System: iPod TouchPrice: $229 (8GB), $299 (16GB) and $399 (32GB)Release Date: September 2008 (2nd generation)Publisher (Developer): ApplePros: Incredible audio support and very accurate touchscreen and accelerometer (motion) controls. Lots of games to choose from including standard casual, card and puzzle games, as well as several system-only and online games. External speakers.Cons: No manual game buttons and a naked iPod is a bit slippery to hold. Home button slip exits the game without pause. No external media slot.Overall Score: One thumb up, one thumb sideways; 88; B+; * * * 1/2 out of five.

Apple has been promoting the crud out of the iPod Touch as being “the funnest iPod ever” with commercials that show a bunch of motion-controlled games.

While certainly not a Nintendo DS killer, the iPod Touch does offer some rather decent motion and touchscreen controls as well as all the iPhone’s main features sans the phone and microphone. There are a few small concerns for touch-only games but, otherwise, it performs well above most phones as a gaming device…

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Product: Seinfeld Scene It?System(s): DVDRelease Date: August 2008Publisher: Mattel (Screenlife)Price: $39.99Pros: Wide variety of trivia questions, nice board design, unique player tokens and really follows the Seinfeld theme.Cons: Too easy for die-hard Seinfeld fans, too difficult for those with a passing interest in the series. Only four people can play.Overall: A great gift and game for people who watch the show when its on TV or own some of the DVD sets.Rating: One thumb up, one thumb sideways; 85/100; B; *** 1/2 out of 5

I was eager to try and play Seinfeld Scene It?, the latest entry in the series of trivia games which also incorporate video segments via DVD. I had to prove my wealth of knowledge concerning the show, especially after a Harry Potter Scene It? debacle where, despite my having read all the books and seen all the movies at least twice, I still came in last…

Archie McPhee, the company known for creating silly and unconventional amusements, has just created a new item for the holiday season – the inflatable fruitcake. Yes, for $9.50 you can send your family, friends or even yourself a life-size inflatable fruitcake. My favorite part is the Frequently Asked Questions sections of the site, which tells you why fruitcakes are so terrible and how you possibly lived before the inflatable fruitcake was invented.

Now, you may be wondering what exactly a fruitcake has to do with gaming. Good question! First – I’m sure there are some desperate gamers out there who, after receiving that game they’ve wanted for weeks for Christmas decided to pull an all-nighter playing it. After hour 23 of their gaming marathon, their sense of judgment have been impaired and they might have accidentally ingested some of the ornamental family fruitcake. Now, with the inflatable fruitcake, there is no more temptation to actually eat a real one.

Second, the act of giving a fruitcake is a bit of a game in and of itself. Its like playing hot-potato…

Last year (2007), Hallmark released the Player 1 Christmas ornament, which was a pretty cool mini game controller with sound effects.

This year (2008), Hallmark is again releasing a game-themed ornament, reaching a little further back in time and producing a mini Pac-Man arcade machine complete with sound effects. The ornament, which stands approximately 4.5 in. tall, retails for $18.50, is battery operated (batteries included), lights up and plays classic Pac-Man sounds. Wakka-wakka!

The cabinet is…

Title: Travel Games for DummiesPrice: $29.99System(s): DSRelease Date: October 28, 2008Publisher (Developer): Electronic Arts (Electronic Arts and Beanbag Studios)ESRB Rating: “Everyone”Pros: Three different games, 100 Crossword puzzles, 500 Sudoku puzzles, 10 kinds of Solitaire. Informative.Cons: You have to go back manually clear Crossword boards when you’re done. Solitaire is very hard. Sometimes the letter/number recognition is a bit off. Only one player profile allowed per cartridge.Overall Score: One thumb up, one thumb sideways; 80/100; B-; *** out of 5

EA Games’ Casual Entertainment division recently teamed up with Beanbag studios to create three instructional/casual games, two for the PC and one for the DS. The DS game, Travel Games for Dummies is actually a collection of three popular puzzle games – Sudoku, Solitaire and Crosswords. The goal of the endeavor is to teach people how to master these three games, and then offer a wide variety of puzzles to test their newfound skills in.

