Oh E3, how I love your ability to leak everything beforehand! It appears that more information has been leaked about 'Duke Nukem 3D' for the Xbox Live Arcade!

According to HEXUS Gaming the game will feature 39 levels, which is what the Atomic Edition had, so it looks like we'll be getting all 4 chapters of the game.

The most interesting addition is the inclusion of a 'Painless Death System'. Players are now able to rewind the game from where they just died! So instead of reloading your last save over and over, you can just rewind and dodge that last attack! Sort of like how the upcoming Braid will also be dealing with time.

Source: HEXUS gaming - Classic shooter gets new features for XBLA

Brand new update for 'Castle Crashers' on the Behemoth's developer blogs - Beefy Mode! Simply eat the correct amount of peanut butter & jelly sandwiches and you turn into a muscle bound freak of nature!

Source: Beefy Mode

From the creators of 'flOw' for the PlayStation Network comes 'Flower'! a game where you float through love, brimming grass. We now know that it's pronouced 'Flower' and not 'Flow-er' like some thought.

Check out the trailer on GameTrailers.TV this week during the second chapter.

Source: GameTrailers.TV - Chapter 2

Crunch Time Games, the developers behind the upcoming 'Shred Nebula' for Xbox Live Arcade, have updated us on the release of their game - it will not be released this week.

According to them, something happened with the schedule which now makes this game unconfirmed. They will be releasing an official release date soon.

In other news, Xbox 360 Fanboy are claiming that 'Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2' may be announced Monday. That's a fairly obvious assumption (montage footage!), but they also claim it may be getting released on Wednesday too! It has been rated on the USK, PEGI and OFLC, but has not made its mark on the ESRB or CERO websites just yet.

Something I also noticed is that the Xbox.com splash page for 'Go! Go! Break Steady' has recently been updated, and they've been given their own forum on Xbox.com - looks like that may just be the release NEXT week!

Source: Xbox 360 Fanboy - Geometry Wars 2 Primed For Release

New weekday, new update on the Australian classification website! New ratings for 'Castle Crashers' and 'Fable II Pub Games', but also a rating for something previously unheard of - 'Tinker'!

It appears that Fuel Industries are behind this game. Fuel is a company that has prides itself on finding new ways to reach consumers through web based games - previously working on 'Hubba Bubba Racer', 'American Dad Vs. Family Guy Kung Fu II Turbo' and a lot of other smaller games. They have previously been a part of some E3 panels in previous years about casual games as well.

No idea what 'Tinker' could possibly be - but good luck to them for expanding to reach new kinds of gamers.

Source: OFLC - Castle Crashers, Fable II Pub Games, Tinker

The previously announced 'Major League Eating' game is now up on the Wii Shop Channel in North America for 1,000 Wii Points! Alongside it are classics 'Ninja Commando' on the Neo Geo for 900 Wii Points, and 'Donkey Kong 3' for the NES for 500 Wii Points.

Continue reading for the full press release.

Destructoid were able to get a sit down (figuratively) with Twisted Pixel - the developers behind 'The Maw' for Xbox Live Arcade!

Based on what I've seen of The Maw in screenshots and the trailer you passed along to me last week, it has a unique style. It's very different than some of the other stuff on XBLA and on the 360. I might even liken it to a first-party Nintendo title, stylistically. What inspired the game's look and feel?

Thanks, that was definitely something we decided on early on. A lot of us in the company -- especially our art director Dave Leung -- is a huge fan of first party Nintendo titles.

We love characters that have a great sense of style, and we really spent a lot of time making sure that our animation was top notch. One of the vision points for The Maw was personality, and I am really proud of what we accomplished with that, especially for a downloadable title where I can see animation as one of the first things developers think they need to cut.

Read the whole interview below.

Source: Destructoid interview: Chatting with The Maw developer Twisted Pixel

I was right! During the Microsoft press conference, they announced a whole bunch of new games!

'Geometry Wars 2' is a new, wave based game which includes 4 player multiplayer! Coming next month!

'Galaga Legions' is a new game from the creators of Pac Man CE! Liked Space Invaders Extreme? This looks very much like it! Coming next month!

They announced that the original 'Banjo for XBLA'! Coming this year!

They announced 'Portal: Still Alive' will be coming to the Xbox Live Arcade! Bigger download sizes? Hell yeah!

'South Park'! Nothing else known! After Acclaim screwed up their South Park games I heard they were never going to do another one! So that's good news!

Along with the new avatar system, the Xbox Live Arcade will now include '100 to 1' - a place to use your avatars and play in real games with real prizes, along with Xbox Trivia

And an entirely new interface! People may be able to FIND new XBLA titles now!

And UNO Rush! A new UNO game which allows players to jump right in with new friends!

[The only problem was the super awesome game I know about wasn't mentioned!! Bah! Not even a montage?!]

Some other games also shown - appeared to all be XNA titles. Either way, I grabbed the footage! Watch it above!

Title: “UNO RUSH™”

Publisher: Microsoft

Developer: Microsoft

Format: Xbox LIVE® Arcade for the Xbox 360™ video game system

ESRB Rating: TBD

Availability: 2008

Product Overview: UNO RUSH™ is a challenging and exciting party card game for up to four players. Developed by the same Microsoft team that brought the original, best-selling UNO® to Xbox LIVE® Arcade, UNO RUSH™ boasts exciting gameplay and social features – multiple variants, house-rule options, local and Xbox LIVE multiplay, camera support, avatar support, full XSAM (LIVE Party Chat) support and more – plus fast-placed gameplay to keep the party going! Sort your cards whenever you have a second to think, because they’re played automatically on your turn. Think fast, keep an eye on your opponents’ cards, predict the flow of play, and above all, don’t forget to call UNO!

Features: “UNO RUSH” features include the following:
• Full Avatar support
• Full XSAM (LIVE Party Chat) support
• Couch play for the whole family – Up to 4 players per console
• Full guest support for multiple users per console over Xbox LIVE
• Xbox LIVE Vision support
• Big Button Pad support
• Co-op Play for teams of two
• Achievements

Check out the new pictures here!

