The game, though, looks just like every other Disney Princess video game even if the one in the ball gown is black. The Wii version of The Princess and the Frog is all about multiplayer mini-games where players dress up Princess Tiana and other characters from the movie, cook recipes and collect Mardi Gras beads to trade for dresses and recipes and stuff. The DS version actually has a plot, it looks like, with 27 levels set in the bayou where Tiana and the frog prince, Naveen, have to avoid obstacles and find ingredients – presumably for a cure to frog-ness.

What has me worried about the games isn't the potential for racism – it's the ""New Orleans-inspired" recipes they feature. What does that even mean? If it means authentic Cajun food recipes, I'm in – if it means sugar, hot sauce and rice in some pathetic mockery of gumbo, forget it. I take my cooking games very seriously.

Both the DS and Wii version of The Princess and the Frog come out this holiday season right around when the movie releases.

I'd use this space to explain that Science Papa casts the player in the role of newest member of Science Papa's research team, aiming at becoming the best scientist in the world by competing in more than 30 different mini-game-driven experiments, but I am far too stunned by Activision's choice of names to do so.

"With Science Papa, we're taking real-world elements of science and giving players the chance to interact with them in safe and creative ways," said David Oxford, Activision Publishing. "While the focus here is clearly family fun, the game can stimulate interest and discussion about science."

Once again, still stunned, and I will probably remained stunned until the game hits store shelves this July.

We've reached out to North American Cooking Mama publisher Majesco to see what they think of this unexpected addition to the mini-game genre family, and expect a response from them later in the day.

The animal-hating carnivores (kidding!) responsible for Cooking Mama have broken with tradition and released a game that involves the death of ZERO animals.

As well as (hopefully) pacifying PETA, Cake Mania: In the Mix! also manages to hit the ever growing zone on the Venn diagram of life where Games meet Cakes.

In what sounds like a sort of cake-based Tapper! meets Pizza Tycoon, players must make cakes.. then sell them. Wonderfully, 'unique cakes' can be produced and shared via WiiConnect. Potential GOTY, you heard it hear first.

Majesco ships Cake Mania: In The Mix for Wii [GamePro]

Say what you will, but I think it's better to go with cartoon versions of a live-action show or film's actors rather than trying to cover a 3D model with a hideous looking photo-skin. I'll reserve judgment until I see what the cartoony Alton Brown looks like. There had better be a cartoony Alton Brown, dammit.

Here's the full trailer for the game, sans Kotaku reference. I think it loses a certain something, but that could just be me.

Allez Cuisine!
Destineer and Untied Media Bring 'Iron Chef America: Supreme Cuisine' To Wii™ and DS™

MINNEAPOLIS, MN March 8, 2008 - Following widespread speculation and anticipation, leading software publisher Destineer has today confirmed its partnership with United Media, a leading independent licensing and syndication company, to publish the video game Iron Chef America: Supreme Cuisine exclusively for the Wii™ system and Nintendo DS™.

Developed by Black Lantern Studios, the game is based on the highly rated Iron Chef America program, a spinoff of the worldwide hit Iron Chef, produced by Fuji Television. Iron Chef America: Supreme Cuisine features the voice and likeness of the show's host, Mark Dacascos, and Destineer will announce the involvement of additional talent from the show shortly.

"If the early buzz surrounding the game is any indication, then fans of the show and Nintendo owners are as excited as we are to be developing Iron Chef America: Supreme Cuisine," said Paul Rinde, CEO of Destineer. "With their innovative control dynamics, Wii and DS are the ideal system for the inaugural Iron Chef video game and believe the ultimate 'secret ingredient' to these games will be family fun."

Adds Jean Sagendorph, Licensing Director at United Media: "Iron Chef America possesses all of the attributes for a successful video game: fast paced action, intense competition and a unique gamesmanship that is the hallmark of Kitchen Stadium. We are excited to partner with Destineer in a sure-fire recipe for success - Iron Chef America: Supreme Cuisine."

In Iron Chef America: Supreme Cuisine players square off in Kitchen Stadium and battle through a series fast-paced and intense culinary challenges. Each victory advances players closer to a final showdown that will determine who will reign supreme as the next Iron Chef America.

Food for Though Nintendo Cake Pans [The Tanooki]

This experiment doesn't say anything about the 360's heat "problems", since the heatsink is supposed to get super hot and dissipate heat, but it is cool nonetheless. We'd like to see him put on some bacon, toast, and finish up with nice porterhouse. Jason Chen

After the tremendous success of the brain games in Japan, Nintendo has decided to experiment with some even stranger "games."

The trifecta of non-gaming goodness teach you to cook, write kanji and have fun on vacation.

Shaberu! Ds Oryouri Nabi is loaded with a bunch of recipies and instructions on how to make the meals. The coolest part is that you can tell it to change pages without having to fiddle with buttons.

DS Bimoji Training is a straight up writing tutor.

Tabi No Sashi Kaiwachou DS is a sort of point and say travel guide. It basically allows you to point to a picture to have the DS say it in the proper language for you. It comes with Thai, Chinese, Korean, English and German languages.

DS Brain Game Explosion [Gamebrink]