Video games are designed to take players into an entirely new world. The goal of developers is to make this new environment identifiable, and to create an atmosphere where players can lose themselves in this virtual world and feel they’re a part of events taking place. An interesting mechanic that can be used to help players make a connection is to include some familiar aspects or tools from daily life into the game. Developers have been particularly successful in this endeavor when it comes to DS games.

When game developers choose to create a DS game in a manner where the DS a person is playing on is involved in the story, it can help break down reality’s boundaries. What if a game could really cause a person to die in a week? What if your DS could help you find your long lost father? Many times the scenarios presented by video games are totally unbelievable, but by including a familiar device, a story becomes more plausible.

Let’s look at Contact first. In this game you’re supposed to be helping an alien being, the Professor, and a boy he recruited named Terry, find the necessary components to repair his space ship. At the beginning of the game, the professor tells you that, while Terry is doing all the dirty work, you are using the DS device to control and guide his every move…

Trace Memory Wii is one step closer to a possible North American release. Nintendo has just announced that Another Code R: A Journey Into Lost Memories will be released in Europe on June 26, 2009. As you may (or may not) recall, the Trace Memory series is known as Another Code in other regions.

The Wii game is a sequel to a 2005 DS game called Trace Memory / Another Code: Two Memories, and takes place three years later. Once again, Ashley Robins’ father has left her to be raised by her Aunt Jessica while he resumes his research, despite his promise to be a part of her life after the events of the DS game.

Like in the first game, Ashley’s father has invited her to come and see him, this time at a resort called Lake Juliet…