• “1 vs. 100” (Endemol). From the makers of “Deal or No Deal,” Endemol, the world’s largest independent production company, brings the popular television game show “1 vs. 100” to Xbox LIVE Primetime. The exclusive game pits one Xbox LIVE member against 100 others from around the world with a live host and great prizes. The goal of “the One” is to eliminate all the opposition by correctly answering questions, hoping that the opponents will answer incorrectly and be eliminated from the game. And stay tuned for “1 vs. LIVE,” where one lucky winner will have a chance to compete against the entire Xbox LIVE community.

• “UNO RUSH™” (Microsoft). “UNO RUSH” is a challenging and exciting party card game for up to four players. Developed by the same team that brought the original, best-selling “UNO®” to Xbox LIVE Arcade, “UNO RUSH” boasts a wide range of gameplay and social features — multiple variants, house-rule options, local and Xbox LIVE multiplay, camera support, avatar support, and more — plus fast-paced gameplay to keep the party going. “UNO RUSH” is coming exclusively to Xbox LIVE Arcade in 2008.

• “Galaga Legions” (NAMCO BANDAI Games). The arcade shooter “Galaga” has captivated players all over the world, and now the legend lives on with “Galaga Legions.” Featuring table-turning game dynamics, updated graphics and vast waves of ferocious enemies, “Galaga Legions” was created by the same team that developed the best-selling “PAC-MAN Championship Edition” for Xbox LIVE Arcade. “Galaga Legions” will debut exclusively on Xbox LIVE Arcade in 2008.

• “Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2” (Bizarre Creations Ltd./Activision). The latest version of the frenetic retro shooter, “Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2” debuts exclusively on Xbox LIVE Arcade in 2008. Newcomers and pros alike will be blown away by the screen-melting intensity and insane new features, including six action-packed gameplay modes, new enemies, scoring strategies and a diverse list of exciting Achievements. “Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2” also supports multiplayer mayhem for up to four players, with versus or co-op modes, and features razor-sharp 1080p graphics and new, pulse-pounding music.

• “Portal™: Still Alive” (Valve/Microsoft). “Portal: Still Alive” features the full award-winning “Portal” single-player game from Valve plus a new challenge mode. Designed to change the way players approach, manipulate and surmise the possibilities in any given environment, “Portal” has earned more than 70 industry honors for its innovative gameplay, with more than 30 Game of the Year Awards. Solve physical puzzles and challenges by opening portals to maneuvering objects, and yourself, through space. The game is debuting on Xbox LIVE Arcade in 2008.

• “South Park” (South Park Digital Studios/Doublesix/Microsoft). Based on the Emmy- and Peabody-award winning show, a “South Park” game (title TBA) is coming excl

Experience an unbelievable adrenaline rush from playing the latest version of the frenetic retro shooter Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2! Newcomers and pros alike will be blown away by the screen-melting intensity and insane new features, including six action-packed gameplay modes, new enemies, new scoring strategies and a diverse list of exciting achievements! If that’s not crazy enough for you, try multiplayer mayhem for up to four players! Use power-ups in versus mode to boost your stats or handicap your opponent. Or team up with others in co-op mode. Play it all in razor-sharp 1080p to new pulse-pounding music!

• 6 Different Action-Packed Modes: Deadline. Evolved. King. Pacifism. Waves. Sequence. Unlock all 6 of these innovative and challenging modes

• Multiplayer Mayhem: Step up the intensity with four-player multiplayer! Versus, team and co-op modes offer different types of challenges and strategies. Pick your ship and pwn the grid!

• Achievements: 12 entertaining and inventive ways to boost your gamer score.

• Geoms: Collect Geoms to increase your multiplier – but you better be fast because they won’t last forever!

• Additional Enemies: Shoot down all the usual suspects, then say, “Hello” to new enemies that have found additional ways to hunt you down.

Retail Price: 800 Microsoft Points

Release Date: August 6th

Check out all the images here!

Insert press release here, they haven't released it yet!

See all the new screenshots here!

We're a little scattered today, please bear with me!

Insert PR here, when it gets here!

In the meantime, check out these screenshots!!

Appears to be one of the XNA games.

Check out the screenshots here!

This previously announced Xbox Live Arcade title made entirely out of XNA got a bit of playtime during the conference. They have released these new images!

Check out the screenshots here!

This XNA title also got a bit of exposure during the conference.

Well that's it for now. I need some sleep! It's 7AM! Still no sighting of that game I mentioned...

Check out the screenshots here!

Whoops! Forgot the last one!

Check out the screenshots here!

'Galaga Legions', the latest game from the team that brought you 'Pac-Man Championship Edition', has finally been announced. To celebrate, the Xbox.com splash page has popped up!

While the actual text information is pretty slim on the site - we can garner a ton of new information from the tens of screenshots that the page has!

- 'Galaga Legions' is a single player experience. While the trailer and images show a ton of ships on screen, it is purely single player. More on that below.

- The game will contain two modes - Adventure and Championship. The game allows the player to shoot through 5 different areas with new Galaga formations. Championship we can assume is a time based version, while Adventure may be more like Space Invaders Extreme.

- Gain levels with your ship! While in each area, after a certain amount of time your 'level' will increase, bringing new Galaga formations. Every 3 levels will add a new life to your player, and you lose a life when you get hit.

- Place Satellites! Using the right analog stick you can place a satellite which will move along with you. You can also dock with a satellite with the left bumper.

- Gain allies! There are specific ships which may fly through the level. Hitting these enemies will cause a black hole, sucking in nearby ships. Some of these nearby ships will then become your allies that will shoot along with you, sitting near your satellites.

How placing and docking satellites may be used to either move them around to a new position, or possibly to shoot horizontally to your ship, as seen in the video.

- There is a ridiculous amount of stuff going on screen, but you knew that already.

- It looks like there may be a classic graphics mode! Going by a single shot, you may be able to simply shoot retro styles bees and butterflies like the original games!

Check out over 28 new images of 'Galaga Legions' here!

Source: Xbox.com | Galaga Legions

There was a little bit of confusion as to what 'Portal: Still Alive' was when it was announced during the Microsoft press conference. Now they have finally revealed just what it is.

According to the new Xbox.com splash page - the game is the original Portal single player game, complete with GlaDos fight and all, and the song of course.

Along with the regular experience, the game will also contain a new 'challenge mode' for the veteran Portal players who are looking for that extra challenge. The original PC title also included some challenge levels, but only included six. It appears that they'll be expanding on this quite a bit.

The best information for me is that this means that the download limit will be expanding once again. Portal would have to be something roughly around a gigabyte realistically due to the Source engine. It will be interesting to see just how this game will be dealt with, and not to mention the price, which I would assume might be around the 1600 Point mark.

[Psst, Valve! Do Half Life 1 next!]

Source: Portal Xbox.com Splash Page

Joystiq are reporting that the announced 'Xbox Live Primetime' which allows you to play games such as '1 Vs. 100' and all sorts of other trivia games for real prizes, will only be available in 4 regions.

'Xbox Live Primetime' will be available in North America, France, Germany and the United Kingdom. Fair enough, really, but they're missing out on Australia!

Joystiq ponders whether it is based off of just how far Endermol's game shows can reach, or if this is how far they intend to go for now, expanding later on.

While only the original 'Banjo-Kazooie' game was announced for Xbox Live Arcade very quickly during the Microsoft E3 2008 conference, it appears that 'Banjo-Tooie' will also be available!

According to the latest episode of the 1UP FM podcast, both classic Nintendo 64 games will be coming to the XBLA. While they weren't able to look at these games directly, they did learn that the famed Stop 'N' Swop technique will be finally utilized!

Stop 'N' Swop was originally something mentioned in the end of Banjo Kazooie, where if you bought the Tooie sequel you'll somehow be able to swap your carts or lock on your cartridges and unlock new areas usually unavailable in the game. Unfortunately, this was never realized and couldn't be done with the cartridges.

But now we have digital downloads, and we'll be able to Stop 'N' Swop with ease! This webpage on Xbox.com also mentions "The original Banjo-Kazooie also debuts with Stop 'N' Swop on Xbox LIVE Arcade later this year."

07/14/2008 | 1UP FM - Podcast Previews ahoy! We talk Gears of War 2, Banjo Nuts and Bolts, and SOCOM Confrontation with David Ellis, Jason Bertrand, and Thierry Nguyen, Anime Expo with Andrew Fitch, hit the Top 5 with Scott Sharkey and our new community manager Tina Sanchez, and wrap up with the epic final installment of our Shadow of the Colossus Backlog.

Download here (55.8MB) Length: 2:00:02

Hudson have now officially announced that 'My Aquarium' - previously known in Japan as 'Blue Oasis', is coming to WiiWare in North America!

My Aquarium is an all-new, original IP for digital download on WiiWare. In this pleasant and relaxing software experience, much like a real aquarium, you can customize your fish tank with different backgrounds, gravel styles, decorations, plant life, and of course, fish. A release date for My Aquarium will be announced soon.

“While many games and downloads these days focus on wild, fast-paced gameplay, My Aquarium offers a totally different, calming experience,” said Sabine Duvall, Vice President of Product Development at Hudson Entertainment. “Watching the amazing things that can happen in the underwater world is something the entire family can enjoy.”

Continue reading for the full press release.

1UP.com's Jeremy Parish got to sit down with 'Mega Man 9' producer Hironobu Takeshita about the upcoming Mega Man title coming to WiiWare, Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network. Lots of great questions asked of him - such as why they want to go down this road, why you cannot charge shot anymore, and what is up with that Splash Woman?

1UP: We haven't actually had a chance to play Mega Man 9 yet, so if you don't mind please tell us a little bit about the play style and what you were shooting for in going back to the NES style.

HT: Well, the classic Mega Man series has a lot of fans, and they're always asking "Can we have another?" We remember the old games...you may think of them of them as simplistic, but they're challenging. When you beat it, you felt like you were rewarded for getting that far into the game. All of us at Capcom, including Mr. [series creator Keiji] Infaune, we've always had a special place in our hearts for these games and we've always wanted to continue the series in some form. When Virtual Console came along we felt the time was right. We decided that if we want to do this thing right, we should do it in the classic style. That meant going back to the NES period and bringing back those 8-bit graphics, sound, everything. That was the challenge we set for ourselves -- to see how much we could emulate our own style from way back when.

Read the entire interview here.

In other news, the Japanese website for the game has also popped up. Interesting thing is... it still says Wii only. It doesn't mention Xbox Live Arcade or the PlayStation Network at all.

Check the homepage here.

Sister site Gamasutra got to have a quick chat with NinjaBee, one of the biggest independent contributors to the Xbox Live Arcade with 'Cloning Clyde', 'Outpost Kaloki X' and 'Band Of Bugs'.

In the interview they discuss their upcoming titles 'Doritos Unlock Xbox project' and 'Kingdom Of Keflings', the how 'Band Of Bugs' ended up being a sleeper title, the Xbox submission process, and their difficulty getting their PC games out there.

Source: Gamasutra - Q&A: NinjaBee's Taylor Talks Xbox Live Arcade Processes

The original 2D classic Mega Man returns in Mega Man 9 for Nintendo WiiWareTM, Xbox LIVE® Arcade, and PLAYSTATION® Network. This latest Mega Man title brings the series back to its old school roots with retro action platforming gameplay and classic 8-bit NES-style graphics and sound. Relive the Mega Man experience with classically inspired bosses, each with their own unique weapons and weaknesses.

The story of Mega Man begins in the year 200X, as the advanced science of the era has created industrial robots that co-exist with humans. However, an evil genius, Dr. Wily, plots for world domination and creates his own robot army to take over mankind. Luckily for humanity, Dr. Light outfits one of his domestic robots "Rock" to fight Dr. Wily's creations. Mega Man is born.

Set after the events of Mega Man 8, multiple riots have sprung up all over the world. Whilst many people suspect that this is another plot from Dr. Wily, Dr. Light is stunned to recognize that some of the robots rioting on the TV screen are his own creations. Even more stunning, Dr. Wily appears on television to proclaim that Dr. Light is the evil mastermind behind these latest catastrophic incidents and it's up to Mega Man to clear his creator's name!

• Fun and addictive Mega Man graphics and gameplay focused around defeating bosses and acquiring a diverse arsenal of weapons

* Over a dozen challenging levels to tackle
* Over 50 new enemy and bosses to battle
* Character designs directed by Keiji Inafune, the original character designer of Mega Man.
* Online leaderboard ranking system, track your score and time with other Mega Man players

Click here for new screenshots and artwork!

SAN MATEO, Calif. — Jul 15, 2008 — Capcom® Entertainment, a leading worldwide developer and publisher of video games, today announced Flock! (working title) for PLAYSTATION®Network, Xbox LIVE® Arcade for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, and Windows® PC. Developed by Proper Games™, whose talented team members are known for their previous work on Lemmings, Crackdown, and Battlefield 2: Modern Combat, Flock! is currently scheduled for a downloadable release this Holiday season.

In Flock!, players take control of a UFO that has been given the challenge of herding farm animals to its mothership through a variety of puzzle-filled interactive levels, including corn fields, pastures and other “plushie”-like environments. In order to succeed, players will have to manage the quirkiness of the animal’s distinct behaviors, as well as solve a series of environmental puzzles using Flock’s! physics-based gameplay. The animals that populate these islands – sheep, chickens, pigs, cows and more – respond to the UFO in all kinds of eccentric ways based on their nature. By finding or creating a passable route across a level, players can herd the animals safely toward their ship. Solving the puzzles within the suggested time limit yields exciting rewards, but players can also take their time in order to find more hidden bonuses. With a unique theme, clever humor and easy pick-up-and-play controls, Flock! promises to be an instant hit with gamers of all ages!

Flock! uses a sophisticated physics engine that drives the challenging puzzle elements of the game. Whether using the Tractor Beam to move obstacles out of the way or the Depressor Beam to stamp out crop circles to guide your herds, being an extraterrestrial has never been this fun! Friends will also be able to join in on the animal herding adventures through co-op play. And when all the levels have been completed, the journey is just getting started as users will be able to make their own customized puzzle-filled levels using the level editor. Flock! comes packed with so much content, the potential fun is out of this world!

Set in the swashbuckling era, Plunder is a casual real-time multiplayer strategy game that puts players at the helm of their own pirate ship with the goal of sending your enemies to the briny deep, and looting and capturing towns for your pirate faction.

In Plunder, players team up with other online players or AI-controlled pirate ships to raid, pillage, sink, and destroy their way to dominance on the high seas. Spoils of war and booty are used to upgrade and customize pirate ships to make them even more deadly as players take on 25 unique challenges and seven of the most devious Pirate Alliances on the high seas. Gain notoriety and fame by climbing the online leader boards. Create and share custom maps using the intuitive map creation system.
Key features

• Single player and multiplayer real-time action strategy from Certain Affinity, lead by Max Hoberman, designer of Halo 2 and 3's multiplayer game.

• Raid villages, sink merchants, seize towns, steal gold, upgrade your pirate ship and use your guns and your wits to send your foes to the briny deep

• Master twenty-five unique multiplayer maps or create your own and share them with your friends

• Up to four players on one console, up to eight players over LAN or the Internet

• Tons of customizable options that allow you to tune the game to meet your taste

A full video of the 'Rube Goldberg Machine' level for 'Flock' for XBLA and PSN as seen in the trailer, as well as the trailer itself!

Source: Capcom PR

During the E3 2008 Sony Press Conference, Sony announced 'Ratchet & clank Future: Quest For Booty', 'Rag Doll Kung Fu', 'Fat Princess' and 'Crash Commando'!

They also showed off Home, along with the new 'Gaming Lounges' which allow players to meet up within home to play a certain game Warhawk was used, and had its own strategy board within it.

Gametrailers just uploaded two new HD trailers for the PSN game Flower! These are based on the footage we saw during Gametrailers.TV over the weekend. Check the first one out above, and continue reading for the second.

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. (SCEA) Developer: thatgamecompany LLC Platform: PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™) via PLAYSTATION®Network Genre: Zen Gaming Release: TBA Rating: “RP” for Rating Pending

OVERVIEW

The pioneers that brought you the award-winning PLAYSTATION Network title flOw are back with another concept that challenges traditional gaming conventions. Flower expands the team’s tradition of delivering simple gameplay, accessible controls and a medium to explore emotional chords uncommon in video games. In Flower, the surrounding environment, most often pushed to the background in games, is pulled to the forefront and becomes the primary “character.” The player fades from an external and stressful world in the opening of this fresh and genuine game only for PS3, and journeys through beautifully vivid landscapes, changing the his surroundings and exploring nature along the way.

Playing as the wind, the player guides and grows a swarm of pedals by interacting with other flowers and the surrounding environment. The goals and journey in each level vary, but all involve flight, exploration and interaction with the level. Using simple SIXAXIS wireless controls, the player guides the lead petal and accumulates a swarm of flower petals as he moves at his own pace within the environment, causing the on-screen world to change. Flower's gameplay offers different experiences, pacing and rhythm to all players. Along the way, the environment will pose challenges to the player’s progress.

Both pastoral and at times chaotic, Flower is a visual, audio and interactive escape on PS3.

KEY FEATURES

Simple Gameplay Controls – Accessible controls appeal to both the casual and hardcore gamer and offer simplistic and relaxing gaming. Freely playing as the wind is as easy as titling the SIXAXIS wireless controller.

Lush and Interactive Environment on PS3 – In Flower, over 200,000 blades of grass are simulated and animated simultaneously on-screen, creating an verdant environment not possible on any other platform.

Dynamically Adjusting Experience – Players with differing skill levels and/or moods can intuitively customize their game experience and enjoy the game at their own pace.

FAT PRINCESS FACT SHEET

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America
Developer: Darkstar Industries, Inc.
Platform: PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™) computer entertainment system via PLAYSTATION®Network
Genre: Team Arcade Action
Players: 1 player single mode/16x16 Multi-Player
Rating: TBA

OVERVIEW
Frantic and fun, Fat Princess pits two hordes of players against each other in comic medieval battle royale. Your goal is to rescue your beloved princess from the enemy dungeon. There’s a catch though: your adversary has been stuffing her with food to fatten her up and it’s going to take most of your army working together to carry her back across the battlefield.

You can switch between five different character classes literally at the drop of a hat: the fearless Warrior, the steadfast Archer, the mystical Mage, the tireless Worker, and the deadly Priest. In order to triumph, players must combine their skills and work together. The name of the game is cooperation, whether it’s helping another player drag a log back to your castle, manning a battering ram to smash through the enemy’s front gate, or building a human pyramid to scramble over the walls.

KEY FEATURES
Casual Single & Multiplayer Online/Offline Action – Cooperate with your team of medieval soldiers (up to 16 players on each side) to overthrow the opponent’s army, plunder their castle and save the princess
5 Character Classes – Change your avatar's character anytime by swapping hats: Worker, Warrior, Archer, Mage and Priest
10 Unique Maps – There will be 10 maps total, shared across single & multiplayer modes.
Experience intense frantic gameplay across diverse, charming and challenging environments
Resources & Upgrades – Work together to collect resources to upgrade your primitive weapons and basic castle defenses into superior armaments and impenetrable fortifications
Unique Game Modes – Select from several various game types: Rescue the Princess, Thwart the Invasion, and Medieval Games
Customizable Avatars – Create your own personal Avatar and charge online into battle
32-player Online Skirmish – Jump in and join as many as 32 players online to wreak havoc on the battlefield and carry your stout princess back home during the conflict

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. (SCEA)
Developer: EPOS Game Studios
Platform: PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™) via PLAYSTATION®Network
Genre: Side Scrolling Multiplayer Shooter
Players: 1-12 players (2-12 players online simultaneously
Release: TBA
Rating: “RP” for Rating Pending

KEY FEATURES
Fun and Frenzied Multiplayer Action – The hilarious action never slows with up to 12 players battling on a map simultaneously, either online or offline with BOTs.
Weapons and Explosives Galore – Commandos have an array of weapons to choose from with machine guns, shotguns, rocket launchers, C4, mines and more. Players can jump into an array of controllable vehicles such as jeeps and tanks, to deal even more damage.
Single Player and Multiplayer Modes – Crash Commando features multiplayer modes like Death Match and team-based game modes as well as single player modes like Boot Camp and custom games versus AI-controlled BOTs.
Player Profiles – A Duty Records Award system, along with Player Rankings, Trophy Support and online Leaderboards, will track player stats and accomplishments.

Click here to check out all the new screenshots!

PixelJunk™ Eden Fact Sheet

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. (SCEA)
Developer: Q-Games Ltd.
Platform: PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™) via PLAYSTATION®Network
Genre: Organic Platformer
Players: 1-3 players
Release: Summer 2008
Rating: E for Everyone

OVERVIEW

Welcome to the garden of PixelJunk™ Eden, a refreshingly different platform game wrapped in a vibrant world exclusively on PS3. In PixelJunk Eden, the latest downloadable entry to the PixelJunk™ series from developer Q-Games, living and luminous plant-life grows in real-time to form a lively stage. In this constantly evolving environment, players control a small creature called a “Grimp” (from “grip” and “jump”) to explore a dynamic setting alive with color and sound. By smashing into enemies, the player releases batches of pollen that can help the lush alien plants change and grow. As they develop, players can leap, swing and soar between them to get further through the undergrowth and gather all the bundles of energy and light from the level before the time available runs out.

PixelJunk™ Eden is the third game in Q-Games’ PixelJunk series, which blends simple, addictive gameplay with crisp and attractive graphics designed for optimal viewing in full 1080p High Definition (HD)*.

KEY FEATURES

Distinctive Visuals and Music – Features 10 unique stages with stylishly designed graphics and original music from award-winning Japanese artist Baiyon.
Co-op Play – Player can enjoy PixelJunk Eden alone or with up to 2 others with co-op play. Teamwork and cooperation enhances the strategy and dynamic of this platformer.
Dynamic Animations and Effects – Organic growth animations for each plant, plus environmental and particle effects bring the setting to life and keep it constantly evolving.
Rumble Support – Feel the thrilling effects of clinging, attacking and falling from plants.
Trophy Support – Have fun, grow a vibrant Eden AND achieve trophies along the way!
Remote Play – Supports Remote Play for PSP® system.

Click here for screenshots. A new trailer was also released - watch it above!

Rag Doll Kung Fu™: Fists of Plastic Fact Sheet

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. (SCEA)
Developer: Tarsier Studios
Platform: PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™) via PLAYSTATION®Network
Genre: Combat/Fighting
Players: 1-4 players
Release: TBA
Rating: “RP” for Rating Pending

OVERVIEW

Rag Doll Kung Fu™: Fists of Plastic is a PS3 exclusive party-fighting game based on an original title by the creator of LittleBigPlanet™, and developed by Tarsier Studios. A fast-paced combat game with an imaginative look and feel, Ragdoll Kung Fu: Fists of Plastic focuses on fun with exaggerated ragdoll physics action and charming High Definition (HD) visual effects. Featuring accessible and intuitive controls, even novice players can orchestrate impressive attacks with ninja-like precision. Additionally, hardcore players will appreciate the deep combat system, weapons use and strategy. Success depends mightily on the player mastering the basic Kung Fu moves and sharpening his acrobatic skills by swinging off platforms and somersaulting through the air. This action builds up Chi Power, which can be conjured to perform spectacular SIXAXIS™ wireless controller-triggered special attack moves and combat sequences. Furthermore, players can taunt their opponents with the Free Pose system, ensuring the battle is infused with lighthearted fun.

Players can perfect their Kung Fu skills in the Solo Adventure and also take their characters online with a variety of addictive free-for-all and team-based multiplayer modes, including King of the Hill, Assassin and Capture the Fish. Perfect for any social occasion, Rag Doll Kung Fu: Fists of Plastic offers frantic multiplayer action with up to 4 players locally or online.

KEY FEATURES

Accessible Controls – Rag Doll Kung Fu: Fists of Plastic’s pick-up-and-play controls allow for immediate fun for hours or in short bursts; perfect for a social setting
Ragdoll Characters – The vibrant HD and 3D plastic characters have limbs and stretchy body parts that move and react in a fun way. Players can unlock customisation assets to create their own characters – offering hundreds of combinations - and take them online.
Multidimentional and Strategic Combat – Players can chain attacks together, pull off spectacular in-air attacks, use weaponry and environmental objetct, master their Chi building skills and the Chi-powered special moves – all in 360-degree combat fun.
Fun Ragdoll Physics – Ragdoll physics not only give this title its charm, but also ensure that no two hit reactions are ever the same.
Single Player and Multiplayer Modes – Perfect for any occasion, Rag Doll Kung Fu: Fists of Plastic offers solo missions and frantic multiplayer action with up to 4 players locally or online.
Online Rankings and Trophy Support – Leaderboards and trophies will motivate players to aspire to both single player and multiplayer high scores!

Check out more screenshots here!

Ratchet & Clank®Future: Quest for Booty Fact Sheet

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America
Developer: Insomniac Games
Platform: PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™) via PLAYSTATION®Network
Genre: Action/Adventure
Release Date: Fall 2008
Players: Single-player
ESRB Rating: Pending

OVERVIEW

The heroic lombax, Ratchet, returns this fall in an all-new adventure with Ratchet & Clank® Future: Quest for Booty exclusively for PLAYSTATION®3 via PLAYSTATION®Network. A stand-alone adventure for both fans and newcomers to the franchise, Ratchet & Clank Future: Quest for Booty offers up to four hours of gameplay in Ratchet and Clank’s debut on the PLAYSTATION Network. With all new wrench mechanics and light and dark illumination puzzles, Ratchet must manipulate objects and use his wits in order to succeed in his quest. New pirate-themed puzzles in four exotic locations will have gamers interacting with townspeople, manipulating shadows and playing pirate tunes, and mixing pirate brew to find hidden treasures.

Developed by highly-acclaimed independent developer Insomniac Games, Ratchet & Clank Future: Quest for Booty finds Ratchet in a desperate search for Clank after the intense ending of Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction®. After an unfortunate turn of events, Ratchet washes up on the shores of a small village where he must overcome life-threatening challenges, encounter new alien races and even form an alliance with dreaded Captain Slag’s first mate, Rusty Pete. Ratchet & Clank Future: Quest for Booty is Insomniacs third title for PS3 following its hugely successful Resistance: Fall of Man® and Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction.

KEY FEATURES

• All new wrench mechanics: Push, pull, and manipulate objects
• Light/Dark gameplay: Illuminate dark areas and use your wits to survive.
• Pirate Puzzles: Mix brew, manipulate shadows and play tunes to find hidden booty!
• Travel to four exotic locations on Planet Merdegraw: Pirate Fleet, Hoolefar Island, Morrow Caverns and Darkwater Cove
• Fight a motley crew of pirate enemies including Skull Walkers, Hot Heads, Giant Vipers (Pythors) and Undead Robotic Pirates.
• Explore a small island town and interact with the townspeople to find vital clues to Captain Darkwater’s treasure.
• Up to four hours of epic Ratchet & Clank gameplay for both fans and newcomers to the franchise.

Along with the new video you can see above, you can see the brand new screenshots and artwork here!

PAIN: AMUSEMENT PARK FACT SHEET

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America
Developer: Idol Minds, Inc.
Platform: PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™) computer entertainment system via PLAYSTATION®Network
Genre: Action / Comedy
Players: 1-4 players
Rating: “T” for “Teen”
Release Date: Summer 2008
Price: $5.99

OVERVIEW

The PAIN expansion pack is more PAINful than ever! This time, we are leaving Downtown and headed to the AMUSEMENT PARK! New to PAIN is online multiplayer mode play and 5 crazy modes to enjoy. The AMUSEMENT PARK still has the same creative, skill-driven comedic experience that presents players with the unique opportunity to control and capture the irreverent style of humor found in slapstick movies and online video clips. But now you are in a whole new PAIN-filled environment!

The Amusement Park keeps the same core, unique PAIN mechanic which allows the player to load characters into an extreme launching device, (this time a broken ride). Fire the character through physics controlled environments such as the “Tilt-a-Hurl, Deuces Wild, and Booty of the Sea”.

Receive points by stringing together PAINful collisions and inducing chaos in the environment. The player must achieve a wide variety of goals and / or reach various scoring milestones in each of the different modes of play. As challenging as it is funny, PAIN includes online leaderboards and has trophy support so you can see where you rank between your friends and throughout the world.

New Modes for PAIN Amusement Park include:

HOT n COLD: A single player puzzle game where the player must find the hidden teddy bear target within the Amusement Park. Each teddy bear detonated by the player returns a message of Hot or cold giving the player clues to the location of the hidden bear.

Clown Toss: A single player game based on Mime Toss. Glass planes are replaced with exploding barrels and the floating Mime is replaced with a Clown bouncing on a pogo stick.

Fun with Explosives: A multi-player game for up to 4 different players. Launch into an environment and attempt to detonate as many explosives as possible.

Trauma: A multi-player game mode that challenges players to cause as much pain to themselves and others as possible. Think the game Go head-to-head with friends and see if they can make all the same elaborate launches.

Call the Shot: A multi-player game mode that lets players challenge each other by choosing a set of two to four objects to hit in a single launch. The more difficult the shot, the more points the challenged player will earn.

New video at the top, and check out the new screenshots here!

'Ratchet & Clank: Quest For Booty'

GameSpot - E3 Stage Show Demo

'PixelJunk Eden'

GameSpot - PixelJunk Eden E3 2008 Stage Show Demo

PowerUp Forever

GameSpot - PowerUp Forever Hands-On

100 Vs. 1

Gametrailers: 100 Vs. 1 Trailer

Word Soup

Gametrailers: Word Soup Gameplay HD

Uno Rush

Gametrailers: Uno Rush Gameplay HD

Galaga Legions

IGN - Gameplay Trailer

IGN - Press Conference Gameplay

GameSpot - Galaga Legions E3 2008 Stage Show Demo

Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2

IGN - Evolved Trailer

Gamersyde - Evolutions Trailer

GameSpot - Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 E3 2008 Stage Show Demo

Braid

GameSpot - Braid E3 2008 Stage Show Demo

Lode Runner

GameSpot - Lode Runner E3 2008 Stage Show Demo 1

PowerUp Forever

GameSpot - PowerUp Forever Hands-On

Castle Crashers

GameSpot - Castle Crashers E3 2008 Stage Show Demo

Well it looks like they've decided to add 'Double D Dodgeball' to this weeks lineup along with 'Coffeetime Crosswords'.

Double D Dodgeball

Developer: YUKE'S Co., Ltd.
Publisher: YUKE'S Company of America
Genre: Sports Games
Price: 800 Microsoft Points

Click here for the Xbox.com splash page for Double D Dodgeball

Coffeetime Crosswords™

Developer: Voltex, Inc.
Publisher: Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc.
Genre: Action
Price: 800 Microsoft Points

Click here for the Xbox.com splash page

Also this week, 'Puzzle Quest' has now got a price cut to 800 Microsoft Points, and 'Buku Sudoku' has got another 1,200 puzzle available to you for free!

Content: EA SPORTS™ Fantasy Football Live Draft Tracker
Price: 400 Microsoft Points
Availability: Canada and United States
Dash Text: [ESRB: E (EVERYONE)] Single Player, HD (High Definition).

Brought to you by EA SPORTS™, experience the ultimate fantasy football league draft by purchasing the EA SPORTS™ Fantasy Football Live Draft Tracker. Available exclusively with teams from FANTASY.EASPORTS.COM, the Live Draft Tracker is designed for commissioners who host league drafts offline and in-person. Head to FANTASY.EASPORTS.COM to sign up and create your league. Use the Live Draft Tracker to import your fantasy league settings. Now you are ready to invite your friends over and experience the thrill and excitement of a live and in-person league draft complete with video highlights from MADDEN NFL 09 and audio commentary by the EA Experts. Once the draft is complete, upload the results to the website and start managing your fantasy teams! There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/Live/accounts.

Plenty of new previews and videos of the upcoming Xbox Live Arcade, PSN and WiiWare titles have popped up today. Hopefully more games will be shown tomorrow...

1 Vs. 100

GameSpot - E3 2008: 1 vs. 100 Impressions

Uno Rush

GameSpot - E3 2008: Uno Rush Quick Impressions

Castle Crashers

IGN - E3 2008: Castle Crashers Hands-on

Braid

IGN - E3 2008: Braid Hands-On

PowerUp Forever

IGN - E3 2008: Powerup Forever Hands-On
GameSpot - E3 2008: PowerUp Forever Hands-On

Age Of Booty

GameSpot - E3 2008: Age of Booty Hands-On
GameTrailers - E3 2008: Conquest Gameplay HD
GameTrailers - E3 2008: Island Battles Gameplay HD
GameTrailers - E3 2008: Sunken Ship Gameplay HD

Flock

GameSpot - E3 2008: Flock Hands-On

Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2

Joystiq - Joystiq E3 hands-on: Geometry Wars 2
X3f - E308: Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 hands on

PS3

Crash Commando

IGN - E3 2008: Crash Commando Hands-on

PixelJunk Eden

IGN - E3 2008: PixelJunk Eden Progress Report
GameSpot - E3 2008: PixelJunk Eden Hands-On

Fat Princess

IGN - E3 2008: Fat Princess Hands-on

Flower

IGN - E3 2008: flOwer Update
GameSpot - E3 2008: Flower Hands-On

Ratchet & Clank Future: Quest For Booty

GameSpot - E3 2008: Ratchet & Clank Future: Quest for Booty First Impressions

Wii

Mega Man 9

GameSpot - E3 2008: Mega Man 9 Hands-On

IGN - E3 2008: Hands-on Mega Man 9
IGN - Mega Man 9 Off-Screen Vids
GameVideos - Mega Man 9 'E3 2008 Action' gameplay
Gametrailers - E3 2008: Level 1 Gameplay Cam HD
GameTrailers - E3 2008: Level 2 Gameplay Cam HD
GameTrailers - E32008: Opening Cam Gameplay HD
GameTrailers - E3 2008: Cam Walkthrough HD

Finally, some WiiWare announcements! Konami have announced that they're bringing a brand new Gradius game to WiiWare!

'Gradius Rebirth' will be coming in the Summer. Outside of that we don't know anything. No date, no price, nothing. We've got a single in-game screenshot though:

It looks just like a Super Nintendo game! It appears that 'Mega Man 9' is not the only game that is going the classic direction. Whether it's an entirely new game or a remake of the original game is currently unknown.

Source: Watch.Impress ＫＯＮＡＭＩ、Wiiウェア「GRADIUS ReBirth」
同社の名作シューティングがWiiウェアで登場 , Official Page

James Goddard, CEO of Crunchtime Games, who have made the upcoming XBLA title 'Shred Nebula', has come out and discussed what the hubbub was all about late last week, when the game was announced for release:

"I am extremely disappointed to report that Shred Nebula is not launching tomorrow on July 16, 2008 on Xbox LIVE Arcade. Shred Nebula originally had a release date in late Q3, but last Friday we were given us the option to take a suddenly open slot for 7/16/08 and we took accepted it... scrambled to start announcing the date... we were later told that unfortunately this date turned out to not be available.

Our actual release date is still confirmed for late Q3 2008. "

However the game is completely done, and waiting for release. They're just waiting for a new slot. To help ease the pain they've released the very first video of the game in action. Check it out above!

Source: James Goddard Blog

With the release of '1942: Joint Strike' looming ahead on Xbox Live and PlayStation Network next week, Capcom have released two new gameplay videos for you to enjoy.

So... enjoy!

Source: Capcom PR

In celebration of E3, it appears that Sony have finally gotten their act together and released a title in all the regions of the world on the same day!

Get ready to build! If you like puzzle games, you’ll love 'Elefunk'. In Elefunk, your task is to lead elephants across four continents and various treacherous levels of ravines, rivers, fire pits and swamps by building bridges and structures capable of supporting them. This game uses real world physics - you must carefully select the proper materials to build a solid structure that is able to hold crossing elephants over these outrageous terrains and precarious situations. Play in three game modes, including Puzzle, where you must build with a limited amount of materials;Time Attack, where you race against the clock; and Multiplayer ‘Deconstruction’ mode, where you have to carefully remove pieces without causing the structure to fall.

'Elefunk' will cost $4.99 in the US, (€7,99 / £4.99 / 12.95AUD). US get lucky with the cheap release. A demo is also available.

Along with this, the Team Expansion Pack for 'Super Stardust HD' has also been released for $4.99US (€3,99 / £2.99).

In Europe, 'Fatal Inertia EX' has been released as well for £14.99 (€19.99) along with the demo!

And finally a new 'WarHawk' update. 1.4 brings 2 new game modes (Hero and Collector), bug fixes, added quick join and medal requirements have been modified.

For the full list, click here.

Gamasutra's Chris Remo, currently the hero to many Nintendo fans, has also become the hero for Portal fanatics - he's discovered what exactly 'Portal: Still Alive' actually is.

Over on Chris's blog he says that he was able to chat with Doug Lombardi over at Valve to get more information of the game.

The game is two sections - the original game, just like the version from 'The Orange Box' for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC, but also a "challenge mode". What is the challenge mode? It's the unofficial map pack based on Flash Portal!

These are already available for free on the PC, as is the original flash game, but it is a fantastic and fascinating addition to the official version of the title.

Not like this is the only time Valve have ever done this - 'Counter-Strike' was originally a 'Half-Life' mod which then got bought up and went on to be a million selling franchise. 'Team Fortress Classic' was exactly the same, and 'Team Fortress 2' officially added two levels made by fans of the game.

Good work 'We Create Stuff'. It'll be very interesting to see if those guys become partners with Valve on other projects and become Steam Powered.

Source: Remowned - Portal: Still Alive explained

The Computer & Video Games website have had a nice, long discussion with Rare about their 'Banjo-Kazooie - Nuts & Bolts'. Within the interview, they discuss the upcoming Xbox Live Arcade version of the original as well!

CVG: How did the Xbox Live Arcade version come about?

Betteridge: It was obviously an IP we had, some code we had and there are a lot of fans out there that have nostalgia for that game and would like to play that game.

It's being done by 4J Studios. It runs better on the Xbox 360 and there's always going to be a market for that, as Nintendo's shown with Virtual Console on the Wii.

It just made a lot of sense to do that project at the same time as Nuts 'N Bolts, maybe release it slightly before as a bit of a teaser and then come out with the 360 version. I'm not sure about the exact timing, but that's how the conversation came about.

It seems the time is right now, to put it with this, rather than three or four years ago just to go "here's old Banjo" with no connection.

4J Studios have previously been known as a porting house - previously working on the PS3 versions of 'Oblivion' and 'Overlord: Raising Hell'. They've not done an Xbox 360 title before - it looks like Banjo may be their 'bridging' game to allow them to get some Xbox 360 development kits and get a hand of how to develop the game.

They have also said that it will be essentially the same - including all previous Nintendo references, and apparently they're fine with it:

CVG: Legally, has there been no problem bringing an N64 game, Nintendo logos and all, over to 360?

Betteridge: There's been no problem. We still have a good working relationship with Nintendo. There was a lot of misconception when we joined Microsoft that we'd fallen out with Nintendo and we've never fallen out with Nintendo. We're still continuing to work on handheld and we have conversations with them.

It will be interesting to see if the game will have any sort of upgrades. Hopefully some things are touched up a little, like textures and text.

If Rare isn't working on it, I wonder if the guys behind 'Jetpac: Refuelled' are up to anything right now...

Source: Computer & Video Games - Interview: Rare speaks on the 10th anniversary

Big selection of last day E3 previews and videos are up all over the place. Here's a giant list of everything I can find!

'Galaga Legions'

GameTrailers - Galaga Legions - E3 2008: Extended Gameplay Trailer HD
IGN - Galaga Legions (X360) Videos
Xbox360Fanboy - E308 hands-on: Galaga Legions
1UP.com - Previews: Galaga Legions
Kotaku - Galaga Legions Hands On Impressions: Heavenly Galaga Hell
The Next Level - E3 08: Galaga Legions Hands-On
Xbox 360 Achievements - Galaga Legions Achievement List

'Geometry Wars 2'

Kotaku - Coming To XBLA: My Frequent Death, Castle Crashers

'Castle Crashers'

Kotaku - Coming To XBLA: My Frequent Death, Castle Crashers
Joystiq - Joystiq E3 Hands-on: Castle Crashers
IGN - Two new videos
GameSpot - Castle Crashers Gameplay Movie 5
GameSpot - Castle Crashers Gameplay Movie 6

'Fat Princess'

Joystiq - Joystiq eyes-on: Fat Princess
MTV Multiplayer - The Blood And Cake Of ‘Fat Princess’ For PlayStation 3
1up.com - Fat Princess Preview

'Flock'

GameSpot - Flock E3 2008 Stage Show Demo
Kotaku Preview - Flock: Sheep Death In A Toy World
1UP.com - Previews: Flock - Hands-on with Capcom's gritty barnyard abduction sim.
Gaming-Age - Preview: Flock
Game|Life Wired - UFOs, Sheep, and Crop Circles Abound in Capcom's Flock!

Mega Man 9

The Next Level - Mega Man 9 Preview