Not long after Grand Theft Auto 4 (Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PlayStation 3) rocked the world, and a few weeks before Metal Gear Solid 4 does the same, we're left with several decent titles that can't be dubbed as mere distractions. This week marks the release of Myst on the Nintendo DS, while Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King is set to build a kingdom on the Wii. The rest await at the full article, so hit that jump!

* Article originally posted May 12, 2008 at 12:05AM

In this day and age of next-generation gaming, we can't help but reminisce about the good ol' days where gaming was more simple, but oftentimes more fulfilling. So when we heard that Empire Interactive is going to bring PipeMania to the current consoles, we can't help but flash a sentimental smile. Check out more details in the full article.

This week on Microsoft's Xbox Live Arcade are two new games to keep you busy for the next couple of days. Or weeks. Or months. For one, Q Entertainment's smash hit shooter Every Extend Extra (E3) on the PSP is finally getting released as an XBLA "continuation" with Every Extend Extra Extreme (E4). Also, high-octane contact sport title Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe is going live as schedule this week.

Clocking in at 800 Microsoft Points, Every Extend Extra Extreme on EXBLA XBLA boasts an insane number of enemies and chain reactions compared to its previous installment. You can get yourself addicted on the psychedelic lights in five different game modes - one of which is Wiz Ur Muzik mode, where you can customize the settings to play your favorite music. You can also choose to go head to head with other players on Xbox Live.

Meanwhile, Bitmap Brothers and Empire Interactive's Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe (also for 800 MS Points) pits players against each other in a, well, brutal display of futuristic contact football. This XBLA incarnation allows you to play the game in its classic 2D graphics or in full blown high-definition 3D visuals. There are 32 teams to choose from and various kinds of matches to play: from ranked games to knock out competitions.

Both XBLA titles are to roll out this Wednesday, October 17, 9:00 a.m. GMT (2:00 a.m. PDT).

 

It took a lot longer than expected, but it's almost here. Empire Interactive is sending out word that their previously announced Xbox Live Arcade port of Frogster Interactive's Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe title originally for the PC is getting ready to roll out this month. And aside from the high-def treatment that's customary for ports like these, 360 owners will be happy to know that Speedball 2's XBLA foray will include more teams, downloadable content, and a new logo. As CEO Empire Interactive Ian Higgins further elaborated:

Xbox LIVE Arcade is the ideal environment for this exciting new high definition version of Speedball. With the addition of extra content packs and downloadable content, gamers will at last have the ultimate version of the game.

Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe for the Xbox Live Arcade is set for this October 17. Check back with in if we pick up details on its file size, and pricing. Also keep on the lookout for the new downloadable packs that Higgins stated earlier, after the game makes its debut.

If you ever find yourself craving for the old Destruction Derby titles from Psygnosis, there's a next-gen game out there waiting to hit you with some nostalgic treats. FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage from Bugbear Entertainment and Empire Interactive is the third installment of the FlatOut series and is a remake of FlatOut 2. Check out the screens and see the difference.

Aside from new gameplay features, FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage enjoys a visual overhaul to give it that eye-popping next-gen flavor. Collisions are now as real as they come, and the physics are unforgivingly lifelike to make for some serious automotive mayhem.

FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage has already been released in PAL territories. It debuted last July in Europe and busted out last month in Australia. North American fans will get a taste of angry iron come October. FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage is a Microsoft Xbox 360 exclusive.

   

And the Games Convention Developers Conference (GCDC) for 2007 is rolling to a good start as another company has officially announced, via press wire, games that will be offered for gamers, media and retailers at the Leipzig Business Center come late August. Deep Silver (X3: Reunion Game of the Year Edition, Warhammer: Mark of Chaos) and its partners have listed ANNO 1701, Ferrari Challenge, Final Fantasy Tactics, Secret Files 2, Flatout Ultimate Carnage, Heroes of Mana, Perry Rhodan, and Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria as featured games for gamers.

 

ANNO 1701 is Deep Silver's upcoming add-on to the ANNO (PC) real-time strategy series, published by Ubisoft. Ferrari Challenge (PlayStation 3, DS, Wii), published by System 3, will be there to tout realistic modeling and racing simulations of the Italian sports car and the motor sports series of the same name.

