Known for releasing PC titles, it's a bit surprising that publisher DreamCatcher Interactive (DreamCatcher Games) has announced that it will now be shifting focus to next-generation consoles. DreamCatcher and JoWooD announce that they are already starting to negotiate with development studios and are planning to schedule releases for the end of 2008 and the beginning of 2009.

Sadly, GWN reports that this effectively ends "legacy projects" on the previous generation consoles that were scheduled last year.

Others have begun to speculate that other PC game companies might start considering moving to consoles. Our take on this is that it's too early to say that this is indicative of an impending trend. More multi-platform, PC, and console titles in the future? Sure, why not. The impending death of PC gaming? Far from likely.

JoWood was known for Gothic, PainKiller, SpellForce, and Dungeon Lords.

 

Under the umbrella of the DreamCatcher Inc. publishing label are DreamCatcher Games and The Adventure Company. While the former division is busy with Genesis Rising, The Adventure Company is busy with something a bit more family-oriented. They just released their newest adventure title that's rated E for Everyone: Hans Christian Andersen: The Ugly Prince Duckling.

It's out now on shelves, retailing for US$ 19.99. That gets you a game that's chock full of fairytale quirks and oddities. You'll be playing as none other than Hans Christian Andersen himself as you walk around and investigate Copenhagen. You'll have to save the princess (and the entire kingdom, at that) and foil the plans of the Master of Darkness. He's pretty set on kicking out the King and transforming the whole place into a Troll's realm of darkness.

Along the way, you're going to be meeting and greeting some 60-odd fairytale characters from Andersen's very own creations. Explore gaudy shops, elaborate tunnels, misty alleys, and all that, just right before bed time.

  

It's been quite a while since we last got an update on Dreamcatcher Games' Genesis Rising: The Universal Crusade. So to make up for that hiatus, they're giving us this trailer of biblical proportions (hehe) to give us even more glimpses into what this RTS PC game has to offer.

As we mentioned earlier, The Universal Crusade will time warp you into the distant future (like 3,000 years distant) to take on the role of Captain Iconah. Your mission? To uncover and locate the Universal Heart, an enigmatic entity believed to be the source of all life and matter in the universe. Anyhoo, the trailer above shows some of the combat elements you'll be taking on as well as a closer look at the battleships that the game features. So if the game has piqued your interest (as we're sure it has), just hit play and you're on your way to year 5007, baby.

Aside from the Old Testament book, some of you might know Genesis as Phil Collins' group from way back in the 80s. Flash-forward into the future (as in waaay into the future), and you've got Genesis Rising: The Universal Crusade. It's the latest RTS from DreamCatcher Games and guess what? They've just announced that it's now open to the public for beta testing.

This futuristic RPG-strategy is built on the theory of intergalactic ships being created as an organic creature. Yep. You can even alter the DNA of your ship and watch it morph in real-time. If that's a bit too far out in the galaxy for you to picture, we've got a trailer for you guys to check out. It's got some gameplay footage, plus all the bright lights and intense combat to get you fueled with some BSG-reminiscent loving.

If you want to take part in the beta test, you can fill out an online application at GameSpy's website (click the "Read" link below). Entering the beta test will give you access to three playable factions, a 4-player Death Match Map, and an extensive "gene tree" to help you out with all the DNA-engineering you want to do on your ship.

It's definitely something far from an 80s pop group, but sure enough, by the time Genesis Rising comes out on March, it's bound to have droves of raving fans to back it up.

Download: [Genesis Rising trailer]

Genesis Rising: The Universal Crusade, a new space RTS by DreamCatcher Games has just launched its official website, and has also announced that they are currently accepting applications for beta testing.

This title features three playable factions, a wide variety of units, a non-linear storyline, 30 missions which branch out depending on the decisions you make, as well as a Death Match map. Set 3000 years in the future, it revolves around an era where humans have explored and conquered all the zones in the universe, except one: the Universal Heart. So players will have to set off to the legendary Heart which is fabled to have spawned all life and matter.

In this game, humans have also created organic ships called "organids". These ships are fully-customizable stocked with more than 50 weapons and abilities, with thousands of possible fleet combinations. Players take on the role of the intrepid Captain Iconah - fleet commander and genetic designer, who is ordered to find the Heart and discover its secrets.

Genesis Rising: The Universal Crusade is up for release by March 2007 and is being developed by Metamorf Studios.

From publisher DreamCatcher, developed by AWE games, comes this video game rendition of Agatha Christie's classic, Murder on the Orient Express.

Hop aboard the luxurious train, and meet the passengers. Know them well, because soon, you will be pulled into a whodunnit murder mystery aboard. Investigate and explore for clues. Remember, this is about survival. Your fellow passengers, and yours too. Or else, you just might find yourself face to face with the murderer, only this time, you're the victim.

Murder on the Orient Express has been released only since November 21st. So if you wanna check out more of this game before buying it, we have a downloadable trailer here for you. Hmm..this definitely looks like good company for Sherlock Holmes.

Download: [Murder on the Orient Express trailer]

Here's something wholesome. Wildlife Zoo from DreamCatcher Games has now been shipped to retailers throughout North America. If you're an animal lover, then this one's most probably for you. Here, you get to play a Zoo Director in the zoo of your dreams. And to keep you happy in your dream job, there are more than 80 different plant and animal species for you to take good care of.

Since it's your very own zoo, of course you can modify the landscape and breed exotic animals and plants in your research labs. But you have to take real good care of it, else you just might find the animals there already in the endangered species list. However, if you just want to have a look around, without having to do any work, you can just come in as a guest via the "visitor mode".

Features include 20 missions from all over the world, visiting exotic places far and wide like the Sahara Desert, Australia, the Alps, Costa Rica and a whole lot more as you rescue endangered animals to add to your Zoo exhibits (okay, that last bit, I don't really get. So you get to "save" the animals by removing them from their natural habitat to add to your zoo collection?...It just doesn't sound right). Anyway, each to his own, as they say.

This game has been rated E10+ by the ESRB and is now available for US$ 19.99.