Good news for basement game developers seeking a break into the elite group of creative, intelligent individuals behind today's games. Avalanche Studios, creator of the critically-acclaimed multi-platform title Just Cause, will not only be unveiling its latest creation - the Avalanche Engine - but will also looking for new talent to be interviewed on-site, as well as give potential hires a glimpse of how the company works behind the scenes.

With growth comes challenges, and Avalanche Studios is no stranger to the adage. Attendees of Nordic Game 2007 will learn how the company copes with the difficulties of expanding from a sparsely-staffed, one-project-at-a-time outfit into a full-blown games development giant with a staff of over a hundred strong and an appetite for cross-platform, cross-genre and cross-IP title production. Christofer Sundberg, Co-founder and Creative Director says it like it is:

Growing isn’t cool in itself but sometimes it’s a necessary evil considering the complexity of today's projects. Improving efficiency at Avalanche Studios has been key in avoiding the trap of becoming a slow-moving beast – our experiences with managing growth are something we’re very happy to share with our industry colleagues at Nordic Game.

And as mentioned earlier, Avalanche Studios IS looking for new talent, and it will be interviewing those who take up the challenge personally at the developers' Career Expo Booth, handled by representatives from the Stockholm studios' management, technical, and art departments.  If you're ready and willing, set up the interview by calling Linda Bäcklund at +46 (0)84427670 or via e-mail at Avalanche Studios’ recruitment hotline at jobs@avalanchestudios.se.

Eidos Interactive has recently announced that they are now developing sequels for some of their most popular game franchises. To be specific, we can soon be expecting next-gen installments for the games Just Cause, Tomb Raider, Hitman, and Championship Manager. These sequels are expected to make their appearances on the PS3 and the Xbox 360. As for WHEN we would actually be able to expect these new games, Eidos remains vague:

In the light of the launch of the Sony PlayStation 3 in North America in November 2006 and its planned European launch in Spring 2007 we are assessing the timing of when to launch these titles on the appropriate next generation platforms.

The sequel to the third-person shooter Just Cause has already been announced back in October last year, and even though we have no idea on how far along this project is, Eidos assures everyone that it has already been in development, and that they "expect Just Cause to sell over one million units in the current financial year".

And so once again, the waiting begins.

The force is clearly with the SCi Entertainment Group, as the videogame publisher announced that revenues have risen 40% for the first six months of the fiscal year, to US$ 138 million.The majority of the revenue increase was due to product distribution according to  GamesIndustry.biz.

New products accounted for 50% of revenues to December 30, with new IP Just Cause the most successful release. SCi expects the game to hit the one million mark in terms of units sold by the end of the fiscal year and has confirmed that a sequel for Just Cause is currently in development.

One third of revenue for the first half came from the distribution of third-party titles, with sales of Lego Star Wars so far reaching a whopping 5.4 million units. The publisher also anticipates that Justice League Heroes, released in November, will also sell one million units by the end of the fiscal year.

Avalanche Studios has told Kong, a Swedish publication, that a sequel for Just Cause is "in the pipeline" according to Pro-G Media. The only details are the platforms: Xbox 360, PS3, and PC. And that's all we got from them.

We like the idea of a sequel. Just because Just Cause is that good - or so say those of us who like its fast pace, action, and story. The physics are "more real" than the real world (think "Hollywood action flick"), and the settings are brilliant. Of course, if you take real-world sociopolitical issues seriously (you know, if you like to join debates about "U.S. intervention in other sovereign states"), you might take offense at some of the things that happen in this game.

The game also has the ESRB M-rating-worthy unholy quintuplet: drugs, bad words, violence, blood, and sex. This isn't an innocent romp like Disney's Cars.

A whole bunch of picture packs and themes have hit the Marketplace today for NHL 07, Just Cause and The Godfather for those that like to put another face on their 360. The NHL 07 picture packs include Atlantic Division Picture Pack, Northeast Division Picture Pack, Southeast Division Picture Pack, Central Division Picture Pack, Northwest Division Picture Pack and Pacific Division Picture Pack with each costing 100 Microsoft Points. The themes for NHL 07 include all of the professional hockey teams in each of those leagues and will set you back at the usual 150 Microsoft Points each.

Just Cause has one new picture pack which requires 100 Microsoft Points as well as two new themes that are once again 150 Microsoft Points each. The Godfather has five new themes available as the Mobster Theme, Streets of NY Theme, The Don Theme, Hand Guns Theme and the Weapons Theme at 150 Microsoft Points each.

The picture packs for the Godfather on the other hand vary in price probably because the amount of pictures included in each pack are The Family Picture Pack at 160 Microsoft Points, Godfather Weapons Picture Pack at 220 Microsoft Points, and The Don Picture Pack at 180 Microsoft Points. So if you want to pick up a new theme or gamer picture, be sure to check out the new downloads on the Marketplace.

