Here it is, a fresh new week.  And along with it comes a fresh batch of new releases, all competing for a share of your hard earned cash.  Here they are, broken down by platform:

Microsoft Xbox 360

• How to Train Your Dragon 3/23
• Just Cause 2 3/23
• MotoGP 09/10 3/23
• Game Room 3/24

Nintendo DS

• Zhu Zhu Pets  3/21
• Drift Street International 3/22
• Bakugan: Battle Trainer 3/23
• Build-A-Bear Workshop: Welcome to Hugsville 3/23
• Cheer We Go! 3/23
• Disney’s Stitch Jam 3/23
• How to Train Your Dragon 3/23
• Imagine Gymnast 3/23
• My Pet Chimp 3/23
• Rooms: The Main Building 3/23
• Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey 3/23        .
• Squishy Tank 3/23
• Dream Diary 3/25
• History Egypt – Engineering an Empire 3/25

Nintendo Wii

• Cave Story 3/22
• Build-A-Bear Workshop: Friendship Valley 3/23
• Cabela’s Monster Buck Hunter 3/23
• The Cages: Pro Style Batting Practice 3/23
• Hall of Fame: Ultimate Hoops Challenge 3/23
• How to Train Your Dragon 3/23
• Red Steel 2 3/23
• Rooms: The Main Building 3/23

PC

• Alcatraz (2010) 3/23
• History Egypt – Engineering an Empire 3/23
• Just Cause 2 3/23
• Plain Sight 3/23
• The Settlers 7: Paths to a Kingdom 3/23

Sony PlayStation 3

• How to Train Your Dragon 3/23
• Just Cause 2 3/23
• MotoGP 09/10 3/23

Sony PSP
History Egypt – Engineering an Empire 3/25

Though not quite as blockbuster-packed as last week, there are still some solid choices for every platform  in the days ahead.  Fans of open world mayhem really can’t do any better than Just Cause 2.  Racing enthusiasts have Capcom’s shiny looking MotoGP 09/10 to take for a spin.  Wii owners can see whether or not Red Steel 2 really does make good on the promise of the first game.  Finally, with a new Shin Megami Tensei, the RPG fans among us will have plenty to keep them busy.  As always, we want to hear from you!  Which games are you picking up this week?

Source: GameSpot

Another week comes, and so does another batch of Rock Band content, this time featuring music from punk rockers X, British garage rockers Little Fish, KISS Guitarist Ace Frehley, OneRepublic, and…Carrie Underwood. Song list will be sorted Artist/Song:

Gearbox and 2K will be releasing a retail disc for Xbox 360 containing the two Borderlands DLC packages of “The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned” and “Max Moxxi’s Underdome Riot” for $19.99 on April 6, 2010. Oddly, the disc will not be coming to the PS3, but both content packs are available individually via the PlayStation Network.

Zipper Interactive is rewarding MAG players with free DLC. The Trooper Gear Pack, which will be available March 25 on PSN, adds a great deal of content for players to enjoy, including the highly requested Flashbang Grenade. Players can also enjoy three special edition light machine guns: Raven’s APEX 100SE, SVER’s RTK-74, and Valor’s Mk 46 Mod 1. Finally, there will be new uniform setups, Trooper Light and Trooper Dark, for each PMC group.

As soon as the new content becomes available, Zipper Interactive will be hosting a Double XP event. It is scheduled to start at 12AM Pacific March 25, and end at 11:59 Pacific March 28. Simply log in and play. At the conclusion of each match, your earned XP will be doubled. Quitters, however, will not get the bonus.

Growing up, side-scrolling beat ‘em ups were a large part of my life. They kept me out of trouble, helped me deal with stress, and most of all, they were just plain fun.

So being able to see the Final Fight franchise come to XBLA is a very exciting prospect, especially when we can all play it starting April 14 for 800 MS and April 15 on PSN for $9.99.

As you can see, Capcom has taken some care of replicating the arcade experience by enabling you to play on a cabinet. In fact, as soon as you start playing the game, the borders of the screen will show what the original cabinet had on it.

Here it is, Tuesday already,  and that can only mean one thing:  I’ve gotta go pick up God Of War 3!  Seriously, though, we are looking at another packed week of new releases.  Here they are, broken down by platform:

Microsoft Xbox 360

• Dragon Age: Origins – Awakening 3/16
• Metro 2033 3/16
• Resonance of Fate 3/16
• Perfect Dark 3/17

On March 30th, Infinity Ward’s Modern Warfare 2 (a.k.a. the 800-pound gorilla) will be offering up some brand new maps, along with two classics that you may remember from the original Modern Warfare. The map pack will include the new levels “Bailout”, “Salvage”, and “Storm”; the two remakes are “Crash” and “Overgrown”.

“Bailout” is a large apartment building with multiple floors for close combat, “Salvage” on the other hand is an industrial park filled with tons of heavy machinery, and last but certainly not least there is “Storm” which takes place in a snow covered junkyard that is filled with crushed vehicles and debris.

The latest entry in the Might & Magic series, Clash of Heroes, will be headed to Xbox Live Arcade and the PlayStation Network sometime this summer.

Ubisoft stated in the press release that:

Might and Magic Clash of Heroes XBLA/PSN will take advantage of the next-gen console’s capabilities to increase its visual appeal and enrich the multiplayer experience.

We are all game addicts to some extent – whether it’s our readers, one of our many talented writers, or you – yes you.

We play games, talk about them with peers and write articles about them. Video games are an interest, a hobby, and a passion for many of us.

The difference is how we control our desire to play games. Like any addiction, video game addictions can get out of hand, but when? Certainly when it causes harm to yourself or others – affecting life temporarily or even, in extreme cases, fatally.

In the past, level designer Danny Leaver of Media Molecule has said that releasing a sequel to Little Big Planet would be “the most counter-productive thing you could do, I think…[And something we] never want to do.” However, Sony acquired Media Molecule this year and rumor is that they want a sequel to one of the highest-rated games released on PS3. Since its release, the game has only been receiving new content through user-generated DLC.

Martin Lynagh, a producer for Media Molecule, had this to add to the matter:

I think what you’ve seen so far from LittleBigPlanet, that’s the way it’s going to continue. We have a lot of stuff coming out, especially next year.

A disc-based or downloadable sequel is not currently planned by Media Molecule. However, with the Game Developer’s Conference this week, there will surely be LBP news, but whether or not it will include news of a true sequel is still unknown. I, myself, don’t think a sequel to a game that thrives so much on user-generated content is necessary at all. If a gamer can get everything he needs to design a level through DLC, what would be the point of having a sequel? Especially if it were disc-based.

Source: VG 24/7

As you may have noticed, the servers for Battlefield: Bad Company 2 have been a little unstable lately.  Thankfully though, this is because EA has been optimizing them to better deal with the higher-than-expected number of players over all platforms.  The outage happened at 9:30 a.m. PST today, and all the servers should be back and improved soon (if they aren’t already).

Here are the details from the post on EA’s blog:

• X360 was severely impacted, and the service is being restarted. It should be back online and we are monitoring closely.
• PC had an outage, but the service is offline currently and the service is being restarted. It should be back online and we are monitoring closely.  We will then start checking the quality of the customer experience to determine possible next steps
• PS3 appeared to have a brief outage, but has quickly recovered and the services is functioning properly at this time.
  

Here comes Sony with another revolutionary game feature…demos that degrade over time.

SCEA recently filed with the U.S. Patent Office for a game demo that includes a large amount of content or even a full game that would, after subsequent plays, lose features that would require one to purchase a type of license to unlock the content once more.

A racing game is given as an example in the image below – the demo would lose tracks over time.

Hot on the heels of Sony’s announcement of SOCOM 4: US Navy SEALs, comes the debut trailer of the game, which shows nothing in the way of actual gameplay.

However, some of the story does come to light in the trailer, and as the leader of a five-man squadron, it’s your job to save the day!

This is a great week for content on both the PSN as well as retail shelves.

This Tuesday, one of the most highly anticipated titles of the year will hit your local game-seller. Final Fantasy XIII may have received a few mixed review out the gate in Japan but has steadily built a core group of supporters who are heralding the title along side other fan-favorite installments to the franchise. PS3 owners will also get the definitive Final Fantasy XIII experience which runs at full 1080p on a single Blu-ray disc as opposed to the lower resolution, 3-Disc DVD set Xbox players will receive.

In addition to retail content, Sony has released a number of great DLC add-ons for several titles you already have sitting at home: Resident Evil 5: Desperate Escape, as well as LittleBigPlanet content for the PSP, definitely top the list.

Today developer Hello Games has announced that it’s bringing Joe Danger to the PSN.

Joe Danger is basically a cross between Excite Bike and Trials HD which certainly doesn’t look like a bad thing. The game has already been nominated for three Independent Games Festival Awards this year.

GameSpot has reported a first look on Crystal Dynamics’ newest Tomb Raider title: Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light and it looks to be an interesting, and more importantly fun title. We had a previous post that announced the title, but this latest preview explains the gameplay design and changes implemented for the title.

First off, it’s important to know that LCatGoL (that looks awesome, abbreviated) has a locked isometric view akin to something like Diablo. The game feels something like an arcade experience that prioritizes high scores and replay value over exploration. That’s kind of a breath of fresh air; A fast arcade experience with emphasis on fun and cooperation. Yes, that’s right, this latest Tomb Raider title is a co-op title. Lara Croft’s partner in crime is a Mayan tribesman by the name of Totec who team up to battle the evil spirit Xoxolt.

Next week’s (March 9 Xbox 360/Wii, March 11 PS3) Rock Band offering includes the brother/sister duo of The White Stripes, The Futureheads, the funky sounds of The James Gang, Shaimus, and the one and only, Rush’s Neal Peart. Song list after the jump:

Short Version: Battlefield: Bad Company 2 improves on its predecessor on all fronts.  That said, multiplayer is still its marquee feature.  If solid, tactical, team-oriented combat is what you’re looking for, then Bad Company 2 will not disappoint.

Game Rant reviews Battlefield: Bad Company 2

Let’s begin by making something clear; Battlefield: Bad Company 2 is not a ‘Modern Warfare 2 killer.’

Why is that?  Well, to put it simply, we’re talking apples and oranges here. Yes they both may be first-person shooters, but that is really, in a sense, where similarities end.  Modern Warfare 2 is a game where your feet stay on the ground, that relies heavily on individual skill and your ability to aim a crosshair.  Though this is certainly present in Bad Company 2, it’s only part of a much broader experience.

The campaign in the first Bad Company wasn’t great.  It had uneven pacing, and didn’t do much to encourage the player to push through it.  Even so, it was a decent attempt at a real single-player campaign; something the Battlefield series had never included.  One thing the first campaign did right was the cast of characters.  You played as Preston Marlowe, the newest addition to ‘Bad Company;’ a rag-tag group of soldiers that are sent out to do the army’s dirty work.

In a move that has surprised nobody, Tecmo has officially announced Tecmo Bowl Throwback for Xbox Live Arcade and PSN.

Remember to lean into the turn as the MotoGP 09/10 demo throttles onto XBLA and PSN Thursday March 4th.  Eager cyclists will be able to try their hands at three modes from the final game.  Championship and Time Trial Modes should require no explanation.  Arcade Mode, new to MotoGP 09/10, has players winning time extensions for performing “skillful maneuvers” on the track.  (Sounds a little like Outrun.)

The demo gives you a chance to practice-up before the full game lands at retail March 16th.  Shortly after the game releases, MotoGP 09/10 will receive a free update with 2010 MotoGP season content .  I’d be remiss if I didn’t remind you about the 20 player online races.

That’s correct PS3 owners, Sony has given the signal and you may now turn your consoles back on without fear. The internal clock issue that was keeping the PS3 from connecting to the network has fixed itself, correctly adjusting after the the date changed. This begs the question, what exactly was Sony doing all day? Here’s the post direct from Sony:

Good news everyone!  By everyone, I mean the PS3 owners who have been patiently waiting for the first chunk of downloadable content for Dragon Age: Origins.  The DLC, titled Return to Ostagar, has been available for the Xbox 360 and PC since January 29, 2010.  PS3 owners however, haven’t had much of an idea when to expect the content’s arrival to PSN up until now.

Bioware announced on their forum that the content has passed certification and will be available March 11, 2010.  It will be priced at $4.99.

Yesterday we began coverage of a widespread error, PSN Error Code: 8001050F, that is affecting fat PlayStation 3s and their ability to play single player games, or connect to PSN in any way. First off, no, the problems have not been fixed. Secondly, unless you have a PlayStation Slim, Sony is now recommending that you do not turn on your PlayStation 3 at all until everything has been fixed.

While Sony has been slowly updating us from their Twitter account, they’ve only just released a detailed summary of the errors. Here’s the whole blog:

Attention all you PlayStation gamers – a widespread PlayStation Network (PSN) error is affecting games.

Booting up even a single player game nets PSN Error Code: 8001050F for some users. It looks like it could be tied to trophies, as in my case Darksiders wouldn’t boot because it couldn’t register trophy data. The only option the game gives is to quit. According to gamers at PlayStation Universe, themes aren’t working either. It’s pretty bad news for games trying to get a little game time in – especially with this the first weekend since Heavy Rain’s release.

EA Sports has brought back its hugely popular Ultimate Team expansion to FIFA 10. Starting today you can pick up the FIFA 10 Ultimate Team add-on from XBL (400 MS Points) and on PSN ($4.99).

There’s also a free trial available that allows you to play five complimentary games with the expansion – so you can try before you buy.

In Ultimate Team you start with a starter pack of players. From there you’ll compete against the world to build up your team. You use managerial skills to build a bigger and better team by wheeling and dealing to get the best players available. The expansion features a massive roster of over 7,500 players available to you.

When MAG launched, many people, including us, found it to be a pretty solid online shooter.  Though impressions of the game were generally positive at launch, it did have a number of flaws, which is what the 1.03 patch is looking to fix.  According to Zipper Interactive Community Manager Jeremy Dunham, this is “without a doubt, our biggest and most important patch yet.”

There patch includes a multitude of tweaks, including: improvements to the feel of weapons, quicker weapon/gear swapping, balancing maps, and much more.

The third downloadable add-on for Borderlands will be making it’s way to the Xbox 360 and PS3 this week.  Titled ‘The Secret Armory of General Knoxx,’ it will be the first content pack to increase the level cap.  The increase brings the level ceiling to 61, from the previous cap of 50.  The content will feature new areas, missions, vehicles, a new weapon class, as well as some crazy new enemies outfitted with some serious weaponry.

Look’s like Capcom is ready to deal out some heavy discounts on several of it’s most popular PSN titles.  Starting on February 18th, Capcom will offering 50% discounts on some great games.  Each week a new game with another 50% discount.

The PSP Go has certainly not lived up to Sony’s hype; with a $249 price tag, it is more expensive than the PSP 3000’s $200 sum, which often includes a game, movie, and memory card.

According to the PlayStation Blog however, Sony seems to be sweetening the bait to lure more North American consumers to their UMD-less system. With every purchase of a shiny new PSP Go you get a voucher. This voucher can be exchanged for either a copy of LittleBigPlanet or Assassin’s Creed: Bloodlines.

It’s a big week for PlayStation gamers with a couple of high-profile retail titles as well as some great DLC content through the PSN.

By now most of our readers are aware of Heavy Rain’s impending release this Tuesday. There’s a lot of hype surrounding the game but no matter where you might fall in the discussion, you can’t deny that Quantic Dreams has offered PS3 owners an entirely unique gaming experience and that, if nothing else, the game sets a new standard for how players can experience story in a video game. If you’re still on the fence, make sure to check out the demo – not to mention our forthcoming review.

It’s also worth mentioning that both Resident Evil 5 and Assassin’s Creed II received large DLC campaign add-ons in this week’s update to the PSN Store. If your a fan of either series, the choice should be pretty simple. That said, even if you’re not a fan, AC2’s “Bonfire of the Vanities” and RE5’s “Lost in Nightmares” both feature high production values and fit into their respective stories – offering several hours of quality gameplay. If you enjoyed either title’s main campaign, these add-ons are definitely worth picking up.

Here is the full list of release information: