This issue's opening salvo will focus on something unique called Kongregate , a social Web site that offers a place for players and game developers to meet up, play games, and operate together as a community. It's an interesting idea (though not an original one) that lets players give developers instant feedback and gives developers much needed exposure for their games. The site current offers 2,000 user-submitted Flash and Shockwave games from over 760 developers that touch on just about every genre. Basically it's a treasure trove of great and awful games, and sifting through all these titles is really half the fun. Check it out by visiting www.kongregate.com .

One of my favorite indie developers, Digital Eel has just released a brand new game called Soup du Jour . An interesting match game, Soup du Jour features some extra bouncy physics so that when various shapes fall into the pot, the squish together like soft rubber. The game is pretty straightforward: you try to match shapes (as many as you can in one shot) by clicking the "" mouse button and holding it while dragging. This causes all the other shapes to move and shift. The object of the game is also to avoid tip[ping over the pot, which gets difficult after awhile because objects like bombs and rockets fly in and explode. Luckily if you are fast enough you can grab a bit of candy before it flies over the edge of the pot and drag it back in. Soup du Jour, like Digital eel's other titles, may tread familiar ground, but does it in its own unique way. Grab the demo and give it a try!

APPARITIONS is an interesting game because of its origins and because it gives as realistic a view into the word of the paranormal as you can get in a simple adventure style game. The game is actually a collaboration between Star Mountains Studios and The Atlantic Paranormal Society - better known as TAPS. TAPS is the subject of the long running Sci-Fi Channels show Ghost Hunters. The idea behind the game is to investigate an inn that is allegedly haunted using the tools that real paranormal investigators use in the field. You can try out a trial of the game by visiting starmountainstudios.com .