Hamburg  - Games bring out all kinds of traits in a person and this applies especially to computer and video games.

Sometimes, living virtually means taking on the role of a fighter for a good cause, becoming a warrior slaying a dragon to save a princess and other times it means conquering the world. On other occasions, it means shepherding a group of virtual people through their everyday existences and helping them realize their dreams.

The opportunity of playing a baddie does not come often - and to have fun in the process. But that is exactly what Ceville hopes to accomplish when it's released in February. Another game, Grand Ages: Rome, allows people o take on the role of a city mayor. Then, there's the usual mix of action and adventure titles.

The name, Ceville, probably does not yet ring a bell for most people as it's a brand-new game and not simply a sequel to a popular game series. But plenty of the content will seem familiar to anyone who has played a point-and-click game that involves searching rooms for clues to the next step in solving an adventure.

But, unlike other games of the genre, which focus on fantasy, adventures or crimes, this one is about experiencing life from the perspective of King Ceville. His brand of evil is not like that found in a horror film. And the game's comic book-style art pokes plenty of fun at the evil king and a host of other topics.

Atmosphere is provided by the game's voice artists. The actress, who dubs Angelina Jolie's voice in German-language versions of Hollywood movies, provides some of them. Additionally, the German actor, who provides the voice for Bilbo Baggins in the Lord of the Rings movies, also provides the voice for the king, another sign that the game developers at Boxed Dreams in Munich have a sense of humour. Publisher Kalypso Media plans to release Ceville on February 19 and sell it for about 40 euros (51 dollars).

Ubisoft is sticking to familiar territory with its CSI: NY game. Based on the popular television series, CSI: NY requires players to solve murders in New York. A new twist allows players to step into the shoes of some of the series' best-known characters. The game allows you to listen to suspects' testimonies and hunt for clues. Additional mini-games allow players to investigate shooting angles or crack codes. The investigations begin on February 12, when CSI: NY goes on sale for about 30 euros.

Players of Grand Ages: Rome will not be able to build a metropolis like New York, but they will be able to build some nice settlements in ancient Roman style. Your job is to create a town out of nothing. But after picking the site of the city, the virtual mayor has to set up manufacturing industries and take care of the workers there.

Grand Ages: Rome might be a new title, but it borrows heavily from city-building simulators set in the Roman era, like the Caesar series. Grand Ages is actually the successor to Imperium Romanum. The renaming was needed to pave the way for a series of Grand Ages games in various times and ages. According to Kalypso Media, the game should be available for about 40 euros starting on February 26.

But the pace may be too slow for some gamers. They might want more action, which a game like F. E. A. R. 2 - Project Origin is more than willing to provide. The sequel is a pure adventure offshoot from other fantasy games. A girl named Alma is using supernatural powers to vent her anger on the town of Auburn. A special unit is set up to fight her and hordes of gruesome assistants.

Producer Warner Brothers promises that the game will be packed with action, mostly in the form of exciting battles. F. E. A. R. 2 is expected to hit shelves on February 13 and sell for just under 60 euros. (dpa)