping things will calm down enough so that I can at the very least start actually talking about game related things again instead of just posting these release lists. Ugh - why is it that there just never seem to be enough hours in a day to get things done?

Anyway, here's this week's retail release list - like I said earlier, nothing new worth picking up this week, so just Move along, nothing to see here.

• Spore Comic Book Creator (PC) - 12/22/2008
• Candace Kane's Candy Factory (DS) - 12/22/2008
• Mystery P.I.: Portrait of a Thief (DS) - 12/23/2008

Please keep in mind these are only estimated release dates and could change at any time. In the spirit of the season, may whatever holiday you celebrate be full of joy and wonder!

While certainly not as bad as last week's offerings, there still isn't really all that much to talk about hitting retail this week. If you're a PlayStation 2 or Wii owner who hasn't played Rock Band 2 on another system - and more importantly isn't beginning to get a little sick of the whole "music game" thing, then there's at least one title to look forward to here, but beyond that, the pickings are pretty slim.

• Calvin Tucker's Redneck Jamboree (WII) - 12/19/2008
• Candace Kane's Candy Factory (DS) - 12/17/2008
• Cate West: The Vanishing Files (DS) - 12/15/2008
• Dreamer: Horse Trainer (DS) - 12/16/2008
• Dreamer: Puppy Trainer (DS) - 12/16/2008
• Drivers Ed Portable (DS) - 12/16/2008
• Learn Math (DS) - 12/16/2008
• Mystery P.I.: Portrait of a Thief (DS) - 12/16/2008
• Neopets Puzzle Adventure (WII) - 12/16/2008
• Rise of the Argonauts (360) - 12/15/2008
• Rise of the Argonauts (PC) - 12/15/2008
• Rise of the Argonauts (PS3) - 12/15/2008
• Rock Band 2 (PS2) - 12/18/2008
• Rock Band 2 (WII) - 12/18/2008
• Rock Band 2: Special Edition (Bundle) (WII) - 12/18/2008
• Slingo Quest (DS) - 12/16/2008
• Summer Sports 2: Island Sports Party (WII) - 12/18/2008
• The Tale of Despereaux (PC) - 12/16/2008
• Word Jong Party (WII) - 12/18/2008
• Zoo Quest: Puzzle Fun (DS) - 12/16/2008

Please keep in mind these are only estimated release dates and could change at any time.

I think we can officially say that we've hit bottom this week - other than some multi-platform titles mentioned previously that didn't release on time with their counterparts, there is really nothing worth noting here - which is a good thing, as you should be out there shopping for the other people in your life instead of grabbing games for yourself!

Now if you do happen to be one of those people who had all your holiday shopping done before anyone was even thinking of turkey dinners, not only should someone give you a smack for all of us last-minute shoppers, but you'll probably find that now is a pretty darn good time to pick up a game or two that you missed out on earlier in the year. Enjoy!

• Build-a-lot (DS) - 12/9/2008
• Cate West: The Vanishing Files (DS) - 12/9/2008
• Driver's Ed Portable (DS) - 12/9/2008
• Dungeon Maker II: The Hidden War (PSP) - 12/9/2008
• Hidden Expedition: Amazon (PC) - 12/8/2008
• Left Brain, Right Brain 2 (DS) - 12/9/2008
• Lost Secrets: Bermuda Triangle (PC) - 12/8/2008
• Neopets Puzzle Adventure (WII) - 12/9/2008
• Prince of Persia (PC) - 12/9/2008
• Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4 (PS2) - 12/8/2008
• Slingo Quest (DS) - 12/9/2008
• Sonic Unleashed (PS3) - 12/9/2008
• The Tale of Despereaux (PC) - 12/8/2008

Please keep in mind these are only estimated release dates and could change at any time.

Well now, while this posting may be a little bit late, it's not because there aren't a few games worth talking about here. We have the re-launch of the Prince of Persia franchise, Grand Theft Auto IV coming to the PC and Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories making an appearance on the PS2, but that's not what we're going to talk about. We're going to talk about "A Vampyre Story".

I've long been a fan of point and click graphic adventures, and have long been awaiting the release of this one. While it's not getting the kind of press and attention it deserves (Hell, according to Gamestop's website, there isn't a store within 100 miles of me that is carrying it currently) , any time a graphic adventure game with a solid pedigree comes along, I'm going to take notice.

The game's premise has you taking the role of Mona, an aspiring opera singer who has recently been turned into a vampire. Along with your trusty sidekick Froederick the bat, you must help Mona escape the clutches of her captor Baron Shrowdy while coming to terms with your new unlife as a vampire.

In trying the freely available demo of the game, I found it to be true to the "point and click" formula with solid writing and decent, if sometimes grating, voice acting. (Especially when the game makes you finish listening to a spoken line before allowing you to perform any actions) - Unfortunately, I did encounter a few audio glitches during my time with the demo - one of which caused the game to drop me to the desktop. Ultimately, I'm still holding out enough hope that the game will do the genre proud. If you're a fan of the genre, be sure to check the demo out.

• A Vampyre Story (PC) - 12/2/2008
• Animal Boxing (DS) - 12/2/2008
• Bigfoot (WII) - 12/3/2008
• Destroy All Humans 3: Path of Furon (360) - 12/1/2008
• Disney's Bolt (PC) - 12/1/2008
• Dreamer: Puppy Trainer (DS) - 12/2/2008
• Emma at the Farm (DS) - 12/3/2008
• Emma in the Mountains (DS) - 12/3/2008
• Family Party: 30 Great Games (WII) - 12/2/2008
• Grand Theft Auto IV (PC) - 12/2/2008
• Happy Cooking (DS) - 12/2/2008
• Kingdom Hearts Re: Chain of Memories (PS2) - 12/2/2008
• Mushroom Men: The Spore Wars (DS) - 12/2/2008
• Mushroom Men: The Spore Wars (WII) - 12/2/2008
• My Fitness Coach (WII) - 12/2/2008
• My Fun Facts Coach (DS) - 12/2/2008
• Nancy Drew: The White Wolf of Icicle Creek (WII) - 12/2/2008
• Neopets Puzzle Adventure (PC) - 12/1/2008
• Prince of Persia (360) - 12/2/2008
• Prince of Persia (PS3) - 12/2/2008
• Prince of Persia: The Fallen King (DS) - 12/2/2008
• Safecracker (WII) - 12/2/2008
• SingStar ABBA (PS2) - 12/2/2008
• SingStar ABBA (PS3) - 12/2/2008
• Ski & Shoot (WII) - 12/2/2008
• Slingo Quest (DS) - 12/2/2008
• Spray (WII) - 12/3/2008
• The King of Fighters Collection: The Orochi Saga (WII) - 12/2/2008
• The Tale of Despereaux (DS) - 12/2/2008
• The Tale of Despereaux (PC) - 12/2/2008
• The Tale of Despereaux (PS2) - 12/2/2008
• The Tale of Despereaux (WII) - 12/2/2008
• Wordfish (DS) - 12/2/2008
• Zoo Tycoon 2 Ultimate Collection (PC) - 12/1/2008

Please keep in mind these are only estimated release dates and could change at any time.