We've got an even spread of game releases for this week's batch of On Shelves games, including a couple of downloadable ones. Big for handhelds this week would be Capcom's and Namco Bandai's brawler offerings on the PSP, Fate/Unlimited Codes (available via PSN) and Soul Calibur: Broken Destiny, respectively. Full list of game releases this week after the jump.

Paul Theroux of the Telegraph could not forget the conversation that he had with Michael Jackson. Now that MJ has gone to that big Neverland in the sky, the journalist takes us back to the old interview, which revealed that eccentric as he was, Michael Jackson too was a sucker for video games. Not just any video game too - MJ loved MK.

While violent video games are getting bombarded with criticism and even legislations, an Iowa State research team finds that non-violent games may enhance pro-social behavior in players. The team, called the Insciences Organisation, conducted a study and found that players who play prosocial games behave more prosocially than those who play other forms. More in the full article.

Most of us are heating up with the impending release of Grand Theft Auto 4, but there's no need to lose your cool. Just like last week, a modest batch of titles will hit shelves as prelude to April's main act. Square Enix is ready to make some noise in The World Ends With You, while Nintendo is letting the Pokemon loose with Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Darkness and Explorers of Time. The rest are waiting at the full article.

* Article originally posted Apr 21, 2008 at 12:48AM

Major Nelson, on his blog, revealed the Xbox 360 Live activity for the week of March 31, 2008. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare for the Xbox 360 (also available on PlayStation 3 and PC) is at the top of the list once again. To check out the full list for yourself, head on over to the full article.

For those who have been keeping up with the Xbox Live Chart Activity, we have some more updates for you guys. As usual we have the top ten games played over the original Xbox Live, the new Xbox Live, and the most downloaded games from the Xbox Live arcade.

No surprises here for the top three games being played over Xbox Live. We still have the trinity of Gears of War, Crackdown, and Halo 3 Beta on top. Aegis Wing has been bumped off the list as the Hour of Victory Demo joins the top ten. The most downloaded games over Xbox Live Arcade has Pac-Man C.E., Madtracks, and Worms taking the first, second, and third slots, knocking down Double Dragon, XEVIOUS, and Rush n' Attack.

Not much has really changed with regards to the top ten games in both the original and new Xbox Live with the games just moving around a bit. XBLA is bit more varied considering how many games are added into the list regularly.

Without further adieu, here are the top ten lists for all three divisions.

Xbox 360 Top Live Titles:

1. Gears of War
2. Crackdown
3. Halo 3 Beta

Top Arcade Titles:

1. Pac-Man C.E.
2. Mad Tracks
3. Worms

Original Xbox Top Live Games:

1. Halo 2
2. Battlefield 2: MC
3. Counter-Strike

Read the full top ten lists by clicking on the full article link below.

 Major Nelson has given another update on Xbox Live traffic. It shows the top live title, arcade titles, and even from the original live for the Xbox. While some people would just brush this off as another update, you have to note these numbers when deciding which next game to pick up if you're planning on going online.

Gears of War is still on top for the Xbox 360 heap with Crackdown at second and Halo 3 Beta at third. We were really expecting Halo 3 to be on top, but we guess it'll move up in the coming weeks. For the top arcade games, we have Double Dragon at first, Soltrio Solitaire at second and Rush'n Attack at third. No surprise that Double Dragon hit the top of the charts in this one. (I mean even we've been playing it more often than not)

Here's the list of the games that were most played for the May 21 week. Note that the numbers are based on all the unique users connected to Xbox Live full versions of games purchased over Xbox Live Arcade.

Xbox 360 Top Live Titles (UU’s)

1. Gears of War
2. Crackdown
3. Halo 3 Beta

Top Arcade Titles (Full Versions)

1. Double Dragon
2. Soltrio Solitaire
3. Rush'n Attack

Original Xbox Top Live Games

1. Halo 2
2. Battlefield 2: MC
3. Counter-Strike

The complete lists can be found after the Jump.

Checking out Major Nelson's blog, we got our hands on the Xbox Live Activity for the week of April 30. And yes, you guessed it, Gears of War is still on top and with the release of the "Hidden Front" Map Pack, we bet that it will continue to lord over the charts until a certain beta for a certain game is released, perhaps?

