Cataclysm is the third expansion for World of Warcraft, the most popular subscription-based massively multiplayer online role-playing game in the world. The first two expansions, The Burning Crusade and Wrath of the Lich King, each shattered PC game sales records upon their release. In Cataclysm, the face of Azeroth will be forever altered by the return of the corrupted Dragon Aspect Deathwing. Players will explore once-familiar areas of the world that have now been reshaped by the devastation and filled with new adventures. In an effort to survive the planet-shattering cataclysm, two new playable races — worgen and goblins — will join the struggle between the Alliance and the Horde. As players journey to the new level cap of 85, they’ll discover newly revealed locations, acquire new levels of power, and come face to face with Deathwing in a battle to determine the fate of the world.

Sounds like more hack and slash, where we are sure that this title will also draw in blockbuster sales figures as well no doubt about that. The thing is, will it cannibalize on sales of their next anticipated title, StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty, or does it cater to a totally different crowd?

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As the game begins, players enter the Mascot Park world as a customizable mascot with a single goal, to become the star of the show. Players put on performances to entertain friends. Better shows gain more fans and coins, thus giving players the ability to buy new costumes, unlock new mascots and add stage props and sets. Participants can invite their friends to join the show and add their own personal flavor by dropping a cartoon-style TNT box that splats a friend’s mascot or by choosing the classic pie-in-the-face maneuver. In Mascot Park, social collaboration exists on every level. For anyone looking to watch, create or disrupt a show, Six Flags Mascot Park spins together a fun-for-all Facebook experience with unique twists like hip-hop dancing rhinos and exploding bunny guns – both a first for any social networking game.

What are some of your favorite Facebook games that you have played so far, and do you think hardcore gamers will give these a go on a sustained basis? We don’t think so for the latter as they would most probably be more interested in seeing high quality framerates and non-stop action going on on their displays instead of clicking on cute little buttons or wait for turns as with most casual titles.

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The FarmVille App offers users a new social gaming experience that leverages the power of the touch screen. By swiping a finger or double tapping to zoom in and out, players can view their farms, harvest crops or drive tractors. iPhone users will get alerted to the status of their crops and farm through push notifications. In addition, current FarmVille players can tend to their farms and continue to play at any time or place during their day. To commemorate the launch, Zynga is offering several exclusive market items and gifts available only to iPhone and iPod touch users. These items include a baby snow leopard and white apple trees. FarmVille App is free from the App Store or at www.itunes.com/appstore.

Don’t expect the goodies to just stop there though, as the future will see Zynga offer additional in-game features for the iPhone 4 and iOS 4 including the multi-tasking functionality and enhanced graphics to showcase the retina display. If you already have your FarmVille fix over in Facebook, are you willing to fork out more money to purchase an iPhone or iPod touch (if you haven’t done so already) just to get a mobile FarmVille experience?

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Wipeout: The Game is loaded with the elements that have made the TV show a smash hit. From the contestant demolishing Dreadmill to the fan-favorite Big Balls, all of Wipeout’s classic obstacles make an appearance in the game. Furthering the complete Wipeout experience that fans have become accustomed to is the inclusion of witty commentary provided by the show’s hosts John Anderson, John Henson and co-host Jill Wagner. In Wipeout: The Game, up to four players can battle against each other in the game’s many challenges. As they compete for the ultimate win, players will get down and dirty with their opponents as they hurl objects and insults with the game’s signature Trash Talk Generator.

Wipeout: The Game for Nintendo DSi and Wii has been rated E for Everyone by the ESRB, where it will retail for $29.99 regardless of which platform you puchase it for. If you own both platforms, which one will you aim for, or will you gun for both?

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A new 2-player-only title developed exclusively for iPad, Followars connects your iPad to your Twitter account for a new and original gaming experience. Match the people you are following on Twitter against those of an opponent in epic RPG-esque turn-based battles over a local multiplayer on your iPad. As you win battles, you will accumulate Battle Points (BP) to improve your overall ranking as you climb the ladder to eventually reach the top rank. In a unique twist, the latest tweets by the people you are following will show up as speech bubbles uttered by their character in the game. The results of each match can be automatically tweeted so that not only your followers, but the whole world can follow your progress by following the official #followars hash tag on Twitter.

This is pretty interesting since it takes into account the status of your Twitter account, where the more active it is, the more fun the whole experience will be. According to Kenichi Nishi, President of developer Route 24 and director of Followars, “I’ve always been an Apple fan, having released a few applications on iPhone. When I heard about the new iPad, I knew this was another great opportunity to develop something original on a new platform! I love gadgets and new technologies, so combining Twitter’s formidable communication tools with Apple’s iPad feels so intuitive and natural.”

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Puzzle Quest 2 features its hallmark blend of match-3 gem matching and fantasy, with a simple but meaningful role playing experience where players can choose any of four character classes; Sorcerer, Templar, Barbarian, or Assassin. Each character class provides interesting twists during multiple playthroughs as players reclaim the once peaceful village of Verloren from the evil clutch of the demon Gorgon. Players will be able to level up each character to progress through the adventure in Story Mode or dive into Instant Action, Tournament Mode, or Multiplayer Mode for a rich and diverse experience. With the entire Puzzle Quest world accessible on your fingertips in real-time action, players will be able to get a more streamlined experience for instant gratification.