Final Fantasy Tactics: The Lion War (PSP) under Square Enix' supervision will also be at the Leipzig Convention, enticing fans of the Square Enix Final Fantasy and tactical action persuasion to give the game a try over handheld. Mystery fans might want to to stop by to take a gander at the sequel to the classic German adventure Secret Files: Tunguska, Secret Files 2 (PC) - the predecessor being a winner of several local and regional game of the year awards.

And if you're a fan of Mana, you could check out Heroes of Mana (DS), a real-time strategy title published by Square Enix and based on the Mana series. Empire Interactive's Flatout Ultimate Carnage (Xbox 360) will be smashing its way to Leipzig, too, after a well-anticipated, timely launch for the destructive driving title.

Perry Rhodan (PC) will feature the famous astronaut of the same name in a fictional adventure game published by Brain Game. And if Heavenly Sword coming out for the PlayStation 3 just shattered your day, worry not, because Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria (PS2) by Square Enix will be brandished at the event to satisfy the Sony current generation console gamers.

But wait, Deep Silver isn't done yet, because more games will be announced when the second part of the European-centric trade fair highlights by the developer is polished before the curtains rise by August 23. Catch them, and their games, at stand A12 of Hall 3 of the Leipzig Business Center.

A couple of goodies for the racing fans are now available for download on Xbox Live - Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights and FlatOut Racing and Derby. Now, before you run over to your 360s, take note that the Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights demo is not available in Japan or South Korea while FlatOut Racing and Derby is only available in Europe.

Now that we've got that out of the way, let's go over the basics of the two video games. First off is Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights from Juice Games and THQ. It's a racing video game that centers around the real world event - Hot Import Nights. A number of character and car customization options will be available in the game, plus a lot of cars and tracks to choose from.

Empire Interactive and Bugbear Entertainment's FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage on the other hand, takes the more painful side of racing (read: ragdoll physics). For the lack of a better term, we can probably say that demolition derby is the video game's forte.

Anyway, Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights weighs around 1.31GB while FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage will take up around 751.1MB of your drive space.

Enticing the aggressive driver in you, Empire Interactive and Bugbear Entertainment's FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage combines the best of FlatOut 2's rag-doll Olympics and (sweet mother!) next-gen graphics that could rival that of one other game on a competing platform. Bashing aside, however, FlatOut does have the beauty and physics to boast, and we're about to hang ourselves out to dry - from all the drool.

After recently announcing all 45 of achievements attainable in the game, this new "crash" video teaser rolls out and announcements run throughout the Net about the game going gold. We bet European Xbox 360 players have already downloaded the demo to sample their driving skills (or lack thereof) and prep themselves for a region-wide release later in June, if not June 22.

 

For 400 MS points, an iconic coin-op brawler makes its way to the latest Xbox Live Arcade Wednesday: Double Dragon. This will be a faithful reproduction of the credit-bandit by Technos Japan, remade for the HD gen by Empire Interactive, down to the co-op and the weapons and the hair-grab, knee-up action.

This Double Dragon, however, does come with some double-bonuses. And it's not just the ability for Jimmy Lee to be online via Xbox Live multiplayer. Besides enhanced graphics and soundtracks, Double Dragon XBLA comes with extras such as the original Japanese and US ad fliers, three leaderboards, 12 Achievements, and 200 Gamerscore points.

Now if we told you that one of the extras is an HD centerfold spread of... Abobo, would you still be interested in playing? We kid, we kid.

With Castlevania Symphony of the Night providing for a killer side-scroller classic for the Xbox Live Arcade's itinerary, we were beginning to wonder how the soon-to-be released Double Dragon title would look to whet our nostalgic palates even more. From what we see in the video, it's still the same beat-'em-up joy remembered from 1987, albeit with smoother lines thanks to the enhanced settings XBLA will be charging the game up with.

Sadly, this demo didn't provide any details for the game's online co-op mode, with blue-clad Billy Lee stealing the show for this segment. Enjoy the video, available at the read link.