Its very straightforward, since it is supposed to be educational, but also is surprisingly fun. While it isn’t as diverse as say, Crosswords DS, it is better than the shovelware sudoku and casual game compilations you see cluttering GameStop shelves. And, surprisingly enough, it can help you become a better player. At least, the Crosswords and Sudoku segments can – I’m still on the fence about solitaire. Travel Games for Dummies would make a good gift for casual gamers this holiday season – I know my mom would adore it…

Title: Pet Shop Monogatari DSPrice: $48.90System: Nintendo DSRelease Date: July 8, 2008Publisher (Developer): Taito (Dream Age Collection)ESRB Rating: Everyone Pros: Simple controls, huge selection of pets to discover, variety of items to accessorize pets, many locations to explore, not having to clean any pet danderCons: Simple game play may become repetitive, trial and error pet catching can become frustrating, lack of ability to actually pet animalsOverall Score: One thumb up, one thumb sideways; 88/100; B+; ***1/2 out of five

With Taito’s infamous Mama making the leap from cooking (Cooking Mama) into gardening (Gardening Mama), it was only a matter of time before Mama would spread her bountiful cheerfulness and optimism into yet another game. Pet Shop Monogatari DS (PSMDS) revolves around the newly opened pet shop in Greentown where you, the player, and Mama are in charge.

Click through for the full review…

Get ready to spend more hours killing time in front of your computer – PopCap has just released Bejeweled Twist. Currently, the casual puzzle game is available only through the official Bejeweled Twist site, both as a free demo and a 19.95 full version and is designed for Windows XP and Vista machines. PopCap is also offering a deal where people can get Bejeweled, Bejeweled Twist and Bejeweled 2 for $34.95. Bejeweled Twist will be available in stores and on other game portals on November 18, 2008.

The new version has you rotating four gens in the grid to match up three or more gems of the same color to eliminate lines. If you’re curious how this works, sign up for the free-to-play pet sim Moshi Monsters and play the electric factory game. The original Bejeweled had you just swapping two gems’ positions at a time to make rows of three or more of like colored gems…

There are some people out there who live for Guitar Hero. Where some of us are happy being able to go through all the songs on medium difficulty, the truly dedicated make it a personal mission to play every song blindfolded while spinning in circles.

Alright, maybe that was a bit dramatic but it’s safe to say the standard guitars that come with the games aren’t enough to satisfy everyone’s inner rock star. Logitech has announced the upcoming release of a new wireless guitar designed for the Playstation 3 version of Guitar Hero 3 and World Tour that is also compatible with the PS2 version of World Tour. The Wireless Guitar Controller Premier Edition goes on sale…

It seems as though Amazon wants to be taken seriously as a video game retailer to its market because it’s teaming up with Atlus to offer some very rare and exclusive merchandise corresponding with the release of the very anticipated Persona 4 (P4) being released this winter.

For only $29.99, fans can obtain the appropriately named Social Link Expansion Pack which includes the following…

Title: Sims 2 Apartment LifePrice: $19.99System(s): Windows PCRelease Date: August 28, 2008Publisher (Developer): EA (EA)ESRB Rating: “Teen” for crude humor, sexual themes and violencePros: Witch character class/lifestyle, reputation system, apartments, new items/clothing/decor and a new neighborhood.Cons: Adding this to the other expansions can slow down your game a bit, custom content you’ve downloaded may not be compatibleOverall Score: One thumb up, one sideways; 88/100; B+; *** and 1/2 out of 5

The Sims 2 Apartment Life is a memorable expansion pack for the Sims 2. It features a slew of new gameplay additions, lots of extra items, a witch/wizard character class/lifestyle and the ability to have multiple households in a single home. In short, the expansion gives fans of the game a lot of things they’ve wanted, all in a single package.

It is easily one of the best expansion packs released for the game. If you’re a newcomer to the series, Apartment Life, Nightlife, University and Seasons are definitely the four expansion packs you will need to maximize your Sims 2 experience…