Let the gaming begin

With so many new titles on the market today, it's hard to keep up. Here's a guide to some of the more popular picks:

Designed exclusively for the Nintendo Wii, Carnival Games brings home all the excitement and fanfare of a day at the carnival for families and children of all Featuring more than 25 midway and boardwalk favorites, the game--from the Global Star division of 2K--takes full advantage of the Wii remote's unique motion in letting players try their hands at activities like dunk tank, skiball, ring toss, balloon darts, etc. Winners can collect virtual prizes, including giant stuffed animals and fuzzy dice, which can be upgraded as skills improve. Rated E for Everyone. For more information, visit www.globalstarsoftware.com/carnivalgames.

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One of Nintendo's most enduring characters--Donkey Kong--is back with all of his friends and a few enemies as well. In Donkey Kong Barrel Blast, players race on high-powered barrel rockets, collect bananas, and have an array of wild power-ups and weapons at their disposal, including Backward Barrels and a bazooka that shoots pineapples. Using the Wii's motion-sensitive controllers, gamers shake the remote and nunchuck to race across 16 awesome courses. Rated E with mild cartoon violence and suggestive themes.

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Another game to capitalize on the advanced features of the Wii is Rockstar Games' Table Tennis ($39.99). This fast-paced and addictive game really is quite simple, and it certainly can get your heart pumping as you engage in intense battles. It offers three control schemes (standard, control freak, and sharp shooter), 11 playable characters with distinct personalities and playing characteristics, and 19 venues with crowds that chant your name in support and react like a live audience. Placing and returning shots strategically are the keys to winning. Rated E. For more information, visit www.rockstargames.com/tabletennis.

Fishing Master ($39.99), exclusively for the Wii, utilizes the nunchuck as well as the remote to bait, cast, hook, and battle a variety of fish in the hopes of achieving the ultimate title, "Fishing Master." Published by Hudson Entertainment and distributed by Konami, this game allows players to fish in solitude in 30 different locations or compete with up to four players. Rated E with mild language. For more information, visit www.konami.com.

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Based on the hit television series of the same name, THQ's ValuSoft division, Agoura Hills, Calif., asks the question everyone wants to know (but is afraid to find out): Are Your Smarter than a 5th Grader? In this PC game ($19.99), players answer up to 11 questions to win one million virtual dollars. Consisting of more than 3.000 challenging questions in 28 subjects, all from grade school textbooks, contestants can seek assistance from one of five classmates who can help them "cheat" to advance to the next round. Rated E for Everyone.

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For more information on these games and the rest of THQ's lineup, visit www.thq.com.

Racers, it's time to rev your engines as Project Gotham Racing 4 ($59.99) enters the action. Developed by Bizarre Creations exclusively for Xbox 360, this installment acids a dramatic new weather system, revamped career mode, revised Kudos system, and new tracks and locations for an elevated level of thrill and excitement. For the first time, drivers will have the option of racing a variety of motorcycles from top manufacturers such as Ducati, BMW, and Honda. PGR4 is compatible with the Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel and allows players to build a global racing community on Xbox live. Rated E. For more information, visit www.bizarrecreations.com.

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COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning