Reminder: Shadow Complex is $10 this week
If you have an Xbox Live Gold subscription and have yet to experience the joys of Shadow Complex, it's time for you to stop reading this post. You see, Shadow Complex has been marked down to 800
for one week and one week only. It was already a steal at 1200
($15) and $10 is absolutely ludicrous. Go buy it. Now. We'll even help you out with a handy shortcut link. You should click it. Your friends will make fun of you if you don't.
Shortcut: Add Shadow Complex to your 360 download queue [Via Xbox.com]
for one week and one week only. It was already a steal at 1200
($15) and $10 is absolutely ludicrous. Go buy it. Now. We'll even help you out with a handy shortcut link. You should click it. Your friends will make fun of you if you don't.Shortcut: Add Shadow Complex to your 360 download queue [Via Xbox.com]
This Wednesday: 0 Day Attack on Earth attacks XBLA

We'll update this post as soon as Microsoft confirms this week's XBLA title and price.
Gallery: 0 Day Attack on Earth (XBLA)
Divinity 2 demo available on PC and Xbox 360

If you'd prefer to begin rising through the ranks of the Dragon Knights on your PC, you can do that as well! Our friends at Big Download have just the 1.77GB file you're looking for.
Shortcut: Add the Divinity II Demo to your 360 download queue
Now Playing: December 21-27, 2009
Greenberg: Crackdown 2 coming first half of 2010
On Major Nelson's weekly podcast -- with a host left laughing and teary-eyed due to the Xbox head's dental-related lisp -- Aaron Greenberg did some NPD boasting before ruminating on the first half of 2010. After pointing out Mass Effect 2, Splinter Cell Conviction, and Alan Wake, he confirmed Crackdown 2 as part of Microsoft's list of "triple-A, exclusive" titles heading to the Xbox 360 during "the first half of the year."
"Those are just the exclusives, that doesn't include Final Fantasy ... there's no way we had a first half of the year like that last year," Greenberg added. The back end of the upcoming year is no slouch either in his eyes, with Halo Reach and Fable 3 said to be on schedule for launch in the Fall. Considering the first Crackdown's February release date, we're hoping for a similarly timed release of the sequel (just in time for its third birthday!). We've followed up with Greenberg and will update this post if we hear more.
"Those are just the exclusives, that doesn't include Final Fantasy ... there's no way we had a first half of the year like that last year," Greenberg added. The back end of the upcoming year is no slouch either in his eyes, with Halo Reach and Fable 3 said to be on schedule for launch in the Fall. Considering the first Crackdown's February release date, we're hoping for a similarly timed release of the sequel (just in time for its third birthday!). We've followed up with Greenberg and will update this post if we hear more.
Gallery: Crackdown 2 (11/24/09)
Modern Warfare 2 spends sixth week atop UK sales chart
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 has been entrenched at the top spot of the UK sales chart for six weeks now. FIFA 10's expected pre-holiday sales surge happened and the game rebounded from fifth to second place, but it still wasn't enough to suppress the firepower of Activision's FPS (it seems the only thing more powerful than Call of Duty is Waldo). While stuffing themselves with Turkish delight, Chart-Track has declared this the "Official Christmas Chart" of 2009. Nintendo has Wii Sports Resort and Wii Fit Plus at the third and fourth spots, respectively.
Despite serious competition during the holiday week from more family-friendly fare, Assassin's Creed 2 maintains a respectable foothold, slipping only two spots down to fifth place. Thanks to the movie release, James Cameron's Avatar got its blue butt on some big bird-lizard things and flew up 17 spots (129%) to reach 12th place.
Source -- Modern Warfare 2 captures Christmas No1 [Chart Track]Despite serious competition during the holiday week from more family-friendly fare, Assassin's Creed 2 maintains a respectable foothold, slipping only two spots down to fifth place. Thanks to the movie release, James Cameron's Avatar got its blue butt on some big bird-lizard things and flew up 17 spots (129%) to reach 12th place.
Source -- All formats chart [Chart Track]
Serious Sam 3 seriously planned for 2010 release
It's been a while since we last heard about Croteam's upcoming, decidedly non-cartoony shooter, Serious Sam 3 -- fortunately, a recent Destructoid interview with the developer's awesomely-named CEO, Roman Ribaric, has broken the cycle of silence. According to Ribaric, development on Sam's next outing is still on track. "Serious Sam 3 is happening for sure," Ribaric said, later adding, "it is currently planned to be finished in 2010."
We would never wish an ill fate upon anyone with a name as powerful as Roman Ribaric, so we'd like to offer this friendly advice -- finish that stuff in the latter part of the year. We're not kidding. Firmly grasp the first three months of your 2010 calendar, pull down as hard as you possibly can, and then don't release your game during any of the months you're holding. You're welcome in advance.
We would never wish an ill fate upon anyone with a name as powerful as Roman Ribaric, so we'd like to offer this friendly advice -- finish that stuff in the latter part of the year. We're not kidding. Firmly grasp the first three months of your 2010 calendar, pull down as hard as you possibly can, and then don't release your game during any of the months you're holding. You're welcome in advance.
Rumor: Super Street Fighter IV getting 10 new characters in total
Every Street Fighter fan site ever perked up its ears late last week when Famitsu held a live streaming demo of Super Street Fighter IV. The administrators and visitors of said sites immediately began to pick the bones of the demo clean of important gameplay details -- the most fascinating of which comes from the above still image of the game's character select screen. The alleyway brawling enthusiasts of EventHubs.com discerned from said image that SSF IV will add 10 new characters to the game's roster -- four of which are still unannounced.
You can watch a brief YouTube clip of the Famitsu stream after the jump -- it definitely contains the menu seen above. We've contacted Capcom to find out if these fans' assumptions are accurate.
You can watch a brief YouTube clip of the Famitsu stream after the jump -- it definitely contains the menu seen above. We've contacted Capcom to find out if these fans' assumptions are accurate.
Just Cause 2 visits small island, kills everyone
Gallery: Just Cause 2 (11-13-09)
Dark Void dev diary introduces us to 'Teslapunk' technology
Quick question: In a hypothetical war between inventor extraordinaire Nikola Tesla and an advanced race of robots, who would win? The answer is, of course, entirely dependent on the version of Tesla we're talking about. Real-life Tesla stands a pretty good chance -- after all, that debonaire mustache is probably capable of disabling most electronic devices. The safe money's on The Prestige's Tesla, who was played by David Bowie, who can disintegrate any synthetic material using nothing but the power of his rocking.
The Tesla in Dark Void looks like he'd stand a fair chance as well. Check out the above dev diary to see the warring factions of technology present in the game, and to get a few more sweet, sweet glimpses of the title's jetpack-based combat.
The Tesla in Dark Void looks like he'd stand a fair chance as well. Check out the above dev diary to see the warring factions of technology present in the game, and to get a few more sweet, sweet glimpses of the title's jetpack-based combat.
Extremely ugly Clash of the Titans screenshots released
Click to Titan-size
Whoa, now. When we say "ugly," we're not talking about the visual fidelity of the aforementioned Clash of the Titans screenshots. Rather, we're talking about the subjects they depict -- horrible, nether-spawned creatures, covered in uninviting tusks, pincers and fangs. Where are all the beautiful, half-clothed goddesses? The scenic Grecian environments? The looming, meticulously built temples? We're not sure -- but we do know they're not in the gallery below.Gallery: Clash of the Titans
Reminder: Enter to win Joystiq's 'Naughty or Nice' holiday bundles
We sure hope you've entered to win the eight holiday gaming bundles we're offering as prizes in our "Naughty or Nice" sweepstakes -- which, by the way, you can submit entries into once every day. If ludicrous piles of free games (or South Africa-based alien romps) aren't really up your alley, that's just fine. However, you need to appreciate the fact that we could have easily just wrapped this stuff up, placed it undertree, and given it to friends and family as Christmas presents. The money we would've saved as a result could've financed a personal spa tour of Cabo San Lucas.
Check out our giveaway hub to see all the highly giftable loot, as well as the rules, regulations and obligatory legal mumbo-jumbo.
Update: Just to clear up any confusion, you'll need to comment on the actual giveaway posts to be eligible. This post's just a friendly reminder! See, it says so in the headline!
Check out our giveaway hub to see all the highly giftable loot, as well as the rules, regulations and obligatory legal mumbo-jumbo.
Update: Just to clear up any confusion, you'll need to comment on the actual giveaway posts to be eligible. This post's just a friendly reminder! See, it says so in the headline!
PSA: Worms 2: Armageddon is today's Xbox Live deal for $5
Worms 2: Armageddon here! Get your Worms 2: Armageddon here! Worms for sale! Worms, I say! Low, low prices -- one day only! 400 spacebucks or five Earth dollars, whichever comes first! Cutesy, creepy, blasty, explodey Worms here! Buy today and get the Buffalo of Lies with your order! If you can find a better deal, you're a magician! Get 'em while they're cheap! Tell your friends, and come back tomorrow for another Xbox Live deal. Only ten days left!
Gallery: Worms 2 Armageddon (XBLA)
Criterion details Burnout Paradise DLC that never was
You gotta give it up to Criterion Games. Throughout the lifespan of Burnout Paradise, the developers at Criterion worked their buns off to give us all kinds of juicy DLC, from a new island to explore, a new game mode, right down to motorcycles and many, many car packs. Now, the company has prepared a lengthy diatribe documenting some of the updates that never got off the ground.
For one, did you know that Criterion initially planned to have motorcycles vs cars? Yep, sure was planned -- and did you know that Criterion wanted to create a whole series of islands, not just the one? The devs even wanted to give players the ability to go to the moon, complete with lunar challenges for Freeburn addicts. Also: the planes thing wasn't an April Fool's joke -- the dev actually wanted to add them (and other vehicles) into the game.
Overall, it's a pretty great read, if only to show you just how committed the studio was to the game and raising the bar for DLC in general.
For one, did you know that Criterion initially planned to have motorcycles vs cars? Yep, sure was planned -- and did you know that Criterion wanted to create a whole series of islands, not just the one? The devs even wanted to give players the ability to go to the moon, complete with lunar challenges for Freeburn addicts. Also: the planes thing wasn't an April Fool's joke -- the dev actually wanted to add them (and other vehicles) into the game.
Overall, it's a pretty great read, if only to show you just how committed the studio was to the game and raising the bar for DLC in general.
Eye-popping iPhone hack-n-slash Twin Blades coming to XBL Indie Games
click to enlarge
Recently released for iPhone / iPod touch, French indie dev Press Start Studio's side-scrolling homage to classic hack-n-slashers (and really big guns), Twin Blades: The Reaping Vanguard, is making the unlikely leap onto Xbox 360 via Xbox Live Indie Games.It's not the deepest game, though it has been hailed as a technical showpiece for Apple's devices due to its crisp, beautifully animated 2D graphics. Players (controlling an awfully violent nun) hack and shoot their way through advancing waves of the enemy flavor of the decade, zombies. There are skill and weapon upgrades, the latter including flame throwers and mini nukes.
A 99¢ download on iPhone, the 360 release of Twin Blades will be priced at 240
($3) and, so as not to miss a crucial marketing opportunity -- the traditional holiday ritual of decapitating zombies while dressed as a nun -- is slated to land on the Xbox Live Marketplace before December 25. Press Start plans to release DLC for the game down the road, including new levels and bosses. Check out the gameplay trailer after the break.

























