Tales of Monkey Island: Lair of Leviathan (Chapter Three)
Available for Windows PC, Wii (soon)
Release Date (PC): September 29, 2009
Developer: Telltale Games
Official website: www.telltalegames.com

Game summary from Telltale Games:
"In the third Tales of Monkey Island chapter, Guybrush gets in deep (literally!) as his quest for the voodoo exfoliating La Esponja Grande takes a scenic twist -- through the guts of a giant manatee! Trapped in the belly of the beast, our hero encounters a surprising band of castaways, including the long-lost (and obsessive-compulsive) explorer Coronado De Cava. Can the Mighty Pirate win the suspicious De Cava's trust? Will sexy pirate hunter Morgan LeFlay prove to be a ruthless enemy, or an unlikely ally? Will the group find La Esponja Grande in time to save Elaine from the rampant Pox of LeChuck? And will the world be crushed by the gnashing teeth of a certain demonic skull? Tales of Monkey Island's moist and absorbing third episode, Lair of the Leviathan, will answer some of these urgent questions -- and raise still more -- as the five month adventure builds to its epic climax!"

Review summary:
Tales of Monkey Island: Chapter 3, The Lair of the Leviathan does not stray to far from the Telltale Games formula. It incorporates top notch voice acting and animations with unique environments to bring a great episodic experience to the player. You will not be disappointed with this chapter. It is definitely worth the price of admission.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Read the full review below.

THQ today announced they will be publishing a new horror first-person shooter, Metro 2033. It was originally announced by game developer 4A Games for the PlayStation 3 and PC, but now it looks like it is coming to the Xbox 360 and PC. PC gamers will have the support of NVIDIA PhysX technology for some enhanced graphic visuals. Metro 2033 is based on the best-selling Metro 2033 Russian novel by Dmitry Glukhovsky.

"Metro 2033 will plunge gamers into a terrifying vision of the future," said Richard Williams, vice president of global brand management, THQ. "4A Games have worked closely with Dmitry Glukhovsky to deliver a unique game world, a compelling, cinematic story and an incredible, atmospheric experience to rival anything in the category."

Metro 2033 is estimated for release on the Xbox 360 and PC in 2010. Visit the official website at www.metro2033game.com to see the first teaser trailer. Visit the game developer 4A Games' website to see some screenshots.

See a summary of Metro 2033 below from THQ.

Today's new Xbox LIVE Arcade game releases include Panzer General Allied Assault and Tower Bloxx Deluxe. Each game is available for 800 Microsoft Points ($10). Check out the details below on each game, as well as links to the demo and full game.

Panzer General: Allied Assault details from xbox.com:
"Panzer General is back with an all-new turn-based strategy game in Panzer General: Allied Assault! For the first time on Xbox LIVE Arcade, recreate actual battles during the last phase of World War II and experience the dramatic events of D-Day as they unfold in your hands. Build, customize, and fight with your personalized deck of 60 cards. Play with a friend in multiplayer mode, gain access to special units and cards, and become a Panzer General."

See more details here on xbox.com. Queue up the full game here or demo here to your Xbox 360.

Tower Bloxx Deluxe details from xbox.com:
"Build the highest skyscrapers and largest cities in the best-selling, classic game Tower Bloxx Deluxe. Reach the skies, clouds, and outer space as your skyscraper grows and grows. Beat your friends in the social ladder and pass up their profile icon as you outbuild their tower! Compete against friends in multiplayer game modes, or work with them as you construct the tower in a co-operative game mode. Use powerups, Tower upgrades, and combos to create the tallest and straightest towers. Play all six different game modes including Build City and the galaxy-reaching Quick Game."

See more details here on xbox.com. Queue up the full game here or demo here to your Xbox 360.

Game developer Remedy Entertainment is currently at work on the highly anticipated game Alan Wake for the Xbox 360. What you may not know is Remedy Entertainment's breakout game from 1996. It's a top-down racing game for the PC DOS platform called Death Rally. The game was published by Apogee, which would later be known to gamers as 3D Realms. You can enjoy this slice of gaming history now, for free, as Remedy Entertainment has re-released the game to work on current PCs (Windows XP SP3, Vista or Windows 7: 32-bit or 64-bit). Get Death Rally now, right here.

You can relive or experience the racing mayhem of Death Rally for the first time. 3D Realms still has a game details page online for it, which you can see here. You have to love this description for Death Rally:

"Shoot your way through screaming bystanders, pick up more ammo and turbo from the side of the track, and floor the pedal while performing some shady deals for The Dealer. No trick is too dirty when you're preparing for The Final Confrontation; only the hardest armor, the most powerful engine and the biggest guns will see you through the ultimate battle against The Adversary. And when you feel you can't take it anymore, you can check out the underground market: Spiked bumpers, landmines, rocket fuel or sabotage can provide a way to create some nasty accidents to the competition."

Thanks to Joe for the heads-up on Death Rally's re-release! Get racing and let us know what you think!

Download Death Rally here.

Electronic Arts’ Need For Speed series has produced another bullet point for their financial reports. The series has generated over 2.7 billion dollars in sales since 1994 and that number will continue to grow this year with the release of Need for Speed SHIFT and the upcoming Need for Speed NITRO for the Wii and DS. Frank Gibeau, the President of EA Games added “Few videogame franchises ever reach the 100M units mark, so this is a huge honor. We have millions of fans to thank for driving us to this milestone… we hope to continue to deliver the most entertaining, action-packed racing experiences.”

See a milestone speedometer tracking the Need For Speed game releases here.

Here are a few details about the series that may surprise you:
- Launched 15 blockbuster titles across more than 14 platforms.
- Released in 22 languages in over 60 countries.
- Players have raced over 279 billion miles of roads & race tracks.
- Generated over 17 trillion user-generated vehicle customizations.
- Featured actors, models & musicians including: Brooke Burke (Wild On), Christina Milian (Ghosts of Girlfriends Past), Emmanuelle Vaugier (Two and a Half Men), Josie Maran (Sports Illustrated swimsuit model and actress), Maggie Q (Mission: Impossible III), Kanye West, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and The Prodigy.
- Debuted exclusive remix from Snoop Dogg of The Door’s classic song Riders on the Storm.
- Sold more games than all new passenger cars sales in the U.S. since 1994**.
- If Need for Speed boxes were laid out end-to-end, it would span 173,609 football fields.
- 100M units represents nearly every household in the United States and is 3x the population of Canada.

**93.8 Million according to Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

More information about the Need for Speed franchise can be found at the official website at  www.needforspeed.com. Follow updates on Need For Speed games on Twitter at @NeedforSpeed.

Electronic Arts has announced a 24-hour gaming event for their upcoming action-RPG, Dragon Age: Origins. The grand prize for the winning team will be $50,000 and each team will have to play as a Grey Warden. Teams competing for the stash of gold will be comprised from Canada, Poland, the United Kingdom, Spain, the Czech Republic and Hungary, France, the Netherlands, Germany and the United States. Anyone can watch the live stream, starting on Wednesday October 28th at 10 am GMT, provided by BioWare. There will also be updates via the BioWare dedicated Twitter and Facebook pages. Prizes will be given away during this live event for viewers and followers on these various portals.

If you have been following Dragon Age: Origins then check out the community site, because the US team will be made up of all fans of the game. Here are the requirements to be able to join up and take the Warden’s Quest:

1 – Must be an American citizen living in the USA.
2 – Must be 21 or older.
3 – Must have a valid passport and be legally eligible to travel internationally.
4 – Must be able to travel to and from England between October 25 and October 30.
5 – Must be a big Dragon Age: Origins fan who wants to have a great time in London England.

See more details of the event here on the Dragon Age: Origins Forums.

Visit the official website of Dragon Age: Origins at dragonage.bioware.com. Dragon Age: Origins will be available for the Xbox 360, PC and PlayStation 3. The Xbox 360 and PC release will be available at retailers starting November 3rd. The PlayStation 3 release is scheduled for a November 17th release.

An all new Astro Boy game is now available, which is based on this week's new Astro Boy CG film. D3 Publisher is bringing the game to the Wii, PSP and PS2 (which was developed by High Voltage Software) and to the Nintendo DS (from developer Art Co. Ltd). Astro Boy: The Video Game is based on the events of the new CG movie. As Astro Boy, you'll defend Metro City from an army of robot invaders. At your disposal are weapons like Arm Cannons and, as in the movie, Butt Machine Guns. It's a 2.5D side scrolling action adventure. The voice actors from the movie, Freddie Highmore (Astro Boy) and Kristen Bell (Cora), also contribute to the Astro Boy: The Video Game.

Watch a video trailer featuring gameplay clips and the two voice actors below.

Astro Boy: The Video Game packs in a few surprises as well, including some alternate unlockable Astro Boy costumes and two-player gameplay. If you're a fan of videogames and anime, you should definitely check out the CG movie out this week. It's rated PG and is enjoyable for just about any age, although it may not be suitable for the younger children since some of the imagery and events can be traumatic. If you know the story of Astro Boy, you know what I mean. But the Astro Boy film is worth the watch and Astro Boy: The Video Game will allow the older kids (parents) to play with the younger ones. You can get a sneak peek now since the game is already available.

Visit the official website of Astro Boy: The Video Game at AstroBoytheVideogame.com for more screenshots and a gameplay video. The Astro Boy movie will be released nationwide by Summit Entertainment on October 23rd. Visit the movie website at astroboy-themovie.com. There's also the official Facebook Fan Page, which you can join here.

Ghosts ‘N Goblins is making a return for the iPhone and iPod touch. Capcom is bringing the classic side-scrolling game as Ghosts‘N Goblins: Gold Knights. There will be six challenging stages of ghouls to fend off as Arthur or Lancelot.

Here are some of the features noted by Capcom:
- Brilliant 3D graphics and classic platform action!
- For the first time, play as two different heroes each with a unique play style.
- Master six different weapons per character and power up each weapon with magic.
- Destroy treasure chests to uncover weapons and more powerful suits of armor.
- Further customize your Ghosts ‘N Goblins experience with DLC.

Sounds like another exciting addition to the Capcom iPhone and iPod touch catalog of games! Watch for it on the App Store.

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Penny Arcade has announced that PAX East 2010 tickets are now on sale. It's the first time the popular PAX convention comes to the East Coast. The PAX East convention will take place in Boston from March 26 to March 28, 2010. Now's your chance to be a part of the popular gaming convention and check out the latest games or participate in tournaments. You don't want to miss out, so register early. You can secure your ticket now by getting the $45 3-day pass ($10 less than the cost at the door).

Where PAX East will take place:
Hynes Convention Center
900 Boylston St
Boston, MA 02115

Exhibit Hall Hours:
Friday, March 26 – 2pm to 7pm
Saturday, March 27 - 10am to 6pm
Sunday, March 28 - 10am to 6pm

Event Hours:
Friday, March 26, - 2pm to 2am
Saturday, March 27 - 10am to 2am
Sunday, March 28 - 10am to 6pm

Details from Penny Arcade:
"Dedicated to the core gaming community, PAX East will bring thousands of pen-and-paper, tabletop, CCG, PC and video gamers together for several days of madness. To be sure attendees turn into sleep-deprived zombies, the show will be jammed with tournaments, free-play areas, concerts, panel discussions and an exhibitor hall filled with the latest new games."

“We’re bringing the craziness the fans have come to expect from PAX, but with an East Coast twist,” said Robert Khoo of Penny Arcade. “Most of all this will be a place where you can be yourself with fellow gamers.”

Register now at paxsite.com!

Namco Bandai Games has introduced the first details on its upcoming third-person shooter, INVERSION. The game is currently in development by Saber Interactive, which will be bringing INVERSION to the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in 2010. What's unique about INVERSION? Namco Bandai Games says INVERSION "introduces revolutionary gravity-wielding combat, zero gravity environments, vector changes, and a unique destructible cover system." You'll be able to use a weapon called the "Grappler," giving you the ability to move large objects, pull enemies out from their cover, and solve puzzles.

See the first screenshots from INVERSION here.

Here are some of the first details on INVERSION, from Namco Bandai Games:

"Set in the near future, the tranquil peace enjoyed by mankind shatters with an unforeseen invasion by an unknown enemy called the Lutadore. Armed to the teeth with futuristic gravity-controlling weapons, the Lutadore easily overrun the city’s defenses. Unbeknownst to all, mysterious anomalies have surfaced in conjunction with the invasion. Random regions in the city have entered zero gravity or have suffered vector changes, throwing the world into topsy-turvy chaos. Assuming the role of Davis Russel, a hotheaded 28-year-old cop, or Leo Delgado, Davis’ neighbor, players will embark on a journey through the disorienting war-ravaged, gravity twisted streets of their home town and beyond, to find Davis' missing child."

From Namco Bandai Games

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