Over at the arcade titles category, Zen Studios' Pinball FX gets the top spot. After hitting the Xbox Live Arcade last April 25, it's rise to the top is a bit surprising and fast. Anyhow, here's the full list of the top Live titles for the week of April 30.

Xbox 360 Top Live Titles

1. Gears of War
2. Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas
3. Pinball FX
4. Guitar Hero II
5. Command and Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars Demo
6. Call Of Duty 3
7. GRAW 2
8. Crackdown
9. 3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures
10. Oblivion

Top Arcade Titles

1. Pinball FX
2. 3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures
3. Catan
4. TMNT 1989 Arcade
5. Worms
6. Castlevania: SOTN
7. UNO
8. Eets: Chowdown
9. Boom Boom Rocket
10. Centipede & Millipede

 

Dwellers of Arcadia-land could not have been more ecstatic when they found out that they'll soon be able to have classic pinballin' fun on their 360's Xbox Live Arcade via Zen Studios' Pinball FX. Featuring traditional and nostalgia-inducing pinball machines, players will be able to face off with other players on XBL with live chat and support for the Live Vision Camera.

The demo showcased in GDC gave users a quick glimpse at the control system, which basically consists of the A button as the ball launcher and the triggers as the analog flippers. Zen also promises that there will be more downloadable machines after the game's release (which still remains as a big "?" 'til now). So anyway, while we wait for the release stamp on this baby, here are the 12 Achievements you can get which amount to a total of 200 points:

• Alien Technology (10) - Collect at least five artifacts on the Agents pinball table
• Angel (15) - Do a plus Airwalk free trick during any competition on the Extreme pinball table
• Multi-tasker (10) - You just have to start any of the multi-ball modes to get this achievement
• Emerald Flasher (10) - you'll have this one after scoring enough to earn your first Extra Ball
• First Aid Kit (10) - Complete the Bungee Jumping game on the Extreme pinball table
• Mr. Falcon (30) - Collecting all artifacts on the Agents table.
• Speed Demon (30) - Win the Wizard Tournament. It's on the Speed Machine pinball table.
• Platinum Cylinders (10) - Complete the Overheat Hurry Up mode on the Speed Machine pinball table.
• Professional (30) - Win the Final Confrontation game mode on the Agents pinball table.
• Sweet Ride (20) - Collect at least two tunings on the Speed Machine pinball table.
• Good Luck (10) - Earn 2 Million points on any pinball table.
• Elite Operative (15) - Complete a Hurry Up mode within 20 seconds on the Agents pinball table.
  

Fresh off from the GDC, Microsoft announced their plans of launching a 512 MB Memory Unit for their next-gen console, the Xbox 360. Apart from this, they also revealed that they are also bent on increasing the official size limit of the Xbox Live Arcade games from 50 MB to 150 MB.

According to Microsoft, you can expect this upgrade to be available worldwide starting April 3rd of this year for an estimated price of US$ 49.99 in North America. The 512MB memory unit will be pre-loaded with Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved, albeit for a limited time only. As for the original 64MB memory unit, they will be dropping the price from US$ 39.99 to US$ 29.99.

According to Chris Early, XBLA production unit manager, "the new size limit offers developers increased flexibility and continued opportunities for innovative game development, while also ensuring that the millions of gamers on Xbox LIVE can continue to easily access, download and play all Xbox LIVE Arcade games on Xbox 360."

Microsoft is expected to present their upcoming games for the XBLA this week at GDC.

• Boom Boom Rocket  (EA and Bizarre Creations) - Spring release for 800 Microsoft Points
• 3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures (Sierra Online and Wanako Games) - the first outdoor sports game on the XBLA where you can putt your way through 36 holes on wild courses, such as the Classic Carnival and Outer Space settings
• Eets: Chowdown (Klei Entertainment Inc.) - a PC original revamped for the Xbox 360 with new items and 120 new levels
• Jetpack Refuelled (Rare Ltd.) - a reinvention of the 1983 space blaster classic with enhanced graphics and new features suited for the XBLA. Expect 100 new high-definition levels to up the challenge.
• Pinball FX (ZEN Studios Ltd.) - now with real-time head-to-head competition features over Xbox LIVE and Xbox LIVE Vision camera support.