We suppose puzzle fans will have hours upon hours of fun with this title, regardless of which platform you play it on, although the Nintendo DS version would definitely be more playable due to its portable nature.

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Transformers: War for Cybertron takes players to the final moments of the grand civil war that will determine the survival of the entire TRANSFORMERS race. Fans will be able to explore the TRANSFORMERS war-ravaged home planet in full 3D environments for the first time, armed with a diverse arsenal of high-tech weaponry and the ability to convert instantly from robot to vehicle form at any time as they engage in heart-pounding battles on land and in the air in this gripping, third-person action shooter. Complete with several multiplayer modes, Transformers: War for Cybertron allows gamers to play through story missions with their friends in drop in/drop out online co-op, and also create their own TRANSFORMERS character for competitive head-to-head multiplayer modes, choosing among four distinct character classes, personalizing their character’s look and selecting from a huge variety of weapons, skills and abilities. Additionally, the game introduces Escalation, a four-player online co-op mode that allows gamers to fight together as their favorite AUTOBOTS or DECEPTICONS against increasing waves of enemies utilizing strong teamwork to survive.

It has been rated T for Teens by the ESRB, and will be available across a number of platforms including the Xbox 360, Sony PS3, Windows PC and Nintendo DS. Regardless of which platform you pick it up for, you will fight for control of the TRANSFORMERS home planet through eight unique story missions and 30 intense arena challenges. During any point of the game, you are able to change form from robot to vehicle while gaining access to 30 characters in the process. Time for your money to transform and roll out from your wallet to bring home a new game!

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The web-based game will be targeted to multiple audiences, including children, early teens, parents, caregivers and teachers, and will focus on what to do before, during and after a disaster. The game and associated website will emphasize getting an emergency kit, having an emergency plan and being informed. Players will be encouraged to learn about the types of disasters that might occur in their geographic region or state. The most common disasters – earthquakes, floods, hurricanes and tornadoes – will be used to teach preparedness steps and to help users know how to prepare and what to do during and after an emergency event. The game will include a variety of different game genres, depending on the type of educational content to be conveyed. For example, time management and puzzle gameplay will be used to teach how a person prepares for a possible emergency, including determining escape routes and meeting places. Hidden object gameplay will be used to teach what items belong in an emergency supply kit, such as batteries, flashlight and canned food. Simulation gameplay will be used to present quick-care tips such as applying pressure to control bleeding.

In this game, you take on the role of a “Disaster Hero” where you will help various families prepare for different disasters. Each disaster scenario will offer a wide range of game experiences and quizzes on what was learned so that the crucial points will sink in even further. Additional points can be earned throughout the experience and displayed on the Disaster Hero website. Other items like learning activities and checklists targeted to teachers and parents can be downloaded via the website as well. As they say, there is no better way to learn than through play – after all, animals do it that way to, eh?

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In MagiQuest Online, players discover that there is more to the adventure than the seventeen MagiQuest Live action centers around the globe. There are in fact two MagiQuest worlds – the real and the virtual – separated only by portals that must be protected by skilled Magi, as MagiQuest players are known. Dragons, golems, and all sort of despicable creatures hope to escape through these portals so they may enter the real world and wreak havoc upon mankind. Only by braving this online adventure can players defend both worlds from these rogue’s schemes. The popular MagiQuest Live is a game designed for both gamers and non-gamers alike as a way to inspire physical and social activity by using puzzles and challenges similar to those found in a video game. MagiQuest Online now connects participants’ live play experience to their virtual play experience in an instantaneous way so that play is tracked back and forth. MagiQuest Online takes gaming to a new level, and is the first breakthrough collision between virtual and real life.

MagiQuest Online is different from many other video games on the market simply because it is completely integrated with the MagiQuest Live centers. When you first give MagiQuest Online a go, you can enter your Magi name and password, only to pleasantly find all of your accumulated experience, powers and treasures waiting for you in the virtual world. Not only that, anything earned in MagiQuest Online will be useable upon their next visit to any of the Live centers. For those who have the necessary intestinal fortitude, you can complete the online adventure and have a go at an exclusive quest that awaits you after that.

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Online Soccer Champions is a fast-action, immersive MMOG. Gamers play 11-on-11 matches, pitted against a similarly skilled team – with every player on both teams controlled by a real gamer. Players grow their characters and progress through the game based on performance on the field and the choices they make along the way. In addition, the community offers social aspects, customization of each character, and highlights the importance of teamwork both on and off the field.

It would be interesting to see how this game pans out in the eyes of those who grew up playing Championship Manager and even more recently, the entire FIFA series that started to see more and more management skills thrown into the fray. Not only that, this title seems to concentrate more on the gaming aspect in terms of soccer on the field, and not off it, so it wouldn’t really require much managerial acumen to nail this down.

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