Nintendo Media | First Images & Details of Drawn to Life

Namco's Pac-Pix was definitely a splendid game in its own right. However, that means it was great if you saw it as the extended demonstration product that it was. The game had players drawing their own Pac-Man characters and other things on the touch-screen before seeing their work come to life like magic. However, it was used as a demo at E3 2004 and then just fluffed out for a retail release, thus leaving many feeling underwhelmed.

Now, however, 5th Cell Media is attempting to show the world how it SHOULD be done with its creative title 'Drawn to Life' on the Nintendo DS. Founded in 2003, the Washington-based developer consists of Industry veterans Joseph M Tringali, Jeremiah Slaczka and Brett Caird. They have previously focused on content for mobile phones, such as Full Spectrum Warrior, Moto GP Manager, Lemony Snicket and Ministry of Sound Club Manager.

After acquiring a DS development license, work began on Drawn to Life, a game that "takes players to the next level of interaction and creativity on the Nintendo DS. Your exact drawings populate the game, and no tedious animating or image manipulation is necessary. In other words, your drawing comes to life!"

Definitely sounds like something to keep an eye on. Players will find themselves left with the task of rebuilding a small village using the stylus as your creative tool. You will draw the planets, animals, sun, moon, stars and much more. This means that once you have done so, you can sit back and relax watching with self-satisfaction as your creations interact in the streets with the town population.

But creating the world itself is not the full extent of Drawn to Life, as you can jump, crawl, charge and battle your way through dark forests, windy meadows, busy cities and tropical islands. Boredom is not something that will creep up on you easily in this adventure! Fans of Mario Paint will feel right at home as well, as Drawn to Life provides a powerful, yet easy-to-use paint set, including a twenty-five colour swatch palette, eraser, three brush sizes and flood fill. And whilst that may sound a little too daunting for some, there is the option to tracing using special templates provided as a guide to allow anyone to master the art of creating wonderful worlds!

Drawn to Life has no confirmed release date yet, but it is hoped it will make a late 2006 d