After all the Latin heat that Avalanche Studios threw your way, was Just Cause everything that you expected it to be? And if you haven't played the game yet, Rico Rodriguez said it best in this video when he stated "Do you really want to play with me?"

Gametrailers makes a tell-all, no holds barred review on the game that is packaged in a high definition video for your convenience. They dish out their thoughts on the game's mind numbing stunts, so-so environment design and much, much more. Download the video through the download link below the article and see for yourself why it was given a 7.5 rating.

Download: [Just Cause Game Review]

So, have you found your own Just Cause yet? It came out last September 26. Well, maybe you have, maybe you haven't; but for those who are already enjoying the sights, sounds, and stunts in the sunny island of San Esperito, you might want to have a little look-see here. We've got you three videos to guide you through the island.

The first one (above) is all about the glitches that got past Eidos and Avalanche Studios. Mostly it has to do with graphical errors, like suddenly walking through solid objects. Sort of like a David Copperfield thing going on there. Ah... Magic... It's funny to watch, actually.

One video shows you the stunts that you can pull off: parasailing via a car, hanging by the backfins of a copter, and sky diving. The other one is about the safehouse and all the nifty weapons that you can use in the game. No, no... Not just the weapons per se, but this teaches you new tricks on how to use some of them in a... creative manner.

Yeah, so watch the vids below. Rico Rodriguez is waiting...

Pre-Order: [Just Cause]

Download: [Stunts video]
Download: [Safehouse/Weapons video]

Word is out that the LEGO Star Wars 2 demo is now available in the Xbox Live Marketplace. Along with this treat are the trailers for Forza 2 Physics & Damage, NBA 2K7, Sonic The Hedgehog, Shrek 3, Just Cause, NHL 2K7, and The Darkness. Also, players can now avail of Alan Wake Picture Pack for 80 Points, Alan Wake Theme for around 150 points and a new Kameo Design-a-Skin pack. All of these are still part of Microsoft's Bringing it Home downloadable content galore in line with the TGS and X06 season.

Speaking of X06 season, every Xbox 360 fan is now looking forward to more downloadable content that will be announced in Barcelona on Wednesday, September 27. We got hold of news that Microsoft will be first dishing out  Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey trailers. Blue Dragon will be released in Japan this winter and is expected for international release along with Lost Odyssey by the end of the year.

Microsoft's X06 will happen on the 27th to 28th of September in Barcelona. A great time to expect for more updates, so keep it here at QJ for more news.

Whereas Europe's releases this week feature the sport the Continent loves - FIFA 07 - American releases feature the American-invented sport of basketball. NBA Live 2007, NBA 07, and NBA 2K7 come out today for the PSP and Xbox 360, along with another big-ticket item, Just Cause for the 360.

Over at DS territory, the movie tie-up game Alex Stormbreaker rides into American handhelds, along with the equally movie-inspired Disney's The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea Adventure.

Here's the complete list of DS, PSP and Xbox 360 games for the week starting Monday:

Nintendo DS:

• 09/25: Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea Adventure
• 09/25: Mario vs Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis
• 09/26: Mage Knight Destiny's Soldier
• 09/27: Alex Rider: Stormbreaker
• 09/29: Bubble Bobble Revolution
• 09/29: Rainbow Islands Revolution

Sony PSP:

• 09/25: NBA 07
  
• 09/25: NBA Live 07
• 09/26: Spectral Souls

Xbox360:

• 09/25: NBA 2K7
• 09/25: NBA Live 07
• 09/26: Just Cause
• 09/26: Import Tuner Challenge

There is a sense of deep-seated patriotism in the boxart of Just Cause. That's because it emulates the world-famous photograph of Latin American revolutionary Che Guevara, taken by the Cuban photographer Alberto Korda. More than just being a pretty face on some rockstar kid's cool shirt, Che Guevara played a much more pivoting role than that, as he was instrumental in the overthrow of Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista.

And it would seem as if it is not only the photograph that Just Cause tried to emulate from him.

Set on a fictional South American tropical island called San Esperito, Rico Rodriguez aims to overthrow the dictator, believed to be hoarding Weapons of Mass Destruction. It's a threat not only to the innocent civilians of the island, but to the whole of world peace as well.

Just Cause is entirely free-roam, where you gain complete freedom of choice, at least insofar as your transportation, armament, and movement is concerned. And as your character is one heck of a CIA black ops agent, you are also able to spin out stunts ala Ethan Hunt in "Mission: Impossible II" with a number of gadgets like grappling hooks, paragliders, and parachutes.

Prepare for revolution, cause Just Cause is headed your way this 22nd of September in Europe, while it's set for release on September 27 in North America...hey! It IS September 22! Hooray for European gamers!

Still, a little more screenshots won't hurt... Enjoy!

There are more screens after the jump!

Pre-Order: [Just Cause]