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Inside Mac Games' reviewer, interviewer, and podcast host Jon Carr provides readers with a glimpse behind the scenes of game reviewing in his latest feature article.

Here's an excerpt:

There may be a notion that reviewing games means you get all the games you want and sit about playing games all day. There's a partial truth to that, but remember this is a volunteer job, not a paid one. And playing a game for review is much different than just playing a game for fun. It still is entertaining, of course, but you have to look at things differently. You have to think about graphics and gameplay. You have to notice flaws and bugs. You have to test performance. If it has multiplayer you have to explore it.

The Life Of An IMG Writer

Telltale Games has updated its game blog with a new trailer for its upcoming Jurassic Park: The Game. Based on the popular movie series, the title will give players a chance to participate in the world of genetically engineered dinosaurs.

PAX Prime 2011 has come and gone (catch our PAX Prime video series) but that doesn't mean the PAX-y fun is over! We had new Jurassic Park footage playing at our Isla Nublar styled booth over the weekend and it's now available online for your viewing pleasure.

Behold, the PAX Prime Jurassic Park Action Montage video!

Telltale Games Blog: Jurassic Park Trailer

Telltale Games

Jurassic Park: The Game

Buy Jurassic Park: The Game

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PopCap Games' Escape Whisper Valley is now available for download and purchase at Macgamestore.com. After being trapped by a rockslide players must find the clues that will help them escape the valley. The game features 25 scenes to explore, 3 game modes, and 7 mini games.

A sudden rockslide has left you trapped in Whisper Valley, an abandoned mountain village. Can you piece together the clues that will get you back home? Explore 25 intriguing locations and track down more than 2,000 items in the new hidden object game from the makers of Escape Rosecliff Island. Solve mini-game puzzles and collect pieces of a map to help you find your way out. Locate the hidden locks and keys in every scene to unlock two bonus game modes. Plan your escape today!

Features:

• Find over 2,000 cleverly hidden objects
  
• Explore 25 mysterious scenes to uncover clues
  
• 3 game modes: Escape the Valley, plus 2 bonus modes
  
• Play 7 mini-games: Match-3, Block Slide, Jigsaw and more

Escape Whisper Valley

Buy Escape Whisper Valley

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ActionSoft has announced the Mac App Store release of episodes 1 and 2 of Midnight Mansion HD, a new OS X Lion native version of the action platformer. Updating and enhancing the original prompted a division of the game into two episodes featuring redrawn high resolution graphics, all new maps to explore, and a new tutorial.

The Mac App Store version of the game requires MacOS X 10.6 or later and an Intel Mac, but ActionSoft plans to release a PPC friendly version of the game on its website in the coming weeks.

As Jack Malone, you will explore five huge mansions, each filled with traps, puzzles, and secrets, as you search for legendary treasure. Ride on conveyor belts, avoid zapper beams, and dodge monsters as you collect keys that give you access to new areas of each mansion.

In the vein of games like Dark Castle and Montezuma's Revenge, Midnight Mansion HD brings you classic 2D platformer action with High Definition graphics that look great even on a 30" screen, and a spooky soundtrack that helps set the mood.

Midnight Mansion HD is family friendly! We regularly hear stories of grandmothers who play it with their grandchildren… although we're not sure who is enjoying the game more!

This is not a cheap port of an iPhone game. You will find no low-res graphics or ported touch-based gameplay here. Finally enjoy a game that doesn't lose its replay value after just a few hours of playing!

Check out the websites below for more details.

ActionSoft

Midnight Mansion HD

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